FROM: KELLI L.
BARNABY, CITY CLERK
RE: ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE
PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 17, 2001, COUNCIL CHAMBER,
MUNICIPAL COMPLEX, ONE JUNKINS AVENUE, PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE
PRESENT: MAYOR SIRRELL, ASSISTANT MAYOR CLEWS,
COUNCILORS HANSON, GRASSO, HYNES, MARCONI, WHITEHOUSE AND PANTELAKOS
ABSENT: COUNCILOR
WAGNER
1. At
6:30 p.m., an Anticipated “Non-Meeting” with Counsel was held regarding
Coalition Communities and the proposed amendment to the State of New Hampshire
Constitution.
2. Presentation
– Presentation of checks for the Sherburne Park: Bunnell Family and Northern Utilities – Community Development
Director Hayden announced that the City has received a generous contribution
from Northern Utilities for renovations to Sherburne Park. The Bunnell Family presented Mayor Sirrell
with a check in the amount of $11,250.00 for renovations to the Sherburne Park.
3. Presentation
– David Engel and Family and Dorothy Vaughan:
Presentation of checks for Save the Old State House – Mayor Sirrell
announced that she has received a check in the amount of $500.00 from Dorothy
Vaughan for Save the Old State House.
David Engel presented Mayor Sirrell with a check in the amount of
$565.00 for Save the Old State House.
4. Presentation
– Recognition of Arthur Parrott - Mayor Sirrell presented Arthur with a
gift in recognition of his many years of service to the City in serving on the
Planning Board.
5. Presentation
– Doug Knight, Executive Director of Pro Portsmouth Re: First Night – Doug advised the City
Council that there would be 40 performers and 14 venues for the 15th
annual First Night. This year’s slogan
is Unity through Community.
6. Presentation
– Melanson, Heath & Company, P.C. Auditors’ Financial Report for the year ending
June 30, 2001 – Scott McIntyre of Melanson, Heath and Company provided a
brief presentation of the City’s Financial Report.
Voted to authorize the outside auditors
to work with the Cable Commission in auditing the funds of the Cable Company
and to see if the City of Portsmouth contract has been met financially.
7. Volunteer
Committee Reports – Presentation and Report Back of Emergency Communications
Center Study Committee – Mr. McDonald of PS Comm provided an overview of
their findings in reviewing the Emergency Communications Center.
Voted to suspend the rules in order to
take action on the report of the Emergency Communications Center Study
Committee.
Voted to accept the report of the
Emergency Communications Study Committee.
8. Acceptance
of Minutes – December 3, 2001 – Voted to accept and approve the minutes of
the December 3, 2001 City Council meeting.
9. Public
Comment Session – There were three speakers: Frank Wisinski (Creation of a Seacoast Marine Corp Emergency Response
Team); Seth Marbin (Martin Luther King Day March of Justice); and Mary Lou
McElwain (South Mill Pond Petition).
10. Third and final reading of Ordinance
amending Chapter 8, Article I, Section 8.130 – Scope, Signs Included by
amending 8.130 C – Removal Required – Voted to pass third and final
reading.
11. Letter from Jackie Jarest regarding
the increased rates for non-residents at the indoor pool – Voted to accept
and place the letter on file.
12. Letter from Frank Wisinski, requesting
the formation of an USMC Veterans Emergency Response Team – Voted to refer
the request to the City Manager and the City’s Emergency Management
Representative.
13. Letter from Cubbi Lirette, Sexual
Assault Support Services, requesting permission to hold the 19th Annual
Walk-a-thon on Sunday, April 21, 2002 at 1:00 p.m. – Voted to refer to the
City Manager with power.
14.
Petition from Mary Lou McElwain regarding the condition of
the South Mill Pond – Voted to accept and place the petition on file.
15.
Letter from Steve Alie, Alie Jewelers regarding the success
of the Holiday kick-off – Voted to accept and place the letter on file.
16.
Letter from Kenneth Hale, AIDS Response Seacoast, requesting
permission to hold the annual fund raising walk, 2002 Seacoast Aids Walk on
Sunday, May 5, 2002 – Voted to refer to the City Manager with power.
17.
Sidewalk Obstruction License application – Lucky 7 Gallery –
1 A-frame sign – Voted to table the application due to the location of the
sign with a report back from the City Manager at the January 14th
City Council meeting.
18.
Sidewalk Obstruction License application – Pierce Gallery 1-
A-frame sign – Voted to refer to the City Manager with power.
19.
Sidewalk Obstruction License application – Portsmouth SDA
Church – 1 obstruction – Voted to deny the location of the obstruction. Councilor Marconi voted opposed.
20.
Letter from Seth Marbin, Service Director, City Year NH,
requesting permission to hold a “Martin Luther King Day March of Justice” on
Monday, January 21, 2002 – Voted to approve this march subject to no closing of City
streets and all logistics to be worked out by the City Manager and the Police
Department.
21.
Donation to the Coalition Legal Fund – Voted to
accept the $5,000 contribution from the Town of Sandwich and $1,000 from the
Town of Stoddard to be placed in the Coalition Legal Fund.
22.
Appointment of Blue Ribbon Committee to Save the Old State
House
– Voted to approve the appointments as submitted by Mayor Sirrell as follows:
Chairman Robert Padian, Mayor Evelyn
Sirrell, Dr. Dorothy Vaughan, Eileen Foley, Harold Whitehouse, Laura
Pantelakos, Joanne Grasso, David Adams, John Sullivan, J. Dennis Robinson,
Duncan MacCallum, Martha Fuller Clark, Jackie Pitts, Jay Smith, Elaine Krasker,
Ex-Officio Kathleen Mullins, Ex-Officio James Garvin, Ex-Officio David Engel
and Ex-Officio Burt Cohen.
The mission of the Committee is: To rescue the surviving portion of the
original New Hampshire State House and to restore the building to its colonial
era-elegance on a suitable Site in the City of Portsmouth, NH; to re-animate
the building as a living Monument for use as a unifying symbol of our heritage.
23.
Attendance Records for major Boards & Commission for
2001
– No action required.
24.
Appointments/Resignations – Voted to reappoint all reconsiderations
of individuals to various boards and commissions as a basket motion.
Voted to approve the following
reappointments as listed: Phyllis
Eldridge to the Library Trustees until October 1, 2004; Steve Wrenn to the
Cable Commission until April 1, 2003; John Rice, Richard Katz, and David Adams
to the Historic District Commission until June 1, 2004; Scott Pafford, Mark
Simpson, Clifford Taylor, and Thomas Ferrini to the Economic Development
Commission until October 1, 2005; James Horrigan, Alain Jousse, Nathaniel
Holloway and Robert Marchewka to the Zoning Board of Adjustment until December
1, 2006.
Voted to appoint Edward Hayes to the
Economic Development Commission until October 1, 2005.
The City Council considered the following
appointments to be voted on at the January 14th City Council meeting
as listed: Eileen Foley and William
Elwell to the Trustees of the Trust Fund, Peter Bresciano, James Feehley, Frank
Daggett, and Betty Sanford to the Taxi Commission; Noele Clews, Paige Roberts,
and George Savramis to the Planning Board; Frederick Gray to the Traffic &
Safety Committee; Christopher Rogers to the Zoning Board of Adjustment; and
Barbara Ward to the Library Trustees.
Voted to accept the resignation of
Eileen Foley from the Pease Development Authority with sincere gratitude for
serving on the Committee.
Voted to accept with regret the
resignation of Charles Vaughn from the Trustees of the Trust Fund.
Voted to accept the resignation of
Jerry Howe from the Cable Commission and the Peirce Island Committee with
regret and appreciation for his years of service to these committees.
25.
Appointment of Pease Development Authority Representative – Voted to
suspend the rules in order to vote the appointment of a new Representative to
the Pease Development Authority this evening.
Councilor Marconi abstained from voting.
Voted effective January 1, 2002 the
appointment of John Bohenko as the City of Portsmouth’s representative to the
Pease Development Authority, in accordance with RSA 12G. Councilor Marconi abstained from voting.
26.
Youth Committee Report – Voted to accept the Youth
Committee Report as submitted.
27.
Traffic & Safety Committee Action Sheet and Minutes of
the November 15, 2001 meeting – Voted to accept and approve the action
sheet and minutes of the November 15, 2001 Traffic & Safety Committee
meeting.
28.
Parking Committee Action Sheet and Minutes of the November
15, 2001 meeting – Voted to accept and approve the action sheet and minutes
of the November 15, 2001 Parking Committee meeting.
29.
Adjournment – At 9:15 p.m., voted to adjourn.
Respectfully
submitted by:
Kelli
L. Barnaby, City Clerk