City Manager's Report 11/17/2008
Neighborhood Stabilization Funding
Pam Laflamme and Andre Caron have been spending quite a bit of time assisting CDFA in developing the ground rules for this new funding program which seems to have great potential for Berlin. This program is aimed at dealing with foreclosures across the country and the impact they have on neighborhood blight. Needless to say this fits Berlin well and is the first program which has come along which actually allows funding for demolition. Berlin has been seeking such demolition funding without success for some time. Berlin is not only in the top tier of five for this program but based on its needs is the highest-ranking community in the top tier. As the discussion goes on about developing the program which has to meet all the federal rules, the regulation seem to get tighter and tighter as is norm with federal programs. We are still hopeful that the program will meet our needs. The program is now being submitted to CDFA and the Governor's office prior to submission to HUD on December 1st.
District Heating Meeting
On Thursday November 11th, Dr. Morris A. Pierce gave a presentation at the college on district heating systems fired by biomass. These systems have been used for quite some time in Europe in places like Denmark and also exist on a more limited basis in the US. Because biomass plants that make electricity lose about 75% of the energy that is created to waste heat, it makes sense to utilize that waste heat for something productive rather just wasting it. District heating systems set up this way have the potential of reducing heating costs by significant amounts as well as reducing our demand for oil and gas. We have in the office material prepared by Dr. Pierce on this subject as well as a copy of the feasibility study which was carried out for Groveton on District Heating for anyone who would like to see it.
Daily Flows
Attached hereto is a very interesting chart which shows the daily flows for the Berlin Water Works and the Berlin Pollution Control facility. While it is clear that even the BWW's flows vary quite a bit, that variance is nothing compared to the variability of the flows of the wastewater treatment plant. This is due primarily to rain and precipitation events which cause surface and groundwater entering into our sewer system and then having to be treated at the WWTF. We commonly refer to this as the City's I & I (Infiltration and Inflow) problem which can only be reduced by eliminating all the roof and other connections which currently drain into the system and by finding and repairing the leaks in the pipes and manholes where ground and surface water seep into the system. This is a difficult and expensive undertaking.
Clean Power Option Payment
Clean Power has provided us with the second of two $5,000 option payments toward the purchase of the property they have an option on at the WWTF. They have not yet exercised the option but have indicated that they will probably do so in the near future.
North Country Transit Meeting Tues 11/11
On Tuesday the 11th, North Country Council held a public session on its annual transit plan at AVH. The meeting which was sparsely attended was basically a review of the status of public transportation in the region.
BPD Commendation
Attached is a letter from High School Principal Gary Bisson commending the Berlin Police Department on its handling of the recent incident at the High School which included an investigation which resulted in a quick identification of the person making the threats.
Time Warner Cable Notices
Time Warner Cable has provided the attached notice of 2009 price increases for its services which will be charged to its Berlin customers in their next statements.
Also, there are apparently a large number of TW's programming agreements which expire at the end of this year. TW is trying to renegotiate these for continuation, but there is the possibility that the negotiations don't result in an agreement in which one of more of the channels could be discontinued.