TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2011
VOL. 20 NO. 3
BERLIN, N.H.
Sen. Shaheen discusses lack of funds for prison with NBC crew
752-5858
FREE
BY CRAIG LYONS THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN— By targeting the attention of the national media on the lack of funds for the federal prison, Senator Jeanne Shaheen hopes Congress will appropriate the money to open the facility. “I think getting attention to it is very important,” Shaheen said. Shaheen sat down yesterday with NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell for an interview about the prison’s lack of $28.5 million in activation funds and how it’s sitting vacant until that money is available. The segment on the prison will air on NBC’s “Today.” “The New York Times” last week featured a quote from Shaheen’s remarks on the Senate floor about the lack of funds for the prison. “It doesn’t make sense spending $4 million to keep it open and empty,” Shaheen said, while speaking to the local media during a
NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell chats with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, at the Northland Dairy Bar, before taping an interview for the “Today” show about the lack of activation funds for the newly constructed federal prison, in Berlin. (CRAIG LYONS PHOTO)
break in the taping. “When we ought to be spending the additional money to get it started.” Drawing attention to the situation could leverage the ability to get the funds for the activation, said Shaheen. “I think the fact that we’ve got NBC and the ‘Today’ show up here looking at the prison, I think it’s a good sign,” Sha-
heen said. “It means we’re going to get some attention to this.” Shaheen said people will see what’s going on in Berlin and realize that it doesn’t make sense. She added the taxpayers already paid for the facility’s construction and people know it will create 340 jobs and have a $40 million impact. see SHAHEEN page 7
Local officials oppose closing state prison in Berlin BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN – Local officials oppose a proposal to close the Berlin prison and send the inmates to an out-of-state facility. “I certainly don’t want it closed,” said Rep. Yvonne Thomas, (D-Berlin). “I don’t think that makes a whole lot of sense,” she added. “It doesn’t make sense at all,” agreed Rep. Robert Theberge, (D-Berlin). Presented with a series of proposed financial cuts in the Department of Correc-
tions 2012-13 budget by the House Finance Committee, Commissioner William Wrenn said the only way his department can achieve the cuts is by closing the Berlin prison. In a letter to the finance committee Wrenn stressed he is not recommending closing the Berlin facility. Rather he said he believes it is the only option that will meet the requested reductions in a “safe and responsible manner”. Wrenn requested a decision soon because he said it would take “several months and up to a year to implement” the prison clo-
sure and transferring the inmates to a private facility. The 4-page letter outlines the cuts requested by the committee including a five percent cut in personnel. Wrenn said that would require laying off 45 employees. He said he and his senior staff went through the facilities and looked at various options to reach the 45-employee figure. The only option that worked, Wrenn said, is closing the Berlin prison with its 185 employees and 618 inmates. He said the cost of sendsee OPPOSE page 7
City asked to help fund economic development position BY BARBARA TETREAULT THE BERLIN DAILY SUN
BERLIN -- The city is being asked to appropriate $15,000 to fund part of the cost of Tri-County Community Action Program Housing and Economic Development Director Max Makaitis. At Wednesday’s budget hearing, Mayor Paul Grenier said he believes Coos County Buying or Selling Real Estate? Call WAYNE MICUCCI 723-7015 RE/MAX Northern Edge Realty 232 Glen Ave Berlin 752-0003
Maureen’s Boutique & Tanning Salon
has lacked a central person on economic development in recent years. Instead, he said several competing agencies worked in different parts of the county. Makaitis served as Androscoggin Valley Economic Development Director with funding from a grant obtained by Northern Community Investment Corporation. The city and CAP jointly shared and funded an
146 Main St. 752-7569
Lots of Spring Arrivals
WE BUY GOLD!
economic development coordinator and Coos Economic Development Corporation had an executive director who received a large portion of his budget from the county. CEDC has reorganized and no longer has an executive director and the city and CAP discontinued their arrangement. Makaitis moved over to CAP in an effort to share his
107 Main St, Berlin, NH • 752-1520 • www.greetingsjewelers.com
see POSITION page 6