City Council

To be approved at 02-05-19 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held January 29, 2019 The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Lucas Herring 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 John LePage and Rich Morey. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie and City Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE 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 Higby. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Special meeting of January 21, 2019 o Regular meeting of January 22, 2019  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2019-05:  Account Payable: $178,307.32  Payroll (gross): $139,557.27  2019 Licenses & Permits – o Food Establishment:  Mulligan’s Irish Pub, 9 Maple Avenue  Asian Gourmet, 276 N. Main Street  Bamboo Gardens, 115 S. Main Street  Chinatown Restaurant, 302 N. Main Street  Domino’s Pizza, 322 N. Main Street  Mister Z’s, 379 N. Main Street  Mutuo, Inc., 20 Beckley Street  American Legion, 320 N. Main Street  Soups N’ Greens, 325 N. Main Street  Barre Elks Lodge, 10 Jefferson Street  Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main Street  Mingle Nightclub, 214 N. Main Street  The Alley Cat, 10 Keith Avenue  Two Loco Guys, 136 N. Main Street  The Cornerstone, 47 N. Main Street  Gusto’s, 28 Prospect Street  Basil’s Pizzeria, 20 S. Main Street o Taxicab Service Operator’s and Vehicle License:  Payless Taxi, 1 vehicle o Taxicab Driver License:  Ronald Nelson Cushing III, Central VT Green Cab  Amber Sue Laird, Central VT Green Cab The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes reported on the following:  Third quarter property taxes are due by February 15th. 1 To be approved at 02-05-19 Barre City Council Meeting  There is a Barre Unified Union School District special meeting election on February 19th to vote on proposed amendments to the articles of agreement. Early absentee voting will begin by the end of January. Additional elections related to the BUUSD are tentatively scheduled for April and May.  Yesterday was the deadline for nominating petitions for the March 5th Annual Meeting elections. The list of candidates will be posted on the City website. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. Applicant Address Courtnie & John Lang 24 N. Parkside Terrace Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  City staff met with representatives from City Place and VT Agency of Transportation about parking needs for the agency’s upcoming move to City Place. It appears they can be accommodated through a combination of City parking and private parking.  Met with Vermont Emergency Management/Homeland Security grants manager to discuss an increase in grant funding and an extension on the timeline for the north end storm sewer projects. The grants manager is going to recommend the increase and extension to FEMA, who needs to approve. Visitors and Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE New Business – A) Adoption of FY20 General Fund Budget. Manager Mackenzie gave an overview of the draft FY20 general fund budget, special ballot items for streets and capital, water & wastewater bonding, and special projects bonding. The projected tax rate increase is 2.38%. The Manager will develop a Powerpoint presentation on the budget. Councilor Batham made the motion to approve the FY20 budget as presented. The motion was seconded by Councilor Higby. Councilor Boutin said he’d like to see the City accept the $5,000 anonymous donation made towards the teen center. He said the FY20 budget should be amended to include $1,800 in projected revenue from the 2019 holiday parking meter collection program, and $5,000 in matching expenses for the teen center. This would increase the budget expenses by a net $3,200. There was discussion on diverting the holiday parking meter funds from recreation programs to the teen center, finding reductions in the budget to offset the $3,200 increase so as to remain at the 2.38% projected tax rate increase, keeping the projected tax rate increase below the 2018 rate of inflation of 2.4%, being sure to include Wheelock house carrying costs in the budget for the proposed teen center, and soliciting additional funding before moving forward with the teen center. Councilor Boutin made the motion to amend the original motion by adding $1,800 in revenues from holiday parking meter funds and $5,000 in expenses for the teen center to the proposed FY20 budget. The motion was seconded by Councilor Morey. 2 To be approved at 02-05-19 Barre City Council Meeting There was additional discussion on the amendment. Councilor Tuper-Giles called the question. The amendment did not pass, with Councilors Morey, Boutin and Tuper-Giles voting in favor, and Mayor Herring, and Councilors Batham, LePage and Higby voting against. Councilor Boutin called the question on the original motion to approve the FY20 budget as presented. Motion carried with all voting in favor. B) Approval of March 5, 2019 Annual (Town) Meeting Warning. Mayor Herring noted a date correction needed in the opening paragraph of the warning. Council approved the warning as corrected on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Higby. Motion carried. C) Appointment of Members to the Barre/Montpelier Solid Waste Mgmt. Committee. Manager Mackenzie said deputy public works director Steve Micheli and Councilor John LePage have expressed interest in serving as Barre City representatives to the joint solid waste management committee. Council approved the appointments of Mr. Micheli and Councilor LePage on motion of Councilor Batham, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Public works director Bill Ahearn distributed an updated list of the items included in the $2.5M bond request on the annual meeting warning, and talked about the impact on water and wastewater rates going forward. There will be a review and adjustment of all water and wastewater rates for FY20. D) Review and or Approval of Proposed Council Policy Updates. i. Rules of Procedure. ii. Conflict of Interest. Mayor Herring reviewed the draft revisions to the Rules of Procedure policy. There were additional adjustment suggestions made by Councilors. Council approved the policy as presented and amended on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. Mayor Herring reviewed the draft revisions to the Conflict of Interest policy. There were additional adjustment suggestions made by Councilors. Council approved the policy as presented and amended on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Batham. Motion carried. Round Table – Councilor Batham said he is looking forward to this Sunday’s Superbowl, which he expects the New England Patriots to win. [N.B. Go Rams!!!] Councilor LePage encouraged voters to support the budget at the Annual Meeting. Councilor Tuper-Giles invited people to attend a mystery theater dinner being held at the Methodist Church on February 9th. Councilor Tuper-Giles said he is a member of the company putting on the event. Councilor Morey noted he is running for re-election at the Annual Meeting. He offered congratulations to the Spaulding High School Girls Varsity basketball team for winning its first game in two years. Councilor Higby announced Dabble Days at the Aldrich Library, and an art opening at Studio Place Arts. She and Councilor Morey are hosting a public discussion on vacant and blighted buildings at the library on Monday, February 4th. The Barre Fish and Game Club annual Gun Show is next weekend, February 9- 10, at the Civic Center Auditorium. 3 To be approved at 02-05-19 Barre City Council Meeting Mayor Herring announced the following:  As per the conflict of interest policy, it is noted that Councilors participate in a wide variety of events and organizations, and announce events during Round Table. These announcements are not conflicts.  The success of the sharps (needles) program has been highlighted recently by local TV news media.  The media featured a story and photos about the Gunner’s Brook flood mitigation system “trash racks”, which caught floating ice during the recent thaw, thereby preventing possible downstream ice jams.  Toured the Wheelock House with Councilor LePage and representatives from the Washington County Youth Service Bureau.  The February 12th Council meeting is canceled.  Meeting with CVTV to discuss ways to utilize public access to help with communications. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:35 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 4