City Council Special Meeting & Work Session
November 11, 2013
Present were: Mayor Grenier, Councilors Otis, Remillard, Benski, Morgan Allain, Higbee, Rozek, Nelson and Theberge
Others present: City Manager Jim Wheeler, Charlie Cotton of Northern Human Services, Pauline Tibbets and Fran Cusson representing AV Home Care, Community Development Director Pamela Laflamme, media and public
Special Meeting
Mayor Grenier opened the Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m. All were present at roll call.
Election Results
Councilor Rozek moved with a second from Councilor Higbee to accept the results of the November 5 election; so moved, the motion carried.
Work Session
AV Home Care Update
Ms. Cusson reported to the Council that November is Home Care Month and AV Home Care is appreciative of the City funding they receive to supplement the services provided to elderly citizens. Title 20 is a program that allows the elderly to remain in their homes by assisting with shopping, meal preparation, house cleaning and companionship. The money from Berlin remains with the Berlin residents. Last year AV Home Care provided 9000 hours to190 clients who are charged on a sliding fee scale anything from $5 per month to $75 per month.
AV Home Care employs 65 people, 25 full time and 40 are part time. Ms. Tibbets stated that people are encouraged to pay if they can. There is a small fund called Dorothy’s Gift that assists people with an inability to pay. Mayor Grenier said that the direction the state wants to head is to keep people in their homes as long as possible to avoid the cost of nursing home care. He thanked Ms. Tibbets and Ms. Cusson for their work and for the update.
Northern Human Services
Charlie Cotton reported that Northern Human Services helps people with developmental disabilities, substance abuse, and mental health on a fee for service basis. Funding from the city is used as match for grant funding. This year 773 were treated with over 300 receiving emergency treatment.
Mr. Cotton stated that he regrets not being able to do enough with early childhood problems. Coos County is participating in a maternal screening project where every mother of a young child is screened for depression as part of the child’s doctor visits. Early intervention works. It is important to get the idea across that mental illness is no different than any other illness.
Mayor Grenier asked if it is the same residents who require service and Mr. Cotton said that the majority of service is for a revolving population. Mayor Grenier asked if treatment is usually for life pressure or a catastrophic event. Mr. Cotton noted that much is attributable to genetics; if one has a parent with depression, it is likely they will have depression.
Councilor Rozek commented that mental illness is on the rise; he asked if more could be don’t to reopen Riverside 2. Mr. Cotton clarified that mental illness is more readily diagnosed and there is more willingness to acknowledge it and we hear about it more. Northern Human Services provides 24 hour crisis response and emergency services; they contract with AVH to provide services.
Councilor Higbee commented that there is great benefit to providing mentoring such as the Big Brother, Big Sister Program. He asked if there is a movement to bring back mentoring. Mr. Cotton agreed that one positive adult can mean a lot in a child’s life and now the focus is on the parent. Mentoring needs to be done right and the program is too expensive to continue.
Councilor Remillard asked about the lack of beds for the mentally ill. She mentioned the Statewide Conversation on Mental Health and Abuse that is to take place at the Community College on November 14. Mr. Cotton reported that there is an effort to open a facility in Franklin and more beds at NH Hospital are planned. There can never be enough beds but assertive community treatment can put staff with people 7 days per week and that can keep people out of expensive treatment. Mayor Grenier thanked Mr. Cotton for the information.
Planning Board Communication
Mr. Wheeler referred to a letter from the Planning Board respectfully declining to do more work on the issue of backyard chickens. Councilor Remillard who is the Council’s representative on the Planning Board added that a majority of the board has no interest in reviewing the matter again. With no animal control in the City, there are enough issues at hand without addressing chickens.
Mayor Grenier stated that the predominant issue while he was standing at the polls on November 5 was that constituents wanted no chickens. Mayor Grenier vowed that he will not be putting the issue on any agenda in the future. A majority of the Council would have to vote add the issue to a future agenda.
Winter Parking Ban
Councilor Rozek said that he was asked at the polls why the City can’t start the winter parking ban when the first snow storm occurs. Mr. Wheeler stated that having a definite date allows for advance notice. An uncertain date would likely result in more violations.
Mayor Grenier said that he agrees with the November 1 date because it is easier to execute. We don’t have the media coverage to get the word out to people like in larger cities. Councilor Remillard added that the definition of how much snow triggers the parking ban would also be debated.
There being no further business, Councilor Rozek moved to adjourn; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried. The meeting ended at 7:20 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
| 
