City Council

To be approved at 09-18-18 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held September 11, 2018 The Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Lucas Herring at 6:00 PM at the Barre City Water Treatment Plant in Orange, Vermont. 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 John LePage and Richard Morey. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie, Director of Public Works Bill Ahearn, and Assistant Director of Public Works Steve Micheli. Absent: NONE Mr. Ahearn and Mr. Micheli gave a tour of the water treatment facility. The special Council meeting was adjourned at 6:45 PM. There is no audio recording of the meeting. Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held September 11, 2018 The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Lucas Herring at 7:05 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 John LePage and Richard Morey. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie and City Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: Mayor Herring said discussion on the FY20 budget will be deferred to a future meeting. 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 of September 4, 2018  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2018-37:  Accounts Payable: $288,126.08  Payroll (gross): $152,636.24  2018 Licenses & Permits – o Taxi Driver’s License:  Neil Rosenblad, Central VT Green Cab. o Waste Disposal Collector’s License:  DJ’s Convenience, drop off only with 2 vehicles. o Pool Table/Video Machine License:  Planet Rock N’ Metal – Upstairs, 9 video machines. o Entertainment License:  Barre Area Veterans, Veteran’s Day activities, November 3, 2018. 1 To be approved at 09-18-18 Barre City Council Meeting The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes reported on the following:  Water/sewer bills are due by October 1st.  The office is accepting early/absentee ballot requests for the November 6th general election. Ballots will be available beginning September 21st. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. Applicant Address Michele & Marcel LaPerle 109 Elmwood Avenue Liquor Control – Council approved BYOB alcohol for a birthday party for approximately 45 people at the Old Labor Hall on Saturday, December 29th from 7:00 PM – midnight on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Higby. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. Council approved a special event permit application from Dog River Brewery for a charity event at Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel on Friday, September 21st from 5:00 – 8:00 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper- Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. Visitors and Communications – NONE Old Business – A) Appointment of Ben Brown to the Bike Path Committee. Mr. Brown expressed his interest in serving on the committee. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. New Business – A) Appointment of Tim Rapczynski to Cow Pasture Stewardship Committee. Mr. Rapszynski expressed his interest in serving on the committee. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor LePage, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. B) Mathewson Playground Refurbishment Preview. Mathewson Playground Committee members Ellen Sivret, Rosemary Averill and Derrick Blodgett reported that work on the playground is nearing completion. Play structures have been replaced and rubber safety matting installed. There is some additional landscaping work to be completed, and a bench will be installed. A reopening celebration will be held on Wednesday, September 19th. Ms. Sivret thanked the City and the community for their support in making the project a success. There was discussion on future improvements including replacing the upper fence, and partnering with Spaulding High School for ongoing pruning and groundskeeping. The Committee will be surveying families that use the playground to get ideas for future improvements and programs. Clerk Dawes said the Playground Committee has been selected to be one of this year’s honorees at the annual Joint Service Clubs Community Service Recognition Dinner in October. Mayor Herring read a proclamation naming September 19th as Ellen Sivret Day in honor of Ms. Sivret’s dedication to the project. Ms. Sivret received a standing ovation for her tireless dedication to improving the playground and neighborhood. C) Rotary Mural Project Update. Barre Rotary past president Caroline Earle said the mural artist has completed the design and divided it into 44 panels that will cover the Summer Street wall. Different groups of local artists will paint sections of the mural, and the Vermont Granite Museum has donated space for painting and storage of the panels. Original plans called for the mural to be painted and install this fall, but revised plans call for the painting 2 To be approved at 09-18-18 Barre City Council Meeting to happen over the winter with the mural being installed in the spring. Ms. Earle showed a few of the panel designs as a teaser to the Council and public. The Council expressed its enthusiasm for the design and the project. D) Update re: November 3 VT Boy Scout Annual Salute to Veterans. Chuck Barney from the Barre Area Veterans Council passed around invitations to participate in the Veterans Day parade scheduled for November 3rd. Mr. Barney said the day begins with a 5K foot race, followed by the parade featuring Boy Scouts from all over the state. The Scouts will be here for the unveiling of the Boy Scout statue being installed in Depot Square. Following the parade, activities will shift to the auditorium for lunch and games. Mr. Barney said in addition to the activities on November 3rd, the hope is to honor the 100th anniversary of the end of World War II with church bells ringing at 11:00 AM on November 11th, and possible stopping of traffic through the City at that time. Mr. Barney said since last year’s Stand Down event, they have helped approximately 60 local veterans who are homeless or in need of assistance. There are other stand down events scheduled for other areas of the state this fall and winter. E) Patriotism Week Presentation from American Legion, Auxiliary, and Sons of the American Legion. Charith Zickmund from the Barre American Legion Auxiliary spoke about crocheting scarves for soldiers, distributing small American flags to children, and wearing red on Fridays to “Remember Every Deployed”. The Auxiliary recently distributed baskets to local first responders. They also sponsor students attending Girls State, offer scholarships, and hold fundraisers. They have a memory tree each Christmas season with lights in memory of individual veterans. Current Barre American Legion Commander Joe Zickmund said today is Patriot Day, as we honor those lost on September 11, 2011. Mr. Zickmund spoke of expressions of patriotism. Barre American Legion past commander Steve England said he represents the Sons of the American Legion, which provides volunteering and financial support to communities across the country. F) Discussion of Council FY20 Budget Goals & Objectives. This item is deferred to a future Council meeting. G) Council Approval of Bond Certificates of Project Completion. Clerk Dawes said certificates need to be approved for the following bonds completed over the past several years:  Improvements to the Barre Area Civic Center Auditorium,  Aldrich Library bond,  Public Safety Building bond,  Miscellaneous paving projects and improvements to the BOR recreational facility,  Reconstruction of North Main Street,  Water System bond,  Wastewater System bond,  Deep Rock fire control water system. Council approved the certificates on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. 3 To be approved at 09-18-18 Barre City Council Meeting City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  The Granite Street storm sewer project will begin on Monday.  The fall yard waste drop off schedule has been finalized.  Upgrades to the audience audio for the Council chambers have been completed.  Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission conducted its audit of the flood buyout projects. TRORC was responsible for covering the 25% local match for the buyout projects. Round Table – Councilor Batham said there will be a Washington 3 candidate forum tomorrow evening at the Church of the Good Shepherd, beginning at 6:30 PM. Councilor LePage echoed comments made by the Barre American Legion representatives, saying everyone has a veteran in their family. Councilor Boutin said there will be another Washington 3 candidate forum on September 27th at the American Legion. Councilor Tuper-Giles said CVTV is now live streaming Council meetings on its website. Councilor Morey encouraged people to attend this weekend’s Vermont Comic Con at the auditorium. Councilor Higby also encouraged people to attend Vermont Comic Con. She said the tour of the water treatment facility earlier this evening highlighted the technical skills of those managing the City’s water system, and the high quality of the water. She encouraged people to drink City water rather than buy bottled spring water from unknown sources. Mayor Herring said Spaulding High School homecoming is this weekend. He said the Barre Trash pickers continue to pick up trash in the downtown every Thursday at 6:00 PM. They are looking for additional volunteers. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:10 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