October 7, 2013
City Council Work Session
Present were: Mayor Grenier, Councilors Nelson, Higbee, Theberge, Benski, Otis, Morgan-Allain, Remillard, and Rozek
Others Present: City Manager Jim Wheeler, Community Development Director Pamela Laflamme, Health & Welfare Director Angela Martin Giroux; Barbara Tetreault, Berlin Daily Sun
Mayor Grenier opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. He asked that the agenda be amended to add Resolution 2013-23 Authorizing an Application to CDBG for a Feasibility Study for a Food Co-op in Berlin. Councilor Nelson so moved; Councilor Rozek seconded and the motion carried unanimously, thereby achieving the 2/3 majority needed.
Jericho Power Project Update
Mr. Laflamme explained that Jericho Power is a $19 million project with a long history. In 2006 Christian Loranger thought it would be a fun hobby to put windmills on Jericho Mountain. He and his father did all the work themselves and they went through a public process to get the wind project off the ground. Their turbines were 160 feet high with two blades. They had a lot of problems, operationally and with vandalism. He took his towers down in 2008 and put the property up for sale. David Brooks started Jericho Mountain Wind Company and was having difficulty with financing. Christian Loranger still owns the land.
Palmer Capital has been able to put the financing together for a wind project; they already have two small projects in MA. They received approvals in 2009 and asked for permits to be assigned to Jericho Mtn. LLC. The permits received in 2009 were not sufficient for the project they have in mind now, so they returned to the Planning Board and ZBA where three towers 500 feet high were approved. They hope to get construction underway by 12/31 to meet the deadlines in their financial package. The abutter Mr. Bouthillier, had appealed the Planning Board and Zoning Board’s decisions and he and the Deanne’s have since come to a mutual agreement.
Mayor Grenier clarified that Loranger still owns the land and the LLC will operate the wind farm. He wanted to be sure that it is clear that the land owner is responsible for removal of the towers if the project fails. There is a decommissioning plan with the operator; however the land owner holds the responsibility. Mayor Grenier added that we don’t want to get stuck with these windmills should the company go bankrupt. He added that the County has a letter of credit for $850,000 that is reviewable every ten years for the wind farm at Millsfield.
Councilor Rozek commented that all should be in place before they get a building permit. Mayor Grenier added that he wanted to be very clear that the land owner has a responsibility. Councilor Theberge asked where the lines will go and Ms. Laflamme stated that they will use existing lines where there are some, and go underground between the towers.
Mayor Grenier indicated that if they come to the Council for a PILT Agreement, there will be an appraisal done on the piece of property. He added that a PILT agreement is good for the community because the value will be maintained throughout the life of the turbines where if there is no PILT the value is very high in the first years and as depreciation occurs, the value goes down significantly.
2013-23 Resolution for CDBG for Coop
Ms. Laflamme reported that there is CDBG money available for a study to see if there is a market for a food Co-op. At this time the organization that will pursue the grant is likely to be WREN. The area is a food desert, with access to fresh produce; it would be additive to the existing grocery and market. Mayor Grenier questioned introducing a market when we have a market that pays real estate taxes. Ms. Laflamme said that Littleton has a tax paying Food Co-op. The grant would review data and revenues and estimate how many employees would be needed to see if it is feasible for Berlin. The study would cost somewhere around $10,500 which is what it cost for Littleton. Councilor Benski confirmed that there are no city funds in this project. Ms. Laflamme noted that the information obtained in
the study would be passed on to anyone interested. The resolution will give the Council’s authorization to apply for the grant. Ms. Laflamme reported that a co-op is privately owned and largely relies on membership. Councilor Higbee commented that the housing and redevelopment plan may need to be updated.
Letter from Conway re: 10 Year Plan
Mr. Wheeler explained that a letter was received from the Town of Conway making comment to the NH DOT 10 Year Plan regarding the Conway Bypass. He took issue with the phrase “… from an economic perspective, a north south route to areas north of Conway may no longer be as important as it was in the past” and felt that it is worth a clarification that economic growth in the north is just as important as it ever was. Councilor Rozek commented that traffic is so congested in Conway that there is no way to get through.
Councilor Remillard moved to send a letter of clarification on the economy in the north and promoting the bypass to Conway and NHDOT; Councilor Rozek seconded and the motion carried.
Lights on Burgess Biomass
Mr. Wheeler reported that the City received a complaint about the lights that were turned on at the biomass facility. There are white and red lights on the stack when there are supposed to be four blinking white lights during the day and at night those lights are red. We are asking if there is latitude in the rule where we could perhaps have four red lights that don’t blink.
Mayor Grenier asked for a snow removal policy update at the next meeting if the Public Works Director is ready.
Non Public Session
Councilor Remillard moved to enter into non-public session per RSA 91-A:3 II (c) Reputation; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Councilor Rozek moved to seal the minutes until the transaction is complete as releasing them would make the actions taken ineffectual; Councilor Morgan Allain seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Councilor Remillard moved to go into non-meeting per RSA 91-A:2, (a) Collective Bargaining; Councilor Rozek seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
There being no further business in work session; the Council went on to the Regular Meeting.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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