Work Session
March 14, 2011
Present were: Mayor Grenier, Councilors Remillard, Danderson, McCue, Evans, Rozek and Nelson
Others present: Berlin School Board Members, Martha Laflamme, Karen Dorval, Nathan Morin, Chair Nicole Plourde; Superintendent Corinne Cascadden, Business Administrator Bryan Lamirande, City Manager Pat MacQueen, Finance Director Betty Domino, Fire Chief Randall Trull, several School Department employees, media, and public
Mayor Grenier clarified that the BEA contract would not be voted on this evening because cost items on contracts need to be part of the record when voted on. The item will be on next week’s agenda.
Budget Session – School Department
Mayor Grenier welcomed the School Board and thanked them for their service. Chair Nicole Plourde presented the School Department budget. She reported that enrollment figures have gone down over ten years by 351 students. There has been an increase in class sizes due to last year’s cuts. She noted that the schools are within minimum standards; however the School Board strives for best practices.
It is important to note that the tuition rate formula is set by the state and is out of the school’s control. Ms. Plourde stated that 29% of Berlin’s tax rate goes toward education where in other communities, it is a larger percentage. Though the tax rate goes up, she said the schools got less.
Councilor Danderson indicated that funding coming from the state is disproportionately high in education funding. Schools get most of the money and the state is not giving revenue for highways, waste water or other departments. Ms. Plourde reasoned that the money from taxpayers is less and percentages of the tax rate for education are at an all time low. Groveton has 55% of their tax dollars going to schools. Mayor Grenier confirmed that the 3% increase for the BESS contract and 7.5 positions previously paid through stimulus are included in this budget and no increase is budgeted for negotiable contracts or non-union staff.
Ms. Plourde went on to say that the Board continues to look outside the box for savings including the purchase of a minivan for transporting special education students. Electrical repair was historically high and the schools now have a certified electrician on staff which should reduce costs. Cuts have also been made to compensate for uncontrollable increases in energy cost.
Federal programs are down $638,000 and the schools are getting less money in all areas. The percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch is 49.2% where the State average is 25.65%.
Special education expenditures won’t be available until the end of the year. The State average for special education students is 13 to 14% and ours is at 26%.
Ms. Plourde concluded her presentation of the budget by saying that local taxes pay for $2.89 million of the schools budget and the schools employ 268 people. She emphasized that the schools laid off ten people last year and the impact was the elimination of classes such as probability and statistics as well as calculus. The high school no longer offers French 4 and Spanish 4 which limits a student’s ability to get into a college that requires four years of language. It is critically important to bring the courses back so that the schools are not going backwards. Continuing cuts will result in losing the electives that give our kids the edge.
Mayor Grenier commented that the comparable data on page 5 of the school’s packet compares communities that have town meeting form of government. The city pays the school debt, and Honeywell and adding those expenses would increase the city’s contribution to more than 29% of the tax rate going to schools. If comparisons are made, it should be apples to apples. Mayor Grenier pledged to do what he can to maintain the school. The City’s unemployment rate is 10.2%, the highest in the state. The Council has the difficult role of trying to keep people in their homes.
Councilor Danderson remarked that block sessions may be taking away from using teachers to their maximum ability to teach. He said that there are 11.9 students per teacher which is below state average. Ms. Cascadden responded that there cannot be 30 students in welding or in an advanced class. Councilor Danderson noted that the classes with fewer students should be regionalized with Gorham. He agreed that comparisons with Gorham, where they have no full time fire department, are not the same. Higher taxes are going to make the city’s good people leave the City and go somewhere else. It will scare away business as well. Berlin’s teachers’ starting wages are 60th in the State and they are paid better than state average. He said that he is proud to have the
teachers we do, but we have to hold the line.
Ms. Cascadden pointed out that the school department has the legal obligation to educate 1315 students. She said, “There comes a time when we can’t downsize anymore.” She felt it is critical to keep the 7.5 positions that were paid for with ARRA funds last year. She noted that laying off ten last year brought up Unemployment Compensation rates. It is teachers at the bottom of the pay scale that receive pink slips. Ms. Cascadden established that there are Gorham students taking classes in Berlin and one Berlin student who took a class in Gorham. More effort is being made to cooperate. She stated that Berlin’s dropout rate is down to 1.16 %.
Councilor McCue thanked all teachers, staff and school board. He said that he appreciates that actions being taken to try to improve. He agreed that it is important to keep comparisons apples to apples. He commented that the jobs paid for by ARRA money existed in previous budgets and somehow we paid for those.
He asked about the 5% increase in salaries and Ms. Cascadden replied that the increase is for the BESS contract as well as the 7.5 ARRA positions making that a 5% increase. Councilor McCue asked how many people are in the Administrative Staff line item. He confirmed that increases in elevator maintenance and roofing are due to the cost of materials and age of equipment and buildings. An increase for postage is due to the City having the schools mail their own checks and bills. Councilor McCue commented that electronic deposits should be reviewed. He asked how the 5.2% increase in fuel was derived at. Mr. Lamirande confirmed that it is a “guestimate” adding that the schools buy fuel with the city in bulk.
Councilor Remillard asked about the increase in software support and Ms. Cascadden noted that these are the projected rates for existing software.
Councilor Nelson thanked the School Board and Ms. Cascadden noting a major improvement from previous years. She relayed that community comparisons should be with communities that have the services we have. She appealed to the employees to see what can be done with some of the incentives in the contracts; to see if employees can work with us. She asked what program directors do? Ms. Cascadden replied that the program directors are in charge of their program in all schools. They are Title 1 Director; Special Ed Director oversees 340 students in all schools; District Technical Coordinator; Career and Technical Ed Director; Guidance Director; Cafeteria Director; and Grounds Director.
Councilor Rozek thanked the School Board for working hard. He commented that there are currently 267 full and part time staff members and he would like to know how many staff members there were in 2000. He emphasized that if people are going to be attracted to the area are going to check on the education system. Pointing to the high number of students in grades in 1 and 2, he asked if it was a good idea to get rid of Bartlett School? Ms. Plourde responded that there would have been an additional $300,000 in the budget and additional staff.
Councilor Rozek asked what Ms. Cascadden’s vision is for the future of the career technical education program. Ms. Cascadden answered that it is a valuable asset and the State put a lot of money into the programs. It is a regional site where students come out skilled to move on to a career. Councilor Rozek commented that we have a niche to attract students from outside the area. He also believes we will have to look at scheduling 50 minute classes.
Councilor Evans confirmed that the current budget does not reflect any savings from the BEA contract. He asked if the schools participated in any on line courses. Ms. Cascadden referred to the Virtual Learning Academy and indicated that the schools do participate in on-line learning.
Councilor Danderson asked about energy management services with Honeywell to see if those charges can be eliminated. Ms. Cascadden responded that maintenance staff has to be trained to be able to control the system and that process has been started.
Councilor Nelson affirmed that residential placements are court ordered and Ms. Cascadden added that the number continues to change; there are 11 now and she expects 12 tomorrow. Councilor Nelson asserted that the career and technical programs are valuable as not everyone will go to college.
Councilor Remillard was assured that there are no layoffs in this budget and there are 3 retirees to be replaced: English teacher; Special Education teacher; and Guidance Director to be replaced with a guidance counselor.
Mayor Grenier stated that he is a supporter of education in Berlin adding that the School Board is gracious to take difficult questions and pressures. He said we are in a difficult situation and we have a responsibility to the school system. School Board members left the meeting at this time.
Other
Mr. MacQueen reported that he received a request from Senator Gallus’ office regarding a bill submitted in Concord that is expected to assist with respect to Laidlaw. Mr. MacQueen read City Attorney Chris Boldt’s comments, “In short, this bill would remove the cloud of doubt that was raised by Concord Steam, the IPPs and/or Staff on whether the existing legislation went beyond 2025.~ While some could argue that the bill itself acknowledges that the issue was legitimate, it in short clarifies that the General Court intends renewable energy to be a benefit to the State beyond the “cliff” of 2025 but that after 2025 there is no increase in percentages required”
Mayor Grenier stated that the original bill did not allow renewable energy credits beyond 2025 and the State did not have the language “and beyond” included. He said it was never the intent of the Legislature to shut down the credits in 2025 and that is how it could be interpreted. Mayor Grenier urged the Council to send someone to Concord to testify in support of the bill.
Councilor McCue expressed concern about legislation being rushed through to benefit particular parties and that it is being brought up while the PUC is in the process of deliberating. Mayor Grenier stated that this bill has been around since February 14 and the legislature did not rush. He said that Laidlaw has made it very clear, no power plant no Cascade mill. He felt it is a shame to have the legislative community standing in the way. The change to the legislation is to repair a flaw in the law.
Councilor McCue mentioned the short notice for the hearing saying the conduct of this session has been troubling.
Councilor Danderson moved to send the City Manager to Concord to testify in favor of the bill; Councilor Nelson seconded. In discussion, Councilor Rozek established that it is critical for the community to have unanimous support from the elected body. The motion carried on a vote of 6 to 1; Councilor Evans voted against.
Fire Department Response to Dispatch Question
Mayor Grenier stated that this item refers to questions raised as to how fire crews were dispatched to P & L Auto Parts. Chief Trull reported that he and the Assistant Chief were at a meeting and engines were en route to the scene. It was determined that a general alarm was needed and the Assistant Chief was sent to the scene and the Chief stayed at the firehouse to strike an alarm. There was an equipment failure and the digitizer had to be re-toned so that the alarm was heard.
Mayor Grenier asked if there was an issue with insulating foam at the fire. Chief Trull stated that he did not see any areas of spray foam insulation; however such insulation could release toxic fumes.
Councilor Danderson asked if the fire hydrant was frozen. The Chief reported that the fire hose froze when water was not flowing. Councilor Rozek mentioned that the Chief says he is short staffed and he finds it troubling that a fully trained firefighter is left at the station. Chief Trull noted that depending on the call, dispatching is switched to the PD. He confirmed that the fire department’s radio equipment has been updated through grant money; however the call system to call in firefighters is 20 years old.
Councilor Remillard acknowledged that each and every time there is an incident what comes out is how short staffed the fire department is. She said that the Council worked hard to support the department and keep to their budget.
Councilor Rozek questioned the frozen line and Chief Trull explained standard operating procedure noting that the operator will receive further training.
Councilor Nelson stated that Chief Trull has been the City’s chief for eleven years and it is important to let the chief be chief. He made the right decision and had the most experienced people at the fire. Mayor Grenier ended the comments.
Mr. MacQueen stated that he has always encouraged a free exchange of information between department heads and City Council; the only time it would be a problem is if a Councilor were to give a department head a direct order.
Non-Meeting
Councilor Remillard moved to go into non-meeting per RSA 91-A:2 , 1(b) collective Bargaining; Councilor McCue seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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