City Council

To be approved at 03-06-17 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held February 28, 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 7:03 PM). Also present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: From Ward I, vacant. Adjustments to the Agenda: Mayor Lauzon said new agenda items (D), (G), and (H) have been deferred. The Mayor said he will be rearranging other agenda items to accommodate those in attendance. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Smith, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting on February 21, 2017  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2017-09:  Accounts Payable: $155,973.14  Payroll (gross): $122,341.45  2017 Licenses & Permits – NONE The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Early absentee voting is available for the Annual (Town) Meeting, which is March 7th. Polls will be open at the auditorium from 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM.  Water/sewer bills went in the mail today. Due by March 31st.  All dogs are to be licensed by April 1st.  Next week’s meeting will be on Monday, March 6th, because of Tuesday’s Town Meeting election.  The Board of Civil Authority is holding its pre-election meeting on Thursday, March 2nd at 5:30 PM. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Applicant Address Aubuchon Realty Co Inc. 214 N. Main Street Liquor Control – Council approved a BYOB event at the Labor Hall on Sunday, April 16th from 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM for a family gathering with approximately 40-50 people. DLC liquor inspector Martin Prevost will be attending the event. Councilor Chadderton made the motion to approve, seconded by Councilor Smith. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Harrington Avenue property closings are scheduled for March 17th and March 24th. Funds will be released to the City in advance of the closings.  The City kept an eye on water levels of local streams and rivers during the recent warm weather. There were no issues with flooding. Visitors & Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE 1 To be approved at 03-06-17 Barre City Council Meeting New Business – D) Warning for 7:15 PM – First Reading Ordinance #2017-01: Revisions to Chapter 10. Licenses, and Chapter 11, section 33. Entertainment Licenses. This item is deferred. G) Authorization of VTrans North Main Street Reconstruction Project – Utility Supplemental Agreement #1. This item is deferred. H) Authorization to Award Street Sweeper Bid. This item is deferred. A) VTrans Rtes. 14 & 302 Spring Paving Projects Briefing. Jon Harrington, Francine Perkins and Mark Foisey from VTrans said the project is going out to bid tomorrow. The schedule will be set once the contract is awarded, with the work expected to run from mid-May into September. All work will be at night between 7:00 PM – 6:30 AM. The project calls for the top 2” of pavement to be milled, then backfilled and re-paved. Additional work includes new pavement markings; upgraded signage, guardrails, pedestrian signals, and railroad crossings; some signal work; and elevation adjustments to grading and grates. Ms. Perkins said the work will be scheduled around local events, such as the Heritage Festival. The expected life of the new pavement is 8-10 years. The City is preparing by replacing some sidewalks and dealing with manhole covers. I) Authorization to Accept Granite City Grocery Planning Grant #PG-2014-Barre City-00002. [N.B. agenda item title corrected in minutes to reflect actual grant number] J) Authorization to Submit DTF Grant Application for Keith Ave Parking Lot Project. K) Approval of Friot ROW License Amendment #1. Mayor Lauzon suggested Council take these three items together as one consent item for approval. Councilor Smith made the motion to approve the three items listed above, seconded by Councilor Herring. Phil Cecchini and Reed Curry from Granite City Grocery said Joel Schwartz from Barre Area Development Corporation assisted in securing the planning grant. GCG has been focusing on membership building, and currently has at least 640 members. They are actively looking for a site for the co-op which would include parking, a loading dock and approximately 10,000 square feet. Council voted on the motion as made. Motion carried. B) CVPSA FY18 Budget. Central Vermont Public Safety Authority executive director Francis “Paco” Aumand said the proposed FY18 budget is level funded from the current year. It includes $10,000 for joint operations planning around dispatch services, in addition to the executive director’s salary and some contracted services. They have created an executive committee which includes Chief Bombardier and Chief Facos. The committee is working on performance measures, a training plan, and a long term communications plan. They will be holding a meeting with dispatchers from both member communities in late March. Mayor Lauzon said he would like to see some indications that neighboring communities are interested in joining the CVPSA in the future. Mr. Aumand said Berlin has free dispatch services provided by Vermont State Police, however, the state may be looking to get out of dispatching for municipalities, or charging for the service. This might create a market for dispatch services in Randolph, Northfield and Berlin, among other communities. C) Public Hearing: All Public Question Articles on Annual (Town) Meeting Ballot. Mayor Lauzon asked Councilor Smith to chair this portion of the meeting while he set up a PowerPoint 2 To be approved at 03-06-17 Barre City Council Meeting presentation. Councilor Smith opened the public hearing at 8:05 PM. Clerk Dawes said this hearing is required by statute, and she reviewed the articles on the ballot. The Clerk said the ballot is posted on the City website, along with the proposed budget. Hearing no additional questions or comments, Councilor Smith closed the public hearing at 8:07 PM. Mayor Lauzon gave a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed charter change associated with local option taxes on room, meals and alcohol. F) Ratification of Abatement of Barre Partnership Entertainment License Late Penalty. Council ratified last week’s action to abate the late penalty on the Barre Partnership entertainment license on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Smith. Motion carried with Councilor Herring abstaining. E) FY18 Budget Presentation. Manager Mackenzie gave a PowerPoint presentation on the proposed FY18 budget. Round Table – Councilor Chadderton reminded everyone that kids are on school vacation this week, and drivers should be careful. Councilor Smith announced the library’s winter banquet and auction this weekend. Councilor Herring said he participated in last weekend’s Freezing Fun for Families activities, which raised money for two local families dealing with medical issues. He listed recreation events at the Civic Center during school vacation week. Councilor Herring asked for a moment of silence because of the recent traffic fatalities in the City. Mayor Lauzon offered condolences to the families and friends of those who perished in the traffic fatalities. The Mayor said the name of the driver involved in the second incident is being withheld during the active police investigation. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:46 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. An audio recording of this meeting is available from the City Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3