City Council

To be approved at 04-25-17 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held April 18, 2017 The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Acting Mayor Lucas Herring at 7:00 PM at Barre City Hall. In attendance were: From Ward I, Councilors Sue Higby and Jeffrey Tuper- Giles (arrived 7:10 PM); from Ward II, Councilors Brandon Batham (arrived 7:02 PM) and Michael Boutin; and from Ward III, Councilor Anita Chadderton. Also present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: Mayor Thomas Lauzon. Acting Mayor Herring noted Councilors had attended an equipment review in City Hall Park before the meeting, at which two new dump trucks and the new fire department aerial truck were on display. Adjustments to the Agenda: Manager Mackenzie announced that the budget status report will be deferred until next week. 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 Special meeting on April 11, 2017 o Regular meeting on April 11, 2017  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2017-16:  Accounts Payable: $237,586.06  Payroll (gross): $123,901.78  2017 Licenses & Permits – NONE Councilor Batham arrived at this point in the meeting. The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Dog licenses are still available, however there is now a $3 late fee. Letters will go to owners of unlicensed dogs before the end of April. They will have 30 days to get the dogs licensed before the list is turned over to the Animal Control Officer for enforcement.  Testified before House Government Operations today on the charter changes approved by the voters on Town Meeting Day. The charter changes have been designated as H.529.  Re-vote on BCEMS & SHS budgets set for May 9th. Ballots are printed and have been mailed to those who voted early or absentee on Town Meeting Day.  Reviewed the Barre Elks Club’s plans for their June 14th Flag Day ceremony in City Hall Park.  Reviewed request from the Barre Lions Club to re-schedule their coin drop from August 12th to August 19th. Council informally concurred with the request. The Clerk will make the change to the schedule. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. Applicant Address Joyce Decarsky 286 Prospect Street Christopher Masi 338 Prospect Street Christopher Bevington 29 Blackwell Street 1 To be approved at 04-25-17 Barre City Council Meeting Liquor Control – Council approved the following liquor license renewal on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. Establishment Address License Morse Block Deli 260 N. Main Street 1st class Councilor Tuper-Giles arrived during the Manager’s report. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Friday is the deadline for application submissions for the Deputy Police Chief position. The City is contracting with VLCT for recruitment services to fill the Director of Public Works position.  Construction has started on the next phase of the Gunner’s Brook flood mitigation projects.  Arrangements are being finalized for the annual yard waste drop off and pick up times, which are tentatively scheduled for early to mid-May.  The Fire Department reminds people that burning is not allowed in the City without a burn permit. Permits are available through the Clerk’s office. Visitors & Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE New Business – A) Civic Center rate increase. Buildings and Community Services director Jeff Bergeron presented proposed Civic Center rate increases as developed and recommended by the Civic Center Committee. Clerk Dawes said ordinance requires approved rate changes be published in the local newspaper. They go into effect 30 days after publication. Council approved the rate changes as recommended by the committee on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. Due to operator error, the audio recording of this meeting didn’t start until part-way through the following agenda item; approximately 7:15 PM. B) Authorization to Award Contract for Smith Street Bike Path Resident Engineer. BCS assistant director Stephanie Quaranta reported from the Bike Path Committee, recommending Council award the resident engineering contract for the Smith Street segment of the bike path to Dufresne Group, not to exceed $59,000. Manager Mackenzie reviewed the history of the project, outlined the funding sources, and said construction on this portion should be completed by fall. Council awarded the contract as recommended on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. C) Nine month budget status Report. Deferred until next week. Round Table – Ms. Quaranta said the 30th annual egg hunt was held this past Saturday. If was a great event, and she encouraged anyone with plastic eggs to turn them into the Recreation Department for re-use. The event is a co-presentation with Barre Town Recreation, and she noted that the playground was getting heavy use after the hunt was completed. 2 To be approved at 04-25-17 Barre City Council Meeting Councilor Batham said he enjoyed time with the new vehicles before this evening’s Council meeting, and getting to talk with several of the firefighters. He suggested offering similar opportunities at City events, including the Heritage Festival. He attended last week’s Aldrich Library board meeting, and encouraged Barre Town voters to support the library’s funding request on their Town Meeting ballot in May. Councilor Chadderton reminded people to be cautious of children playing in and around the streets. Councilor Higby said the Civic Center Auditorium is featured in the latest edition of “Best of Central Vermont” magazine; the article includes history, photos and events. Councilor Tuper-Giles said he enjoyed riding up in the bucket of the new aerial truck. Acting Mayor Herring said he also enjoyed riding in the bucket, and that the truck is safer for both firefighters and the public. He reminded Councilors to get their priority lists to the Mayor. Executive Session - NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 7:31 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. A partial audio recording of this meeting is available from the City Clerk. Due to operator error, the recording started 15 minutes into the meeting. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3