City Council

To be approved at 04-18-17 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held April 11, 2017 The Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Thomas Lauzon at 6:00 PM at Barre City Hall. In attendance were: From Ward I, Councilors Sue Higby and Jeffrey Tuper-Giles; from Ward II, Councilors Brandon Batham and Michael Boutin; and from Ward III, Councilors Anita Chadderton and Lucas Herring (arrived at 6:27 PM). Also present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie, City Attorney Oliver Twombly and Director of Buildings and Community Services Jeff Bergeron. Absent: NONE Executive Session – Councilor Batham made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of the litigation 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 6:04 PM to discuss litigation issues under the provisions of 1 FSA sec. 313 on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. Manager Mackenzie, Attorney Twombly and Mr. Bergeron were invited into the executive session. Council came out of executive session at 6:47 PM on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. No action taken. The special Council meeting adjourned at 6:47 PM on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. There is no audio recording of this special Council meeting. Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held April 11, 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, Councilors Sue Higby and Jeffrey Tuper-Giles; from Ward II, Councilors Brandon Batham and Michael Boutin; and from Ward III, Councilors Anita Chadderton and Lucas Herring. Also present was City Manager Steven Mackenzie. Absent: City Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Adjustments to the Agenda: Mayor Lauzon said items will be rearranged to accommodate those in attendance. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting on April 4, 2017 1 To be approved at 04-18-17 Barre City Council Meeting  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2017-145  Accounts Payable: $214,589.39  Payroll (gross): $116,713.98  2017 Licenses & Permits – NONE New Business – F) Acceptance of Property Tax Appeal Settlement for 7 Farwell Street. City Assessor Joe LeVesque presented the proposed settlement stipulation reached with Jonathan Pierce, owner of 7 Farwell Street, at last week’s appeal hearing before a state appraiser. Council approved the settlement amount on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – NONE Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. Applicant Address Aime Bellavance & Sons 5 Boynton Street Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Updated on boil water notice issued on Friday due to water main break on Maple Avenue/Summer Street. Updates are being posted on the City website. There was discussion on different ways to disseminate information about similar emergency situations, and the process for making such a notice as laid out by the state.  Construction meeting with contractors doing additional Gunner’s Brook flood mitigation work.  Spring yard waste drop off and pick-up schedules are being finalized.  Read memo from Health Officer Cpt. Matt Cetin on how to submit complaints about trash issues.  Fire Department tower truck has arrived. Staff will be training over the next two weeks before it officially goes into service. Visitors & Communications – NONE Old Business – A) Introduction to New Councilors and Update on Recent Aldrich Library Developments. Library director Sarah Costa and board president Nancy Pope updated the Council. Ms. Costa gave a PowerPoint presentation on library financials, usage & visit numbers, per capita tax support, and programs offered through grants. Councilors voiced their support of the library, and Councilor Batham said he would be interested in taking former Councilor Smith’s place as the City liaison to the board. Councilor Batham was appointed as the Council liaison to the library board on motion or Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. New Business – continued A) Final Public Hearing – 7:00 PM – Close out VCDP Scattered Sites Grant SS-2012 – Barre City 00005. Mayor Lauzon opened the public hearing at 7:50 PM. Downstreet Housing & Community Development executive director Eileen Peltier outlined the $850,000 grant that covered a variety of programs over the past 39 months. 2 To be approved at 04-18-17 Barre City Council Meeting Hearing no additional questions or comments, Mayor Lauzon closed the public hearing at 7:53 PM. B) Public Hearing – 7:15 PM – VCDP Consortium RLF Application. Mayor Lauzon opened the public hearing at 7:53 PM. Ms. Peltier outlined the grant program, saying it is similar to the one being closed out this evening. In addition to the usual coverage area, this program will include Windham and Windsor counties. Council enthusiastically supported the application on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Hearing no additional questions or comments, Mayor Lauzon closed the public hearing at 7:58 PM. C) Appointment of Denise Ferrari to DRB. Denise Ferrari appeared before the Council and expressed her interest in serving on the Development Review Board. Council appointed Ms. Ferrari on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. D) VYCC Summer 2017 Program Review & Funding Request. John Woodward from VYCC updated the Council on this summer’s projects, and requested that the City provide $15,000 to fund 2 weeks of the 8 week season. The hope is to include the funding in the annual general fund budget. Manager Mackenzie said he is preparing an FY17 budget-to-actual report for the next two weeks, and there may be funds available in this year’s budget. Another possible source is the Semprebon Annuity Fund. Mr. Woodward said the Barre area projects include Cow Pasture work, watershed projects and work at the Granite Museum. Mr. Mackenzie said Department of Public Works and Department of Buildings and Community Services will also be consulted to see if they have projects for this summer. Mayor Lauzon asked Mr. Woodward to bring a few members of the Barre team to the April 25th meeting, at which time the funding request will be warned for action. Councilor Tuper-Giles said he will make the motion at that meeting to approve the funding out of the Semprebon Annuity. E) Smoking Ordinance Changes Presentation. Councilor Herring joined Spaulding High School OVX (Our Voices Xposed) members Jada MacDonald & Madison Henderson, and Virginia Hurley from Central Vermont New Directions Coalition to make the presentation. Ms. MacDonald and Ms. Henderson said OVX is currently working with youth against flavored tobacco. They recently conducted a survey on people’s thoughts about smoking in the downtown. There was discussion on flavored tobacco; goals for the program; targeted marketing by the tobacco industry; working with smokers to make any policy or ordinance successful; percentage of the population that smokes from Health Department data; transition periods; and levels of enforcement. Councilor Herring, in his capacity as chair of the Barre Partnership, reviewed the results of their surveys of downtown businesses and pedestrians regarding the impact of smoking on business in the downtown. He said the results show a common goal of creating limited areas for smoking away from businesses and entryways. Ms. Hurley showed an example of a cigarette butt container used in Montpelier. There was discussion on combatting litter through the butt containers, current fines associated with littering, other communities who have banned smoking in certain areas, the intent of any proposed ordinance or ban, and public health effects of second hand smoke. Mayor Lauzon said he believes Council would support banning smoking at City-sponsored events, such as the Heritage Festival. The Mayor said additional discussion and public hearings are needed to discuss any sort of ongoing downtown ban. 3 To be approved at 04-18-17 Barre City Council Meeting Councilor Herring reviewed current ordinance language on not smoking in City parks and playgrounds, and possible revisions. G) Authorize Purchase of two 1 Ton Dump Trucks – Facilities & Cemetery. Human Resources director Rikk Taft reviewed his recommendations for purchasing the trucks. Councilor Boutin made the motion to accept the low bids as recommended by Mr. Taft, seconded by Councilor Batham. There was discussion on the make and model of the recommended vehicles. Mr. Taft said he reviewed the options with the City mechanic, who approved looking at Dodges and Fords. Mr. Mackenzie said the wanted to clarify that the motion to approve includes the plow packages and sanders. Council voted on the motion as made. Motion carried. H) Award of Bid for HMGP Buyouts Asbestos Surveys – Phases 1 & 2. Manager Mackenzie reviewed the bid process and said KAS Environmental was the low bidder. Council awarded the bid on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. I) Coordinated Plan for Council Review of Council Policies, Ordinances and Charter. Councilor Herring suggested setting up three different groups to work on the three different areas. Councilor Batham said he is interested in working on policies. Councilors Herring, Tuper-Giles and Boutin are interested in working on ordinances. Councilor Chadderton is interested in working on policies. Councilor Higby and Mayor Lauzon will work on charter. Round Table – Councilor Higby announced the annual Primo Maggio celebration at the Labor Hall on April 30th, and a new exhibit at the Morse Block Deli - both of which focus on the City’s Italian heritage. Councilor Tuper-Giles requested a moment of silence in recognition of the passing of George Malek, former long-time executive director of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce. He also continued to encourage people to clean up roadsides, yards and sidewalks. Councilor Herring announced the annual egg hunt, and the upcoming car show. Councilor Chadderton reminded people to be on the lookout for children on bikes. Councilor Batham said Representative Welch will be in East Montpelier and Montpelier tomorrow to hold town meetings on proposed federal budget cuts. Mayor Lauzon wished everyone a happy Easter weekend. Executive Session - The Council meeting adjourned at 9:48 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. There is no audio recording of this meeting. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4