CITY COUNCIL MEETING

ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE PORTSMOUTH CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON MARCH 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
Action Sheet

1. Proclamation – Read Across America – Mayor Sirrell read the Proclamation declaring Thursday, March 7, 2002 as Read Across Portsmouth Day. Barbara Hopley accepted the Proclamation on behalf of the Association of Portsmouth Teachers.

2. Presentation – Michael Berounsky Jr., Re: Donations toward the New Public Library – Michael Berounsky presented Mayor Sirrell with a $5,000 donation in memory of his mother Sophie Berounsky and a $5,000 donation in memory of his father Henry Berounsky for the building of a new Public Library.

3. Presentation – Virginia Smists Beers Re: Donation of $500 towards the New Public Library - Virginia presented Mayor Sirrell with a $500 donation towards the building of a new Public Library.

4. Presentation – Dave Strainge, BRAC Environmental Coordinator, Dept. of the Air Force Re: Update on Pease Environmental Clean Up – Dave discussed the environmental clean up at Pease.

5. Volunteer/Committee Reports – Marge Hubbard, Tourism Manager, Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce Re: Quarterly Report on Tourism Activities and Jennifer Quinlan, Business Development Manager Re: Quarterly Report on eCoast Activities – Marge and Jennifer provided their Quarterly Reports regarding tourism and eCoast activities.

6. Acceptance of Minutes – February 4, 2002 – Voted to accept and approve the City Council minutes of the February 4, 2002 meeting.

7. Public Comment Session – There were five speakers: Lee Lorusso, Cecelia Kane, Jim Jalbert and Jim Melfi (Country Club Lane); and Martin Cameron (City taxed property at Pease).

8. Voted to suspend the rules to take up Item XII D.1. – Councilor St. Laurent – Report on Country Club Road.

Report on Country Club Road – Voted to have City Manager John Bohenko meet with DOT Commissioner Carol Murray to revisit the Park and Ride Agreement, made September 2000, and address the part concerning the closure of Country Club Lane for the purpose of re-opening this road.

9. Voted to suspend the rules in order to take up Item XII A.2. – Request for Approval of Proposed Agreement with the African-American Cultural Center Association.

Request for Approval of Proposed Agreement with the African-American Cultural Center Association – Voted to authorize the City Manager to bring back for final action at the March 18th City Council meeting the proposed Agreement between the African-American Cultural Center and the City of Portsmouth for a one-year period.

  1. Public Hearing – Ordinance amending Chapter 7, Article XI, Section 7.1100 – Speed Limits, Sub-Section B – Speed Limit: 20MPH – Odiorne Point Road and Gosport Road – Held a Public Hearing. Voted to pass second reading and hold third and final reading at the March 18th City Council meeting.

  2. Public Hearing – Ordinance amending Chapter 7, Article III, Section 7.330 – No Parking – Sub-Section A – Elm Court: on the westerly side of Elm Court – Held a Public Hearing. Voted to pass second reading and hold third and final reading at the March 18th City Council meeting.

  3. Public Hearing – Ordinance amending Chapter 7, Article III, Section 7.330 – No Parking, Sub-Section A – Austin Street (Northerly side of Austin Street between Union Street and Madison Street) and Mirona Road (Both sides from Lafayette Road westerly a distance of 525 feet) – Held a Public Hearing. Voted to pass second reading and hold third and final reading at the March 18th City Council meeting.

  4. Public Hearing – Ordinance amending Chapter 7, Article III, Section 7.330 – No Parking – Sub-Section B – No Parking – School Zones – Austin Street – Held a Public Hearing. Voted to pass second reading and hold third and final reading at the March 18th City Council meeting.

  5. Public Hearing – Ordinance amending Chapter 1 by the addition of a New Article XVI – Adoption of Fees by Budget Resolution – Held a Public Hearing. Moved to pass second reading and hold third and final reading at the March 18th City Council meeting. Voted to amend Section 1.1603 – Exclusion so that it reads as follows: This ordinance does not apply to penalties, fines or civil forfeitures or to fees established in Chapter 7 Article II. Voted to pass main motion as amended.

  6. Public Hearing – Ordinance amending Chapter 7, Article II – Taxicabs – Section 7.211 C, License Required – Held a Public Hearing. Voted to pass second reading and hold third and final reading at the March 18th City Council meeting.

  7. Approval of Grants/Donations – Acceptance of Donations for New Public Library – Voted to accept the $10,000 donation from Michael Berounsky, Jr. and $500 from Virginia Smist Beers for the Library Building Fund.

  8. Approval of Grants/Donations – Request for Approval of a Wellness Grant – Voted to accept the WELLDollars Grant Program Award of $3,426.00.

  9. Approval of Grants/Donations – Request for Approval of a Donation for Peirce Island Waterfront Overlook Construction – Voted to accept a donation from Steve Greenberg in the amount of $200, and a donation from the Pfizer Foundation Matching Gifts Program in the amount of $200, to be used towards the construction of a waterfront overlook on Peirce Island.

  10. First reading of Ordinance amending Chapter 8, Article II, Section 8.206 – Behavior (in City Parks) – Voted to pass first reading and hold a Public Hearing and second reading at the March 18th City Council meeting. Councilor Lown voted opposed.

  11. First reading of Ordinance amending Chapter 10 regarding Impact Fees – Voted to pass first reading and hold a Public Hearing and second reading at the March 18th City Council meeting.

  12. First reading of Ordinance amending Chapter 7, Article XI, Section 7.1100 – Speed Limits, Sub-Section E – Speed Limit 25MPH Portsmouth Boulevard and Osprey Drive – Voted to pass first reading and hold a Public Hearing and second reading at the March 18th City Council meeting.

  13. Letter from James Stankiewicz, Firefighters Trans NH, requesting permission to hold the 15th annual Trans-NH Bike Ride on Sunday, June 23, 2002 – Voted to refer to the City Manager with power.

  14. Renewal Request for Sidewalk Obstruction Licenses from the following business with no changes from last year – Geno’s Coffee Shop – 1 A-frame sign – Voted to approve the Sidewalk Obstruction License for Geno’s Coffee Shop. Councilor Marconi abstained from voting.

  15. Renewal Requests for Sidewalk Obstruction Licenses from the following businesses with no changes from last year

    • Ceres Bakery – 4 benches

    • Izzy’s Frozen Yogurt – 1 bench

    • Pierce Gallery – 1 A-frame sign

    • Muddy River Smokehouse – 1 A-frame sign

    • Prudential Rush Realty – 1 A-frame sign

    • Choozy Shooz – 1 bench and 1 A-frame sign

    • Beeper Exchange – 1 A-frame sign

    • Eye Look Optical – 1 A-frame sign

    • Belle Peppers – 2 Tables and 4 chairs

    • Rosa’s Restaurant – 2 A-frame signs

    • Bagel Works – 4 Tables, 12 chairs and 1 A-frame sign

    • Metro Restaurant – 1 A-frame sign

    • Lucky 7 Gallery – 1 A-frame sign

    • Water Monkey – 2 A-frame signs

    • Café Brioche – 15 Tables and 42 chairs

    • Market Street Tub Shop – 1 A-frame sign

    • Madd Matt’s Ice Cream – 1 A-frame sign

    • Café Kilim – 1 bench

    • Portsmouth Gas Light – 1 A-frame sign

    • Subway – 2 Tables, 4 chairs and 1 A-frame sign

    • Starbucks Coffee – 4 Tables and 8 chairs

    • Ambrosia Gardens, Inc – 1 A-frame sign

    • Portsmouth Brewery – 1 A-frame sign

    • Portsmouth Athenaeum – 1 A-frame sign

    • Blue Frog – 2 benches and 1 A-frame sign

    • Dolphin Striker – 1 A-frame sign

Voted to approve the Sidewalk Obstruction License Requests as presented.

  1. Letter from Frances Murdock regarding cable service for the City of Portsmouth – Voted to accept and place the letter on file.

  2. Letter from Tara Parker, Walker House Condominiums, regarding water bill – Voted to refer to the City Manager.

  3. Letter from Donald Allison requesting permission to hold the annual Eastern States 20 Mile Road Race on Sunday, March 24, 2002 – Voted to refer to the City Manager with power.

  4. Letter from Alanson Sturgis, Conservation Commission, regarding Amendment of City Ordinance – Voted to authorize the City Manager to bring back for first reading an amendment to Chapter 8, Article III, Section 8.302 by deleting the sentence, "The City Arborist shall be a member of the Conservation Commission."

  5. Letter from Kevin Lafond regarding Ramsey Hotel – Voted to refer to the Technical Advisory Committee.

  6. Proposed Relocation of Farmers’ Market to the Municipal Complex Parking Lot – Voted to authorize the City Manager to bring back for final action at the March 18th City Council meeting the proposed Agreement between the Seacoast Growers’ Association and the City of Portsmouth for the relocation of the Farmers’ Market to the Municipal Complex at the end of June, 2002.

  7. Request for Approval of Proposed Agreement Regarding Installation and Maintenance of Irrigation System – Voted to authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement between Brora LLC and the City of Portsmouth regarding the installation and maintenance of an irrigation system along Portsmouth Boulevard.

  8. Request to Bring Back for First Reading an Amendment to Chapter 5, Article VIII, Section 5.801 – Emergency Alarm System Ordinance – Voted to authorize the City Manager to bring back for first reading at the March 18th City Council meeting a proposed amendment to Chapter 5, Article VIII, Section 5.801, as requested by the Police Department.

  9. Report Back Re: Research Project entitled "A Stakeholder Watershed Approach: Hodgson Brook Restoration" – On a roll call 7-2, voted to provide funding from the sewer fund not to exceed $10,000 for this project and a City staff match to be agreed upon when the ANMP has a more definite work plan. Assistant Mayor Hanson, Councilors Grasso, Lown, Hynes, Pantelakos, Whitehouse and Mayor Sirrell voted in favor. Councilors Marconi and St. Laurent voted opposed.

  10. Request of Approval of Proposed Settlement Re: 100 Market Street – Voted to authorize the City Manager to accept the payment of $50,000 on behalf of the City in exchange for termination of the License Agreement with date to be determined by the City Manager and Memorandum of Understanding between the City and 100 Market Group Ltd. for parking spaces in the High-Hanover Parking Garage.

  11. Request for Approval of an Easement Deed with Verizon – Voted to authorize the City Manager to execute an Easement Deed with Verizon for the purpose of constructing an underground telephone conduit to the cell tower on Peverly Hill Road.

  12. Appointments/Resignations – Voted to accept with regret the resignation of Charles Vaughn from the Peirce Island Committee.

    13. Voted to accept with regret the resignation of Clotilde Straus as City Arborist.

    The City Council considered the appointment of Laura Montville to the Portsmouth Economic Development Loan Program Board (PEDLP). This appointment will be voted on by the City Council at the March 18th meeting.

    Voted to appoint Steven Berg to the Portsmouth Economic Development Loan Program Board (PEDLP) until March 4, 2005.

    Voted to appoint Theresa Garabedian to the Board of Library Trustees until October 1, 2005.

  13. Reports – Mayor Sirrell announced that there is a vacancy for an Alternate to Zoning Board of Adjustment as well as a vacancy on the Peirce Island Committee.

    14. Mayor Sirrell read a letter of appreciation from Frank Wisinski in recognition of Animal Control Officer Austin Wallace. Voted to accept and place the letter on file in Mr. Wallace’s personnel file.

    Mayor Sirrell announced that the Seacoast Anti-Pollution League would be holding a forum on March 7th from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Phillips Exeter Academy.

  14. Boundary Lines – Voted to request the City Manager to provide a report back on the cost for a survey of the boundary lines of the City of Portsmouth.

39. Adjournment – At 10:20 p.m., voted to adjourn.
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