WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2011
VOL. 20 NO. 8
BERLIN, N.H.
City council hopes to maintain current staff level at fire department BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN – The city council is unlikely to support hiring two additional firefighters but will try to avoid reducing current staffing levels in the fire department. That was the message delivered to Fire Chief Randall Trull and the department at its budget presentation to the council Monday night. As he has in previous years, Trull recommended the department add two fire fighters to allow minimum staffing levels of five on all four shifts. Currently, two shifts have four personnel on duty. But the fire department budget presented as part of the city manager’s overall budget actually calls for reducing the department by two positions to meet the council’s budget goal of no tax increase. In his budget note, City Manager
Patrick MacQueen called the reduction “particularly painful”. He noted if the department were reduced to four shifts of four firefighters, there would be times, because of illnesses, injuries, and vacations, when there would be fewer than four firefighters per shift. Mayor Paul Grenier told the department he does not believe the council wants to see any reductions in personnel but also warned that the city has limited funds. Last year he said the firefighters union made concessions on health benefits and the council was able to avoid lay-offs. He said if that spirit of cooperation continues, he is hopeful the city can avoid lay-offs in the department this budget year. Grenier also said he does not believe council will be in a position to make a decision on staffing levels until the see STAFF page 6
Selectmen revisit proposed noise ordinance BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM— The Gorham Board of Selectmen will continue reviewing the proposed noise ordinance before making a final decision on whether to enact it. The board Monday night revisited the noise ordinance for the first time since it was discussed during the annual town meeting. Town Manager Robin Frost presented the board with the proposed ordinance and a memo from Chief P.J.
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Cyr about possible revisions to the measure in light of some of the discussion during town meeting. “We’ll look at this a little further and look at what the chief says,” said Terry Oliver, chair of the Board of Selectmen. “And then revisit it at another meeting.” Selectman Paul Robitaille said he’s been hearing a lot of comments both in favor of and against the noise ordinance. He added the board should carefully review the proposed see SELECTMEN page 6
Health insurance change shows savings for schools, towns BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
GORHAM— A change in health insurances carriers for the Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District, SAU 20, the town of Shelburne and the town of Gorham will result in some cost-savings for the agencies. All of these groups will switch to a new health insurance carrier and see savings, with the most significant being for the G.R.S. Cooperative School District saving an estimated $80,000. The school district first began looking for a new insurance plan to save money and both Shelburne and Gorham joined in to increase the size of the buying pool. Based on the new plan through LGC, the G.R.S. district will save an estimated $80,000; the SAU will save $9,000; the Milan school will save $13,000; the Errol school will save $3,500; and the town of Gorham will save $13,384. The Berlin Daily Sun see INSURANCE page 7
City will file for intervenor status in new Laidlaw proceeding BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
The planning committee of the 12th annual Health-A-Rama met at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital recently. (l-r) James Patry, AVH director of public relations and marketing; Edwina Keene, committee chair and AVH volunteer coordinator; Steve Griffin and Cindy Griffin; Adrienne Backer, Berlin Junior High School counselor; Jill Poulin, Berlin Junior High School physical education teacher; and Matt Saladino, Gorham Middle/High School counselor. Missing is Gina Belanger, LPN, Maternal and Child Health Program Administrator at the Gorham Family Resource Center. The Health-A-Rama, which is a program for Berlin/Gorham eighth graders, will take place at the Town and Country Motor Inn in Shelburne on April 28. See story page 7. (GAIL SCOTT PHOTO)
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BERLIN – Despite legal bills tallying over $300,000 so far this fiscal year, the city council voted unanimously Monday night to file for intervenor statue in the latest N.H. Site Evaluation Committee proceedings The SEC has scheduled a public meeting on April 22 to consider a motion by Laidlaw Berlin BioPower to transfer its certificate to build and operate a biomass plant on the former pulp mill site to Berlin Station LLC. In an e-mail to the city planner, Attorney Merritt Schnipper of Downs, Rachlin and Martin estimated the see LAIDLAW page 11
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