City Council

To be approved at 01-10-17 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held January 3, 2017 The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Thomas Lauzon at 7:00 PM at Barre City Hall. In attendance were: From Ward I, Councilor Paul Poirier; from Ward II, Councilor Michael Boutin; and from Ward III, Councilors Anita Chadderton and Lucas Herring. Also present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: From Ward I, Councilor Jeffrey Tuper-Giles; and from Ward II, Councilor Michael Smith. Adjustments to the Agenda: Mayor Lauzon said he has a pair of resolutions for Council consideration, which he will add to the end of the agenda. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting on December 20, 2016  City Warrants as presented: o Ratification of Week 2016-52: (warrants signed 12/27/16 by Michael Smith)  Accounts Payable: $294,502.82  Payroll (gross): $179,483.41 o Approval of Week 2017-01:  Accounts Payable: $164,268.16  Payroll (gross): $116,219.05  Licenses & Permits o 2017 Animal Licenses:  Michelle Carter, 44 Newton Street, 7 poultry  Serena Wells, 15 Grant Avenue, 6 chickens  Hollie Friot, 22 Maplewood Avenue, 3 chickens  Christopher & Carey Miller, 3 Cooley Street, 6 chickens & 3 lbs honey bees  Morgan Weiss, address confidential, 87 ball pythons & 1 boa constrictor  John LePage, 16 Willey Street, 6 chickens, conditional license until 4/1/17 to allow time to relocate chicken yard o 2017 Food Establishment Licenses:  Asian Gourmet, 276 N. Main Street  Morse Block Deli, 260 N. Main Street #19  Central Vermont Career Center, 136 N. Main Street  Ladder 1 Grill, 8 S. Main Street  L & M Diner, 240 N. Main Street  Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main Street  The Alley Cat, 10 Keith Avenue  Chinatown, 302 N. Main Street  Simply Delicious, 14 N. Main Street o 2017 Food Takeout Licenses:  Champlain Farms, 169 Washington Street  Fastop, 377 N. Main Street  North End Deli Mart, 375 N. Main Street  Central Market, 50 Summer Street o 2017 Food Vending Licenses:  Spaulding High School, 155 Ayers Street o 2017 Entertainment Licenses:  Ladder 1 Grill, 8 S. Main Street 1 To be approved at 01-10-17 Barre City Council Meeting  Planet Rock N’ Metal, 123 N. Main Street  Vermont Granite Museum, 7 Jones Bros. Way  Quarry Gill & Spirits, 210 N. Main Street  The Alley Cat, 10 Keith Avenue  Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main Street  Studio Place Arts, 201 N. Main Street o 2017 Waste Disposal Collector’s Licenses:  Myers Container Corp, 12 trucks, pick-up only  Curt & Linda Doyle, 2 trucks, pick-up & drop off  Casella Waste Management, 10 trucks, pick-up only o 2017 Taxicab Service Operator’s & Vehicle Licenses:  Central Vermont Green Cab, 2 vehicles  Capital Cab & Car Service LLC, 1 vehicle  Don’s Taxi, 1 vehicle  Payless Taxi, 1 vehicle o 2017 Taxicab Driver’s Licenses:  Don Morway, Don’s Taxi  Lydia Race, Don’s Taxi  James Kephart, Central Vermont Green Cab  Patricia Nixon, Central Vermont Green Cab  Timothy Bingham, Capital Cab & Car Service LLC  Dale Kew, Payless Taxi o 2017 Commercial Swimming Pool Licenses:  ReHab Gym, 219 N. Main Street o 2017 Pool Table/Video Machine Licenses:  The Alley Cat, 10 Keith Avenue, 1 pool table The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Dog licenses are now available.  Announced offices up for election at the March Annual (Town) Meeting. Hard copies of petitions and consent of candidate forms are available in the clerk’s office, and they will be posted on the city website in the near future. They can also be emailed upon request. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Applicant Address The Hollow Inn 268 S. Main Street The Housing Foundation Inc. 260 N. Main Street Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  The City was awarded a $41,000 grant in support of replacing the vactor. Additional grant funds have been applied for.  Reviewed memo from Chief Bombardier about Medicaid ambulance fees and taxes. Councilor Poirier said the legislature’s intention is not reflected in the current numbers, and he will discuss it with the Department of Vermont Health Access.  The Budget Committee is meeting tomorrow, and will hold a joint budget workshop with the Council on Saturday, January 7th at 8:00 AM.  There will be a land use boards training on January 19th from 6 – 8 PM.  The City has gone through approximately 2/3 of this year’s allotted salt budget, with approximately 60% of the winter left. 2 To be approved at 01-10-17 Barre City Council Meeting Visitors & Communications – NONE Old Business – A) Approve Water and Sewer Bill Appeals & Abatement Policy. Manager Mackenzie and water/sewer billing clerk Clint Smith reviewed the draft policy. There was discussion on thresholds for appeal requests, and the effect of payment agreements. Additional revisions were made. Council adopted the policy as amended on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. New Business - A) Letter of Support – Good Samaritan Haven. Mayor Lauzon said he has drafted a letter of support for Good Samaritan Haven’s hearing before the Development Review Board later this week. The Mayor said GSH has worked out several details of their request with the neighbors, though there are still questions about allowing late sleeping for illness or employment, and assistance to residents during daytime hours. The Mayor invited other Councilors to sign the support letter. B) Discussion/Development of Language for Proposed Charter Changes. Clerk Dawes distributed draft language for three proposed charter changes: 1. Removing recreation committee from charter. 2. Adding authority to collect local options taxes on rooms, meals and alcohol. 3. Codifying the Board of Abatement as the appeal body for water & sewer bills and any other bills issued by the City. There was discussion on designating the local options taxes for paving and capital use only, and minor adjustments to the Board of Abatement language. The Clerk will make the revisions and bring the draft back to Council for another review next week. The Clerk said the language needs to be recorded in her office at least 10 days before the first public hearing on January 24th. There will be opportunities to amend the language until the second public hearing on February 7th. Other) Resolution 2017 – 01 Clerk Dawes read resolution 2017 – 01 honoring Councilor Poirier, who is retiring from the Council effective following this meeting. Councilors voiced their appreciation for Councilor Poirier’s decades of service to the community. The Council approved the resolution on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Council appointed Paul Poirier to the Budget Committee on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. Other) Resolution 2017-02 Clerk Dawes read resolution 2017-02 honoring outgoing Governor Peter Shumlin for his years of service to the Barre community and the state. The Council approved the resolution on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Poirier. Motion carried. Round Table – Councilor Herring said the school is once again participating in the penguin plunge to raise funds for Special Olympics. He said he’s working with Montpelier Alive on draft language for a no smoking ordinance, and asked that there be a presentation sometime on the new website. 3 To be approved at 01-10-17 Barre City Council Meeting Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM on motion of Councilor Poirier, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. An audio recording of this meeting is available from the City Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4