City Council

To be approved at 01-16-18 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held January 16, 2018 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 (arrived 7:45 PM); and from Ward III, Councilors Lucas Herring and John LePage (arrived 7:08 PM). Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie and City Clerk/Treasurer Carolyn Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: Mayor Lauzon said items on the agenda would be rearranged to accommodate those in attendance. Councilor Herring asked that consideration of VLCT’s request for letters of support for Vermont Senate bill S.97 be added to the agenda. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting on January 2, 2018  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2018-02:  Accounts Payable: $218,149.50  Payroll (gross): $135,688.00  2018 Licenses & Permits – o Animal:  Dan Smith, 23 Spring Street, 6 chickens  Morgan Weiss, address confidential, 83 ball pythons & 1 boa constrictor  Serena Wells, 15 Grant Avenue, 9 chickens  Michael Boutin, 5 Hillside Avenue, 1 ferret  Michelle Carter, 44 Newton Street, 7 poultry  John LePage, 16 Willey Street, 5 chickens o Food Establishment:  Maria’s Bagels, 162 N. Main Street  Smolder Mist Pub, 107 S. Main Street  Subway, 86 N. Main Street  Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main Street  Soup N’ Greens, 325 N. Main Street  Gusto’s, 28 Prospect Street  L&M Diner, 240 N. Main Street  Quality Inn, 173 S. Main Street  Mutuo Inc, 20 Beckley Street  Jerry’s Sports Tavern, 30 Summer Street  Alley Cat, 10 Keith Avenue  Simply Delicious, 14 N. Main Street o Food Take-Out:  Quality Market, 155 Washington Street  Cumberland Farms, 524 N. Main Street  Cumberland Farms, 132 S. Main Street o Entertainment:  Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite Street 1 To be approved at 01-16-18 Barre City Council Meeting o Pool Table/Video Machines:  Alley Cat, 10 Keith Avenue, 1 pool table  Jerry’s Sports Tavern, 30 Summer Street, 1 pool table  Gusto’s, 28 Prospect Street, 2 pool tables & 3 video machines  Smolder Mist Pub, 107 S. Main Street, 1 pool table o Taxi Service Operator’s and Vehicles:  Payless Taxi, 1 vehicle  Don’s Taxi, 1 vehicle  Central Vermont Green Cab, 2 vehicles o Taxicab Drivers:  Dale Kew, Payless Taxi  Nicholas Diedrich, Central VT Green Cab  Pat Nixon, Central VT Green Cab  Joshua Sayer, Central VT Green Cab  Laurel Brindle-Swiney, Central VT Green Cab The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  2018 dog licenses are available.  Information is posted on the City website regarding offices up for election at the Annual Town Meeting on March 6, 2018.  Early absentee ballot requests for Town Meeting and the rest of the year are being accepted. Approval of Building Permits – NONE Liquor Control – Council approved the following special event permits on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Higby. Motion carried. Applicant Location Event Date Spirits of Old Bennington Barre Opera House VT Burlesque Show January 19th Havoc Mead Barre Opera House VT Burlesque Show January 19th Dog River Brewery Old Labor Hall VT Bicycle Shop Reception January 27th City Manager’s Report – NONE Visitors and Communications – City resident Roger Otis thanked the Justices of the Peace for delivering ballots to him every election. Mr. Otis thanked those who decorated City Hall Park and downtown for the holidays. He said he would be happy to help the Garden Club with their beautification work in the summer. New Business – A) CVPSA Budget presentation and Ballot Request. Central Vermont Public Safety Authority board chair Tom Golonka, vice chair Michael Smith, executive director Paco Aumand, and board members Martin Prevost and Doug Hoyt presented the proposed FY19 budget and performance expectations. Mr. Aumand said CVPSA is proposing a $100,000 FY19 budget, of which $40,000 will come from reserve funds, and the balance will come from the members; Barre City and Montpelier. Barre City’s proposed share is $31,800, which will be voted on at the March 6th Annual Town Meeting. The plan is to continue working with Capital Fire Mutual Aid with regards to having them become a member of the Authority, and for the purchase and installation of a simulcast dispatch system. The goal is to have a plan in place by November 2018. There was discussion on Senate bill S.273, which would make significant changes to the current 911 calling center system in Vermont; development of a long term action plan, development by the chiefs of 2 To be approved at 01-16-18 Barre City Council Meeting joint Barre City/Montpelier policies and procedures; current dispatch technological problems; input from employees; reworking the board for greater equitability among members; governance; return of venture capital; involving the hospital as a critical partner; and more details for the exit strategy. Councilor Boutin arrived during the above discussion. B) Approval of Certificates of Highway Mileage. Clerk Dawes read off the different category of streets in the City and their mileages by category. It was noted there are no changes from the previous certificate. Council approved the certificate on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. C) Discussion on Proposed Charter Amendments. Clerk Dawes reviewed possible charter change language related to the following:  Local Option Tax  Revising contract approval procedures for City Manager  Removal of obsolete or unnecessary offices or titles o First Constable o Grand Juror o Superintendent of Streets o Superintendent of Waterworks o Recreation Director o City Engineer o Building Inspector o Inspector of Electrical Wiring o Inspector of Plumbing o Tree Warden o Board of Health It was noted that removing the offices or titles from the charter does not eliminate the work. Taking them out of charter allows the City to make adjustments to the titles and job responsibilities as demands dictate. There was discussion on keeping the First Constable position, but revising charter language to make the position appointed as needed rather than elected. Council voiced support for most of the proposed draft language, and will review again next week. Mayor Lauzon said he would like Council to finalize language at next week’s meeting, as it needs to be approved at the special meeting on January 25th. D) Annual Report Cover Photo and Dedication. It was suggested that the 2017 Annual Report be dedicated to long-time Councilor and school board member Anita Chadderton, and that in her honor, photos of children at play be featured on the cover. Approved on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried. Old Business – A) FY19 Budget Proposal Review and Deliberation. Manager Mackenzie distributed copies of the most recent budget draft, and said this will be the version discussed at Saturday’s budget workshop. Mayor Lauzon said the Council will meet on Saturday, January 13th at 8:00 AM. New Business, continued – E) Council Recommendation re. S.97 – Electronic Noticing. Councilor Herring said Council has been asked by VLCT to recommend approval of S.97 which would revise electronic noticing requirements for public notice required to be published. Council approved the recommendation on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Herring. Motion carried. 3 To be approved at 01-16-18 Barre City Council Meeting Round Table – Councilor Batham said there will be a Martin Luther King Jr. documentary screening this Sunday at the Church of the Good Shepherd. He noted that Washington County State’s Attorney Scott Williams has resigned, and Rory Thibault has been appointed as interim State’s Attorney. Washington County Democrats will caucus this weekend to create a list of three recommended names for gubernatorial appointment to fill the position until the next election. Councilor LePage thanked those who went out of their way to help neighbors and people in need during the recent cold weather. Councilor Boutin met with Public Works Director Bill Ahearn to tour the public works building. He noted the terrible condition of the building, and said the staff does a great job with what they have. Councilor Herring said there will be open gym and stick & puck time this coming Monday during the Martin Luther King Jr school holiday. He said City emails will be discussed at next week’s Council meeting, and he and Councilor Batham are reviewing code of conduct and conflict of interest policies. Councilor Tuper-Giles said he is sitting between mayoral candidates. He asked Councilors Herring and Higby to post their résumés of community involvement, and to consider a televised debate. Councilor Higby said with rising temperatures and rain in the forecast, people should dig out storm drains, clear sidewalks and help neighbors to avoid flooding. She announced she is running for mayor. Mayor Lauzon thanked Scott Williams for his service as Washington County State’s Attorney. The Mayor said Mr. Thibault is an excellent choice for interim State’s Attorney, and he hopes Mr. Thibault will be on the list of recommendations submitted to the Governor. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. An audio recording of this meeting is available from the City Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4