Work Session
September 4, 2012
Present were: Mayor Grenier, Councilors Otis, Remillard, Ducharme, Morgan Allain, Higbee, Rozek, Nelson and Théberge
Others present: Patrick MacQueen, Pamela Laflamme, Michael Perreault, Corinne Cascadden, Bryan Lamirande, Sylvia Poulin, Paula Benski, Patty Hood, Craig Melanson, Stephanie Ayotte, media and public,
Androscoggin Valley Community Survey
Ms. Cascadden reported that there were 197 respondents from Berlin to the survey about combining schools in the Berlin, Dummer, Errol, Gorham and Milan area. The results were inconclusive and Ms. Cascadden asked for guidance on what to do next. Mayor Grenier suggested exploring further synergies where school systems can cooperate to offer students more from existing resources. He added that, based on this information, he would not support a Charter change to relinquish control of school funding. Ms. Cascadden noted that the advice from the Department of Education is that combining to save money will not work.
BHS Homecoming Parade
Stephanie Ayotte addressed the Council saying that the Homecoming Committee wants to try something different by changing the Homecoming Parade route so that it comes down Main Street to Heritage Park in an effort to make it more of a community event. The Committee checked with City departments including the Fire Department, Water, PWD and Police and they agreed that the proposed route would work. The parade will culminate at the Heritage Park where the Bonfire will be held. Councilors are invited to march.
Councilor Remillard asked if merchants have been advised of the change and Ms. Ayotte stated that the Main Street businesses are closed during this event and it does not add a lot for businesses. Heritage Park will have food vendors giving them the opportunity to make money. Councilor Rozek confirmed that the route would not interfere with the hospital.
Councilor Rozek moved to close Main Street from Iceland Street to Twelfth Street from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday September 14; Councilor Otis seconded and the motion carried. Ms. Ayotte left the meeting at this time.
School Request for Capital Funds
Bryan Lamirande reported that the schools were able to return over $700,000 to the city from last year’s budget. They are requesting $89,250 for a bus and to have paving done at Marsten School. The 1999 bus is in need of body work and will not pass inspection. Mayor Grenier indicated that a resolution where the money would be appropriated from unappropriated fund balance will be drafted for the next meeting and it will require a 2/3 majority. Councilor Nelson confirmed that the 1999 bus will be traded in and the next bus to be sidelined is a 2001 with 200,000 miles.
Councilor Théberge asked about the difference between a Thomas bus and the “Blue Bird”. Ms. Cascadden noted that all the existing buses are Thomas so the bus garage already has parts. The Blue Bird bus is fancier and Thomas is the economy model. She added that there are grants to put in specialized heaters that are energy efficient. It was noted that there is an anti-idling policy for buses. Mr. Lamirande stated that the procurement policy was followed and prices are the result of sealed bids.
Capital Carry-Over Resolution
Mr. MacQueen stated that capital items not fully spent in the last budget are being carried over to this fiscal year. Councilor Remillard commented that the salt storage shed had been eliminated from the budget. Mr. MacQueen noted that the public works director has another option he wants to present to the Council.
Bickford Place Discussion
Mayor Grenier stated that he asked for this item on the agenda after walking through Bickford Place and finding it unkempt. There were cigarette butts everywhere. The police department has confirmed that there are people in the park at all hours. Mayor Grenier said that he brought this to the table for suggestions. There will be security cameras in place in a few weeks; however that does not address loitering; hanging around and making a mess.
Councilor Nelson suggested a curfew. Sylvia Poulin added that she contacted Northern Human Services to clean the park and paid them using Main Street money. She suggested that the major problem is cigarette smoking. Mayor Grenier proposed adding Bickford Place to the list of city parks and to establish it as a non-smoking area.
Councilor Rozek suggested that the PD have live audio into the park as well, and then a dispatcher could curtail activity by voicing in a warning. Councilor Remillard asked what other cities do such about rules for no loitering in the downtown after a certain time. Mr. MacQueen commented that the Council could close the park at a certain hour. Ms. Laflamme noted that the building alongside Bickford Place is about sold and the Council may want to find out who the tenant will be and what hours they will keep before a final decision is made.
Tennis Courts
Sylvia Poulin explained that as part of the Moving Downtown Forward project, it was found that the tennis courts on Glen Avenue need resurfacing and the fence needs to be painted. She mentioned this to Craig Melanson who is the high school tennis coach. The teams have been playing in Gorham due to the lack of adequate space in Berlin to play. Mr. Melanson commented that both courts are unsafe for athletes and teams. The courts have cracks, and cratering. He commented that fixing the Glen Avenue court would not be enough because the teams need at least 3 courts for tournament play, so the courts at Horne Field would need to be resurfaced as well. Ms. Poulin indicated that the downtown project would pay $8,000 for the Glen Avenue courts and she asked that the Council redo the Horne Field courts at a cost
of $8,000.
Mayor Grenier commented that he supports the school and the athletes and if someone had informed him that Berlin athletes have had to play in Gorham, they would have had the money earlier. Councilor Remillard agreed saying that this is the first that they hear that Berlin plays tennis in Gorham. Mr. Melanson and Ms. Hood left the meeting at this time.
Hutchins Street
Mike Perreault informed the Council that in advance of the paving work to be done this year, he sent cameras in the sewer lines along the proposed paving route and came back with information that shows some of the sewer lines need repair. These repairs can be done as part of the next I & I project to use a portion of the $1 million grant money from Rural Development.
The conclusion is that the section of roadway from 12th Street to Bean Brook will not be paved now; however the sewer lines will be repaired and paving will be done as part of the grant funded I & I project. In place of that section of road, Twitchell Lane south will be paved at no additional expense. Mayor Grenier stated that he is disappointed that the work will not be done now but it is good that we are doing it the right way and the final result will be improved I & I; new sewer and new pavement.
Councilor Nelson moved to accept the work order change; Councilor Rozek seconded and the motion carried.
Following the public hearings, Mayor Grenier moved the meeting into non-public session.
Non-Meeting
Councilor Remillard moved to go into non-meeting per RSA 91-A:2,1 (b) Collective Bargaining; Councilor Otis seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Non-Public Session
At 8:12 p.m. Councilor Nelson moved to go into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3 II (d) Consideration of the acquisition, sale or lease of real or personal property; Councilor Otis seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Councilor Higbee moved to come out of non public session; Councilor Remillard seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Councilor Higbee moved to seal the minutes of the non-public session until their contents is made public as releasing them would render the proposed action ineffective; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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