City Manager's Report 11/3/2008
Neighborhood Revitalization Program
The Neighborhood Revitalization Program funded by CDBG is well underway. It has injected $112,000 of funds into the local economy and is in the process of rehabilitating the first ten homes. The primary work to date involves heating systems, roofs, ground fault interrupters and smoke detectors. When this round is complete about twenty-five homes will receive funding and we will have injected over $300,000 into the local economy. By the end of the week, this round of funding will be over half-way complete and we will be embarking on the remaining contracts.
This could not have been possible without the great work of Tri-County Cap and especially Kathy McCosh who is in effect our general contractor for all of this work.
BWW Payment
Attached is copy of the correspondence by the BWW to the City for the paving work which was accomplished by the City on Western Avenue. The total job was $197,900 and BWW's share was $122,684.76 which it has paid.
County Tax Warrant
Attached is a copy of this year's Coos County Tax Warrant to the City of Berlin. Berlin's share of the County Tax has been calculated to be $1,584,264 and it must be paid before the 17th of December to avoid interest. This is down somewhat from what we had projected for the budget.
Development of Regional Impact
As the Council is aware, Northern Community Investment Corporation has been spearheading a Broadband Project for the North Country. It has obtained significant federal funding for this project and is moving ahead with it. The attached from the Town of Groveton is a notice of public hearing on five 92.5' poles they plan to erect that may be seen from some distance. It does not seem likely that any of these could be seen from Berlin.
State Budget Issues
State Budget problems always create problems for municipalities. Attached is an email from Chris Dwinal of Wright-Pierce, the City's wastewater engineers reporting a meeting they attended with the State DES. The bad news is that State Aid Grants (20% money for wastewater projects) is likely to be cut for the next couple of years. This money is critical for us to be able to undertake any sewer improvements. It will be necessary for us to be contacting all of our state representatives to impress upon them the need to do whatever they can do to protect this funding.
The possible good news is that there may be some new federal stimulus package coming down from Congress (currently being debated) to fund public infrastructure projects that are pretty much ready to go out to bid. Needless to say we will be reviewing closely what projects we might be able to get into such a position.
Public Works Monthly Report
Attached.
Berlin Vet Center
A Mr. Errol Newton left off a notice of new veteran's center which will provide readjustment counseling services for combat veterans and their families. This center will be located at 515 Main Street, Suite 2 in Gorham and will have its Grand Opening on Friday November 14, 2008 at 10am. Wendy Myerson is the Office Manager and she can be contacted at Wendy.Mayerson@va.gov or 752-2571.
Managers' Timekeeping
Attached