City Council

To be approved at 08-01-17 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held July 25, 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, Councilors Anita Chadderton and Lucas Herring. Also present were City Manager Steven Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE 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 July 18, 2017  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2017-30:  Accounts Payable: $299,772.21  Payroll (gross): $131,469.20  2017 Licenses & Permits – o Entertainment License:  First Baptist Church – Barre, Saturday, September 2nd from 5:00 – 7:00 PM in City Hall Park/gazebo, gospel music, speeches, use of electricity.  St. Monica’s – Sunday, August 13th from 12:00 – 4:00 PM in Currier Park, ecumenical celebration with music, prayer and fellowship. Access to electricity. Will put up a tent for the day. Members of the Barre Community Baseball 11 year olds team, along with their coach, Chad Burke, appeared before the Council to receive congratulations for winning the district and state championships. They are now headed to represent the state at next month’s regional championships in Massachusetts. The Council gave them a standing ovation for their achievement. The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Tax bills have been mailed. First quarter payment is due by August 15th. A postcard will be sent to property owners to remind them to file their homestead declarations, and to apply for property tax rebates, if they qualify.  Board of Civil Authority meets on July 27th to begin the property tax assessment appeal process.  There are 10 properties scheduled for tax sale in early September. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. Applicant Address Fecteau Residential Inc. 0 Fecteau Circle Mariette & Jeffrey Mitchell 102 Summer Street Paul & Alyson Flint 17 Averill Street Jennifer Hunt 78 Woodland Drive Jeff Johnson 25 Country Way 1 To be approved at 08-01-17 Barre City Council Meeting Liquor Control – Council approved a temporary expansion of an outside consumption permit for Quarry Kitchen & Spirits LLC for Saturday, July 29th during the Heritage Festival on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Herring. Approval included modifying the service hours to 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Repairs to the Hope Cemetery wing wall are complete.  The 2nd pool inspection has been completed. Preliminary reports are that the pool is structurally sound for the remainder of this summer. A written report is being prepared.  Demolition has started on the Gunner’s Brook flood mitigation project. Work will soon continue on the lower trash rack and the retaining wall.  Updated on this season’s street paving, including Burnham, Averill, Wellington and Waterman Streets, and Abbott Avenue.  Work on the Smith Street segment of the bike path begins August 7th.  Free dental screening and fluoride treatments are being offered this week at the municipal pool.  The pool security system alarm sounded last Friday morning. It is believed that a bird or bat triggered the alarm. There was discussion on development of a 5-10 year plan for Civic Center capital needs, and a capital improvement plan for replacing City equipment. Manager Mackenzie said Director of Public Works Bill Ahearn has been tasked with developing the CIP, and Director of Buildings and Community Services Jeff Bergeron is working on a similar plan for City facilities. There was discussion on maintenance of grassy areas around parking lots and sidewalks. Manager Mackenzie said a chart is being developed to designate which departments have responsibilities for which areas. The Manager said the shrubs in front of the Lenny’s plaza will be removed and replaced with something that needs little or no maintenance. Visitors & Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE New Business – A) Approval of Road Side Mowing Bid. Mr. Ahearn reviewed the one bid that was received from Donnel Dexter. Mr. Dexter has provided road side mowing for the City for the last several years. The bid is 12% higher than last year, but Mr. Ahearn said the cost is reasonable. He said the bid prices are $4,500 for the roadside mowing and $65/hour for additional work, and he recommended Council award the contract. Council awarded the contract to Donnel Dexter at the above listed rates as recommended by Mr. Ahearn on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. B) Approval of Asset Management Grant. Mr. Ahearn reviewed the grant, which will look at the City’s water supply distribution system. There will be an inventory of the system, which will be converted to a map. The next step will be to define level of service and evaluate how to use the plan and tie it into the capital plan. This is the second such grant the City has received, having received one last year for the water treatment facility. Mr. Ahearn recommended Council accept the grant. 2 To be approved at 08-01-17 Barre City Council Meeting Council accepted the grant as recommended by Mr. Ahearn, and authorized Manager Makenzie to sign on behalf of the City, on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. Mayor Lauzon said he must recuse himself from participation in the next agenda item due to conflict of interest. Councilor Herring assumed the role of Acting Mayor and chaired the next agenda item. C) Tax Year 2017 Errors and Omissions #1. Clerk Dawes reviewed the list of three E&O corrections, and said they were due to errors made in finalizing the grand list. The Clerk recommended Council approval. Council approved the E&O corrections for 39 Berlin Street, 9 & 11 George Street and 85 S. Main Street on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Chadderton. Motion carried. Mayor Lauzon resumed chairing the meeting. D) Tax Sale Process: 22 Hill Street. Clerk Dawes reviewed her memo on 22 Hill Street. The property is owned jointly by two brothers, one of whom is deceased, and the other has abandoned the property. Due to lack of an estate for the deceased brother and a lien against the property, it has been difficult for the City to put the property up for tax sale for delinquent taxes and water/sewer charges. The Clerk is researching options, including opening an estate in probate court to allow the City to finalize a tax sale. Council approved the Clerk opening an estate to move the tax sale process forward on motion of councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. Round Table – Councilor Higby said members of the Promise Communities Grant organizations will staff a table in the Kids Zone at the Heritage Festival. She encouraged people to stop by and hear about the programs that are being offered through the grant funds. She said there are three exhibits at Studio Place Arts that will be open during the Festival. Councilor Tuper-Giles said he is finalizing the map for the Heritage Festival vendors and the line-up for Saturday’s parade. Councilor Herring reviewed festival events, which begin tomorrow. He distributed copies of a consolidated Council priorities list based on the individual lists created by each member of the Council, and suggested there be continued discussions at a future meeting. Councilor Boutin requested a brief executive session at the end of the meeting. Councilor Chadderton said she will not be here for next week’s meeting as she will be out of town. Councilor Batham said last Saturday’s Coffee with Councilors at Espresso Bueno was successful. The next Concert with Councilors is August 9th. He reviewed the Authors at the Aldrich offering for tomorrow evening. Mayor Lauzon said Council will hold a public hearing and discussion on the future of the municipal pool at next week’s Council meeting. The Mayor said he is meeting with the Planning Commission to discuss its proposed zoning changes that would encourage tiny house development in the City. He also said he is developing a Facebook page for Park Place. 3 To be approved at 08-01-17 Barre City Council Meeting Councilor Boutin said he changed his mind and does not need an executive session. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, 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 4