City Council

To be approved at 01-17-17 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held January 10, 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 Jeffrey Tuper-Giles; and from Ward III, Councilor Lucas Herring. Also present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: From Ward I, one vacant seat; Ward II, Councilors Michael Boutin and Michael Smith; and Ward III, Councilor Anita Chadderton. Mayor Lauzon noted there is no quorum, therefore no action will be taken at this meeting. Adjustments to the Agenda: All action items will be deferred to next week due to lack of a quorum. Approval of Consent Agenda: Approval of minutes, licenses & permits are deferred to next week due to lack of a quorum. Mayor Lauzon signed the warrants.  City Warrants as presented: o Week 2017-02:  Accounts Payable: $238,787.61  Payroll (gross): $127,729.00 The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Dog licenses are now available.  Announced offices up for election at the March 7th Annual (Town) Meeting. Hard copies of petitions and consent of candidate forms are available in the clerk’s office, and are posted on the city website.  Clerk will report on Semprebon bequest, bike path and annuity funds at next week’s meeting. Approval of Building Permits – Approvals deferred until next week due to lack of a quorum. Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Corrected information on salt consumption – approximately 45% has been used so far this winter.  Central VT Public Safety Authority is holding two public meetings on their proposed budget; meeting dates are January 19th and February 2nd. Visitors & Communications – NONE Old Business – A) Discussion of Draft Language for Charter Changes. Clerk Dawes reviewed the current draft language for the proposed charter changes, and noted the revisions made from last week’s discussion. The Clerk also noted the new section associated with increasing the percentage of registered voter signatures necessary to place a public question on a ballot, as was discussed at the January 7th special Council meeting. The draft language will be filed in the Clerk’s office before the end of the week, as required by statute, in advance of the January 24th first public hearing. 1 To be approved at 01-17-17 Barre City Council Meeting New Business - A) Vermont CARES Introduces the Syringe Services Program (SSP) at People’s Health and Wellness Clinic. Vermont CARES executive director Peter Jacobsen and harm reduction program manager Theresa Vezina reported on the syringe services program recently established at People’s Health & Wellness. Ms. Vezina said they are leasing space from PH&W to offer their program on a regular basis. The program was established to ameliorate the effects of the opiate crisis, to provide sterile syringes and safe disposal of sharps, and to offer treatment referrals and health screenings. Deputy Fire Chief Joe Aldsworth said additional sharps disposal kiosks are in the process of being located at other facilities in the City, with Central Vermont Medical Center partnering to make the disposals. B) Presentation of Barre City School FY 18 Budget. Jim Carrien, chair of the BCEMS finance committee, superintendent John Pandolfo, and school board chair Sonya Spaulding presented the proposed FY18 BCEMS and Spaulding High School budgets, as is required by City charter. Mr. Pandolfo said BCEMS has the lowest per equalized pupil spending in the state. The projected total combined tax rate is $1.2566, compared to $1.2166 for the current fiscal year. There was discussion on the effects of Act 46 and possible future merger of school districts; and reasons for increased spending including contract obligations, new debt service, new tuition costs for pre-K, technology investments and added positions. C) FY 17 Mid-Year Budget Status Review. Manager Mackenzie presented the mid-year review, noting he is currently projecting a surplus for the end of the year. D) FY 18 Budget Proposal Review and/or Approval. Manager Mackenzie said there have been no adjustments from the budget reviewed at last Saturday’s special Council meeting. There was a brief discussion on the addition of financing staff, either through the hiring of a Director of Finance or a finance department staff person. There will be additional discussion at next week’s meeting, when the budget will again be on the agenda. Clerk Dawes said the Annual (Town) Meeting warning is scheduled for approval at the January 24th meeting. Round Table – Councilor Herring said he is interested in pursuing the Neighborhood Development Area program. Mayor Lauzon asked him to take the lead on bringing the idea to the Planning Commission or back to the Council for discussion. Councilor Herring recommended an onboarding and orientation process be established for new Council members. Clerk Dawes said she would work with him on such a process for the new people who will be elected at the Annual (Town) Meeting. Executive Session – NONE Mayor Lauzon adjourned the meeting at 8:21 PM. An audio recording of this meeting is available from the City Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 2