City Council

To be approved at 07-18-17 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held July 11, 2017 The Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Thomas Lauzon at 6:09 PM at Barre City Hall. In attendance were: From Ward I, Councilors Sue Higby and Jeffrey Tuper-Giles (arrived 6:20 PM); from Ward II, Councilors Brandon Batham and Michael Boutin; and from Ward III, Councilor Lucas Herring. Also present was City Manager Steven Mackenzie. Absent: From Ward III, Councilor Anita Chadderton. Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Executive Session – Councilor Boutin made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of personnel issues associated with the City Manager’s annual review 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 6:09 PM to discuss personnel issues under the provisions of 1 VSA sec. 313 on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Manger Mackenzie was invited into the executive session. Council came out of executive session at 6:52 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. No action was taken. The special Council meeting adjourned at 6:53 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. There is no audio recording of the special meeting. Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held July 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, Councilor Lucas Herring. Also present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: From Ward III, Councilor Anita Chadderton. Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting on July 5, 2017 1 To be approved at 07-18-17 Barre City Council Meeting  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2017-28:  Accounts Payable: $294,682.52  Payroll (gross): $200,205.42  2017 Licenses & Permits – NONE The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Tax bills will be in the mail by July 15th. First quarter is due by August 15th.  Beginning to work on FY17 audit.  Working with Councilors Boutin and Higby to draft guidelines and application for Community Fund. Will come to Council in early August for review.  Board of Civil Authority meets on July 27th to begin the property tax assessment appeal process. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. Applicant Address Resource, Inc. 30 Granite Street LLEDNEW LTD. 439 N. Main Street Albert McKnight 16 Laurel Street Liquor Control – Council approved an outside consumption permit for the Elks Club for Friday & Saturday, July 28th & 29th during the Heritage Festival on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. Council approved a request to cater permit for Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen for Friday & Saturday, July 28th & 29th during the Heritage Festival on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. Council approved an outside consumption permit for Espresso Bueno for Saturday, July 29th during the Heritage Festival on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. Council approved a special event license for Fresh Tracks Winery for Wednesday, August 9th during the Farmer’s Market on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Some property damage and downed trees following Saturday’s storm with strong winds. Roof of building that houses Project Independence was blown off. Mayor Lauzon said arrangements have been made so that PI can re-open at the Barre Senior Center as a temporary location for the next three weeks while the roof is being repaired.  Manager Mackenzie will be on vacation from mid-day this Friday through next week. Human Resources director Rikk Taft has been named interim manager. Visitors & Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE New Business – 2 To be approved at 07-18-17 Barre City Council Meeting A) Approval of Granite Bench Donation. Whitney & Priscilla Maxfield shared a sketch of the proposed bench. Mr. Maxfield said they would like to donate it and have it placed in City Hall Park across from the Civil War memorial. He said their donation would cover the cost of the bench and setting, and the hope is to have it installed as soon as the bench is completed. Council accepted the donation with gratitude on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. B) Clarification of City Council Conditions on Placement of Boy Scout Statue. Steve Ristelli, Giuliano Cecchinelli and Pierre Couture gave an update on the status of the Boy Scout statue. Mr. Cecchinelli displayed a clay model of the statue, and said the final statue will be 9’ tall, including the base. Mr. Ristelli said the committee would like to place the statue on Depot Square land owned by the Vermont Granite Museum, and would like the City to be responsible for maintenance and upkeep. There was discussion on possible lighting; the relationship between the early Boy Scout troops and the Depot; cobblestones needed for the base and surrounding area; and development of a deed or easement with the Granite Museum for permanent use of the land. Mr. Ristelli said this is a Barre project, and not affiliated with Boy Scouts of America or the Green Mountain Council. Mr. Couture said the public portion of fundraising will begin this summer in conjunction with the community yard sale, and a new Fall Fire event scheduled for late September. Council took no formal action, but voiced support for the project and the location. Mayor Lauzon said formal action will be needed at the time the deed or easement comes before the Council for approval. C) Barre Heritage Festival Layout and Smoke Free Areas. Barre Partnership executive director Josh Jerome said Chief Tim Bombardier approved of the map distributed to the Council several weeks ago, indicating the Heritage Festival layout and smoking areas outside the Festival areas. Mr. Jerome said Festival volunteers will be the first line of enforcement for the smoke free event, and will ask people in the Festival area to refrain from smoking. If they do not, then police will be called in to assist. Mr. Jerome said there will be signage designating the festival as a smoke free family friendly event. There was discussion on designating smoking areas within the Festival areas, allowed smoking on private property, and managing expectations. Councilor Boutin made the motion to approve the map and plan as presented by the Barre Partnership. The motion was seconded by Councilor Herring. Councilors Batham and Higby said based on previous comments they have made, they do not support designating the Festival area as smoke free, with smoking areas outside the Festival area. Councilor Boutin called the question, seconded by Councilor Herring. Council voted on the motion as presented. Motion carried with Councilors Batham and Higby voting against. Ginny Burley from Central Vermont New Directions Coalition said they will be on hand at the Festival to talk with people about quitting smoking and to hand out materials. She left some example of materials for the Council. D) Appointment of Municipal Contact for Enhanced E-911. Manager Mackenzie said the previous municipal contact was recently retired Deputy Police Chief Andy Marceau, and recommended Council appoint new Deputy Police Chief Larry Eastman to the position. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. 3 To be approved at 07-18-17 Barre City Council Meeting E) City Priorities. Councilors and the Mayor reviewed their individual priority lists. Mayor Lauzon asked each Councilor to take all lists into consideration and draft a ranking of immediate priorities of not more than ten items. The Mayor said Council will hold a work session in the near future to continue working on the lists. Round Table – Councilor Higby asked anyone who knows of local trash mounds to be in touch with her to assist a local artist with a project. Councilor Tuper-Giles said he encourages people to get involved with or attend the Heritage Festival, as it celebrates our diversity. Councilor Herring reminded people of this week’s Wednesday evening events. Councilor Batham reminded people that Councilors will be in attendance at tomorrow evening’s Currier Park concert to talk with the public, and again at Espresso Bueno the morning of July 22nd. He also reminded people that shooting off firecrackers in Barre City is illegal without a permit received through the Clerk’s office. Mayor Lauzon thanked the Barre Senior Center for offering temporary housing to Project Independence. Executive Session – Councilor Batham made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of 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 Herring. Motion carried. Council went into executive session at 8:45 PM to discuss litigation issues under the provisions of 1 VSA sec. 313 on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. Manger Mackenzie was invited into the executive session. Council came out of executive session at 9:11 PM on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. No action was taken. The Council meeting adjourned at 9:12 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 4