City Council

To be approved at 07-25-17 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held July 18, 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, Councilor Michael Boutin; and from Ward III, Councilors Anita Chadderton and Lucas Herring. Also present were Acting City Manager Rikk Taft and Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: From Ward II, Councilor Brandon Batham. Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Special meeting on July 11, 2017 o Regular meeting on July 11, 2017  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2017-29:  Accounts Payable: $354,664.61  Payroll (gross): $122,531.57  2017 Licenses & Permits – o Taxi Driver License:  Jennifer Ann Overton, with Central Vermont Green Cab o Fireworks License:  Barre Partnership – Barre Heritage Festival, Saturday, July 29th. Contingent upon receiving approval from all property owners in the fallout zone. 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.  Board of Civil Authority meets on July 27th to begin the property tax assessment appeal process. There was discussion on how to inform City taxpayers about filing for their homestead declarations and rebates. The Clerk will research sending out a postcard notice to all taxpayers. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Chadderton, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. Applicant Address Donovan Rogers 20 Burns Street Liquor Control – Council approved an outside consumption permit for Gusto’s for Saturday, July 29th during the Heritage Festival on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – None. Manager Mackenzie is out of town. Visitors & Communications – Cow Pasture Committee member Alex Pastor thanked the Council for funding the Vermont Youth 1 To be approved at 07-25-17 Barre City Council Meeting Conservation Corps’ three weeks of work in the cow pasture. The VYCC worked on trails, steps, water bars, installation of a gate, and control of invasive species. The Cow Pasture Committee is developing a Facebook page, and will look to have a maker placed on googlemaps. Old Business – NONE New Business – A) Approval of Revised Barre Opera House Lease. Clerk Dawes reviewed the draft lease, saying it was essentially the same as the document approved by the Council in May 2016, with a few changes related to insurance coverage, shared expenses, and automatic lease renewals. Mayor Lauzon reviewed his memo outlining the costs for the City’s contributions to the Opera House. Councilor Higby reviewed her memo outlining her calculations of the City contributions to the Opera House. There was discussion on calculating the City’s contribution based on taxpayer dollars spent on Opera House support or on the value of revenues generated by the Opera House. Councilor Tuper-Giles made the motion to table the discussion to allow Councilors time to review the memos, and for the Opera House to respond. The motion was seconded by Councilor Higby. Opera House executive director Dan Casey reviewed the relationship between the City and the Opera House. Councilor Tuper-Giles withdrew his motion. He made a new motion to approve the lease as presented, with the contingency that a report be presented to the Council regarding the value of City support to the Opera House. The motion included authorizing the Mayor to sign the lease on behalf of the City. The motion was seconded by Councilor Boutin. Councilor Herring suggested a few edits to the lease. The mover and seconded accepted the edits as a friendly amendment. Councilor Higby said her intention is to see the facility used by more local organizations at lower costs. Mr. Casey said the space is used frequently for things other than performances, and the Opera House is holding five weeks of camps this summer. The rental rates for non-profits are based on attendance at events, and are lower than most other area theaters. The Opera House offers free tickets to schools and organizations. Councilor Tuper-Giles made the motion to call the question. Councilor Boutin seconded the motion. Motion carried. Council voted on the motion to approve the lease as amended. Motion carried. Mr. Casey said he has been remiss in reporting Opera House activities to the Council, but will do so in the near future. Councilor Higby asked for a list of ticket purchasers by community. Clerk Dawes will work with Mr. Casey on the report included in the motion, which will come to the Council at the August 15th meeting. B) Approval Annual Supply Bids. Clerk Dawes reviewed the supply bid memo from assistant public works director Steve Micheli, recommending approval of all bids except #6 and #8, which are under evaluation. Council approved the supply bids as recommended on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. 2 To be approved at 07-25-17 Barre City Council Meeting Item Dealer Price Gasoline Packard Fuels $2.0475/gal Diesel Fuel Packard Fuels $1.7608/gal Sodium Hydroxide 25% Borden & Remington Corp. $1.0808/gal Hydrofluorsilicic acid Borden & Remington Corp. $2.1645/gal Zinc-Orthophosphate Shannon Chemical Corp. $3.73/gal Powdered Activated Carbon Monson Companies LLC $0.8455/lb Liquid Calcium Chloride The Gorman Group LLC $0.86/gal Sodium Hypochlorite Surpass Chemical Co., Inc. $0.782/gal Sodium Bisulfite Slack Chemical Co., Inc. $2.014/gal Cationic Polymer Atlantic Coast Polymers Inc. $1.69/lb Liquid Sodium Aluminate Kemira Water Solutions $2.02/gal Potassium Permanganate (non-domestic) George S. Coyne Chemical Co. $1.7026/lb Potassium Permanganate (domestic) Harcros Chemicals Inc. $1.8070/lb Round Table – Councilor Herring reminded people of the Wednesday evening concert in Currier Park, the July 21st pitch event at Espresso Bueno, and next weekend’s Heritage Festival. He said the VYCC work crew will be at the Aldrich Library on August 15th for an opportunity to meet the public. Councilor Tuper-Giles said there are still a few openings for vendors and parade entries for the Heritage Festival. Those interested need to let him know before the end of the week. He said the Council will serve as parade judges. Councilor Higby said the Barre Historical Society is holding a dessert event in memory of Chet Briggs at the Labor Hall on July 27th as part of the Heritage Festival. Mayor Lauzon said people can find information on all Heritage Festival events on their website. He reminded Councilors about participating in the truck pull. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. An audio recording of this meeting is available from the City Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3