About a hundred-twenty-five people turned out in Berlin last night to discuss the proposal to build a federal prison there. The plan calls for either a medium or a maximum security prison, to hold about a thousand inmates. Supporters say it would give a boost to the struggling mill city?s economy. NHPR?s Trish Anderton reports.
TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS OR B-O-P CAME TO ADDRESS THE MOST COMMON WORRIES ABOUT THE PLAN. LONGTIME B-O-P CONSULTANT BOB NARDI ASSURED THE CROWD THAT FEDERAL PRISONS ARE SAFE. A MEDIUM SECURITY FACILITY WOULD HAVE TWO 12-FOOT FENCES TOPPED WITH RAZOR WIRE, AND A PERIMETER ROAD PATROLLED BY GUARDS. A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON WOULD ADD A MORE SUBSTANTIAL OUTER WALL AND GUARD TOWERS.
BOB
008 126 we like to think to think bop prob most successful in the world when it comes to guarding prisoners. We?ve got 130k prisoners under lock and key tonight, and they?ll all be there when we wake up in the morning.
NARDI?S COUNTERPART, B-O-P SITE SELECTION SPECIALIST PAMELA CHANDLER, ARGUED THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF A PRISON WOULD BE SLIGHT. CHANDLER TOLD THE CROWD INMATES? FAMILIES GENERALLY DON?T MOVE TO TOWN TO BE CLOSER TO THEIR LOVED ONES. SHE SAID PRISONERS WHO COMPLETE THEIR SENTENCES WOULD BE BUSED BACK TO THEIR HOME TOWNS, NOT RELEASED INTO BERLIN. AND SHE ADDED THE PRISON WOULD NOT STRAIN CITY SERVICES.
003 146 we?re a little facility within ourselves. We have medical offices, supplies, food services. We?re pretty much self contained as far as our needs go.
---NARDI SAID THE PRISON WOULD HAVE AN OPERATING BUDGET OF UP TO 25 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR, MOST OF WHICH WOULD BE SPENT LOCALLY IN THE FORM OF WAGES, BENEFITS, AND UTILITIES. THE PROPOSAL GOT A MIXED RECEPTION. DAVID THOMPSON MOVED TO BERLIN THREE YEARS AGO FROM TEXAS. HE SAYS CORRECTION FACILITIES THERE HAVE PROVIDED AN OVERALL BOOST TO THE ECONOMY.
49 31 they have the tx prison rodeo, the gift shop where they make leather things. It?s a big money maker thing out there. If we could do that here, that would be great.
OTHERS WERE SKEPTICAL. RANDOLPH RESIDENT MARK MCDONALD POINTED OUT THE STATE PRISON IN BERLIN IS HAVING TROUBLE RECRUITING QUALIFIED WORKERS. HE SAID PEOPLE WHO WERE HURT WHEN BERLIN?S MILL WENT BANKRUPT LAST MONTH NEED JOBS NOW, NOT FOUR YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THE PRISON WOULD OPEN.
26 20 the proposition was economic releif for this problem, the possibly 1300 people who will be affected by mill closing, and I?m not sure this is the answer given the time frames and fact we don?t have a labor pool.
----ANOTHER MAN DESCRIBED THE BOP PRESENTATION AS A SALES JOB AND SAID HE WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DOWNSIDES OF HAVING A FEDERAL PRISON. BUT MOST PEOPLE SIMPLY HAD QUESTIONS ? DETAILED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW A PRISON WOULD AFFECT THE CITY?S ATMOSPHERE, ITS BUDGET, AND ITS INFRASTRUCTURE. AFTERWARD, MARGE MCLELLAN OF BERLIN SAID SHE HASN?T MADE UP HER MIND ABOUT A PRISON YET, AND SHE?S NOT EVEN SURE HOW TO ADDRESS HER MAIN CONCERN.
51 55 I don?t think theres a simple answer to it. It?s the overall impact on a commty having two prisons. // and I don?t think we can measure it.
SEVERAL RESIDENTS FROM SURROUNDING TOWNS ATTENDED. MIRIAM HAMMOND LIVES IN GORHAM. SHE THINKS THE PRISON MAY BE A GOOD IDEA. BUT SHE FELT SHUT OUT.
51 118 it sounds to me like this is a done deal as far as berlin, its going to impact communitites, and I thnk its unfair for a decision to be made by one town.
----COMMENTS LIKE THOSE DIDN?T GET MUCH SYMPATHY FROM CITY COUNCILOR PAUL GRENIER. HE?S ESPECIALLY WARY OF TOWNS LIKE RANDOLPH AND JEFFERSON, WHICH HE DESCRIBES AS BEDROOM COMMUNITIES WITH WEALTHIER RESIDENTS.
PAUL GREN-yeer
they don?t have the immediate impact problems of lack of employment we?re faced with. And quite frankly commties like randolph won?t dictate how I?m gonna vote or how I?m gonna pursue employment opps for my citizens that I represent.
BERLIN OFFICIALS PLAN TO HOLD A NONBINDING, CITY-WIDE REFERENDUM IN NOVEMBER TO GAUGE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE PLAN. MEANWHILE, GOVERNOR JEANNE SHAHEEN AND THE HEADS OF SEVERAL STATE AGENCIES WILL VISIT BERLIN AND GORHAM TOMORROW/TODAY TO TALK ABOUT HOW THE STATE CAN HELP THE REGION DEAL WITH ITS ECONOMIC CHALLENGES. FOR NHPR NEWS I?M
