Sequester slows prison activation
Written by Barbara Tetreault
BERLIN – Sequestration will slow the activation of the federal prison in Berlin.
The across-the-board government budget cuts that went into effect March 1 will cap hiring at the prison right now at 251 or about 70 percent of the facility's planned staffing level according to information provided by the office of U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte.
That staffing level will only allow for 500 inmates — less than half the 1,152 medium security and 128 minimum security inmates the prison will house when fully activated.
Currently there are 239 people employed at the prison with 10 additional people starting this week. Of the almost 250 employees, 95 are from the local area. There are 179 inmates, which Ayotte's office said will increase as the months progress.
The prison is funded as part of the continuing resolution passed by Congress last month. That resolution expires at the end of September.
The facility began accepting minimum security inmates last September and was activated to accept medium security inmates this January.
Construction of the $276 million prison was completed in November 2010 but it sat empty for a year before Congress appropriated the money in late 2011 to activate it.
Federal correctional officers have avoided the sequester furloughs facing other government employees. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder initially announced he was able to shift $150 million between accounts to avoid unpaid leave for Bureau of Prison employees. In a memo issued last Wednesday, Holder said his department will not have to furlough any employees this fiscal year due to sequestration.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 21:50
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Gorham officer graduates from first line supervisors' training
this was a press release and courtesy photo
GORHAM – Corporal Mark P. Santos of the Gorham Police Department recently completed the “Command Training Series: First Line Supervisor Course,” a two-week comprehensive training program for police supervisory personnel.
GORHAM – Corporal Mark P. Santos of the Gorham Police Department recently completed the “Command Training Series: First Line Supervisor Course,” a two-week comprehensive training program for police supervisory personnel.
Course work addressed contemporary concepts of management and leadership relevant to the responsibilities of first line supervisors in a modern criminal justice agency. The program discussed topics that included operational leadership and management principles, problem-solving, organizational and interpersonal communications, labor relations, disciplinary issues and ethical decision-making.
The course is offered by the Justice System Training and Research Institute at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., in partnership with the New England Association of Chiefs of Police.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 18:36
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Council approves opening streets to ATVs
By Debra Thornblad
BERLIN – The Berlin City Council voted unanimously to once again open up city streets to ATVs during the ATV festival planned for July 26 and 27.
The council had approved an ordinance for this last year, but it requires a motion by the council each year, City Manager Pat McQueen explained.
Mayor Paul Grenier said there had been a few problems last year and asked Police Chief Peter Morency if the problems had been addressed.
Most of the problems last year had to deal with ATVers using state roads within the city, which the city does not have jurisdiction over, and some teen drivers, too young for a driver's license, causing problems. But Morency said 99 percent had obeyed the rules and he was in favor of allowing the streets to be open to ATVs again.
Regarding young drivers, a bill has passed (HB 383) that will require a person operating an OHRV along the traveled portion of a public highway to be licensed to drive. An underage driver would have to be accompanied by a person licensed to drive who is at least 18 years old who will be legally responsible for the younger driver. The governor has not yet signed it yet, but is expected to. If, for some reason it is not signed by the time of the festival, it could become a rule of the festival itself.
The motion to open up city roads to ATVs does not include streets within city borders but outside the urban compact and under state jurisdiction.
Morency said better signage is needed as to where, and where not, ATVers may ride on the street. He said the department has received an OHRV Highway Safety Grant of just under $6,000 that can to used to help with signage.
In other business, the council approved a ground water monitoring contract with Novis Engineering for monitoring the impound lot on Gilbert Street. The $22,000 will be paid totally from the state's oil petroleum fund, but it requires council approval.
Michael Rozek will take over as chairman of the Traffic and Safety Committee. Lucie Remillard is stepping down from that position.
Councilor Paula Benski said she has had requests from residents to be allowed to have chickens. The council agreed it could be discussed at a future meeting, after the budget work was completed.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 May 2013 20:12
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City Council appoints Lynn Moore to school board
By Debra Thornblad
BERLIN – The Berlin City Council voted unanimously Monday night to appoint Lynn Moore to the Berlin Board of Education to replace Nathan Morin, who resigned earlier this month.
Morin had resigned April 11, citing differences over the school board's handling of its fiscal 2014 budget proposal. He felt the board should have been more of an advocate for the budget and made cuts too quickly before knowing what the city council would ultimately approve.
The council posted the opening and got letters of interested from five residents; Moore, Mark Evans, Ralph Aversano, June Ann Kelliher, and Matthew Buteau. The council interviewed four of the candidates Monday night. Buteau withdrew from consideration.
“My interest in the school board stems from being a current citizen of Berlin and a parent of two children currently enrolled in the Berlin School System. I am a proponent for education and believe that education is an important part of every individual's life. The education of our children is important to the sustainability of our community. As the city's economic status changes and grows we need to continue to encourage and educate our next generation while remaining current with today's fast paced technological world,” Moore stated in her letter of interest.
Moore is a Berlin native and went through the Berlin public schools grades K-12. She said she felt the school system gave her the foundation to move forward in her career. She is presently employed at White Mountains Community College as the Chief Officer of Finance and Administrative Services and said her position there has given her an “in depth understanding of governmental accounting and budgeting processes.”
With two children (boys) in the school system, Moore has been involved in many youth activities, including as a cub scout leader and volunteer in sports.
Before deciding to throw her hat in the ring, Moore said she spoke to some of the staff and former school board member Martha Laflamme to make sure this is something she really wanted to do.
Councilor Peter Higbee asked her, as he did every candidate, if she was running to continue the work that is being done or does she believe there are things that need to be changed?
“There may be things that need to be changed, but my approach to new things is to come in and see how thing are done now, what works, what doesn't,” she said.
Mayor Paul Grenier asked her, as he did every candidate, if she was not selected would she run for the board next fall.
“Definitely,” she said, “this is where I want to go, where I can help the community.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 April 2013 18:20
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