January 4, 2010
Work Session
Present were: Mayor Bertrand, Councilors Landry, Remillard, Lafleur, McCue, Evans, Goudreau, Cayer, and Poulin
Others present were: Andre Caron, Pamela Laflamme, Patrick MacQueen, Kathy Longenecker, Paul Grenier, Max Makaitis
US Census 2010 – Kathy Longenecker
Ms. Longenecker explained that she is an examiner and recruiter for the 2010 U.S. Census which will be an important part of the National agenda for this year. Census data determines the number of representatives in the Legislature; determines the makeup of the community and makes that information available to businesses who may want to come north. Census Day is April 1 and forms are being sent out in late February and March. Any non-respondents will be visited by census takers who will go door to door.
There are 135 positions available in Berlin and though these are temporary positions, they pay $15.00 per hour plus mileage and are expected to last several weeks from April on. Ms. Longenecker asked Council members to contact her with any ideas about how to fill the positions. Her e-mail address is katlong888@gmail.com .
Councilor Poulin confirmed that the job will involved going door to door and interviewing people to get the answers to a ten question questionnaire per person in the household. Applicants must be 18 years old, a citizen of the United State, have a driver’s license and be able to pass a test. Councilor Lafleur asked if any consideration is being given to our citizens who are French speaking and Ms. Longenecker
noted that she is hoping to have French speaking applicants among those to be considered. She left brochures about the census and left the meeting at this time.
Notre Dame Rehabilitation.
Mr. MacQueen reported that Andre Caron wrote a memo that gives perspective on the Notre Dame issue focusing on what the city will gain by redeveloping the building rather than allowing it to remain stagnant. Mr. Caron added that passing the resolution to allow the developers to apply for CDBG funding will give them time to formalize their plans. The City can retract the CDBG application; however if the resolution is not passed there is no possibility of making the deadlines to apply for the grant. Mr. Caron confirmed with CDFA that communities can pull their applications with no repercussions.
Mayor Bertrand reiterated that an affirmative vote on the resolution authorizes the application to CDFA for $500,000 of CDBG funds. The developers still have to compete against other towns. Mr. MacQueen noted that CDFA puts in the requirements that the authorizing body is supportive of the application and the resolution before the Council would fulfill the obligation and if the City chooses to withdraw the application, there would be no repercussions.
Councilor McCue asked if the funding would pay for work that has already been done to the Notre Dames building. Mr. Caron explained that the remedial work that has been done has been paid for through an EPA grant and city funds. None of this money would go to work already completed.
Councilor Goudreau questioned whether it was wise to use up the city’s allotment of CDBG funds for this project and he asked if having applied for this money would preclude the City from making it available to someone else who may come along. Mr. MacQueen indicated that if someone else could apply and the city has used its allocation for this year, there would not be any further funding for this round. However, Ms. Laflamme noted that there is $500,000 of public facilities money each round; and economic development grants are not affected by the public facilities allocations. Councilor Goudreau stated that he is disappointed that this project is looking like it will not be on the tax rolls of the city. Mr. Caron commented that this project is not stopping anyone from applying since there are no other
projects that would come in time for this round of funding. The earliest that a new application could be submitted would be in July of 2010.
Councilor Landry reasoned that the Catholic Church owns many properties in the city and most are not being used but are tax exempt. He felt blindsided by the prospect of Catholic Charities owning the building and not paying taxes. He questioned how many jobs would be created. Mr. Caron stated that the proposal is not as intensive as originally thought and it is likely that 3-5 jobs would be created. He added that the developers did not have to divulge their negotiations with Catholic Charities.
Councilor Landry asked, at what point can the grant process be stopped. Mr. Caron replied that if the Council wants the building developed and the neighborhood revitalized, the developers need this time to recalculate. The Council can request that at the end of February the developers come in to explain more of their plan. He cautioned against adding stipulations such as passing the resolution on the contingency of the property being taxable saying that it closes the door to too many opportunities. The City is working on the development of a neighborhood and hundreds of thousands of dollars will go into that neighborhood. If Notre Dame is not rehabilitated, it will not be a complete project.
Councilor Remillard acknowledged the opportunity to develop the Notre Dame building and stated that whatever number of jobs is created is more than what we have now. She encouraged this development but cautioned that we cannot remove every large building from the tax rolls.
Councilor Landry expressed that this project was to create 80 jobs and it is now down to 5. He stated that at some time some of these businesses have to pay taxes. People will not be able to afford to live here.
Councilor McCue voiced that there are a number of non-profits that make PILT payments. This grant is a $500,000 piece of the financing for this development. Though he agreed that it bothers him that it may not be taxable, the redevelopment of the parcel will go a long way to developing the neighborhood. He appreciated the developer’s candor at revealing that they were working with Catholic Charities and perhaps looking at a non-profit status; they could have kept it to themselves.
Mayor Bertrand surmised that the number of employees and taxes are not as proposed but we need to realize that trying to attract higher end clientele may be less likely due to Berlin’s economic situation. He encouraged the Council to pass the resolution so that the developers can move forward.
Max Makaitis explained that the jobs created are in a different model than originally planned. In this model everything will be outsourced creating jobs but not necessarily jobs directly employed by the facility. There will still be economics going on.
Airport Land Sale
Mayor Bertrand confirmed that the land being sold to the MacKinnon’s is of no value to the Berlin Airport Authority. This process has been going on for at least three years and it is on the recommendation of the BAA that the Council move forward with the land sale.
Other
Councilor Goudreau referred to payments appearing on the manifest made to Al Morrissette to reconcile bank statements and questioned whether the need to hire out has to do with having a part time finance director. Mr. MacQueen reported that the finance director was not able to find the time do the statements and it was the responsibility of someone in the department to do the job and they were not capable. He added that the auditor noted the problem during the audit and Mr. Morrissette has hired to do the work because he had done it before.
Respectfully Submitted
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
| 
