Work Session
October 20, 2014
Present were Mayor Grenier, Councilors Nelson, Higbee, Theberge, Benski, Morgan Allain, Otis, Remillard and Rozek.
Others present: City Manager Jim Wheeler, Housing Coordinator Linda White, Health and Welfare Director Angela Martin Giroux, Housing Administrative Clerk Brian Chevarie, Code Enforcement Officer Joe Martin, AMC’s Resource Conservation Manager Sally Manikian; School Department Business Administrator Bryan Lamirande, Community Development Director Pamela Laflamme, Barbara Tetreault Berlin Daily Sun
Mt. Jasper Ordinance
Ms. Laflamme reported that the Mt. Jasper ordinance is the result of work done by the Mt. Jasper Committee and the Mount Jasper Natural Resource Inventory and Management Plan, dated May 2013, authored by Watershed to Wildlife, Inc. The two major components that need to be addressed in an ordinance are no OHRV’s on Mt. Jasper and no rock and mineral mining. With the ordinance in place, the Police Department can enforce.
Sally Manikian stated that there was a ribbon cutting on October 16th where JAG students, the snowmobile club and students from the Enriched Learning Center came together and parents were seeing the trail work for the first time. Mike Eastman was acknowledged for the art work on the signs.
Councilor Rozek asked if the trail that home owners use for snowmobiling has been affected. Ms. Manikian noted that the trail is now groomed and still open. Mayor Grenier asked if the trail will interfere with parking at the high school. Ms. Laflamme commented that Corinne Cascadden was involved with the committee and parking was not seen as an issue. Mayor Grenier mentioned that there should be a Council member on the conflict resolution committee.
Ms. Laflamme assured the Council that there is flexibility and latitude in the agreement to adapt to school expansion. Bryan Lamirande confirmed that there is no veto power to stop development. Ms. Laflamme added that the ordinance acknowledges all the documents but the only two items that are prohibitive are no OHRV’s and no mining. Councilor Higbee volunteered to represent the Council on the Conflict Resolution Committee.
Housing Stock Update
Linda White reported that the goal of the 1999 Housing Study was to demolish 500 units of housing and to date 254 have been done. The city has aggressive code enforcement and there is the potential for 40 more units to come down; 26 lots have been sold to abutters and 159 units have been rehabilitated.
The City needs to continue to remove blighted properties and dedensifying neighborhoods. 2012 had the highest rate of tax deeded properties with 38 and there has been a downward trend to 31 in 2013 and 13 in 2014.
There are 20 properties slated for demolition with most of those unfunded. Mayor Grenier commented that if there was $500,000 for demolition, the City could make a huge dent in the dilapidated housing and then keep an annual appropriation for housekeeping. He added that removing this housing is key to Berlin’s future.
Ms. White proposed a Neighborhood Beautification contest where citizens would be rewarded with cash prizes for beautifying their homes. She said that she would look to local banks to finance. There was Council consensus to go ahead with the idea.
Bedbug Forum
Angela Martin Giroux said that she was approached by Mike Guay of Presidential Pest Control and Mary Jo Landry of the Berlin Housing Authority to see if the City Council would sponsor a Bedbug Forum on November 7 at the Dairy Bar. The forum will focus on educating public officials, landlords and tenants.
Councilor Rozek commented that education and taking responsibility are key. He questioned whether the Council should execute a more firm ordinance. Ms. Giroux stated that an ordinance about putting infested items on the curb has been suggested and she is contacting other communities to see what they do.
Councilor Remillard stated that the Health Department should sponsor the forum. Councilor Remillard moved to appropriate $500 from Council Contingency to fund a Bedbug Forum at the Dairy Bar on November 7 at 8:00 a.m. sponsored by the Health Department; Councilor Nelson seconded and the motion carried.
PSNH Welcome Sign Agreement
Ms. Laflamme indicated that a welcome to Berlin sign is planned and PSNH has agreed that it can go on their property; however when we mentioned that the sign would be lit, there is a problem that we are working on resolving. The final agreement will need to come to Council at a later date.
Route 16 Contract
Ms. Laflamme reported that a contract was negotiated with HEB who is the selected engineer for the upcoming Route 16 project. They will be working with local contractors York Land Services; and John Wacke will work on streetscaping for a Riverwalk.
Councilor Theberge asked about the boat landing at Brown School. Ms. Laflamme said that the plans submitted at the time of funding do not fit what is being considered today. The money is not adequate and we do not have the ability to change the use. Bill Gayes of the Land and Water Conservation Fund has agreed to allow the City to withdraw its application and re-apply later without prejudice and with engineered plans. The location is best suited for canoes, and kayaks; however the grant we have calls for a cement structure that would allow a motorized boat to land. There is not room to park trailers and we have such a boat launch on the other side of the river.
Mayor Grenier commented that the engineering for Route 110 includes all permitting for the project. Mr. Wheeler noted that staff has vetted HEB’s proposed fee and think it is fair. They are the best team for the job and the city is getting a fair not to exceed price to do the engineering. The fee does not include construction management.
Councilor Rozek moved with a second from Council Higbee to award the Route 16 contract to HEB at the not to exceed price of $297,678. So moved, the motion carried.
Assessing Software Conversion
Mr. Wheeler stated that as a follow up to going with KRT for the City’s assessing contract, the City was going to consider changing software from Avitar to Vision. We are satisfied that we will get all the legal, and historical information to transfer. Councilor Rozek moved to go ahead with the assessing conversion with KRT; Councilor Remillard seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
Councilor Nelson moved with a second rom Councilor Higbee to go into Non Public session per RSA 91-A;3 II (e) Consideration or negotiation of pending claims or litigation which has been threatened in writing or filed against the body or agency or any subdivision thereof, or against any member thereof because of his or her membership in such body or agency. So moved, the motion carried.
Council discussed strategy in a legal case.
Councilor Nelson moved to come out of non-public session; Councilor Theberge seconded and the motion carried unanimously by roll call vote.
There being no further business in the work session, Mayor Grenier moved on to the Regular meeting at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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