PUBLIC HEARING – January 18, 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 6:50 p.m.
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
There being no one wishing to speak for or against the above noted resolution, Mayor Bertrand closed the public hearing at approximately 6:51 p.m.
INAUGURAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING – JANUARY 18, 2010
Mayor Bertrand called the Inaugural City Council Meeting to order at approximately 6:51 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, Department Heads, several citizens and the press.
Minutes, Previous Meetings
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Landry to accept the minutes of the 1/04/10 WS & Regular Meeting; 1/11/10 WS. So moved, the motion carried.
Disbursements:
It was recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims to pay all bills dated 1/07/10–1/20/2010 for a total cash disbursement of $1,329,924.93 Draft #1608.~ Councilor Goudreau moved with a second by Councilor Evans to accept the disbursement summary and pay all bills as recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims. So moved, the motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Council Committee Reports.
Councilor Evans read the following Safety Committee Recommendations:
1. Snow Removal. That Council adopt an amendment to the snow policy which keeps downtown first on the snow removal priority but not on a repeated basis when there are back-to-back storms and the Schools have not been picked up.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to accept the snow removal recommendation. So moved, the motion carried.
2. Community Bible Church School Zone Request. To request staff to erect “School Zone” signs in that area on Sullivan Street at both the Coos and Grafton Street ends.
Councilor Landry questioned if it was just to put a sign at each end.
Councilor Evans deferred the matter to the City Manager.
The City Manager has asked the city attorney to find out if we can just put signs up and the legalities.
Councilor Cayer moved with a second by Councilor Poulin to have staff put up signs.
Councilor McCue is concerned because a school zone has certain speed limits and that designation affects criminal penalties in that zone as well.
The Mayor asked Councilor Cayer if he would consider rescinding his previous motion to designate staff to put up signs.
Councilor Cayer moved with a second by Councilor Poulin to rescind their previous motion. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Cayer then moved with a second by Councilor Poulin to authorize staff to gather more information to bring back to the Mayor and Council for further review. So moved, the motion carried.
2. 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 (tabled 1/04/10)
Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as follows:
WHEREAS, the Berlin Airport Authority was approached by James and Marsha MacKinnon to sell two parcels of land as described below:
Parcel A) located on the northeast side of French Hill Road beginning 2,300 feet southeast of the intersection of French Hill Road and Eastside River Road and extending southeasterly along French Hill Road for 1,822 feet. It is a pie shaped, mostly undeveloped wooded parcel totaling 4.03 acres.
Parcel B) 165 feet by 99 feet wooded parcel with a small spring abutting Old Whitney Road, a fence marking the boundary, more specifically being the premises described in the deed with water rights at Book 316, Page 205 of the Coos County Registry of Deeds, and
Whereas, the Berlin Airport Authority, the State of NH Department of Aeronautics and the Federal Aviation Administration have found that these parcels have no value to airport operations. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Berlin Airport Authority is hereby authorized to sell two parcels of land as described above for the appraised value of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) and be it further resolved that the Chair of the Berlin Airport Authority and City Manager are authorized to do all things necessary to effectuate the sale and sign the deed. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Remillard to remove the resolution from the table at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Remillard to have the resolution read a second time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Lafleur moved with a second by Councilor Remillard to pass the resolution. Roll call resulted in unanimous affirmative votes including Mayor Bertrand who declared the resolution passed.
SPECIAL PLAQUE PRESENTATION TO OUTGOING MAYOR BERTRAND AND COUNCILORS LAFLEUR AND GOUDREAU
Remarks by Outgoing Ward 2 Councilor Richard Lafleur:
Councilor Lafleur thanked the entire staff and people who make this city work. He stressed that we should keep focused and to remember we are from Berlin and should be proud. He then thanked his wife for putting up with this.
Outgoing Ward 3 Councilor Ronald Goudreau:
Councilor Goudreau said it was a pleasure working with the Mayor, City Council and Department Heads since they all worked together and had the city’s best interest at heart. He thanked the residents and said he leaves without regrets. Although it was hard work during budget season, he encouraged all to participate. He was surprised that so few residents attended Council Meetings and feels people on the most part are not informed about projects but rely on local media for their information. Councilor Goudreau thanked the City Employees for sharing what they do for the city. His two years on the Council was a learning experience while he toured of some departments and got a firsthand look at how they function. The two ride-alongs he went on with the Police Department showed him how much the city has
changed. Our population has decreased but our need for public safety has increased. He concluded that the next Council has long hours and much work ahead to maintain the two years of no tax increase. He cautioned them to remember a reduction in service is the same as a tax increase. He encouraged the school board to find ways to consolidate the SAU’s and put education at the top of the list. He urged all nine unions to work with the Mayor and Council to come to some compromise. He wished the new Mayor and City Council all the best.
Outgoing Remarks by Mayor David Bertrand:
Mayor Bertrand introduced Executive Councilor Raymond Burton, Senator John Gallus and Representative Paul Ingersoll. He thanked all and hopes they all work with the new Mayor and Council. He explained that his family was not here tonight due to an out-of-town hockey game but expressed heartfelt thanks for his family’s support. Serving as Mayor was not that bad and if the community is in your heart, it is not a burden. His experience as Mayor was rewarding and heartwarming. Mayor Bertrand thanked all staff, the City Manager, City Clerk, Pam Laflamme, and Andre Caron because these people are the backbone of the city. All departments are faced with tough tasks and they do a great job. The Schools, Public Works Director, Finance Director Blandine and Angela in the Welfare Office are also integral
to making the city work. He thanked all for working with him the last two years.
Mayor Bertrand then went on with a prepared speech stating what a pleasure it was working with this Council. By working together, they were able to prove that Berlin is ok to the rest of the state. He thanked Councilor Lafleur for his dedication, Councilor Goudreau for his banking experience and wished them both the best. To Councilor Cayer who two years ago knew nothing about Council but his diligence and hard work for the ATV trails is greatly appreciated. To Councilor Landry who had the tenacity to delve in and fill the vacancy in Ward One and who allowed the Mayor and Council to see your love and devotion to Berlin, you are the right person to continue serving in that ward. To Councilor McCue, who is insightful not just short term but also long-term and your devotion to other civic boards is proof you are a
crusader for Berlin. To Councilor Poulin, we embarked together to make the City of Berlin better and with your aggressiveness you continue to serve the City of Berlin. To Councilor Remillard who is passionate about the City of Berlin and finally to Councilor Evans who is the most fiscally tightfisted of all the Councilors. To new Councilors Danderson and Rozek, this is an exciting time for Berlin and Berlin can chart its own course. After the next four years have passed you can look back and say it is the first time in history that Berlin is free to be anything we want it to be. In conclusion, he advised the new Mayor and City Council to keep to the forefront and don’t look back. He wished them all the best of luck.
ADJOURNMENT OF PREVIOUS COUNCIL
Councilor Evans moved with a second by Councilor Lafleur to adjourn the City Council meeting at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
SWEARING IN OF NEW MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILORS:
City Clerk, Debra Patrick, swore in the following new officials:
Mayor: Paul Grenier
Council: Ward I – Ryan Landry
Ward II – Robert Danderson
Ward III – Michael Rozek
Ward IV – David Poulin
Ward IV – Timothy Cayer
Former Mayor David Bertrand presented the gavel to Mayor Paul Grenier
Inaugural Address by Mayor Paul Grenier:
Mayor Grenier thanked all for attending tonight. He went on to say that being on the Council has an impact on the family and thanked them for their support. He introduced his wife Brenda, son Eric and significant other Christine, Uncle Maurice and Mother-in-Law Jeannette. Before beginning his Inaugural Address, Mayor Grenier asked for a moment of silence for all our fallen heroes.
Mayor Grenier then introduced honored guests Executive Councilor Ray Burton, Senator John Gallus and Representative Paul Ingersoll. He also introduced Lou and Olivia Bravakis and Raymond Kusche of Laidlaw and added that these people want to spend over One Hundred Million Dollars and provide forty jobs in our community. Mayor Grenier thanked them for not giving up on Berlin.
He went on to say that tonight begins a new era. Berlin has the opportunity to become the green capital of the state. Nay-sayers should put their daggers away and begin to work together. He is here to represent the majority of people and as interveners, Berlin will have a huge voice in seventy jobs. The new correctional facility will start up in 2011 and we will welcome new families. As mayor, he pledges that he will not rest until he has new owners for the Cascade Mill. Mayor Grenier’s economic team consists of several key people and there is no room for personalities or egos. He gave the outgoing Mayor and Council high fiscal marks since fiscal discipline is a way of life. “Our citizens cannot afford a tax increase” he maintained. Mayor Grenier will ask the bargaining
units to attend a presentation by Primex to give a detailed insurance presentation to all on February 22 at the Junior High School. He extends a hand out to all employees out of respect for all they do for Berlin. With the community and unity in mind, Mayor Grenier will ask the City Council to re-vote to change the city seal. He asserted that the seal is not about the stack but rather, it represents why we are here and who we are as part of our history. We are known as the “paper city” throughout the state at different events like hockey championships. It proves we are resilient and this is a beautiful place to live. In conclusion, he vowed to work on economic development with other communities to create regional jobs in the Androscoggin Valley since some development may be a better fit in another community. Mayor Grenier announced that The Berlin Daily Sun has agreed to publish a monthly Mayor’s Report and he thanked Rose
Dodge and Barbara Tetreault for making it happen.
First Meeting of Council Called to Order by Mayor Paul Grenier
Roll call: Mayor Grenier, Councilors Remillard, Landry, Danderson, McCue, Evans, Rozek, Cayer, Poulin.
NEW BUSINESS
3. Public Comments: No public comments.
4. Resolution 2010-03 authorizing the City Manager to apply to the Office of Energy and Planning for the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program for funding up to Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000.00) for the energy efficiency projects related to municipal buildings. (1st reading)
Councilor McCue moved with a second by Councilor Evans to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing for February 1, 2010. So moved, the motion carried.
5. Resolution 2010-04 to Enter Primex3Health 1% Extra Discount Program July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011. (1st read)
Councilor McCue moved with a second by Councilor Landry to table the resolution and schedule a public hearing for February 1, 2010. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Evans asked the City Manager if a resolution was required. The City Manager replied that this is the procedure we have done in the past and it does require a resolution. At this time, we are not certain we will stay with Primex but have the resolution in case we decide to stay with them.
6. Other Nothing in other.
7. Adjournment: There being no further business before the Mayor and Council at this time, Councilor Evans moved with a second by Councilor Poulin to adjourn the regular meeting. So moved, Mayor Grenier declared the Inaugural City Council Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:50 p.m.
A True Record, Attest:
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
City Clerk
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