PUBLIC HEARING – NOVEMBER 1, 2010
Mayor Grenier opened and called to order the duly advertised and scheduled public hearing to accept public comments on the below noted ordinance and resolutions at approximately 7:46 p.m.
Ordinance 2010-14 Speed Limits
There were no comments on the ordinance
Resolution 2010-41 PD Milan Agreement Appropriation for $22,500.00
There were no comments on the resolution
Resolution 2010-42 Changing the Purpose of $21,755 of Bond funds from Jr. High Window Replacement to Brown School Window Replacement
Mitch Couture 605 Fourth Avenue and Chair of the School Board commented that the School Board has addressed the needs at Brown School and having this money for energy efficient windows goes along with what the Board is doing. He urged the Council to pass the resolution.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING – NOVEMBER 1, 2010
Mayor Grenier called the regular City Council Meeting to order at approximately 7:50 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The pledge of allegiance to the flag preceded roll call. Present: Councilors Remillard, Landry, McCue, Danderson, Evans, Rozek, Cayer and Poulin. Also present Patrick MacQueen, Nicole Plourde, Mitch Couture, Terry Couture, Jon Edwards, Walter Hanson, Joe Lapuma, media and public.
Minutes, Previous Meetings
Councilor Danderson with a second from Councilor Remillard moved to approve the minutes of the October 18 Work Session and Regular Meetings as well as the October 25, 2010 Work Session. So moved the motion carried.
Disbursements
The Committee on Accounts/Claims recommends paying all bills dated 10/21/2010 – 11/3/2010 for a total cash disbursement of $1,319,746.36 Manifest #1628. Councilor Remillard moved with a second from Councilor Danderson to accept the disbursement summary and pay all bills as recommended by the Committee on Accounts/Claims. So moved the motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Jon Edwards 323 School St wanted to make general comment based on the elections and how important they are. He said he was disturbed over votes that did count when it was obvious that there had been a 5/4 vote; it does not matter what the topic was. The City Manager had a choice to make and he chose to make a decision against the vote. It did not matter what the vote pertained to. This makes everyone question what they are going to the polls for. Management consulted with the attorney and it is an insult to whole Council.
Nicole Plourde, 111 Washington Street and a member of the School Board commented that in view of the last budgets and financial situation, the School Board has taken a hit and efficiently dealt with it. She was disturbed that the new comptroller was hired at such a high rate of pay. This is not setting the standard for other departments. She encouraged further review of the assistants’ position that is now vacant saying that more duties could be assigned to others in the office.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Council Committee Reports – there were no reports
2. Ordinance 2010-14 Speed Limits (tabled 10/18/10)
Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Berlin, as follows:
That the existing Sec. 15-41 depicted below in strikeout shall be replaced with the underlined language.
Sec. 15-41. Speed Limits
• Speed limits shall be as posted.
The speed limit at Jericho Road outbound on Route 110 beginning at the southern boundary of 40 Jericho Road (Isaacson’s Steel) to the southern boundary of 92 Jericho Road shall be 30 mph
(Ord. 11-23-2009)
Within the City of Berlin, speed limits shall be 25 mph unless otherwise posted. All speed limits shall be as shown on an official speed limit map of the City which is labeled "City of Berlin Speed Limit Map" which is hereby adopted and kept on file in the office of the City Clerk. Any subsequent changes to speed limits shall be made by City Council Resolution and shall be reflected on the City of Berlin Speed Limit Map. The City of Berlin Speed Limit Map will list the Resolution # and date of all subsequent revisions made to it by the City Council. Except for the 25 mph speed limit, speed limits shall be posted in accordance with the most updated City of Berlin Speed Limit Map. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after passage.
Councilor Danderson moved with a second from Councilor Remillard to remove the ordinance from the table. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Danderson moved with a second from Councilor Remillard to have the second reading of the ordinance by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Danderson moved with a second from Councilor Remillard to have the third reading of the ordinance by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Danderson moved with a second from Councilor Remillard to pass the ordinance. So moved, the motion carried.
3. Resolution 2010-41 PD Milan Agreement Appropriation for $22,500.00 (tabled 10/18/10)
Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as Follows:
Whereas the Town of Milan has contracted with the Berlin Police Department for police services; and
Whereas the current Police budget does not include funds for said services.
Whereas the total estimated appropriation required for Milan services for the current fiscal year is $45,000, leaving $22,500 to be appropriated.
Now therefore be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin, NH, that the sum of Twenty Two Thousand, Five Hundred ($22,500.00) Dollars is hereby appropriated from Undesignated Fund Balance to the Police Department budget for expenses pertaining to Milan contracted police services.
This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage
Councilor Remillard moved with a second from Councilor Landry to remove the resolution from the table. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second from Councilor Landry to have the second reading of the resolution by title only. So moved, the motion carried
Councilor Remillard moved with a second from Councilor Landry to have the third reading of the resolution by title only. So moved, the motion carried
Councilor Remillard moved with a second from Councilor Landry to pass the resolution. So moved, the motion carried
4. Resolution 2010-42 Changing the Purpose of $21,755 of Bond Funds from Jr. High Window Replacement to Brown School Window Replacement (tabled 10/18/10)
Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as Follows:
Whereas the Mayor and Council approved the School Department’s capital request to replace windows at the Jr. High; and
Whereas, window replacement is also a planned project for Brown School.
Now therefore be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin, NH, that the current remaining balance of $21,755.00 from the bond issue in Resolution #2009-43 for Jr. High Window Replacement is hereby changed in name and purpose to Window Replacement at Brown School.
This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage
Councilor Danderson with a second from Councilor McCue moved to remove the resolution from the table. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Danderson with a second from Councilor McCue moved to have the second reading of the resolution by title only. So moved, the motion carried
Councilor Danderson with a second from Councilor McCue moved to have the third reading of the resolution by title only. So moved, the motion carried
Councilor Danderson with a second from Councilor McCue moved to pass the resolution. So moved, the motion carried
NEW BUSINESS
5. City Manager’s Report
Tax Rate Setting
The approved tax rate finally set by DRA is $31.70/K.
BHA Pilot Payment
Attached is a letter from Mary-Jo Landry Executive Director of the Berlin Housing Authority which covered the BHA's payment in lieu of taxes to the City this year of $11,228.33. This is up close to three thousand dollars over prior year payments and is greatly appreciated. The BHA has been faithfully making Pilot payments to the City for many years.
ATV Group Meeting
A meeting with some of the York Street residents and the group that has been the steering committee for the Cross-Town ATV trail met on Wednesday October 20, 2010. The residents had the opportunity to communicate in detail all of their concerns to the group and there was good discussion about how best to deal with the issues. There was consensus among the ATV group that the trail next spring should be put back through the Dead River Park and that steps should be taken to try to anticipate and deal with the known issues that that will create.
Visit from Senator Shaheen
Senator Shaheen paid Berlin a visit last Thursday. She toured the NSP project area on the east side and witnessed the dramatic change which occurred there.
NHDES Visit
Mike Wimsatt, John Reagan, Keith Dubois from NHDES and Peter Roth from the AG's office were in Berlin on October 20th, to look at various projects and issues in Berlin including the NFHP research buildings and the Notre Dame building. Andre Caron and I were able to talk with them also at some length about issues surrounding Dummer Yard.
Better Buildings Meeting
Last Tuesday another meeting was held at WMCC to continue planning the approach for Berlin with respect to its being one of three communities (with Nashua and Plymouth) to be chosen for this energy assistance program statewide. It is finally starting to sink in with the people running this program that Berlin is a very different community than either Nashua or Plymouth and that the program in Berlin will have to be structured quite differently than the program in those two communities simply because Berlin's demographics and housing stock are so different than those communities.
East Milan Road Paving
Sargent Construction had been able to isolate the remaining leaks in the new force main as being north of White Mountain Lumber. Sargent was therefore was able to pave last week the remaining unpaved trench all the way to the 12th Street Bridge. The first leak was an easy find as it was a cracked pipe. The second leak, which was very small leak, was the difficult one. Even when isolated as being above WML, it still had to be isolated section by section. It turned out to be a rubber gasket at a pipe joint fairly near the new pump station. It has been repaired and the force main is being pressure tested again. Hopefully, this second discovered leak will turn out to be the final leak. The paving from the Bridge to the urban compact line has also been ground in anticipation of final paving next year.
12th Street Bridge Project
The concrete for the bridge deck has been tested and is ready to go. The holdup at this point is the last expansion joint which is supposed to arrive this Wednesday. It will be installed as soon as it arrives and the concrete poured in place around it. Then it is simply a matter of giving that concrete enough time to cure and doing some final paving. Based on this, they currently anticipate opening the bridge on the 15th of November.
Paving Projects
Both the Hutchins Street and the Highland Park paving projects are slated to begin this week. The iron has been removed from the street in these areas allowing these two paving projects to go forward.
Demolition Projects Underway
The demolition project contracts for 796 Western Avenue, 761 Second Ave, 169 Green Street and 692 Second Ave. have all been awarded and should get underway this week.
White Mountain Ridge Runners Thank You
Attached is a letter from the President of the White Mountain Ridge Runners snowmobile group thanking the City for its assistance in moving a portion of their access trail near the Dead River on City property to higher ground. A picture of the new trail with the old submerged trail to the left of it is attached.
Public Works Monthly Report
Attached.
Manager's Timekeeping
Attached.
Mayor Grenier affirmed that the issue of dust and noise on York Street was reviewed and Councilor Cayer acknowledged that it was. Councilor Danderson commented on the change of trail location back to Dead River Park saying that changing the trail could be problematic.
Councilor Danderson moved with a second from Councilor Landry to accept the Manager’s Report. So moved, the motion carried.
6. Mayors Report
Mayor Grenier reported that he went to the Housing Authority to view apartment renovations that are taking place that will fully take care of handicap accessibility. The job is well done and buildings built in the early 70’s are being revamped with asbestos removal and renovation. The Housing Authority is having an open house on November 10 and he encouraged all to attend.
He went on to say that the County is preparing a budget and the Commissioners have pledged to keep the budget as tight as possible so as not to pass on a tax increase to municipalities.
He also mentioned that he went to a luncheon with Senator Shaheen to discuss ongoing issues in the community.
Councilor Danderson moved to accept the Mayor’s Report; Councilor Landry seconded and the motion carried.
7. Public Comments
Jon Edwards 323 School Street commented that the Mayor’s report in the Berlin Daily Sun focuses on county taxes and he appreciates that the Mayor is trying not to affect Berlin. He went on to say that Biomass facilities in the County are concerned about going out of business. They have gotten together to form a coalition to combine their effort to intervene at the State level in hopes that they will be able to continue to function. Berlin is the host town that could potentially ruin their businesses. It is an important aspect, for the whole infrastructure of wood commodity industries that support a huge portion of Coos County’s tax revenue. He said that there are 120 jobs directly associated that are coming forward, concerned for biomass in the North Country.
Walter Hanson, 57 Sweden Street commented that his previous comments have been about the City taking a position for one business over another. This is a free market enterprise. Biomass plants have been on the fringe for a lot of years. Laidlaw is not affecting something that is already going down. He said that he’s been in business and finds Berlin to be unfriendly for business. He went on to say that whatever is going on in Whitefield, Penacook, Concord is not our issue; we have to learn to survive ourselves. It’s business. He said there is nothing going on in the country and we are lucky we have someone interested. He encouraged the Council to do everything possible, stick together and get someone to come here.
Mitch Couture, 605 Fourth Avenue thanked the Council for passing the resolution for Brown School windows. He expressed disappointment that he was led to believe by the State that some of the money in the energy grant received by the City could be used for an energy project in the schools. He said that he is disappointed that the State did not follow through.
Joe Lapuma, 71 Wood St questioned why the Council flip flops on Laidlaw. Taxes are going up and there is nothing coming in. He said he is being pushed out and we need taxpaying businesses here. People feel the same way. He felt Council was not doing what they were asked to do.
8. Council Comments
Councilor Remillard commented that she agrees with Ms. Plourde and would like to look again at the possibility of hiring from within. She said she is committed to reducing the size of city government, and that the Mayor and Council should be setting the example.
Councilor McCue mentioned the revised speed limit ordinance and said that there should be some publicity advising of the changes. Also, a reminder that the winter parking ban began November 1.
He added that demolition is occurring in Ward II on School Street and he appreciates Andre Caron and the NSP that has been a huge asset to bringing the neighborhood back. It’s making a difference.
He also encouraged all to get out and vote. He said that he hopes candidates will remember their way to Berlin.
Councilor Remillard proposed bringing the assistant comptroller’s position back to City Council for a vote. She reasoned that the Council has required all departments to cut back and we have to follow suit. Any position can be eliminated and positions restructured to pick up the difference.
Councilor Poulin agreed. Mayor Grenier made the Assistant Comptroller position an agenda item for the upcoming Monday agenda.
Mayor Grenier asked that Senator Gallus and State Representatives be invited to the next meeting.
9. Adjournment
Councilor Rozek moved to adjourn; Councilor Poulin seconded and the motion carried. The meeting ended at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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