City Council

To be approved at 02-05-19 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held January 28, 2019 The Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Lucas Herring at 5:30 PM at Barre City Hall. Councilors in attendance were from Ward I, Councilor Sue Higby; from Ward II, Councilor Brandon Batham; and from Ward III, Councilors John LePage. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie, City Finance Director Dawn Monahan, and City Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: From Ward II, Councilor Jeffrey Tuper-Giles; and from Ward III, Councilor Rich Morey. Manager Mackenzie distributed copies of the latest draft of the proposed FY20 budget. The projected tax rate increase is 2.38%. The rate of inflation as of December 2018 was 2.4%. Councilors voiced their support of the draft budget as presented. There was discussion on the Citizen Budget Committee, and the budget-building process. Mayor Herring said he received a letter and anonymous $5,000 donation towards the proposed teen center. The donor stipulated that the donation was made contingent upon inclusion of $5,000 in the FY20 general fund budget, and that the teen center be located in the Wheelock building. The letter said the donation is an anonymous matching grant, giving other citizens and organizations the opportunity to make matching contributions until Town Meeting Day 2019. Councilors said it was too late to make such an adjustment to the FY20 proposed budget, as the addition of $5,000 would require identifying $5,000 in cuts elsewhere. Mayor Herring said the FY20 budget will be on tomorrow evening’s Council agenda for approval. The Council meeting adjourned at 5:48 PM on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Higby. Motion carried. There is no audio or video recording of this meeting. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 1