City Council

To be approved at 02-21-17 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held February 14, 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; from Ward II, Councilors Michael Boutin and Michael Smith; and from Ward III, Councilors Anita Chadderton and Lucas Herring (arrived 7:07 PM). Also present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: From Ward I, vacant. Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Smith. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting on February 7, 2017  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2017-07:  Accounts Payable: $240,998.26  Payroll (gross): $110,151.33  2017 Licenses & Permits – o Food Establishment Licenses:  Gusto’s, 28 Prospect Street  Maria’s Bagels, 162 N. Main Street  Smolder Mist Pub, 107 S. Main Street o Food Take Out Licenses:  Champlain Farms, 15 S. Main Street o Entertainment Licenses:  Gusto’s, 28 Prospect Street o Pool Table & Video Machine Licenses:  Gusto’s, 28 Prospect Street, 2 pool tables & 3 video machines  Smolder Mist Pub, 107 S. Main Street, 1 pool table The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Third quarter taxes are due by February 15th.  Dog licenses are available through April 1st.  Finalizing annual TIF report, which is expected to be filed by the end of the week.  Annual (Town) Meeting is Tuesday, March 7th. Polls will be open at the auditorium from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM. The office is accepting requests for early absentee ballots. Ballots arrived today. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Applicant Address William Dasilva 95 Ayers Street Liquor Control – NONE Councilor Herring arrived during the following. 1 To be approved at 02-21-17 Barre City Council Meeting City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Met with Josh Jerome from Barre Partnership and several City staff to discuss holiday lighting and decorations and problems with vandalism. They are assessing possible changes over the next 2-3 years, and may request an allocation from the Semprebon Annuity to install a system that is less maintenance intensive and more vandal proof.  Final plans for the Smith Street portion of the bike path will be submitted to AOT this Friday. Bid packets will go out this spring, and construction is scheduled for this summer.  Released an RFP for consultant services associated with construction and inspection of the Smith Street segment of the bike path. The RFP packet, along with bid packets for the vactor and street sweeper, are posted on the City website.  Ambulance revenue projections for the current fiscal year are $612,000 compared to the budgeted figure of $675,000. The Manager will continue to monitor.  City Hall will be closed on Monday, February 20th, for Presidents Day. Visitors & Communications – Washington County Senator Francis Brooks said he is traveling around the county to introduce himself to his constituents. He said Councilors and the public should feel free to contact him with any questions or comments. Old Business – A) Acceptance of Tax Appeal Settlement – Downstreet Housing & Community Development Et Al. Mayor Lauzon said representatives from the owner of 22 Keith Avenue and City Assessor Joe LeVesque have reached a tentative agreement to set the FY2016-2017 assessment for the property at $1,585,200. The Mayor recommended the Council approve the amount. Clerk Dawes said she wanted it noted for the record that the owner of 22 Keith Avenue is Summer Street Housing Limited Partnership, not Downstreet Housing and Community Development. Council approved the settlement amount on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. New Business – A) Barre Area Development Corporation Report. Mayor Lauzon said this item is deferred to next week. B) Project Independence Coin Drop Request for September 9, 2017. Council approved the coin drop request on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Tuper- Giles. Motion carried. Clerk Dawes reviewed the coin drop schedule for 2017, and noted there are three slots still available. C) Ratification of Manager’s Authorization to Execute 12 Harrington Ave P&S Agreement. Councilor Boutin requested that this item be discussed in executive session. Round Table – Councilors Chadderton and Tuper-Giles reminded drivers to yield for pedestrians in the crosswalks. Councilor Boutin said he was impressed with the great job the street crews did during the recent snow storm. 2 To be approved at 02-21-17 Barre City Council Meeting Councilor Smith said there is an open three year at-large term on the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority board, and that a write-in candidate would only need 25 votes between Barre City and Montpelier to be elected. Councilor Herring said he echoed Councilor Boutin’s comments about the street department. He reviewed several of the recreation opportunities being offered during the upcoming school vacation. He also asked that the Barre City/Barre Town water & sewer agreement be placed on an upcoming agenda for discussion. Executive Session – Councilor Boutin made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of the real estate, negotiations and personnel issues to be discussed would clearly place the City of Barre at a substantial disadvantage should the discussion be public. The motion was seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. Council went into executive session at 7:24 PM to discuss real estate, negotiations and personnel issues under the provisions of 1 VSA sec. 313 on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Smith. Motion carried. Manager Mackenzie was invited into the executive session. Council came out of executive session at 8:09 PM on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Council approved authorizing the Manager to execute a purchase & sales agreement up to $40,000 for 12 Harrington Avenue on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried with Councilor Herring voting against. The Council meeting adjourned at 8:12 PM on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. An audio recording of this meeting is available from the City Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3