WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2011
VOL. 19 NO. 209
BERLIN, N.H.
752-5858
FREE
Delegation warned of possible cut to county revenue BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN— The Coos County Delegation Saturday received a warning that a proposal in the legislature could significantly reduce revenues to the county by diverting funds from a Medicaid program. County Administrator Suzanne Collins said the N.H. House Finance Division III is seeking to divert $33 million of Medicaid Quality Incentive Funds to replace general fund dollars for home support. She added that the Department of Health and Humans Services estimates $11 million of that is revenue for the counties. Collins said this could mean a revenue loss of $1
million for Coos County. In order to cover the revenue loss from the MQIP funds, Collins said the county could require a supplemental budget. Representative Herb Richardson said the leadership of the N.H. House of Representatives pledged to not downshift costs, and that the delegation should remind them of that. Representative Bill Hatch, of Gorham, said that even though the house leadership has said it won’t downshift costs to the towns, it’s not necessarily true. “I think that we are in for a huge impact,” said Hatch. “That’s going to go to our property taxes.” Hatch said the delegation has to be careful and
watch each piece of legislation to guard against cost downshifting. Representative John Tholl, of Whitefield, said even though the downshift would specifically hit the county, it would still impact the towns. County Treasurer Fred King said there are many other changes being considered in the legislature that would result in more cuts to funds that are revenue sources for the county. This includes a proposed $16 million cut to health and human services, said King. King said the delegation should work to stop any further cost downshifting. “[The delegations needs] to remind the leadership they just can’t do that,” said King.
Zoning board continues case from property off Spring Road BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM— The Gorham Zoning Board once against continued a case Thursday that seeks several variances to further develop a piece of property of Spring Road. The board agreed to schedule another hearing for Michael DeBellis’ application for a variance, for his property on Woodbound Road, until its April meeting since he needs two other variances for his project to move forward. Board Chair Wayne Flynn said
waiting would allow the board to rule on all three variances at one meeting. During the meeting, DeBeliis said he wants to see this issue resolved so he can finish working on the property. He added that this has been before the board since it was first approved in August though it granted an appeal to deny the request in October. DeBellis said he owns the land and just wants to be able to improve the property. When he first bought the property DeBellis said he was given bad information from the building
inspector about being able to replace the dilapidated mobile home on the property with a new one. He added he’s also done everything else he was told to do before doing any work on the land. DeBellis said he was told he only needed a variance for the lack of frontage. DeBellis submitted a request for a variance since the Woodbound Road property doesn’t have frontage on a public street. The application reviewed Thursday only dealt see ZONING page 7
Delegation opposes closing rest areas BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN— The Coos County Delegation voted to author a letter protesting the proposal to close rest areas. The delegation voted unanimously to send letters to Governor John Lynch and also to the finance committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate decrying the proposal to close rest areas in Shelburne, Colebrook and Littleton. Currently, the proposed budget introduced by Governor John Lynch, in February, would shutter these operations for a lack of funding. The budget includes closing half of the state’s rest areas. This includes the three in the North Country but also ones in Sanbornton, Lebanon, Antrim, Epsom and Rumney. The state estimates closing these rest areas would save about $800,000 a year. This would leave the counties of Coos, Grafton, Cheshire and Belknap without a single state rest area. Representative Herb Richardson, of Lancaster, said closing the rest areas counters any plans for economic development. He added these are sources of information for people coming into the see DELEGATION page 7
BANKRUPTCY or CRIMINAL DEFENSE Free InitialM eeting
Sm a ll& L yo n s A tto r n eys 1-800-373-1114 (a debtrelief agency )
The BHS senior building trades class recently received their OSHA 10-hour construction safety cards. They are pictured in front of the Jericho Mountain State Park welcome center, which is this year’s project. Pictured are Chris Ouellette, Joe Villeneuve, Tim Mclain, Hunter Cote, Alec Jones, Justin Boudreau, Forest Hinkley, and Amanda Greenlay. Missing from the photo were Zach Stephenson, Jacob Plourde, and Nick Theberge.
GOLDEN TICKET SALE
THURSDAY ONLY 9am TO 6pm
107 Main St, Berlin, NH • 752-1520 • www.greetingsjewelers.com
G o r h a m H o u se F lo r ist, L L C 1 0 E xch a n ge Str eet G o r h a m • 4 6 6 -5 5 8 8
Happy St. Patty’s Day. Green Carnations. Oxalis Plants. Lucky Leprechaun Mum Faces.