City Council

City Council Work Session July 21, 2025 Present were: Mayor Cone, Councilors Higbee, Korzen, Grenier, Qualls, Valerino, Berthiaume, and Morency. Others present: City Manager Phillip L. Warren Jr., Finance Director Holly Larsen, City Clerk Shelli Fortin, Chief of Police Jeff Lemoine, District Educational Services Administrator Tammy Fauteux, Lisa Connell, Berlin Daily Sun, and Members of the Public. Mayor Cone opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. Letter to Governor and Council for Special Election The letter to Governor Ayotte requesting a Special Election to fill the vacant State Representative seat was signed by Council members present. Abatement Recommendations Mr. Warren discussed the following abatement recommendations received from Ms. Monica Hurley, Assessing Agent: 54 Argonne Street (Map 135 Lot 106) Ms. Hurley recommends approving the abatement application for the 2024 tax year and reducing the assessment from $62,100 to $42,300, as the dwelling has been removed. Councilor Berthiaume moved to approve the property abatement as presented. Councilor Valerino seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor. 26 Goddard Hill Road (Map126 Lot 70) Ms. Hurley recommends approving the abatement application for the 2024 tax year and reducing the assessment from $391,900 to $387,000, due to the removal of value from the metal carports. Councilor Grenier moved to approve the property abatement as presented. Councilor Korzen seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor. 691 Fourth Avenue (Map 100 Lot 51) Ms. Hurley recommends approving the abatement application for the 2024 tax year based on a claim of poverty. The owner has already received the maximum elderly exemption. The amount of unpaid taxes recommended to be abated is $2,209.88. Councilor Berthiaume shared concerns that this would set a precedent for other residents who are ill and cannot afford taxes. City Manager Warren commented that there are two sides, that it could be considered right and just, but that it does set a precedent for subsequent requests. Councilor Grenier suggested that a better option is a tax deferral, which would allow the taxpayer to stay in her home, while allowing the City to be paid at a later date. Councilor Korzen asked what happens next year, and it was noted that deferrals are allowed for up to 80% of the value of the property, if the homeowner qualifies. Councilor Grenier moved to deny the property abatement as presented, and to recommend a tax deferral to the property owner. Councilor Higbee seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor. 263 First Avenue (Map 112 Lot 30) Ms. Hurley recommends approving the abatement application for the 2024 tax year and reducing the assessment from $249,000 to $242,600, due to unfinished areas on the second floor. Councilor Morency moved to approve the property abatement as presented. Councilor Berthiaume seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor. TKB Properties LLC for 190 Norway Street (Map 127 Lot 268), 517 Champlain Street (Map 130 Lot 368), 576 Champlain Street (Map 130 Lot 316), and 28 Spring Street (Map 128 Lot 157) Ms. Hurley recommends denying the abatement requests. The owner states that the assessments per unit are disproportionate and should all be assessed at the same level. Ms. Hurley explained that the properties all have various levels of condition, size, style, and age, which are not accounted for in the spreadsheet provided by the owner. Councilor Berthiaume moved to deny all four property abatements as presented. Councilor Valerino seconded, and the motion carried with all in favor. FY2026 Budget City Manager Warren advised that there is an issue with funding for the Police Department due to changes in demographics for insurance and collective bargaining, and an additional $212,000 is needed. City Manager Warren presented a list of suggested cuts to other areas of the FY26 budget, which will cover $200,000 of the needed funds and not increase the tax rate. If approved, the money will be transferred to the Police Department budget from the other funds. Councilor Grenier noted that it is imperative that the Police Department have these funds, as public safety is paramount. Councilor Grenier noted that they will need a 2/3 majority vote, as some of the transfers are from capital improvement funds. Councilor Morency noted that all other union increases were funded, so this will complete that process. Councilor Higbee asked if this would cover the new contract and insurance changes and was advised it would. City Manager Warren advised that he would have a Resolution for the next meeting. At 6:47 p.m., there being no further business in the Work Session, Mayor Cone moved on to the Regular Meeting. Respectfully Submitted, Shelli Fortin City Clerk *Minutes are unofficial until they have been accepted by the City Council by motion. CITY COUNCIL MEETING – Monday, July 21, 2025 Regular Meeting Mayor Cone called the Regular City Council Meeting to order at approximately 6:56 pm. a. Pledge of Allegiance b. Roll Call Present: Mayor Cone, Councilors Qualls, Higbee, Berthiaume, Morency, Valerino, Grenier, and Korzen Absent: Councilor Theberge Also present: City Manager Phillip Warren, Jr., Director of Special Initiatives Pamela Laflamme, Finance Director Holly Larsen, Police Chief Jeffrey Lemoine, Jonathan Siles, Theodore Bosen, Janet Tremblay, other members of the public, and Lisa Connell, Berlin Daily Sun. c. Councilor Grenier moved, with a second by Councilor Valerino, to accept the minutes of the July 7, 2025, Regular Meeting and Work Session. So moved, the motion passed. Disbursements: Disbursement Summary Draft # 1989 with a start date of 07/08/2025 and an end date of 07/17/2025 for a total cash disbursement of $2,780,775.20. Councilor Berthiaume moved, with a second by Councilor Morency, 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 Theodore Bosen, of 13 Bisson Road, shared concerns about the City’s participation in the Northern Border Alliance Task Force. Mr. Bosen stated that the facts contained in the proposed Resolution are not true, and that this information can be verified in the Northern Border Alliance Task Force report. Mr. Bosen noted that participation will bind our local officers to legal liability under tort law for unconstitutional practices, and that there is no immunity for local and state law enforcement officers. Mr. Bosen asked the Council to do their due diligence and consult legal counsel and the city’s insurance provider before approving the Resolution. Jonathan Siles, of 14 Winter Street, presented a proposal for a youth center. Called the Berlin Youth Empowerment Center, Mr. Siles outlined the services that would be provided, and how it would operate. Mr. Siles advised that he has considered locations, including the old Albert Theater building. Janet Tremblay, of Countryside Avenue, noted that garbage continues to be a problem in the Second Avenue neighborhood. City Manager Warren advised that the property owner has been issued what is required under the Ordinance, and that at this point they will have to go to court. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 1. Council Committee Reports Councilor Morency noted that a Traffic Safety Committee meeting was held today, and they will have a proposed Ordinance revision at the next meeting to address the issue of trailers being left on City streets for unreasonable amounts of time. NEW BUSINESS 1. Resolution 2025-17 Northern Border Alliance (1st read) Councilor Grenier moved, with a second by Councilor Korzen, to table the Resolution and schedule a public hearing for August 4, 2025. So moved, the motion carried. 1 2. City Manager’s Report 1. Attached is the June 2025 Real Estate Transfer Report. 2. Attached is the Fire Department June 2025 calls for service report. 3. Work continues on pothole repair and road damages. 4. Water Works is still working on Kent Street, once completed we will do our work. 5. We have not been able to have any work program inmates from the federal prison; this office is looking into this. Councilor Korzen asked if the assessed value for a property is adjusted based on the sale price, and was advised that it is not, and this is what negatively affects our equalization ratio. Councilor Morency moved, with a second by Councilor Valerino, to accept the City Manager’s report as presented and place it on file. So moved the motion carried. 3. Mayor’s Report a. Resignation – C. Arsenault – Supervisor of the Checklist Mayor Cone, Clerk Fortin, Members of the City Council, I am writing to formally resign from my position as Supervisor of the Checklist in Berlin, NH, effective immediately. Due to the demands of working out of town, I am no longer able to fulfill my responsibilities to the standard they require. After careful consideration, I believe stepping down is in the best interest of the team and the city. I appreciate the opportunity and the support I’ve received during my time in this role. I am grateful for the experience and the relationships I’ve built. Sincerely, Connor Arsenault Councilor Grenier moved, with a second by Councilor Korzen, to accept the resignation of Connor Arsenault with regret. So moved, the motion carried. Councilor Grenier 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 Councilor Grenier noted that he had an unfortunate chance to need EMS services recently, and was impressed with the professionalism of the Berlin Fire Department. Councilor Grenier stated that they did a fantastic job, and he is proud that they are municipal employees. Councilor Grenier noted that the Fire Department providing EMS services will also save the City money in the long run. Councilor Morency advised that a $1.1 billion settlement was reached in the Opioid Litigation with eight different pharmaceutical companies, of which a portion will be added to the Opioid Abatement Fund. Councilor Korzen noted that he received mail concerning Dummer Yard, which stated that there is only one solution to the issues on that property. Councilor Korzen noted that this is not the case, and there could be other solutions. Councilor Korzen noted that this property could qualify for Brownfields funding from the EPA, 2 and the Council should do its due diligence to see what other opportunities are out there. Councilor Korzen noted that from what he has seen, a lot of the community is against this proposed project. Councilor Korzen questioned who would be liable for monitoring after this company is done with the project, as this will still need to be done. Councilor Berthiaume noted that the Dummer Yard Project will not come to the Council for action, as they cannot stop the sale of the land. The project would be subject to site plan regulations at the Planning Board. 6. Adjournment On a motion by Councilor Higbee, seconded by Councilor Berthiaume, the Council voted to adjourn the meeting at 7:33 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. 3