Work Session
December 9, 2013
Present were: Mayor Grenier, Councilors Otis, Remillard, Benski, Morgan Allain, Higbee, Rozek and Nelson; Councilor Theberge was absent.
Others present included City Manager Jim Wheeler, Health & Welfare Director Angela Martin Giroux, Public Works Director Mike Perreault, Community Development Director Pamela Laflamme, CAP CEO Mike Coughlin, and Barbara Tetreault Berlin Daily Sun
Mayor Grenier called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Tri CAP Presentation - Mike Coughlin, CEO
Mr. Coughlin explained that he has spent a lot of years in the non-profit field all over New England. He is most impressed with the depth of support from the community and litany of services offered by Tri County CAP. The mission of CAP is to help those in poverty to get out of poverty and those on the cusp to stay out of poverty. He thanked Special Trustee Todd Faghey who helped guide CAP through its “troubles”. What has come out is an agency that is stronger with no lack of dedication among the employees. The table is set for the agency to come back vibrant and make sure there is fiscal discipline.
Mayor Grenier suggested opening to questions from the press and the Council did not object. Barbara Tetreault asked about the status of the Northern Forest Heritage Park and the city. Mr. Coughlin stated that owning the Park is not within the mission of CAP though he acknowledged that it is a great resource for the community. He added that for the right price, the City would be a good place for it to land.
Councilor Remillard asked if there are any programs that were cut that the Council should know about. Mr. Coughlin stated that the Alzheimer’s Day Program was cut because the cost is increasing and the numbers of those using the services are shrinking. There will still be support for care givers and family members; however it will not be in the form of adult day care.
Ms. Tetreault asked if a Board of Directors will be in place soon and Mr. Coughlin said that there is a full slate of directors and the first meeting is expected to be in December. Mayor Grenier thanked Mr. Coughlin saying that he is a welcome asset to the community. Mr. Coughlin left the meeting at this time.
Proposed Increases in Public Health Clinic Fees
Angela Martin Giroux reported that she is proposing to increase fees in the public health clinic; the increases are between $2 and $5. She answered a question from Councilor Remillard saying that there are no sliding fees for services. Mayor Grenier asked if only Berlin citizens receive services and Ms. Martin Giroux said that services are not denied to people who are not from Berlin. Most of the services are done by the nurse supervisor who is in the office whether there are patients or not. Mayor Grenier’s concern was that servicing non-Berlin people could result in nursing time that would not be billed out. Ms. Martin Giroux indicated that there is no such issue at this time.
Service Current Fee Proposed Fee
Foot Clinic Office Visit $15.00 remaining the same
Home Visit $18.00 $20.00
Cholesterol $15.00 $20.00
TB test~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $12.00 $15.00
Diabetic Screening~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $1.00 $3.00
Blood Pressure~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $1.00 remaining the same
Hepatitis Series~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $35.00 remaining the same
Councilor Rozek moved to implement the proposed clinic fee increases as of January 1, 2014; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
Welfare Guidelines
Ms. Martin Giroux reported that Welfare Guidelines need to be updated periodically. There is a new law going into effect January 1 that allows the city to give assistance to someone who is getting old age assistance. Before the change, a client was not eligible for additional assistance when they were getting assistance from another source. Mayor Grenier confirmed that the new law will allow a decision by the Welfare Director on a case by case basis. The Welfare Guidelines were also reviewed by the City Attorney who added some changes.
Councilor Remillard said that there is good communication between agencies and she is confident that those in need are getting help and those who want to take from the system are finding it very difficult because there is no cash handed out. Mayor Grenier thanked Ms. Martin Giroux for quality oversight of the City’s welfare. The changes will be incorporated in a resolution that will be read for the first time December 16.
PWD Equipment
Mike Perreault explained that he was asked to provide the hours on the existing public works equipment. He distributed a list of equipment with the known hours and condition of each piece of equipment which was determined with the input from tradespeople. Mr. Perreault stated that it takes 16 people to work a snowstorm.
Mayor Grenier asked what it would cost to trade the loaders now when they still have some trade in value. Mr. Wheeler stated that he’s asked for a proposal and he will report back when he has the information.
Mayor Grenier acknowledged the four fill time mechanics who work on the fleet of the entire city including PWD, FD, PD, HD and Rec department vehicles saying that we are fortunate to have these dedicated mechanics. Councilor Remillard asked about a sewer truck with just over 7,000 miles on it in need of repairs and Mr. Perreault indicated that the vehicle is stored outside and the body has a lot of rust. Mayor Grenier asked about the immediate needs for equipment and Mr. Perreault noted that an excavator on rubber would serve the city well. There are ten wheelers that will need to be replaced and the department will try to get military surplus. Councilor Rozek mentioned that Conway may have an excavator to sell.
Councilor Otis asked about the Vac truck. Mr. Perreault stated that he is putting the bid package together and the equipment will likely be lease purchased. It is a piece of equipment that is needed to fulfill our EPA order.
Other
Mr. Wheeler said that he expects to close on the Community Field parcel to PSNH and Notre Dame to AHEAD property sales in the coming week.
There being no further business in the work session, Councilor Rozek moved with a second from Councilor Nelson to go into non-meeting per RSA 91-A:2,I.(b) Collective Bargaining. So moved, the motion carried unanimously by roll call.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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