City Council

To be approved at 06-06-17 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held May 30, 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, Councilor Anita Chadderton. Also present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: From Ward III, Councilor Lucas Herring. Adjustments to the Agenda: Mayor Lauzon said agenda item 10(A) has been deferred. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting on May 16, 2017  City Warrants as presented: o Affirmation of Week 2017-21:  Accounts Payable: $96,281.74  Payroll (gross): $112,914.26 o Approval of Week 2017-22:  Accounts Payable: $1,899,596.66  Payroll (gross): $120,952.73  2017 Licenses & Permits – NONE The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Issued RFP for FY18 Tax Anticipation Note. Responses will be reviewed at next week’s meeting.  Working with auditor on some additional due from/due to reconciliations. The request for authorization to perform the recommended reconciliations will come to the Council at next week’s meeting.  List of unlicensed dogs will be presented to Council at next week’s meeting, along with the warrant turning the list over to the Police Department for enforcement.  There are 2 tax sales scheduled for Thursday, June 8th.  The Board of Abatement is holding hearings on Thursday, June 8th beginning at 6:30 PM. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. Applicant Address James Carpenter & Jesse Brink 76 Westwood Parkway Michael & Sandra Poczobut 20 Burns Street John & Patricia Howard 18 Sheridan Street James & Brandi Crisante 59 Palmisano Plaza Llednew Ltd. 439 N. Main Street Andrew Kutches 77 Woodland Drive Kelly Muzzey 37 Hill Street Liquor Control – Council approved a request to cater application for 802 Cocktails LLC for a wedding reception at the Granite Museum on June 3rd, on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Repairs to the municipal pool are going well. 1 To be approved at 06-06-17 Barre City Council Meeting Councilors asked for an update on the recent repairs to the new fire department ladder truck. Manager Mackenzie said the truck is back from the shop. Councilors asked for an update on security cameras and lighting at the pool. Manager Mackenzie said it is being worked on. It was suggested that a survey of pool users could be done over the summer to determine who is using the pool, where else they swim, and the number of residents and non-residents using the pool. Visitors & Communications – John Woodward from Vermont Youth Conservation Corps (VYCC) introduced VYCC staffer Pilar Lopez- Gomez, and Amanda Kohle from VT Vocational Rehab, and two members of this summer’s Barre team- Sabrina Hicks and Elia Webster. Ms. Hicks said she is returning for her second year as a Barre Team member. She enjoyed meeting new friends and working outside last year, along with developing leadership skills. Mr. Webster said he is looking forward to working outside and developing friendship and social skills. Mayor Lauzon thanked the team members for their great attitude. Matthew Jolley, owner of a home on Maplewood Avenue, said he now lives in New Mexico, and has concerns about the City not responding to correspondence regarding his property. Mr. Jolley said real estate agents refuse to work with them on the sale of the house and the City knows why. He said he will not let anybody steal his home including his neighbors, and that the City gave City land to the neighbors under false pretenses. Mr. Jolley said he will come back every year to voice his concerns to the City. Old Business – NONE New Business – A) Approval of VTRANS F&M Agreement for Merchant St/Rte 14 Intersection Reconstruction. Mayor Lauzon said this item is deferred. B) Resolution #2017-07 Relating to the Designation of Barre Area Development Corporation to perform the General Administration activities of Granite City Grocery Planning Grant #PG-2014-Barre City- 00002. Granite City Grocery board member Phil Cecchini and Barre Area Development Corporation executive director Joel Schwartz voiced support of the resolution and the relationship between their two organizations. Council adopted the resolution on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. C) Authorization to Execute 5 Year Printing Equipment Lease and Services Agreement. Nick Landry, assistant to the City Manager, reviewed his recommendation to award a 5-year agreement to Office Systems of Vermont (OSV). Mr. Landry said three firms bid on the job to provide service and equipment needs for the City. There was discussion on efficiency, standardization, projected savings, and encouragement to move towards going paperless whenever possible. Council authorized the Manager to negotiate and sign a 5 year agreement with OSV on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. D) Authorization to Execute Municipal Audit Service Contract. Clerk Dawes reviewed her matrix of the three responses received to the RFP for audit services, and recommended the contract be awarded to Sullivan Powers & Co out of Montpelier. The Clerk said she recommends Sullivan Powers & Co because of the City’s past history with the company, and their proximity, in spite of not being the low bid. She noted the difference between the low bid and Sullivan Powers & Co’s bid was less than $4,000 over the three year life of the contract. Council authorized entering into a three year contract with Sullivan Powers & Co on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. 2 To be approved at 06-06-17 Barre City Council Meeting E) Council Authorization to Conduct Tax Sales and Purchase Lands and Buildings at Tax Sales. Council approved the authorization document on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. Round Table – Councilor Batham said he was honored and humbled to attend yesterday’s Memorial Day ceremonies. He wished Mayor Lauzon a happy birthday and delivered a card from the Council. Councilor Boutin said he met with Justice Center executive director Jeannie McLeod, and is looking forward to attending board meetings. Councilor Higby said she hasn’t seen any public participation or dialog in Council issues, and encouraged people to contact her to discuss what obstacles there might be to participating, and what the Council can do to enhance community engagement. Councilor Tuper-Giles thanked the cemetery crews for getting the cemeteries in great shape for the Memorial Day weekend. He encouraged people to contact him if they are interested in working on fundraising in support of the municipal pool. Mayor Lauzon said he has reached out to the Department of Corrections for assistance in painting the pool, and will reach out to local contractors to discuss other pool construction needs. In response to Councilor Higby’s comments about community engagement, he suggested Council could attend the Currier Park concerts and farmer’s market and engage the public in conversation about the City. Councilor Batham asked if there have been any additional incidents of vandalism at the pool. Manager Mackenzie said no, there haven’t been. The Manager said some no trespass orders have been issued, and there are a few people of interest being investigated by the police department. Executive Session – Councilor Boutin made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of 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 Batham. Motion carried. Council went into executive session at 8:05 PM to discuss personnel issues under the provisions of 1 VSA sec. 313 on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. Manger Mackenzie was invited into the executive session. Council came out of executive session at 8:27 PM on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. No action was taken. The Council meeting adjourned at 8:27 PM on motion of Councilor Batham, 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