August 17, 2009
Work Session
Mayor Bertrand opened the Work Session at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Executive Chambers. Present were: Mayor Bertrand and Councilors Lafleur, McCue, Cayer, Poulin, Landry and Evans; absent: Councilors Goudreau and Remillard. Others present: BEMS employees, Corinne Cascadden, Marion Huntley, Patrick MacQueen, Max Makaitis, Norm Charest, Pam Laflamme, Blandine Shallow, Benoit Lamontagne, Nancy Clark, Chris Gamache, Jonathan Edwards, Eric Eisele Berlin Reporter, Barbara Tetreault Berlin Daily Sun.
BEMS Request for Contract Amendment
Berlin Emergency Medical Services informed Council that the State Dept of EMS now requires ambulances to carry an Inter-Osteo Bone Drill. AVH has supplied BEMS with the non-disposable equipment necessary for this medical intervention but they need to supply the disposable part of the equipment which is valued at about $100.00. BEMS is requesting Council permission to add an ancillary charge to their billing process of $100.00 which was not part of the original signed contract. They clarified that only patients who receive this procedure will be charged this particular fee.
Councilor Evans wanted to make sure the rate for the procedure would have no effect on the City.
Mayor Bertrand confirmed there would be no direct cost to the City.
Councilor Evans moved that the City Manager is hereby authorized to amend the Agreement between the City of Berlin and BEMS dated April 19, 2007 as amended by inserting a new ancillary charge to be added to the most recent rate charge table as follows: Disposable Part Replacement for Inter-Osteo Bone Drill – resident fee of $100.00 and non-resident fee of $120.00. Councilor Landry seconded the motion and all votes were in the affirmative. The motion passed.
Economic Development/Promoting Berlin Discussion
Norm Charest handed the Mayor and Council the written talking points of Berlin’s 21/21 Project. Norm emphasized that the difference with this initiative is that the drive force is being shifted from the City Departments to the citizens and businesses. In order for this to work, Norm said we need a buy-in by the residents and citizens of this community. He envisions putting a task force together who will brainstorm and then they will come to Council with their ideas. He concluded the goal of the 21/21 project it to once again capture the value of the region’s natural resources and develop a new economic base utilizing these resources in a sustainable manner.
Councilor Evans inquired what the 21/21 stands for.
Norm said 21 is for a maturing city and the other 21 is for being in the 21st Century. That name says it all and it is effective and it does work. Marketing is the key.
Nancy Clark from the Glen Group agrees it is a great name and is to the point.
Mayor Bertrand stated it suffices the purpose and is interested about the task force.
Benoit Lamontagne, DRED North Country representative, is on board with this initiative and mentioned that his agency is committed to do anything that helps bring attention to the City of Berlin, support the economy and create jobs.
Councilor Landry frequently hears negative attitudes about Berlin. Southern NH does not even know we exist. He agrees marketing is key but asked where that marketing money will come from.
Nancy Clark, Glen Group, is working with DRED to recruit business to the North Country. She specifically came to the meeting tonight to get Council’s feedback about a festival they are planning at Jericho Park next summer. They are planning an integrated event for the whole city tentatively July 10 and 11 2010. She wanted to verify those dates to begin marketing the festival.
Mayor Bertrand will ask staff to look into those dates to make sure there are no conflicts.
Ms. Clark will have 4X9 Rack Cards made and distributed at the rest stops advertising the event once a date if firmed up.
Max Makaitis supports the initiative for tourism. It is a great concept and he suggests interweaving this with other agencies such as the Chamber of Commerce to capitalize on gaining tourism money.
Councilor McCue is glad with what Norm is doing with the 21/21 Program and is glad the program not only covers motor sports but also considers other recreation activities. Keep up the good work.
Norm mentioned that his original documentation to draft the resolution contained the words “World Class” and he thinks those words are very important to the marketing process of this initiative. He urged the Mayor and Council to add those words to the resolution. Mayor Bertrand asked that those words be added to the third paragraph of the draft resolution for its first reading tonight.
Segregated Funds
City Manager MacQueen explained this is the routine annual Capital Appropriations carry-over resolution. They tried to whittle down many projects by going to the departments and getting good responses. The only project that was not carried over is the Heritage Park Boat ramp since there is a grant for that.
School Dept Memo re: CIP Project for Boiler at School
Corinne Cascadden and Marion Huntley notified the Mayor and Council that since the 2009/10 budgeted Capital Improvements were passed, updated quotes have been obtained for projects that need to be done in the schools. The updated figures to date can be done staying within the 2009/10 council appropriation of $477,185. Most importantly is the new boiler for Brown School and to get the bus ordered. The window project can be done later in the fiscal year.
Mayor Bertrand explained this was a straight forward reallocation of the Capital Improvement funds.
Pat added this can be done by a simple motion by the Mayor and Council approving the noted changes.
Councilor McCue thanked the School Department for looking to renew some projects which are a good use of money in the long run.
Councilor Lafleur asked how long it would take to complete the BJHS window replacement project and would it be completed this year.
Superintendent Cascadden replied that it is at least a 1-2 year Capital Improvement Plan.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor McCue to authorize the Capital Improvement changes to now reflect School Bus Replacement $80,000; Replace Windows BJHS $27,185; Boiler Replacement $370,000. So moved, the motion carried.
Chris Gamache entered the Work Session at this time. He informed the Mayor and Council that trail construction is under way with longer segments open and more design with 1.5 miles of twists and turns. The fifteen mile loop on the Head Pond side is the next site to be worked on. The Department of Corrections road crews worked to install new picnic tables and cleaned up the Jericho Lake property. Things are moving along well.
Mayor Bertrand has heard only positive feedback so far.
Councilor Landry asked Chris when they anticipate to have the Master Plan ready.
Chris replied it won’t be ready for a year or so since they are working to finish the RFP. They may be able to open a temporary camp site next summer.
Councilor Cayer asked about the prohibition on night riding and will that change?
According to Chris, the Bureau makes that decision. They may look to stay open later.
Request for Letter of Support for Historical Bridge Grant
The New Hampshire Department of Transportation is currently preparing a Transportation Enhancement grant proposal to provide funding to conduct Phase I of the Historic Highway Bridge Inventory and Plan Project. They are seeking a letter of support for this grant proposal to demonstrate public support for the project.
Councilor Poulin moved with a second by Councilor Landry to authorize staff to draft a letter of support to the DOT. So moved, the motion carried.
Labor Day Meeting Schedule
The Mayor and Council agreed to meet Tuesday, September 8, 2009 for the Regular City Council Meeting.
Other
Councilor Landry, in an effort to be pro-active regarding Economic Development, suggested that the City purchase the Rite-Aid lot to prevent it from getting into the wrong developers hands. The Pleasant Street lot currently is selling for $495 Thousand Dollars which is way too high for that piece of property. These are two important lots in the heart of Berlin and a plan to ensure proper development would be wise.
The City Manager said if the Mayor and Council want to look into that purchase, they will be discussing the CIP at the next meeting.
Mayor Bertrand reminded them that if someone does buy one of those properties, we have Zoning and Planning Boards to oversee and regulate the process.
The City Manager’s point of view is that Council needs to have a clear plan on what specifically to do with the building before they go ahead and make a purchase.
Councilor Poulin cautioned that Council is not in the Development Business. They should not get in the way of developers who have the right mechanisms in place but should encourage development.
Councilor Evans has a clear idea about the lack of parking on Main Street. It would be a good opportunity to have the City buy one lot to be developed specifically for parking on Main Street
Mayor Bertrand suggests talking about that at the Master Plan meeting.
Councilor Poulin will not buy property in the downtown due to lack of adequate Main Street parking.
Dedication for Randy Rosenberg
Richard Poulin, former Ward Four Councilor, sent a written request asking that the Mayor and Council consider naming the stretch of road between East Mason Street and the James Cleveland Bridge the Private Randy S Rosenberg Boulevard in his memory.
Councilor Poulin moved with a second by Councilor Landry to authorize staff to draft a resolution regarding the dedication for Randy Rosenberg. So moved, the motion carried.
On another matter, Councilor Poulin asked if we could work on replacing the insignia on the current city letterhead. He would like to do away with the smokestacks which are outdated and give Berlin the wrong image.
The City Manager will contact Laura Viger who previously did some preliminary work on this. He will get samples to bring to the next meeting.
There being no other business in the Work Session, Mayor Bertrand ended the Work Session at approximately 7:35 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
City Clerk
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