FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 2011
VOL. 20 NO. 6
BERLIN, N.H.
752-5858
FREE
Police chief defends department’s budget request BERLIN – The police department Wednesday night presented its case for a slight increase in its requested fiscal 2012 budget to allow it to maintain current staffing levels and services. The commission submitted a recommended budget of $2.845 million, up 2.7 percent over its current budget. The commission also submitted a budget reflecting the 4 percent cut City Manager Patrick MacQueen requested of all departments to meet the city council’s goal of no tax increase. Police Chief Peter Morency said the budget preferred by the department basically flat-lines the
existing budget with the increase of $75,767 representing increased costs of health and dental insurances, retirement benefits, gas and oil. The budget includes no wage increases and Morency has voluntarily given up his contractual wage increase to keep his salary at $82,400 for the part-time position. The budget includes outside services the department undertakes such as the Milan police contract and providing police services to the Androscoggin Valley Regional Refuse Disposal District. If those
items, which are offset by revenue, are removed, the increase drops to 2.5 percent. The budget does not replace a vacancy created by a retirement. Morency explained the department is applying for a COPS grant to hire one additional person. If successful, he said the grant would allow the department to maintain its current staffing level. If the grant is not approved, the department will be down by one position. In comparison, Morency said the city manager’s see REQUEST page 12
AMC approaches GHS with pilot internship program BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM— Gorham High School could be one of the first schools to participate in a pilot internship program with the Appalachian Mountain Club. G.H.S. was one of two schools asked to participate in a pilot internship with the A.M.C. that would give summers jobs to one student from each school
in either the outdoor education or hospitality fields. The other school asked to participate is Colebrook Academy. “I think it’s a great idea,” said Principal Keith Parent. Parent said the A.M.C. reached out to the school as a prospective participant in the pilot program. He added the A.M.C. was looking to start something to
help benefit the local schools. He said there’s only been one meeting so far between the school and the A.M.C., but the two groups will keep working to get the program started. Once the program gets going, Parent said he sees more schools getting involved. “They’ll start with us and see what happens,” said see AMC page 7
BetterBuildings NH launches program locally Berlin office opens March 29
The Scarinza Sugarhouse pace is full tilt and has been for better than a week, now that the sap is running. The evaporator that Randolph resident and former State Police Lt. John Scarinza was given at his retirement dinner is hard at work for its second year and so are Scarinza and Jen Barton, as, here, Scarinza stokes the fire under the evaporator and Barton tests the syrup for density. Scarinza has 320 taps going and hopes to increase the number to 400. (GAIL SCOTT PHOTO)
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BERLIN -- The Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA) and the NH Office of Energy and Planning (OEP) announce the launch of a new initiative to help New Hampshire communities reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gasses through conservation, efficiency, and renewable energy. BetterBuilidings NH will work with homeowners and businesses to identify energy improvements. The Berlin office of BetterBuildings will hold an open house on Tuesday, March 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. The office is located at 151 Main Street, the Winterland Marketplace, in Suite 2. The event is part of the Androscoggin Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours program. “We’re excited about launching this program and opening the doors to our Berlin office,” said Kate Peters, BetterBuildings NH program director. “We want BetterBuildings to be a high-touch operation, with our staff guiding local participants through the process of auditing, financing, and retsee PROGRAM page 7
Maureen’s Boutique & Tanning Salon
146 Main St. 752-7569
Lots of Spring Arrivals