A demonstration of leadership

After having a couple of conversations over coffee this morning with folks who attended last night's forum about the township of Success, I've come to the conclusion that our attitude about ourselves and the special quality of life we have here in the North Country may not be for sale after all. I was told that somewhere around 75 people showed up and that there was a very positive tone to the conversations that lasted for three hours! I have to ask, when was the last time that there was 75 people in a room that seem to agree on anything?  I'm going to take the liberty of making an assumption here, (yeah I know what the first 3 letters spell, but I'll risk it anyway) that these folks who debated the pros and cons of Success, if given the same opportunity to debate the Laidlaw Energy project would come to the same conclusion,that our future and our quality of life is not for sale. The concerns that brought these 75 people out last night about Success run parallel to our concerns about Laidlaw, it's just that the people who are brokering the sale of Success are doing a much better job of informing/educating us on the subject. It's my opinion that the issues surrounding the use of the land in Success and the issues surrounding the mill property are one and the same. The Laidlaw project on the mill property is as absurd as a missile range for the National Guard in Success!..Both ideas are nuts and are not in the best interest of Berlin or of it's residents. There's no question that our city government failed its citizens by not providing  a proper forum about the re-use of the mill property and the Laidlaw project. It's not that the residents got smart overnight and showed up for last night's forum, it's that the people handling the information about Success did their homework and  acted professionally. It's clearly a demonstration of leadership and the residents responding.

Comments

[ralph]

I was there, it was a good meeting. My buddy has a camp on the pond and he's worried about what will happen. I've been going there since I was a kid and I don't want to see it messed up more,it's bad enough Dillon made a mess of it.

[Rocky]

ralph, do you think anything positive will come of the meeting?

[ralph]

I hope so. Alot of those at my table were pumped about it. That woman knew what she was talking about. I think Berlin should hire her I bet she could do something about Laidlaw.

[Jonathan Edwards]

One key to success of Success will be continued cooperative support between motorized recreational vehicle users, those with non-motorized interests and those who like to recreate in both fashions in Success. A level of respect seems to exist between people provided management of designated areas occurs.

The other key will be the funding for the lower section. If anyone has a track record of accomplishments in this regard it would be Nancy Bell. Why Berlin wouldn't be approaching Dillon to see about buying the land is beyond me. I can only assume they must be looking into the purchase in closed session under land matters as it makes too much sense for Berlin to be a part of this once in a life time opportunity to ride on the coat tails of the Conservation Fund and actually obtain a control factor in the closest forest to Berlin (which is not a forest for several years now and should be a lesson to us) and the tremendous water rights associated with that land. It is actually a gold mine and a tragedy for the city not to look into ownership. Hopefully the mayor and council are working closely with Nancy Bell to approach Dillon with an interest in pursuing this as Nancy and the Dillons have a good working working relationship. At a time when the Conservation fund has an agreement in place with Dillon and they are obtaining funds to back them up, now is the only time for the city to step in and potentially need very little money to get involved. It would be a great come back to a big mistake the old administration made in not trying to obtain the Burgess mill site at any cost. Just look at what Nancy is getting for funding in one of the worst economies in memory.

[Rocky]

I think what Dillon did to Success was a good lesson to many locals. The motorized and non-motorized folks have more in common than not and you're right Jon, they need to work cooperatively. I have no idea if the City is talking to Nancy Bell, not talking to her about this is the equivalent of not talking to NADC when they bought the mill property. The passive City administration doesn't give me much hope, I think the people that were at the meeting need to push them into doing something. Nice photo in today's paper Jon!

[Jonathan Edwards]

Some have been experiencing computer malfunctions due to the glare in that photo but I'm not sure why, Rocky.

Not sure if this Monday's council's meeting includes public comments. If so, I'll ask if this is being pursued, and if not why. I had approached the council on this before and they had acted on the subject by not getting involved with the idea many months ago without really giving any reason.

[Wing Nut]

Rocky,

Please keep in mind that there is overwhelming public opposition to having a missile firing range in Success Township. I have yet to speak to one local individual who wants the National Guard to own this land. On the other hand, there is still a vigorous debate locally about the LLEG plant. My current estimate of support versus opposition to the plant is about 50%/50%. Thus, in the case of LLEG it is much harder to build a consensus one way or the other. In other words, how can the City Government (Mayor & Council) take a strong leadership role against the LLEG plant when many of their constituents support the idea? Also, many cash strapped property owners are more than willing to accept Biomass on that site (for property tax relief) and that puts a lot of pressure on our elected officials. I know what you are going to say, over the long term alternative development of the site would likely yield higher tax revenue (and you are probably correct). However, most people just do not have the luxury of time when it comes to the property tax bill they see every six months. So, while I totally agree with your perspective that this idea is nuts, realistically we may be on the losing end of this battle. Take care and keep up the opposition........WN.

[Rocky]

When I wipe the dust off my crystal ball I see the following; It's all about PSNH. If NE Utilities strikes a deal with Hydro Quebec, Laidlaw is dead since PSNH will be able to buy power cheaper than can be produced locally even with all subsidies applied. PSNH will pretty much follow what NEU does and tells them to do. Those who think Laidlaw will make their taxes go down are in for a big surprise. Laidlaw will go for all the tax breaks allowed by law....I invite Jon to comment on that. The boiler is 14 years old, the turbine will be second hand etc. etc. So Jon, what's your guesstimate as to how much they would pay in taxes and what does that mean to the average taxpayer?

[Wing Nut]

I think Jon already estimated $500,000 per year in property taxes paid by LLEG. It won't make a huge difference in anybody's tax bill but it certainly won't hurt the City budget. Again, I'm still opposed to the plant, but we have to be prepared for the real possibility that this thing is going to be built. Also, I've spoken to somebody who works for PSNH and the Hydro Quebec deal does nothing to help solve the governor's 25% by 2025 initiative which is the real reason (in my opinion) that PSNH is backing LLEG on this project. Take care..........WN.

[Rocky]

What if they changed the rules of the game to include imported "green energy"? Maybe we should be talking to our elected officials about that, it would sure save the ratepayers a bunch of money.

[Jonathan Edwards]

Rocky, With all due respect to municiple government, do most city and towns
actually lower taxes when a new windfall of tax revenue comes to town?
History has shown time and time again that municipalities find a use for
added tax revenue rather than a savings to the tax payer. This is not necessarily a fault with municiple government but rather an opportunity to cover deferred maintenance (certainly in Berlin's case) to catch up on maintenance. An example of
this occurs in the sister town of Gorham. Look at the influx of major tax
payers on the Berlin Gorham Road. Millions and millions of added assessed values
and yet are Gorham taxes significantly less than Berlin as these revenue
giants have been added to Gorham's tax roles? The answer is no. Government
usually finds that it's time to upgrade the old fire truck or fix that pot
hole road when the windfall comes to town.

Now, let's assume that Berlin's municipality chose to cut everyone's tax
bill in direct proportion to Laidlaw's contribution to the tax base and
let's assume that after all of Laidlaw's tax breaks they were to pay
$500,000 per year into the city coffer. If you have 3000 property owners in
a city that would make each person's tax bill drop $150.00 annually. If
many people stopped having two Duncan Donut coffees each week and made their
own pot of coffee that would save them more than $150.00. The question is
how valuable is a Duncan Donut cup of coffee?

[Jonathan Edwards]

It is important that the Coos Commissioners and the Berlin city government meet on the importance of the conservation easements obtained by the Conservation fund on the Success land. The Dillon family and the Conservation fund are to be commended for their efforts thus far in the protection of this land for future generations. Berlin should be very greatful that this first step has been achieved and Berlin government and regional government should be working in harmony on making the most out of Success' potential by working closely together and no longer at odds with one another. Being on the same page on this issue will compliment the area immensely for future generations.

[Rocky]

With a County Commissioner that has political ambitions, it's anybody's guess as to how that's going to shake out. If we could only remove egos from the mix, maybe we could expect him to do the right thing.

[Jonathan Edwards]

It would be a better move, I think, to have a meeting of the minds with all Coos County Commissioners involved as potentially having a city forest to depend on in the future as an important regional asset, not just a Berlin asset, especially with taking into consideration the water resources in addition to a well managed forest in the future. Any governing official opting to oppose such a cause for political gain would surely need to have a very good reason, the only reason being, that I can see, that Dillon would have an unwillingness to sell. Keep in mind that Success is a much different issue than Laidlaw, as most people can see only positives and very few people have voiced opposition to protecting an area that has been changed significantly in little time. If Dillon has a mind to keep Success, all isn't for naught as it would show concern for the area on the city's part. In my opinion, the city should, with the assistance of the coos commissioners and anyone else willing to cooperate as a team, gather together on this one and let it gain some momentum.

[V.]

How many people got fired/let go from the state prison?

[Rocky]

I believe it was around 8(?) The situation that nobody is talking about is that they moved 200 to 300 more inmates to Berlin. I've been told that they've turned spaces that were not designed as living spaces/cells and turned them into dorms. I understand that some officers believe that it's a dangerous situation. Let's keep the tax pledge while the State goes to hell!

[Rocky]

There's a letter in today's The Berlin Daily Sun (page 5)which speaks to one of the State Prison issues.

[Wing Nut]

Rocky,

I'm all for keeping the pledge of no broad based taxes. In a bad economy the worst thing you can do is to increase taxes. And, once the government (state, local, federal) institutes a new tax it never goes away (it only keeps increasing every year). I have a novel idea; why not look at downsizing government? Has anyone ever considered that maybe the size of government is too large and is spending too much? With respect to the overcrowded prisons, why do we incarcerate non-violent offenders? As soon as NH started to abandon its conservative heritage (it all started with the election of Jeanne Shaheen as governor in my opinion) we started to lose control of the State budget. NH is starting to look more like MA every day. Mark my words; someday the working man isn't going to have much left in his pay check after the government takes its share.

That is my two cents..........WN.