City Council

CITY COUNCIL MEETING – Monday, June 2, 2025 Public Hearing Mayor Cone opened the Public Hearing at 7:23 pm for Resolution 2025-14 Dollar General Summer Reading Program. There were no public comments. Mayor Cone closed the Public Hearing at 7:23 pm. Regular Meeting Mayor Cone called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at approximately 7:24 pm. a. Pledge of Allegiance b. Roll Call Present: Mayor Cone, Councilors Higbee, Morency, Valerino, Korzen, Theberge, Qualls, and Berthiaume Absent: Councilor Grenier Also present: City Manager Phillip Warren, Jr., Director of Special Initiatives Pamela Laflamme, Library Director Ann Brungot, District Education Services Administrator Tammy Fauteux, Police Chief Jeffrey Lemoine, Margaret Hartwick, Gabriel Razzano, Christian Judson, and Lisa Connell, Berlin Daily Sun. c. Councilor Theberge moved, with a second by Councilor Valerino, to accept the minutes of the May 19, 2025 Regular Meeting and Work Session and May 28, 2025 Budget Public Hearing. So moved, the motion passed. Disbursements: Disbursement Summary Draft # 1986 with a start date of 05/20/2025 and an end date of 06/02/2025 for a total cash disbursement of $1,022,419.44. Councilor Theberge moved, with a second by Councilor Qualls, to accept the disbursement summary and pay all bills as reviewed and approved by the Committee on Accounts/Claims. So moved, the motion passed. PUBLIC COMMENTS Christian Judson of 473 Forbush Avenue noted that he does not want to see employee positions cut, but suggested that some positions could be seasonal. Mr. Judson also noted that tax lien notices have been sent out, and that a lot of people will not pay, will leave town, and that will create less income for the City. Mr. Judson noted that if some employees were laid off, there would be a little extra in the budget in case of an emergency. Mr. Judson noted that they have lost a lot in Berlin, including events such as Drive in to the 50’s, and stated that we need to work together to get things back. Margaret Hartwick of 77 Norway Street stated that the City provides a lot of services, such as garbage pickup, a full-time police and fire department, and the library, along with a hospital, which other communities do not have. Ms. Hartwick noted that we should be emphasizing the good things going on in the City. Ms. Hartwick stated that she would like to see a dog park. Ms. Hartwick noted that the Riverwalk is a great place to walk your dog, but she would also like to see a fenced in vacant lot. Gabriel Razzano of 108 Sweden Street stated that he loves it here, and noted that water and sewer are also services provided. Mr. Razzano thanked the Council for making him feel welcome here. Christian Judson added that the building trades program does build homes, which provide tax revenue. Mr. Judson suggested that the school partner with Vaillancourt Electric or Ray’s Electric to offer an additional CTE program for electricians. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Council Committee Reports There were no Council committee reports. 2. Resolution 2025-14 Dollar General Summer Reading Program (tabled 5/19/2025) 1 In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Five A RESOLUTION authorizing an application to Dollar General 2025 Summer Reading Program grant for the purpose of enhancing the Summer Reading Program at Berlin Public Library. Resolved by the City Council of the City of Berlin as Follows: WHEREAS, Berlin Public Library is always seeking ways to expand upon the educational and entertaining programs provided to the youth of Berlin during Summer Reading Program; and WHEREAS, without these funds it is not financial possible to contract with a wide range of available performers willing to travel to the North Country; and WHEREAS, additional supplies and equipment are needed to effectuate these programs. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Berlin as Follows: That the City Manager is authorized to receive grant funds in the amount of $3,000 from Dollar General, 2025 Summer Reading Program Grant, and the grant proceeds are hereby appropriated for the purpose of the grant, and all grant proceeds shall be deposited with the City Treasurer, and the City Manager is authorized to do all things necessary to effectuate this grant. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after passage. Councilor Higbee moved, with a second by Councilor Berthiaume, to remove this item from the table. So moved, the motion carried. Councilor Higbee moved, with a second by Councilor Berthiaume, to read Resolution 2025-14 by short title for a second time. So moved, the motion carried. Councilor Higbee moved, with a second by Councilor Berthiaume, to read Resolution 2025-14 by short title for a third time. So moved, the motion carried. Councilor Higbee moved, with a second by Councilor Berthiaume, that Resolution 2025-14 be passed. So moved, the motion passed. NEW BUSINESS 1. Resolution 2025-15 Adopting FY2026 Budget (1st read) Councilor Berthiaume moved, with a second by Councilor Higbee, to table the Resolution and schedule a public hearing for June 16, 2025. So moved, the motion carried. 2. City Manager’s Report 1. The Army National Guard will conduct their annual training June 2nd to the 15th at the Berlin Regional Airport in Milan, NH. This will be similar training that was done in June 2023 in the North country. They will be conducting flight training in the White Mountain areas with 2-3 aircrafts and will operate within the normal Berlin Airport traffic pattern to minimize disturbance within the local area. The plan is to have two rotations of 15 to 20 soldiers split up in the 15-day operation. The soldiers will be housed every night at the National Guard Armory. The public is invited to view the operation on Saturday June 7 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. 2. The pickleball court on Glen Avenue is 50% complete and should be finished and in service by the end of June. 3. Street sweeping and line painting are ongoing, weather dependent. 4. The Kent Street project has started – Water Works is replacing the water lines. Once their work is complete we will perform drainage repairs and upgrades. 5. Attached is the Fire Department May 2025 calls for service report. 2 Councilor Theberge asked about the Fire Department call for service report, and what aircraft standby was for. City Manager Warren advised it is for the medivac helicopters. Councilor Korzen asked about the transfers in the Fire Department report, and City Manager Warren advised they are local transfers. Councilor Korzen asked if there was a public announcement about the National Guard training, and City Manager Warren advised there was an ad in the newspaper. Mayor Cone noted that the numbers in the Fire Department report are up from last month. When asked about revenues, City Manager Warren advised they have not finished their registration with Medicare and Medicaid, however there will be a monthly report once that is completed. Councilor Theberge noted that there is an apartment in the airport building and asked if this could be rented for income. City Manager Warren advised that there is no access from outside the building, so it would only be available for an airport or municipal employee, not on the open market. Councilor Morency stated that the National Guard public event was a great opportunity last year to see the choppers and meet the soldiers. Councilor Valerino moved, with a second by Councilor Morency, to accept the City Manager’s report as presented and place it on file. So moved the motion carried. 3. Mayor’s Report a. BIDPA Appointments Mayor Cone & City Council: The terms of three BIDPA board members will expire at the end of July. All of these board members wish to serve another three-year term. BIDPA has a solid group of board members and these individuals are an integral part of the board. The board supports their continued involvement with the BIDPA if the Mayor & Council agree. • Richard Huot – Three-year term to run until July 31, 2028. • Richard Eastman - Three-year term to run until July 31, 2028. • Andre Duchesne – Three-year term to run until July 31, 2028. Thank you for consideration of these three board members and their continued work on behalf of the City. Sincerely, Pamela E Laflamme Director of Strategic Initiatives Councilor Higbee moved, with a second by Councilor Qualls, to approve the nominations of Richard Huot, Richard Eastman, and Andre Duchesne for three-year terms on BIDPA to expire July 31, 2028. So moved, the motion carried. Councilor Korzen moved, with a second by Councilor Valerino, to accept the Mayor’s report as presented and place it on file. So moved, the motion carried. 4. Public Comments There were no public comments. 5. Council Comments 3 Chief Lemoine was welcomed and thanked, as he was sworn in as the new Police Chief earlier today. Councilor Valerino asked if there was a dog park at the PSNH park. Director of Strategic Initiatives Pamela Laflamme advised that although it is informally used that way, the land is not owned by the City. Councilor Valerino noted that it used to be easy to find reasonably priced housing in Berlin, and noted the need for more housing for people buying homes and moving to the area. Councilor Valerino congratulated Chief Lemoine, and noted that the attendance at the swearing in ceremony is a testament to what we have. Councilor Valerino noted that the new chief has great ideas and vision and it is important for the public to stand behind him. Councilor Valerino noted that people looking to move to the area look at the school system and the crime rate. Councilor Berthiaume addressed the comment about losing activities in Berlin, such as Drive in to the 50’s, noting that these are not City events. These events are run by volunteers for the Chamber of Commerce or the Main Street Program, and the City has always been very supportive. Councilor Berthiaume noted that these activities are getting harder to plan with a lack of volunteers and rising costs. Councilor Higbee apologized for not attending the Budget Public Hearing last Wednesday. 6. Adjournment On a motion by Councilor Higbee, seconded by Councilor Berthiaume, the Council voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:53 pm. So moved, the motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Shelli Fortin City Clerk Note: Minutes are unofficial until they have been accepted by the Council by motion. 4