City Council

To be approved at 03-19-19 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held March 12, 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 John Steinman and Jeffrey Tuper- Giles; from Ward II, Councilors Michael Boutin and Teddy Waszazak; and from Ward III, Councilors John LePage and Rich Morey. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: New agenda item E is deferred. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting of February 26, 2019  City Warrants as presented: o Affirmation of Week 2019-10:  Accounts Payable: $1,909,729.96  Payroll (gross): $135,278.69 o Approval of Week 2019-11:  Accounts Payable: $368,262.43  Payroll (gross): $126,174.61  2019 Licenses & Permits – NONE The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Results from the March 5, 2019 Annual Town Meeting election and the Ward I Councilor recount are posted on the City website. Sixteen percent of City voters participated in the Annual Meeting election.  Ballots for the April 9th Special Barre Unified Union School District meeting to elect school board members are expected to be available by the middle of next week. Requests for absentee ballots are being accepted, and ballots will be mailed upon receipt.  Water/sewer bills are due by April 1st.  All dogs are due to be licensed by April 1st. Reminder postcards have been mailed out.  The Barre City charter changes (H.073) have been passed by the House and moved over to the Senate for consideration. Approval of Building Permits – Council ratified and approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. For ratification from last week: Applicant Address Wilson, Copping & Crowther 105 N. Main Street Marcia Dion 12 Eastern Avenue TJM Green Mountain 16 West Street For approval: Applicant Address 4 Pine Street LLC 4 Pine Street 1 To be approved at 03-19-19 Barre City Council Meeting Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  The Manager thanked voters for supporting the budget and special ballot items at last week’s Annual Town Meeting elections.  The organizational chart is being updated and will be shared with Councilors when complete.  Setting up orientation meetings with new Councilors and senior staff.  Out on vacation next week. HR Director Rikk Taft will be acting manager. Visitors and Communications – Councilor Tuper-Giles gave an update on the Barre Partnership. He has stepped down from the board and been appointed acting executive director, as they reopen the search for an executive director. The Partnership hopes to have the position filled by June. Councilor Tuper-Giles is heading up coordination of the Heritage Festival. Old Business – NONE New Business – A) New Councilors: Welcome; Organizational and On-Boarding Review. Mayor Herring welcomed new Councilors John Steinman (Ward 1) and Teddy Waszazak (Ward II). Each Councilor spoke of their history. They thanked the voters and said they look forward to serving on the Council. B) Recognition of Extraordinary Police/Fire/EMS Staff Response. Fire Chief Doug Brent said this is a celebration for the life of resident Diane Thompson, who is here with us this evening because of the quick thinking and emergency response provided by neighbors, police, fire and EMS. In mid-January Ms. Thompson’s neighbors noticed she had collapsed in her driveway. While one neighbor performed CPR, another called 911. The police were the first to arrive, and they used their portable defibrillator. The ambulance team transported her to Central Vermont Medical Center, and then on to Burlington, where she ultimately recovered and returned to Barre City. The Chief noted Barre has been named a Heart Safe Community, and this is an excellent example of why the City carries that designation. Ms. Thompson thanked those who helped her, including neighbors and first responders, many of whom were in attendance. The Chief said Mr. Thompson is well known to many in the departments, as she worked for many years for Barre Town EMS. The Council and those in attendance offered a standing ovation to Ms. Thompson, and those who were instrumental in saving her life. C) Consultant Progress Presentation on Barre City Pool Refurbishment/Upgrade. John Hickock, VP of CHA Companies and project manager for the municipal pool refurbishment project, gave a Powerpoint presentation on the project. Mr. Hickock discussed the current pool conditions and configuration, recommendations of the advisory group and staff, different budgets based on different alternatives, and the timeline for completion. There was discussion on possible force account work performed by City staff to reduce costs, ways to trim the budget or phase the project, and funding options. Mr. Hickock said the proposed schedule would allow the pool to be open this summer, if it meets conditions criteria. Construction work would begin in mid-September 2019, and be completed by June 2020, with an eye towards opening for most of the 2020 season. 2 To be approved at 03-19-19 Barre City Council Meeting D) Discussion of Increased Signage in Downtown. Councilor Tuper-Giles said he would like to see additional signage in and around City parks, alerting people to the ordinance restriction against smoking in parks and playgrounds. He would also like to see signage along N. Main Street reminding people they can’t ride bicycles on the sidewalks. There was a discussion on enforcement, and inclusion of ordinance language on the signs. Manager Mackenzie said he expects signs could be up in 60-90 days. E) Approval/Execution of Amendment #2 to VTrans Finance & Maintenance (F&M) Agreement re: Barre City/Barre Town MEGC-M 6000(11)(Quarry St. Intersection Project). This item is deferred. F) Mayoral Proclamation for Pi Day. Mayor Herring said March 14th is the 10th anniversary of Pi Day, and in honor of Pi Day, he presented two pies to the Council, to be shared after the meeting. Round Table – Councilor Morey thanked those voters who participated in last week’s Annual Town Meeting elections. Councilor LePage welcomed the new Councilors. Councilor Boutin said he is continuing his history tidbits, noting the previous City Hall/Opera House building burned in January 1898, and the current building was dedicated in August 1899. Councilor Tuper-Giles welcomed the new Councilors, and said planning for the Heritage Festival is under way. Councilor Waszazak thanked the voters. Councilor Steinman said the Barre Rotary Club’s Youth Speech Contest round 2 will be held tomorrow at the American Legion during the club’s noon meeting. Mayor Herring made the following announcements:  Thanked the voters and congratulated the new Councilors.  There will be a “Coffee with the Mayor” on the morning of March 23rd at Espresso Bueno. Public Works director Bill Ahearn will also be there.  There is a City volunteer luncheon at Alumni Hall on March 23rd.  The proposed new Unified Development Ordinances are scheduled for a public hearing at the April 2nd Council meeting. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:32 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. There is an audio recording of this meeting available in the clerk’s office. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3