PUBLIC HEARING – January 3, 2011
Mayor Grenier opened and called to order the duly advertised and scheduled public hearing to accept public comments on the below noted ordinances and resolution at approximately 7:32 p.m.
-Resolution 2011-01 Sale of 411 School Street to CAP. No comments
-Resolution 2011-02 Increase PD Outside Overtime Budget:
Police Chief Morency said there was some confusion about this resolution. When he sat down in June to discuss the budget and was asked if this amount would keep everyone working he said as long as he could reduce the appropriation requests for outside agencies, as those are offset by corresponding revenues, and he could return to request funds for those line items if necessary--possibly on a quarterly basis—then yes, the amount would keep everyone working. ~ Next year the requests for outside agencies will be kept separate apart from the budget to make it clearer for everyone
-Resolution 2011-03 PD Application for Primex Grant for ERT Safety Equipment. No comments
There being no one else wishing to speak for or against the above noted resolutions, Mayor Grenier closed the public hearing portion of the meeting at approximately 7:36 p.m.
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING – JANUARY 3, 2011
Mayor Grenier called the regular City Council Meeting to order at approximately 7:36 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.~ The pledge of allegiance to the flag preceded roll call. Present: Councilors Remillard, Landry, McCue, Evans, Rozek, and Poulin. Councilors Danderson and Cayer were absent. Also present: Pat MacQueen, Andre Caron, Police Chief Morency, citizens and the press.
Minutes, Previous Meetings
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor McCue to accept the minutes of the December 20 Regular Meeting/Work Session. So moved, the motion carried.
Disbursements: No Disbursements.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: Richard Lafleur, for the record, thanked all city employees for all they do and wished them a Happy New Year.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
- Council Committee Reports – No reports
- Resolution 2011-01 Authorizing the sale of 411 School Street (Map 128, Lot 160) (often referred to as the Burgess School or Notre Dame High School) and the adjacent lot Map 128, Lot 159) for $1.00 and a commitment to rehabilitate the building for a needed use within the community.
(tabled 12/20/10) Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as follows:
WHEREAS, the City of Berlin took ownership of 411 School Street (Map 128, Lot 160), the lot adjacent to it (Map 128, Lot 159) by tax deed in June of 2000; and
WHEREAS, the building was both contaminated and one of the worst blighted structures in the City of Berlin and has not been on any tax rolls for many years, and
WHEREAS, the City has been engaged in the cleanup of these properties and adjacent area over several years in an attempt to make it marketable where it could be purchased by an interested developer and turned into something positive for the neighborhood and the entire community, and
WHEREAS, the City had previously entered into a purchase and sale agreement for these properties with Dana V. Willis of 47 Commercial Street, Boscawen, New Hampshire 03303 and James N. Tamposi Jr. with a principal place of business of 91 Amherst Street, Nashua, New Hampshire 03064; and
WHEREAS, the above named principals could not develop a profitable business plan or obtain all of the necessary funding; and
WHEREAS, Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc. is willing to restudy the purchase, financing and redevelopment of these properties for the benefit of the community and provide additional needed services; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined that the public interest is best served by the transfer of these properties for the furthering of needed community services. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Mayor and Council of the City of Berlin that they hereby authorize the City Manager to sign a purchase and sale agreement and do all things necessary to effectuate this sale including executing the quitclaim deeds for the sale of 411 School Street (Map 128, Lot 160) and the lot adjacent to it (Map 128, Lot 159) for the amount of $1.00. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor McCue to remove the resolution from the table at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor McCue to have the resolution read a second time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor McCue to have the resolution read a third time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor McCue to pass the resolution at this time. So moved, the motion carried and Mayor Grenier declared the resolution now passed.
- Resolution 2011-02 Increasing the Police Department’s Outside Overtime budget appropriation for fiscal year 2010-2011 by fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000) and increasing the Police Department’s Group II Retirement budget appropriation by Two Thousand, Nine Hundred Sixty-Three Dollars ($2,963); said increases to be offset by revenue from Undesignated Fund Balance. (tabled 12/20/10)
Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as follows:
WHEREAS past practice dictated that Police Department outside overtime details be paid from a zero-appropriation line item entitled Outside Overtime, and reimbursements received for said details were deposited into the same account; and
WHEREAS in August, 2006, the City auditors imposed that the City fund the outside overtime line item by appropriation and offset it with a corresponding revenue line item; and
WHEREAS the FY’11 Outside Overtime appropriation was adjusted to $10,000 in anticipation of decreased outside details; and
WHEREAS the number of outside details is unpredictable, and at 45% into the fiscal year, the Police Department’s outside overtime appropriation is 92% expended; and
WHEREAS additional outside overtime expenses are anticipated through June 30, 2011. Now therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin, NH, that the additional sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) is hereby appropriated to the Police Department budget for payroll expenses related to outside overtime (01-420-116-3000), and the additional sum of Two Thousand, Nine Hundred Sixty-Three Dollars ($2,963.00) is appropriated to the Police Department Group II Retirement appropriation (01-420-713-3000) for outside overtime retirement-related contributions. Further, that these additional appropriations will be offset by equivalent revenue to be taken from Undesignated Fund Balance. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Landry to remove the resolution from the table at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Landry to have the resolution read a second time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Landry to have the resolution read a third time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Landry to pass the resolution at this time. So moved, the motion carried and Mayor Grenier declared the resolution now passed.
- Resolution 2011-03 Authorizing the Berlin Police Commission to apply for and accept Two Thousand, Sixty Three Dollars ($2,063) in grant funds from Primex for safety equipment. (tabled 12/20/10)
Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as follows:
WHEREAS, safety in law enforcement is critical; and
WHEREAS, the Emergency Response Team (ERT) responds to volatile situations requiring specialized safety equipment; and
WHEREAS, said safety equipment deteriorates quickly under such extreme use; and
WHEREAS, the ERT is in need of helmets and protective gloves; and
WHEREAS, Primex has grant funding available which would enable the Berlin Police Department to acquire four bullet-proof helmets and twelve pair of protective gloves for the ERT. Now therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin, NH, that the Berlin Police Commission is authorized to apply for and accept funds from Primex for the purpose of purchasing bullet-proof helmets and protective gloves. Further, that $2,063.60 be appropriated to the Berlin Police Department for the purpose of effectuating said grant. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Landry to remove the resolution from the table at this time. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Landry to have the resolution read a second time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Poulin to have the resolution read a third time by title only. So moved, the motion carried.
Councilor Remillard moved with a second by Councilor Landry to pass the resolution at this time. So moved, the motion carried and Mayor Grenier declared the resolution now passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Legislature Will Be Back in Session
The New Hampshire General Court will be back in session beginning January 5th. This also means that you will begin to receive Legislative Bulletins from the New Hampshire Municipal Association (LGC). Needless to say, we will again have to watch closely what the State does as it will undoubtedly be looking everywhere to save the state money or raise additional revenue for the state. That usually means that revenue which comes to municipalities is fair game as has been the case for the last couple of years.
I&I Project Bids
Bids for this project were received on Tuesday the 21st. The apparent low bidder is In Situ Form at $348,830. The other bidder was Green Mountain Pipeline Services in the amount of $393,393. The Engineer's estimate was $ .The bids are being reviewed by the Engineer Wright-Pierce so they can make an award recommendation which has to be approved by both NHDES and USDA RD before we can award it.
As you know, the work involves re-lining in place the existing pipe which runs south along the river from the College to the Dairy Bar pump station. The remaining schedule for the project is for the work to be carried out from January through March. We are hoping that this work will do much to cut down on the high flows we get in our sewer system in heavy rain events.
Start of Budget Process
The budget process will start this week with a budget memo and budget forms going out to all the Departments. Departments will be requested to have their budget forms back to the City Manager's office by Friday January 21st. I will then sit down with all the Departments and review their proposed budgets in order to prepare a City Manager budget for review by the City Council in March.
Personal Thank You From Senator Shaheen on the NSP
Attached is a nice and well-deserved thank you from Senator Shaheen to Housing Coordinator Andre Caron on the very impressive work that has been accomplished in the City's NSP program.
Northern Human Services PILT
I am pleased to report that we have received a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) payment of $3,500 from Northern Human Services.
Fuel Assistance Cut
The Federal Government has cut NH's share of Fuel Assistance (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) to $19.7M from $40.8M. This will undoubtedly lead to more people seeking fuel assistance from the City Welfare this winter.
New Hampshire Department of Corrections 2010 Annual Report
This year we have received a copy of the Annual Report of the New Hampshire Department of Corrections. As it is a booklet, it is not attached hereto but is available in the office for anyone who would like to review it since we have one of the major NH Corrections facilities here in Berlin.
Public Works Monthly Report and Manager's Time Keeping Available for review in the City Manager’s Office.
Mayor Grenier had one recommendation that when legislature starts to have the City Manager have open communication with majority party member Mark Tremblay. The City Manager agreed to contact Mr. Tremblay so they could work together on upcoming legislation.
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
6. Mayor’s Report
Mayor Grenier mentioned that the Public Works Department did good job cleaning snow. The first storm is always difficult. He commended them for their hard work.
Councilor Poulin moved with a second by Councilor Landry to accept/file the Mayor’s Report. So moved, the motion carried.
7. Public Comments
No comments
8. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Councilor Rozek said there was some misunderstanding when he asked the Fire and Police Chief about whether or not they had XM radio which is an FM receiver for a radio. He asked the City Manager to find out if any department has those in their vehicles. He would like to know the number of units we have, what the monthly fee is for those and how they are being paid.
It was the consensus of Council to meet on January 17 as usual despite the Civil Rights Holiday.
9 Adjournment:
There being no further business before the Mayor and Council at this time, Councilor Rozek moved with a second by Councilor Landry to adjourn the meeting. So moved, Mayor Grenier declared the Regular Meeting adjourned at approximately 7:54 p.m.
A True Record, Attest:
Debra A. Patrick, CMC
City Clerk
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