City Council

To be approved at 09-25-18 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held September 18, 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; and from Ward III, Councilors John LePage and Richard Morey. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie and City Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: From Ward II, Councilors Brandon Batham and Michael Boutin. 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 Morey. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Special meeting of September 11, 2018 o Regular meeting of September 11, 2018  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2018-38:  Accounts Payable: $223,323.26  Payroll (gross): $128,186.86  2018 Licenses & Permits – o Taxi Driver’s License:  Rebecca Coryell, Central VT Green Cab. 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. All absentee ballots requested to date will be sent out by September 21st.  The Board of Civil Authority met September 13th to begin annual property tax assessment appeal hearings. Hearings will continue on October 11th.  The Clerk is out of the office this Friday & Saturday attending the annual Vermont Municipal Clerks & Treasurers Association conference. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Tuper- Giles, seconded by Councilor Higby. Motion carried. Applicant Address Christopher & Lu Anne Powers 12 White Street Liquor Control – Council approved a Special Events Permit application for Champlain Orchards Cidery of Shoreham for a Boots & Brew 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 LePage. Motion carried. Council approved a Special Events Permit application from Good Water Brewery of Williston for a Boots & Brew 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 LePage. Motion carried. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  The Granite Street storm sewer project began on Monday. 1 To be approved at 09-25-18 Barre City Council Meeting  Met with Cemetery Committee to discuss the ongoing monument cleaning underwritten by Swenson Granite and Rock of Ages. The Committee will come to the Council in the near future to give an update on the cleanings.  Wednesday afternoon is the Downstreet Thrive event from 4-6:30 PM, and the Mathewson Playground reopening and ribbon cutting at 5:30 PM.  OUR House is holding a skeet shoot fundraiser this Saturday from 10AM – noon at the Barre Fish and Game Club. Visitors and Communications – Sara Akers said she is part of a group of local citizens accepting donations of goods needed by those who suffered through Hurricane Florence earlier this month. They have had a tractor trailer available since Saturday taking in donations. The trailer will be available again tomorrow afternoon, and will head south on Sunday. Ms. Akers thanked the City, donors and local media for all their support. Old Business – NONE New Business – A) Appointment of Debbie Chase to Recreation committee. Debbie Chase expressed her interest in serving on the Recreation Committee. Council approved her appointment on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. B) Winooski River Tactical Basin Plan Overview/Update. Pam DeAndrea from Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission shared a presentation on behalf of the VT Agency of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Conservation on the creation of a tactical plan for the Winooski River basin. She said a public draft will be posted soon on the ANR/DEC website and the CVRPC website, and there will be a period for public comment. There was discussion about protecting and restoring waterways; monitoring, assessment and planning; storm water master planning; watershed areas; phosphorous allocations for Lake Champlain; impairments of local waterways; objectives and strategies; and possible options for working cooperatively with Barre Town on joint projects. C) Re SOURCE Youthbuild Proclamation. Clerk Dawes read the mayoral proclamation naming September 29th as ReSource YouthBuild Day in Barre City. D) Overview of CVSWMD Services. Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District general manager Bruce Wescott said there are 19 member communities in the district, and it is the 2nd largest district in the state. They are working to reduce solid waste, and encouraging people to think of the life cycle of every item they buy. The Additional Recyclables Collection Center on N. Main Street is working on educating people as to what’s recyclable. The ARCC also offers a drop off location for food scraps. There was discussion on hazardous waste collections, exploring options for waste collection services provided by the City, and grants & project options. E) Community Garden Update. Amanda Garland updated the Council on the Elmwood Community Garden, which just completed its first year. Ms. Garland said they are looking to expand to additional locations around the City, and she would be interested in serving on a committee to work on the project. Council approved the creation of an ad hoc Community Garden Committee on motion of Councilor Higby, seconded by Councilor Morey. The committee will serve for three years, and will be reviewed after that time to consider permanent status. Motion carried. Ms. Garland will work on recruiting committee members. Staff liaisons will be Buildings and Community Services director Jeff Bergeron and Manager Steve Mackenzie. F) Tree Committee Discussion. 2 To be approved at 09-25-18 Barre City Council Meeting Mr. Bergeron said he serves as the Tree Warden in addition to his position as BCS director. He receives many phone calls from people asking him to review local trees, and additional people available for such review and guidance would be valuable to the City. Ms. Garland said she is interested in serving on a Tree Committee to help with oversight of trees on City property. Council approved creation of a Tree Committee on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. There was discussion on developing committee goals, tree selection, networking with other communities, habit creation and maintenance, and protecting existing trees. Mr. Bergeron will serve as the liaison for the committee. G) Discussion of Council FY20 Budget Goals & Objectives. Manager Mackenzie reviewed his FY20 budget briefing paper, and said detailed discussion will be scheduled for next week. The Manager said the Budget Committee is looking to the Council to set a budget goal. H) Award Approval: 2018 Roadside Mowing Contract to Donnell Dexter. Manager Mackenzie reviewed the memo from Public Works Director Bill Ahearn, recommending the contract be awarded to sole bidder Donnell Dexter. The Manager said Mr. Dexter is a City employee, but does the roadside mowing on his own time. Council approved awarding the contract to Mr. Dexter as recommended on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried. Round Table – Councilor LePage said he is looking forward to next week’s discussion on Council behavior. Councilor Tuper-Giles said he’s received positive feedback from the public on the proposed teen center. Councilor Morey said he is grateful for the local response offering relief to those impacted by Hurricane Florence. He said the Forget Me Knot flower shop will be offering Well Done bouquets to people who want to thank local businesses for a job well done. Councilor Higby offered kudos to Ms. Aker for pulling together the donations of supplies for hurricane victims. She said local granite artist Giuliano Cecchinelli is being inducted into the Vermont Academy of Arts and Sciences this Saturday, and is a community treasure. Councilor Higby read a statement in response to a letter to the editor that appeared in the Times Argus last week. Mayor Herring shared a flyer he received in the mail about a business that will be in the area later this month to buy precious metals and jewels, and noted this activity in light of the recent discussions on pawn shops. He said December 25th and January 1st are both Tuesdays, and the Council will not meet those days, however, there may be a meeting on a different day, if needed. He said last weekend’s Comic Con at the Civic Center was great, and the 5th Annual Ride for Breast Cancer is this Saturday, beginning at Wilkins Harley Davidson in South Barre. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. An audio recording of this meeting is available from the City Clerk. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3