Berlin seeks North Country mutual aid district

BERLIN — The city is waiting to learn if its request to form a North Country mutual aid district will be approved by the state fire marshal and allow for regional sharing of resources.

At its July 15 work session, City Manager Phillip L. Warren Jr. spoke about Berlin Fire Department Chief James “Jay” Watkins' petition to N.H. State Fire Marshal Sean Toomey.

Warren said he supports Watkin’s idea of forming a North Country mutual aid district separate from a Grafton County district. Under New Hampshire law, such a district must be approved by the state fire marshal.

As Watkins wrote to Toomey: “The city of Berlin, New Hampshire, recognizing that the regionalization of resources related to Hazardous Materials Incidents in the North Country is the most efficient and effective method of dealing with the high risk, low frequency incidents. Accordingly, the city of Berlin is requesting that your office pursuant to NH RSA 154:30 form a mutual aid district for the North Country.

The North Country district would serve as a regional resource and assist in the coordination to protect life and property during and from hazardous material incidents. As Watkins wrote, the district would “establish an overall plan or plans for such coordination; to acquire and operate property and equipment, and a communications service within the limits of available funds; to extend the advantages of group purchasing and benefits to departments in this system; to provide and operate training programs for firefighters and emergency technicians; to cooperate with the state and local office of emergency management.”

The petition cites promoting safety and compliance with standards set by the Quincy, Mass.-headquartered National Fire Protection Association, which sets standards and codes used by fire departments across the country and world.

Comments made during the council's discussion included if the city would do more of the organizational heavy lifting because its population outnumbers smaller towns nearby and its municipal government functions differently.

“The goal is to foster interoperability but not take it over,” said Warren.

“No one is forced to be in this district,” Warren told the council. “We’re looking for like-minded communities who want to benefit from economies of scale.”

The council voted unanimously to endorse Watkins’ petition. Mayor Robert Cone signed a letter endorsing the fire chief’s petition to create the district.

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Street rules

Of note from the city manager: “As a reminder to residents, it is a violation of New Hampshire law to park an unregistered motor vehicle or trailer on a city street. Over the past few weeks there have been many examples of where this has occurred — the police department has been very helpful in addressing these matters when found.”

Beauty notes

In the city manager’s last report touching upon the city’s image to passersby, he reminded residents: “It is a violation of city ordinances to have more than one uninspected motor vehicle on residential property. This office has recently identified many instances of this and has sent letters to landowners found in violation with some success."

Warren wrote of a matter that pertains to home and businessowners:

“An issue that should be addressed, through an ordinance, is the placing of dumpsters on city streets. Furthermore, such an ordinance would establish a time frame, requirements regarding safety and any damage caused by the dumpster.”

And, "trash and recycling shall be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. on the scheduled pickup day. Trash and recycling shall not be left out the night or day before. There have been instances of late where trash was placed out the night before, and earlier, creating an 'attractive nuisance' for bears, raccoons and other animals."

Mowing of lawns at the city’s cemeteries and city-owned properties is underway and will continue throughout the grass-growing season.

Aug. 5 is the next council meeting. The work session begins at 6:30 p.m.; the public may attend the work session and comment is not permitted. Public comment is permitted in the council meeting following the work session.