Work Session
December 15, 2014
Present were Mayor Grenier, Councilors Otis, Remillard, Benski, Morgan Allain, Higbee, Rozek, Nelson and Theberge
Also present were: City Manager James Wheeler, Community Development Director Pamela Laflamme
Police Chief Pete Morency, Prosecutor Dan Buteau, Officer Jeff Lemoine, Officer Josh White, Superintendent of Schools Corinne Cascadden, Ted Bosen, Barbara Tetreault Berlin Daily Sun, media and public
Project AWARE
Corinne Cascadden reported that three school districts in NH were selected to receive federal funds to support school safety and mental health for students. The grant calls for hiring a full time project manager and assistant; however the staffing and training won’t start until next year. There will be training and mental health trainers will be required to train 125 people per year. Three NH school districts, Berlin, Colebrook and Franklin, are targeted to receive federal funds. There is a need in Berlin as risk services are higher than the state average.
The grant will pay for training in: Youth Mental Health; First Aiders Training, Positive Behavior and Intervention Support; Bully Prevention; Homeless Youth Services, and Violence Prevention Programs. The grant will pay for about $92,000 of indirect cost over the course of five years.
Mayor Grenier noted that the Council should approve the application and grant through a resolution. Councilor Higbee asked what happens at the end of the grant. Ms. Cascadden said that she doesn’t know that there won’t be additional funding or the Board may need to reallocate their resources to continue to fund the programs that work. Mayor Grenier commented that this could keep some problem children from going out of district. Ms. Cascadden added that it is a $1.2 million expense to go out of district and there is the hope that this funding will keep students from going out.
Ms. Cascadden reported that the schools are seeing students with violent behaviors. Mayor Grenier stated that big city problems are alive in Coos County. He asked if the school resource officer will be a new hire and Chief Morency stated that it would likely be a retiring officer
Ms. Cascadden mentioned that elections in the schools could be jeopardizing safety and the discussion will likely come back to council. (scheduled for December 22, 2014)
Route 110 Addressing Update
Ms. Laflamme reported that certified letters were sent to Wight Street residents whose addresses will be changed. There have been no questions or comments thus far. There is a public hearing this evening and there will be a second public hearing on January 5, 2015. Representatives from 911 asked that the address changes not go into effect until Wednesday, February 18th.
PD Safe Neighborhood Grant Request
Chief Morency reported that there has been an increase in firearms related offences. There were 44 burglaries last year and they have increased to 88 this year. A firearm stolen from Berlin was used in a murder in NY. Monies from this grant would be used to address neighborhood issues. Mayor Grenier said he is all for making Berlin a safer place. Councilor Benski cautioned that she would not want this to morph into restrictions on legal gun owners.
Councilor Nelson confirmed that specific neighborhoods have been identified for the additional patrol.
Safety Vehicle
Chief Morency opened by saying that this is not a military vehicle but will be specifically used for safety. The Advisory Council for Emergency and Security sees it as critical to have a plan for equipment to be in place in case there is an incident of national security. There is no such equipment in Coos County. The grant is for $275,000 with zero match.
Berlin has the only regional tactical team in Coos County. This vehicle is a Ford truck with a life expectancy of 20 years. The truck would allow evacuation from neighborhoods if it ever becomes necessary. The hope is never to have to use the vehicle but it would be there to help protect the community.
Councilor Remillard confirmed that the vehicle would be based in Berlin; she asked how it would be disbursed to other communities. Chief Morency noted that the vehicle would be sent with the tactical team. He stated that response time for a critical issue from Concord is 3 hours.
Councilor Benski voiced her disapproval saying that this is a solution in search of a problem. Chief Morency affirmed that this is only to protect our citizenry. Mayor Grenier supported the acquisition adding that if we don’t have any incidents, the vehicle won’t leave the garage. The vehicle would protect citizens and officers and it is in the City’s best interest to use every tool available. Councilor Rozek supported the grant saying that the vehicle could be used to extract law abiding citizens without risking others.
Ordinance Prohibiting Synthetic Marijuana
Chief Morency explained that synthetic marijuana is being sold as “spice” or “bath salts” and there have been overdoses in some communities. The Governor issued an executive order to ask stores to stop selling the products because of the harm that it is causing. The law cannot keep up with the contents in the product. A Chemist takes a substance and adds chemicals to it and it mimics the endorphins in the brain.
The proposed ordinance attacks structures that cause impairment to another person. Manchester and Laconia have passed this ordinance and Berlin would be third in the state. Councilor Benski asked how unintended fallout would be prevented so that any substance is not considered being abused. Chief Morency stated that there would need to be a culpable state of mind, knowing that they are selling something that is impairing another person.
Mayor Grenier said that these chemicals are being retailed in Berlin and they are creating problems in families and the school department is getting the secondary problems with behavioral issues. He said we owe it to the citizens to make it more difficult to obtain these substances.
Councilor Remillard asked how difficult it would be to enforce. Chief Morency stated that there would have to be proof that they know the purpose for which they are selling it. Mayor Grenier confirmed that Chief Morency is not aware of any successful challenges to the ordinance and Councilor Theberge affirmed that this will be the same ordinance as Manchester and Laconia. Councilor Remillard asked if this has any correlation to the legalization of marijuana and the Chief indicated that it does not. These are controlled drugs with no medical benefit and a high risk for abuse.
Mayor Grenier asked Chief Morency how he would feel about a proposal to have medicinal marijuana sold on Main Street. Chief Morency does not support saying that he does not see any benefit to the community. Having worked under cover for several years, he said that he knows the problems it will bring in. Mayor Grenier indicated for the record, that he shares the Chief’s opinion. If we hope to rebuild downtown into a different experience for the community, that’s a black eye to the city.
Request from Webster Selectman Johnson
The Council discussed an e-mail from Bruce Johnson from Webster, NH seeking consideration of a resolution that encourages the Governors and State Legislators to reform state funding for education to reduce property taxes. Councilor Benski questioned the vagueness of the resolution. Councilor Higbee asked if this is part of a bigger move adding that he would hate to sign on and have it be waved to a flag we are not supporting. Mayor Grenier asked that a resolution be prepared for the next meeting seeking support for education by whatever means necessary.
There being no further business in the work session, Mayor Grenier moved on to the Regular Meeting.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan Tremblay
Administrative Assistant
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