PUBLIC HEARING – January 4, 2010
Mayor Bertrand opened and called to order the duly advertised and scheduled public hearing to accept public comments on the below noted resolution at approximately 7:30 p.m.
Resolution 2010-01 Authorizing a $500,000 CDBG for Rehabilitating Notre Dame
Paul Grenier, served 16 years on the City Council and dealt with the Notre Dame High School building for at least ten years. He advised Mayor Bertrand and the Council that it is in the best interest of the City to pass the CDBG grant application and to work through the details for a workable solution. He emphasized that this building could be standing there another twenty years and then the City would have to bear the costs to tear it down.
There being no one else wishing to speak for or against the above noted resolution, Mayor Bertrand closed the public hearing at approximately 7:31p.m.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING – JANUARY 04, 2010
Mayor Bertrand called the regular City Council Meeting to order at approximately 7:31 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.~ The pledge of allegiance to the flag preceded roll call. Present: Councilors Remillard, Landry, McCue, Lafleur, Evans, Goudreau, Cayer and Poulin. Also present: City Manager MacQueen, Susan Tremblay, Pam Laflamme, Andre Caron, Paul Grenier, Corinne Cascadden, Max Makaitis, citizens and the press.
Minutes, Previous Meetings
Mayor Bertrand pointed out a minor error in the Work Session minutes under CDBG Funding for Notre Dame, fourth paragraph, second sentence: to change the Ms to MR. Councilor Evans moved with a second by Councilor Remillard to accept the minutes of the 12/21/09 WS & Regular Meeting. So moved, the motion carried.
Disbursements:
It was recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims to pay all bills dated 12/23/09–1/06/2010 for a total cash disbursement of $1,686,290.01 Draft #1607.~ Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Goudreau to accept the disbursement summary and pay all bills as recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims. So moved, the motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: No public comments
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Council Committee Reports. No Reports
2. Resolution 2010-01 Authorizing an application to the Community Development Block Grant Program for a Five Hundred Thousand Dollar ($500,000.00) grant to rehabilitate and revitalize 411 School Street (former Notre Dame High School) into senior living quarters. (tabled 12/21/09) Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as Follows:
Whereas, the City owns the 411 School Street site and has entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Dana Willis and Jim Tamposi (later to be known as Mt. Madison Investments, LLC) who plan to rehabilitate this location into senior living quarters; and
Whereas, the city is eligible, community wide, for CDBG funds based on data from Census 2000 documenting that 54% of Berlin residents are of low to moderate income levels; and
Whereas, the rehabilitation of the Notre Dame building, coupled with the efforts of HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program and the Neighborhood Revitalization Program will greatly improve this area of School Street; and
Whereas, the City Council adopts/re-adopts the attached Housing and Community Development Plan; and
Whereas, the City Council adopts/re-adopts the attached Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Assistance Plan; and
Whereas, all grant proceeds shall be deposited with the City Treasurer and any additional use of the funds beyond the scope of work as listed in the application shall require prior approval of the City Council.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Manager is authorized to sign and submit an application to the Community Development Block Grant Program for a Five Hundred Thousand Dollar ($500,000.00) grant to rehabilitate and revitalize the 411 School Street property (the former Notre Dame High School) into senior living quarters. Further, that the City Manager is authorized to receive said grant and do all things necessary to effectuate it and the grant proceeds are hereby appropriated in addition to all other funds for the purpose of the grant. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor McCue to remove the resolution from the table at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor McCue to have the resolution read a second time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor McCue to pass the resolution. Roll call resulted in unanimous affirmative votes with the exception of Councilor Landry who voted in the negative. Mayor Bertrand declared the resolution now passed.
NEW BUSINESS
3. Resolution 2010-02 Authorizing the Berlin Airport Authority (BAA) to sell certain parcels of BAA land for the appraised value to James and Marsha MacKinnon. (1st reading)
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Evans to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing for January 18, 2010. So moved, the motion carried.
4. City Manager’s Report
Snow
The snow has kept the Public Works Department busy for the last several days and the crews have been out pretty straight. They will be doing downtown starting tonight for the third time this winter. Although it doesn't seem like it, we have had 28.5" of snow so far this winter.
John Gallus Response
Attached is a response from Senator Gallus regarding the letter we sent him on the Mayor and Council's legislative priorities for the coming year. The letter speaks for itself.
Clean Power Development Closing
After the last Council Meeting after Council approval of the resolution, I signed all the documents necessary to close the sale of WWTF land to CPD. We are waiting for them to record the documents and receive our copy. The funds for the sale of land in the total of amount $50,000 have been received.
Opening of New State Office Building
The State HHS and District Offices will be moving to their new building over the next week or so. We are starting to think about how best to deal with the District Court which will be vacated by the District Court next week. We still have the City Inspections and Housing Offices in the basement and will likely hang onto it for the short term taking steps to reduce its carrying costs and testing the market to see what interest there is in rental. The building is an architectural landmark in the Downtown and ideally will fit into some type of redevelopment project in the future.
Safety Inspection Response
Our response to the list of safety concerns developed by the State DOL Safety Inspection was submitted to the DOL on December 16th. Although, we have spent a significant amount of time and money responding to these concerns, because some of them such as developing policy manuals weren't complete, they have required us to ask for an extension which we have done until April 1, 2010.
Legislative Matters
Cover your heads and keep your hands on your wallet, the 2010 Legislative Session is about to begin.
Retirement: In its last session, rather than take any serious steps (other than reducing the state's share for Group II employees) toward getting the hemorrhaging of the State Retirement System under control, it set up commissions to study the problem. These Commissions are studying how to continue Cost of Living Increases for Retirees, how to provide health care benefits to retirees and how to deal with municipalities which have paid final year compensation packages so great (spiking) that they greatly increase retirement costs. The Commission reports on these are available on the NHRS web site under News>News Archives.
Right to Know:
HB 425 is a 2009 holdover bill that will strengthen the penalties for violation of the Right To Know Law. It requires a court to invalidate the public action taken if there was a violation of RSA 91-A unless the court specifically finds that the circumstances do not justify such an invalidation. It also allows the court to impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 and remedial training for an individual who violates the law.
Public Works Monthly Report & Manager's Time Keeping - available for review in City Manager Office
Councilor Poulin moved with a second by Councilor Landry to accept the City Manager’s Report and place it on file. So moved, the motion carried.
5. Public Comments - No public comments
6. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Regarding the City Manager’s Report about the retirement system legislation, Councilor McCue spoke about those same problems in Portsmouth. They expect their costs to go up $850,000 to a Million Dollars. Although they are on a different scale, it is something this Council has to consider. It may be another reason to reach out to the local unions. Councilor McCue went on to thank all for a great two years on Council where he learned lots. He thanked outgoing Councilor Lafleur for helping him in Ward Two and said he will be missed. He then thanked Ron Goudreau and Mayor Bertrand for their efforts these past two years. He is looking forward to continue the work they have begun and thinks it will be an interesting next couple of years.
Councilor Evans reflected that after the Notre Dame High School Building discussion, he has come to the conclusion that Berlin has low property values and a high tax rate. We are a magnet for nonprofits who want to take advantage of our low property values. He does not blame Mr. Willis or Catholic Charities for the situation but the blame is on the Mayor and Council who have a job to do.
Councilor Landry questioned the City Manager about the recently cleaned up Main Street properties if the same person owned both lots. He thinks Council should start to think about what to do with those two lots and maybe downtown parking could be considered.
The City Manager replied that the same person owns both lots.
Housing Coordinator, Andre Caron added that the next step is to go to court then it reverts back to tax billing and then the lien process begins. It could be up to three years before anything can be done with those lots.
Mayor Bertrand asked if the owners might be interested in selling the lots. He was told the owners do not want to sell right now.
City Planner Pam Laflamme commented that parking for those lots is minimal at best. It would be best to look outside those parcels which would only add three spaces since they are not very deep.
City Manager MacQueen likes the new view that has opened there and hopes the land stays open.
Councilor Poulin asked the City Manager about the status of the commemorative Randy Rosenberg plaque. The City Manager replied that the Public Works Director has ordered the plaque.
Mayor Bertrand added that the Rosenberg family has requested that the dedication be held off until spring allowing out of state family members to attend.
Councilor Lafleur, thanked all the people he has worked with over the years who have made a big impact on his life. He reminded Council that it is the people who work for the City in all the departments that make up our city. This city is who we are and he hopes everyone believes this and that they try to keep things uniform. He concluded that it has been a privilege to work for his constituents and that he is not going far since he will have the opportunity to speak twice on Mondays.
Mayor Bertrand said the biggest thanks to Councilor Lafleur comes from his constituents, while he served with little pay and few thanks. He wished Councilor Lafleur well in his leisurely future.
7. Mayor’s Report. Mayor Bertrand wished all a Happy New Year.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor McCue to accept the Mayor’s comment and place it on file. So moved, the motion carried.
8. Adjournment:
There being no further business before the Mayor and Council at this time, Councilor Poulin moved with a second by Councilor Cayer to adjourn the regular meeting. So moved, Mayor Bertrand declared the Regular Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:58 p.m.
A True Record, Attest:
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
City Clerk
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