City Council

To be approved at 06-27-17 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held June 12, 2017 A Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Thomas Lauzon at 6:05 PM at Barre Civic Center Alumni Hall. Councilors 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 Lucas Herring. City staff members present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie, Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes, and Planning Director Janet Shatney. Councilors absent: From Ward III, Councilor Anita Chadderton. Others present: Barre Area Development Corporation executive director Joel Schwartz and board members Ed Rousse, Robert Hutchins, Bob Lord, John Shea, Rusty Valsangiacomo and Karl Rinker; Barre Partnership executive director Josh Jerome and board members Ericka Reil, Sarah Field, Al Flory, Emilye Pelow Corbett and Caitlin Corkins (also ACCD); Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development staff members Katie Buckley, Chris Cochran and Joan Goldstein; Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation executive director Jamie Stewart; David Delcore from the Times Argus, and Anne Galloway from vtdigger.org. Mayor Lauzon said he will give a presentation to Councilors and invitees which focuses on a series of potential development projects in the downtown. The Mayor said premature disclosure of the projects and particular parcels would place the City and certain property owners at a substantial disadvantage should the discussion become public, so it is his intention to request an executive session during which he will make his presentation. He said he reached out to attorney Paul Giuliani, who gave him an opinion that the material to be covered meets the criteria for an executive session. Councilor Tuper-Giles made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of the real estate issues to be discussed would clearly place the City of Barre and other parties at a substantial disadvantage should the discussion be public. The motion was seconded by Councilor Herring. Ms. Galloway from vtdigger.org said the press believes this is a violation of Vermont’s Open Meeting Law. There was discussion on what information could be provided to the public and when. Councilor Herring called the question. Council voted on the motion for findings. Motion carried with Councilor Higby voting against and Councilor Batham abstaining. Council went into executive session at 6:17 PM to discuss real estate issues under the provisions of 1 VSA sec. 313 on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried with Councilor Higby voting against and Councilor Batham abstaining. City staff, and representatives from BADC, BP, ACCD and CVEDC were invited into the executive session. Council came out of executive session at 7:39 PM on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. No action was taken. The Council meeting adjourned at 7:39 PM on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. There is no audio recording of this meeting. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 1