City Manager's Report 10/15/2007
Responsible Property Owners
The City has benefited recently from the cleanup of several burnt out properties by the people that actually own the property. I think it is worth pointing these out since it has often not been the City's normal experience with the property owners of burnt out structures in the past few years.
130 and 132 Roderick Street which was cleaned up by Peter Giannos in 2005.
1203 Main Street was cleaned up by Jerome Palidino in 2006.
A garage at 215 Madigan was cleaned up by Leda Stachowski.
A garage at 480 Champlain Street was cleaned up by Robert McKenzie in 2006.
On Pleasant Street, Richard Wallingford and Gerry Hamane saw to the clean up of their downtown properties after the devastating fire there three years ago.
On upper Main Street, Roland Lamontagne immediately saw to the clean up of his property adjacent to the properties owned by Dennis Beaulieau and Joe SnDimauro on whose properties the burnt out hulks still sit. We recently received a court order on Beaulieau's property, which needs to be coordinated with court action against the Dimauro property.
Robert Reed who owns the property which burned earlier this year as you come into town on Glen Ave has seen to the clean up of that property.
Jim SnMichalik, working with Smith and Towne Printers who bought the burnt out remains of the Beaulieau property next to Jim Michalik's property downtown on lower Main Street have seen to clean up of those properties.
Marcel Gingus is seeing seen to the clean up of his fire-damaged property at the corner of Champlain and Merrimack Streets.
Mt. Forist Street Crossing
The Mt. Forist Street Crossing which is currently closed due to the new rail being installed there will hopefully be back open by Tuesday night. The track through the new area and the bridge is not continuous and a train has actually traversed it. The RR has pretty impressive machines which are now straightening out the dips in the track and compacting the RR bed. The RR Bridge at Green Street should be coming out in the next week or so. Again, the Green Street Bridge will be open for the winter but will have to be close again next year for utility work and final paving.
Demers Street Drainage Project
This project up off the end of Church Street which Public Works has been trying to work out with the residents for several years is finally complete and operating. It drains the rear of several properties on the hill and is now tied into the storm drain system in Church Street. It also removed the sanitary sewer system from one of the houses and re-connected it to the City sewer system.
Berlin Dogs
Thanks to the persistent efforts of Asst. Comptroller Florence Fitzmorris and the Berlin Police Department, Berlin over the last couple of years has almost doubled the number of dogs in the city to be properly licensed. Part-time Police Officer Gemma King of the PD has been assigned to visit owners with unlicensed dogs. Owners who fail to license or renew are subject to a fine (forfeiture) of $25 to the City Clerk. Attached is a copy of the letter that owners of unlicensed dogs receive.
A Nice Gesture
Community Development Director, Laura Viger reports that the owners of Cider Mill Rest, in Wolfeboro, NH came in today and donated 40 backpacks, filled with school supplies, including calculators,~for Berlin students to the Berlin Welfare Department.~~~ Denise Earl and her husband Bob,~owners of Cider Mill,~delivered them on behalf of their sons who have been doing a backpack collection and distribution drive for the past four years.~ They chose to bring these to Berlin this year because they had read about the mill closings and thought that local students could benefit from the donation.~ Interested students can contact Angela Martin Giroux in the Berlin Welfare Department.
Riverfire
RiverFire, in spite of the weather gods, was a success and the fires burned brightly. It was well attended and people came out and enjoyed the games and the vendors. There were ten people who brought pies for the pie contest and there were five acts for the talent show. It is not likely we would have done better than that even in good weather. The crowd stayed through the whole evening and the hayride went for the entire evening again in spite of the rain. Financially as well it was a positive experience.
Senator Gregg Prison Site Visit
The visit to the BOP site last week with Senator Gregg was quite impressive. Most people had never seen the site cleared the way it is. The view in every direction was nothing short of spectacular. As that project picks up steam, economic activity in the area should be noticeably improved.
NCIC Annual Meeting
On Tuesday Octobers 2nd, I attended the NCIA annual meeting at the Mountain View Grand.
Governor and Council Meeting in Berlin
On Wednesday October 17th, the Governor and Council will be meeting at the Jr. High at 10am. Prior to their regular meeting at the Jr. High, the Governor and Council members will be at the College at 9am where Kathy Eneguess, AVER and Pam Laflamme and Andre Caron will be making short presentations to the Governor regarding the status of things in Berlin.