City Manager's Report 12/1/2008
Coos County Thank You
Attached is a thank you letter from Coos County Administrator, Suzanne Collins thanking the Mayor and Council for its early payment of half of the County Tax apportionment. This helped the County to overcome its immediate cash flow problem.
District Heating Continued Discussion
Last Wednesday morning, I participated in a conference call on District Heating which was put together by Rick DeMark of the North Country Resource Conservation and Development Agency, which is a non-profit agency working with the United States Department of Agriculture to conserve and improve natural and community resources.
Dr. Morris A. Pierce of Rochester University who earlier gave a presentation at the college on district heating systems participated as did people from Colebrook and Groveton, North Country Council, BEDCO and various other agencies.
This group is looking at the feasibility of district heating systems for these towns and Berlin perhaps as a collaborative effort as opposed to an individual effort on the part of each. They are hoping to pull together some type of business plan model for each community that would give some idea of the types of costs and savings that could occur in each community so that they would then be in a position to approach each community with enough information to make a meaningful presentation.
ATV Meeting
On Thursday November 20, NH Trails Chief Chris Gamache was in Berlin and met with various staff and Councilor Cayer to discuss the status of the ATV trails in the area and in particular about what was necessary to complete the link across the City from Jericho to Success. It was agreed that a good map showing the existing trail routes in the area as well as the obstacles to connecting the routes needed to be prepared. Chris and Pam Laflamme agreed that they would work on creating this map for the next meeting which was set for Thursday December 11th at 8:30am. There was also discussion at this meeting of various ways that the issues of ATV use could be improved in the community. Councilor Cayer suggested that a closer look be given to how communities in Maine and Canada deal with these problems.
State Budget Problems
It is typical that when the State has budget problems, those problems quickly become municipal problems. Attached is an email from Wright Pierce Engineer Chris Dwinal conveying an email he received from NH DES about the tightening of the belt with respect to state assistance with wastewater treatment projects such as those the City has already undertaken and may be undertaking in the future. The state normally pays 20% of eligible costs for wastewater improvements. This program is known as SAG (state aid grants). While the state is not yet abandoning the program, it is clear that such aid payments are going to get "delayed and deferred" sort of like the 10 year highway plan. Obviously, this will make it more difficult to plan the financing for these important projects.
Homeland Security Public Safety Grants Audit
Enclosed for your information is the result of an audit conducted by the State Department of Safety of the several homeland security grants which have been received by the City. The audit appears to have found that these grants are all in order and the funds appropriately utilized.
Department of the Interior PILT Payment
The Federal government has a hard time keeping its different levels of government straight, but attached is its attempt to tell us that it is paying us an additional PILT payment this year in the amount of $14,038. We have already received our normal payment in June of this year in the amount of $23,133. This is the result of the 2008 Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (Public Law 110-343). The total PILT payment this year is $37,171 for the 16,232 acres of land which is owned by the Federal government in Berlin. This works out to about $2.29 per acre.
Make-A-Wish Ceremony at the Fire Dept.
A very nice ceremony by the Make-A-Wish Foundation was held at the Berlin Fire Department on November 19th at which Brendan Furtek was made an honorary member of the BFD and he was presented with a fairly large and sophisticated remote control fire truck. Councilor McCue, Councilor Poulin, Councilor Evans and Mayor Bertrand were able to attend this ceremony which recognizes children and the families of children who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses.
NHDOT Bridge Inspections
Attached are the latest bridge inspection reports from the NHDOT on the two RR bridges in Berlin. The first of these is the new Green Street RR Bridge. Needless to say, it does not have any deficiencies. The second is the RR Bridge over Willow Street.
Public Works Report
Attached.
Manager's Time-Keeping
Attached.