City Council

To be approved at 02-27-18 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held February 20, 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; and from Ward III, Councilors Lucas Herring and John LePage. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie and City Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: Mayor Lauzon said item D under new business is deferred until next week. 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 Regular meeting of February 13, 2018  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2018-08:  Accounts Payable: $203,474.37  Payroll (gross): $125,926.31  2018 Licenses & Permits – NONE The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Second quarter taxes were due last Thursday. Delinquency rate as of today is 5.93%, with a few more timely payments expected to be received via mail.  Early absentee voting available for the March 6, 2018 Annual Town Meeting election.  2018 dog licenses are available.  City Council will hold its meeting the week of Town Meeting on Monday, March 5th. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permit on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried with Councilor Tuper-Giles abstaining. Applicant Address Magnetic Properties 16 Spring Street Eleanor Bouffard 72 Summer Street Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  City staff attended an interagency regional flooding seminar put on by the state, in anticipation of possible spring flooding.  The City is checking the sandbag inventory, and stocking up on sandbags. Visitors and Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE 1 To be approved at 02-27-18 Barre City Council Meeting New Business – A) Granite City Grocery Update. Granite City Grocery president Nick Landry gave a PowerPoint presentation update on the GCG. Mr. Landry reviewed the history of the organization. There was discussion on site criteria, membership numbers and development, exploration of funding options including new market tax credits, and the projected product mix. B) Approval of Coin Drop Request from Central Vermont Special Olympics for June 16, 2018. Council approved the coin drop request on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Tuper- Giles. Motion carried. C) FY2019 Municipal Budget Presentation. Manager Mackenzie reviewed the FY19 budget to be voted on at the March 6, 2018 Annual Town Meeting. The projected municipal tax rate increase is just over 2%. D) Review of Summer 2018 Streets/Sidewalk Program. This item is deferred to next week’s Council meeting. E) Capital Bond Ballot Item Review. Manager Mackenzie reviewed the list of items included in the $1.15 million capital bond ballot item to be voted on at the March 6, 2018 Annual Town Meeting. Items include equipment for the Public Works Department, police cruisers, planning and design work for refurbishment of the municipal pool, and replacing heating boilers in City Hall and at the Civic Center. F) Municipal Pool Refurbishment Bond Review. Manager Mackenzie reviewed the $720,000 pool refurbishment bond ballot item to be voted on at the March 6, 2018 Annual Town Meeting. The bond would refurbish the pool house, reline and seal the pool basin, move the mechanical room and equipment above ground, create a walk-in section of the pool, and add splash pad features. G) Local Options Tax Presentation. Mayor Lauzon gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Local Options Tax charter change to be voted on at the March 6, 2018 Annual Town Meeting. The Mayor presented data on real estate performance indicators and TIF district grand list growth. He said LOTs have been around since 2005, and 16 Vermont municipalities currently have local options taxes. He reviewed data on the growth in LOT communities, and said LOT would shift some of the burden for maintaining infrastructure from property taxes to those visiting Barre City. H) Authorization to Execute Acadia Insurance Company Settlement Release re: House Fire Claim. Manager Mackenzie said the $16,200 settlement agreement is related to the fire equipment damage incurred at the Houle Granite fire in December 2012. Council authorized the Manager to execute the settlement release on motion of Councilor Herring, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. Round Table – Several Councilors voiced their sadness and shock over the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and said they were impressed by the student advocacy towards changing gun control legislation. Councilor Herring said if people see something out of line or someone behaving oddly, they can report to the VT State Police tip hotline phone number or through the VSP website. 2 To be approved at 02-27-18 Barre City Council Meeting Councilor LePage reminded people to donate to the Pathways to Accessibility project in the BCEMS community gardens. He said the seed swap is scheduled for this Saturday at the Aldrich Library. Councilor Batham said there will be a Vermont meeting of the Poor Peoples Campaign this Sunday at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:52 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. An audio recording of this meeting is available from the City Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3