City Council

City of Rochester City Council Workshop DRAFT January 16, 2018 Rochester City Council Workshop Meeting January 16, 2018 Council Chambers 7:14 PM COUNCILORS PRESENT OTHERS PRESENT Councilor Bogan Daniel Fitzpatrick, City Manager Councilor Gates Blaine Cox, Deputy City Manager Councilor Gray Terence O'Rourke, City Attorney Councilor Hamann Gregg DeNobile, Resident Councilor Hutchinson David Cline, Property Owner Councilor Keans Paul Martin, resident Councilor Lachapelle Peter Nourse, Director of City Services Councilor Lauterborn Councilor Torr Councilor Varney Mayor McCarley COUNCILORS EXCUSED/ABSENT Councilor Abbott Councilor Walker MINUTES 1. Call to Order Mayor McCarley called the meeting to order at 7:14 PM. Deputy City Clerk Cassie Givara took a silent roll call. All councilors were present except for Councilor Abbott and Councilor Walker, who were both excused/absent. 2. Public Input Mayor McCarley invited members of the public to approach the podium and speak. human, resident, welcomed the new Councilors. He also praised the many volunteers who had put time and effort into keeping the warming shelter staffed, stocked, and operating during the recent cold snap. human pointed out that even after the shelter closed, the services for homeless residents did not end. There were various community organizations available to provide continuing assistance going forward. City of Rochester City Council Workshop DRAFT January 16, 2018 He also referenced NH state RSA 165 regarding welfare and residents in need and suggested that providing a place for the homeless to take showers would be a step in the right direction for the City of Rochester. Dennis Winship, resident, spoke of his experience and difficulties as a homeless veteran living in Rochester. Mr. Winship inquired if there was another, possibly larger establishment in Rochester which could be leased as a more permanent solution for the homeless population. He also inquired if there were temperature or weather specific criteria for reopening the warming shelter. 3. Communications from the City Manager None 4. Communications from the Mayor 4.1. Certificate of Appreciation Honoring Logan Putnam Mayor McCarley presented Logan Putnam with a certificate of appreciation for his quick thinking in calling emergency services in May of 2017 when he saw smoke coming from the City Hall Annex, which was in the final stages of completion. If the fire had not been caught so early, it could have been disastrous. Frank Swanson and Bill DiBurro of CMGC Building Corp presented a letter of appreciation to Logan for his quick thinking in reporting the fire and also presented Logan with a $5000 ‘529’ college saving plan. Mayor McCarley discussed a meeting she had with the Mayors of Dover and Somersworth where they talked in part about the homeless situation throughout the Tri-City area. Mayor McCarley shared with the other community leaders what had been learned and the challenges encountered in Rochester’s experience operating the warming shelter. The Mayor indicated that they intend to put together a small coalition as part of the debriefing process following the warming shelter closure. The Mayors of all 3 communities would like to explore what more can be done to assist the homeless population. The Mayor stated they would write up a purpose statement with an end goal and get a plan in place, and that they would keep the council informed. 5. Department Reports None City of Rochester City Council Workshop DRAFT January 16, 2018 6. Other Councilor Gates asked Peter Nourse, Director of City Services, if the Rochester Fairgrounds pays for their water usage. Mr. Nourse as well as the City Manager and Deputy City Mayor verified that the Rochester Fairgrounds does not now, nor have they ever, paid for their water usage. City Manager Fitzpatrick clarified that this stemmed from a signed contract, predating all current council members, which states that the Fairgrounds will have complimentary water usage for perpetuity. Councilor Gates inquired about the rationale behind this contract. City Manager Fitzpatrick said that Councilor Gates would have to ask the people who signed the original contract. Councilor Torr asked if the water line at the Fairground was still leaking. Mr. Nourse reported that the department of Public Works had corrected an enormous leak at the Fairgrounds 4 years ago. City Manager Fitzpatrick added that the City has been turning off the water at the fairgrounds when it is not in use because it cuts back on the smaller leaks. He said that he had discussed the water issue and the ancient contract with the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor and they would be revisiting the issue within the next several months. Councilor Gates inquired if that meant the issue would be up for renegotiation. City Manager Fitzpatrick said that the current plan is just to discuss the water issue further. Councilor Torr asked if the contract with the Fairgrounds was null and void because the Fairground is no longer operational. City Manager Fitzpatrick confirmed that they had discussed just this opinion at their earlier meeting. Councilor Torr stated that it didn’t make sense to turn a water line on for short stretches of time and if it this were a property owned by a member of the general public, they would be responsible for the payment. Councilor Gates asked who would determine whether the water contract with the Fairground is null and void. City Manager Fitzpatrick indicated it first needed to be discussed with the City Attorney and then they intend to have it on the agenda within the next several weeks. Councilor Varney suggested that the planning department amend their presentation regarding downtown zoning to include the special downtown district. Councilor Varney felt that David Cline, who had spoken at the earlier public hearing regarding dimensional standards, had done a good job and he would like to see more of that type of growth in Rochester. Councilor Keans referenced conversations she had with the Mayor in the past regarding a desire to make the zones in Rochester more blended City of Rochester City Council Workshop DRAFT January 16, 2018 and contiguous. She felt this change would provide more clarity for businesses in the City to understand in which zone they were located and what uses were acceptable in their locations. 7. Non-Meeting None 8. Adjournment Councilor Torr MOVED to ADJOURN the City Council Workshop meeting at 7:35 PM. Councilor Lachapelle seconded the motion. The MOTION CARRIED by a unanimous voice vote. Respectfully Submitted, Cassie Givara Deputy City Clerk