FROM: KELLI
L. BARNABY, CITY CLERK
RE: ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 4, 2002, COUNCIL CHAMBER, MUNICIPAL COMPLEX, ONE
JUNKINS AVENUE, PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE
PRESENT: MAYOR SIRRELL, ASSISTANT MAYOR HANSON,
COUNCILORS GRASSO, LOWN, HYNES, PANTELAKOS, WHITEHOUSE, MARCONI AND ST. LAURENT
ABSENT: NONE
1. Presentation
– Rensselaer Iron & Steel Update on storage of scrap steel at the Port
property on Market Street – John Black of Rensselaer Iron & Steel
advised the City Council that they will be storing scrap steel at the
Port. He said that there would be 6
ships per year coming into the Port with an average of 15,000 ton per ship.
2. Proclamation
– Naming of Portsmouth High School Gymnasium in honor of Robert “Woody” Stone
– Mayor Sirrell read and presented a Proclamation to the Stone family on the
dedication of the Portsmouth High School gymnasium in honor of Robert “Woody”
Stone. The dedication will be held on
Tuesday, February 19, 2002 at 6:30 p.m. at the Portsmouth High School.
3. Mayor’s
Awards – Members of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Arts and Culture – Mayor
Sirrell presented Mayor’s Awards to the members of the Blue Ribbon Committee on
Arts and Culture.
4. Acceptance
of Minutes – January 14, 2002 – Voted to accept and approve the City
Council minutes of the January 14, 2002 meeting.
5. Public
Comment Session – There was one speaker:
Dr. John Meinhold (Arsenic treated wood).
6. Public
Hearing – Resolution Authorizing a Bond Issue of up to Seven Million Dollars
($7,000,000) for the Construction of a New Public Library – Held a Public
Hearing. On a roll call 7-2, voted to
adopt the Resolution authorizing a bond issue up to $7,000,000 for the
construction on a new public library.
Assistant Mayor Hanson, Councilors Grasso, Lown, Hynes, Pantelakos, St.
Laurent and Mayor Sirrell voted in favor.
Councilors Whitehouse and Marconi voted opposed.
7. Acceptance
of Grant from NH Department of Health & Human Services, Juvenile
Accountability Incentive Block Grant Program – Voted to approve and accept
the grant award to the Portsmouth Police Department.
8. Donation
from Crimeline for upgrades to the Police Department evidence vehicle –
Voted to accept the donation to the Portsmouth Police Department.
9. Donation
from Pic-N-Pay Shop ‘N Save for the Life Skills Training Program for Middle
School students – Voted to accept the donation to the Portsmouth Police
Department.
10. Acceptance of Grant from the NH
Department of Environmental Services – Voted to authorize the City Manager
to accept and expend $15,000 in grant funds from the Department of
Environmental Services 2002 Local Source Water Protection Grant Program for
Groundwater Well Security.
11. First Reading of Ordinance amending
Chapter 7, Article II – Taxicabs – Section 7.211 C, License Required –
Voted to pass first reading and schedule a Public Hearing and second reading at
the March 4th City Council meeting.
12. Letter from Captain Scott Flanders,
The Salvation Army thanking the City Council for ringing the bells at the
Christmas kettles during the 2001 Holiday season – Voted to accept and
place the letter on file.
13. Letter from Steve Miller, President
Advocates for the North Mill Pond, requesting $15,000 - $20,000 for a new
research project on the North Mill Pond entitled “A Stakeholder Watershed
Approach: Hodgson Brook Restoration”
– Voted to refer to the City Manager for a report back.
14. Letter from Jeanine Sylvester,
Runner’s Alley, requesting permission to hold the 5th Annual
Runner’s Alley/Redhook Memorial 5k Road Race/Healthwalk – Voted to refer to
the City Manager with power.
15. Letter from Emily Brackett, Student
Council President and Mary Carey Foley, Student Council Advisor requesting
permission to hold Student Thursday, March 21, 2002 – Voted to approve
Student Government Day for Thursday, March 21, 2002.
16. Letter from Dr. Robert Lister,
Assistant Superintendent of Schools requesting the City Council representation
for the opening ceremonies for the Special Olympics-New Hampshire on Saturday,
April 6, 2002 -–Voted to refer to the City Manager with power.
17. Request for Work Session Re: Bulky Waste Collection and Recycling Center
– Voted to schedule a work session on Monday, March 11th, at 7:30
p.m. with the Department of Public Works regarding a proposed Recycling Center.
18. Acceptance of Donation from
Northern Utilities for Renovations to Sherburne Park – Voted to accept a
check in the amount of $12,500 from Northern Utilities for Renovations to
Sherburne Park.
19. Donation to the Coalition Legal
Fund – Voted to accept the $575 contribution from the Town of Hampton Falls
to be placed in the Coalition Legal Fund.
20.
Appointments – The City Council considered the
following appointments: Steve Berg to
the Portsmouth Economic Development Loan Program (PEDLP) Board and Theresa
Garabedian to the Library Board of Trustees.
These appointments will be voted on by the City Council at the March 4th
meeting.
Voted to
appoint Ronald Cypher and the reappointments of Ralph DiBernardo, Sr., Herbert
Bunnell and Hank Greenberg to the Traffic & Safety Committee until January
1, 2004.
Voted to
reappoint Everett Eaton to the Economic Development Commission until October 1,
2006.
Voted to
reappoint Eugene Fisk to the Cable Television Commission until April 1, 2005.
21.
Traffic & Safety Committee Action Sheet and Minutes of
the January 17, 2002 meeting – Voted to approve and accept the
Traffic & Safety Committee action sheet and minutes of the January 17, 2002
meeting.
22.
Adjournment – At 11:10 p.m., voted to adjourn.
Respectfully
submitted by:
Kelli L.
Barnaby, City Clerk