City Council

To be approved at 04-02-19 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held March 26, 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 Manager Steve Mackenzie and 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 Waszazak. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting of March 19, 2019  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2019-13:  Accounts Payable: $263,944.06  Payroll (gross): $141,741.55  2019 Licenses & Permits – o Food Establishment Licenses:  Jerry’s Sports Tavern, 33 Summer Street  Quality Inn, 173 S. Main Street  Subway, 86 N. Main Street o Food Takeout Licenses:  Beverage Baron, 411 N. Main Street  Champlain Farms, 15 S. Main Street  Cumberland Farms, 132 S. Main Street  North End Deli Mart, 475 N. Main Street  Campo di Vino, 131 S. Main Street o Taxicab Vehicle Licenses:  Green Cab Central Vermont, 5 vehicles Council approved Food Establishment Licenses for Dunkin Donuts (350 N. Main Street) and Reynold’s House/Cleora’s (102 S. Main Street) on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried with Councilors Tuper-Giles and Waszazak abstaining due to conflicts of interest. The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk Dawes reported on the following:  Water/sewer bills are due by April 1st.  All dogs are due to be licensed by April 1st.  Early absentee voting is available for the April 9th special school district election. Approval of Building Permits – Council ratified and approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. Applicant Address Hedding Methodist Church 152 Church Street Vermont Granite Museum of Barre 7 Jones Bros. Way 1 To be approved at 04-02-19 Barre City Council Meeting Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report – NONE Visitors and Communications – NONE Old Business – A) Decision/Authorization to Prepare/Release Vacant City Parcels Sale RFP. There was discussion on the process for offering the Wheelock building and 5 Second Street for sale. Councilors Boutin and Tuper-Giles said they are not in favor of selling the Wheelock building. Councilors Morey and Waszazak said they would be willing to work on the RFP process for the sale of the two properties. There was discussion on process for the sale of other City-owned properties, including larger parcels owned in Barre Town and East Montpelier, and smaller parcels owned throughout the City. Council approved drafting an RFP for the sale of the Wheelock and 5 Second Street properties, and contracting with a realtor for the sale of other properties on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried with Councilors Boutin and Tuper-Giles voting against. B) Discussion on the Vacant Building Ordinance. Planning Director Janet Shatney, Zoning Administrator Heather Grandfield and Fire Marshal Robert Howarth said they had received a number of suggestions with regards to last week’s presentation of the draft ordinance. There was discussion on the draft language about appeals to the Council. Council agreed it was appropriate for them to hear appeals. Barre City property owner and landlord Samantha Davis-Hiscock said there’s a distinction between owner occupied properties and legally occupied properties. There was discussion on why buildings could be temporarily unoccupied, and signage on properties that are for sale or rent. Barre City property owner Willy Jane Patry said there needs to be a definition for the term “attracting illegal activity”. There was discussion on the meaning of blightedness, and the need for more clarity and less subjective language. There was discussion on the impact of unmaintained occupied properties on a neighborhood, insurance requirements, possible detrimental effects on those who have fallen on hard times, consistency of language, difficulties in regulating owner-occupied properties, and the inspection process. Ms. Shatney said the team will incorporate suggestions into the draft language, and a new draft will come forward for discussion in two weeks. There was discussion on enforcement, and possibly using some of the vacant building registration fees to create a revolving loan fund to assist people in updating and maintaining their properties. New Business – A) Private Use/Licensing of City Rights of Way (“Paper Streets”). Public Works Director Bill Ahearn reviewed the definitions of paper streets, partially accepted streets and unaccepted streets. There was discussion on what standards should be adopted for acceptance of streets, who will be responsible for developing streets and installing utilities, different models for reimbursing the first person who makes an investment in developing a street, and maintenance of unaccepted streets. 2 To be approved at 04-02-19 Barre City Council Meeting Mr. Ahearn will bring a list of streets in each category, and recommendations to next week’s meeting. Manager Mackenzie said the City has received a specific request with regards to development of a paper street. The request will come to Council in the near future. B) Certificate of Town Highway Mileage Approval. Council approved the 2019 certificate of highway mileage on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. C) Food Vending Policy. Mayor Herring said he distributed the current policy with proposed revisions. He asked Councilors to review and offer feedback. D) Central Vermont Fiber Annual Representative Appointments. Mayor Herring said CVF accepts appointments for its annual meeting in early May. The current Barre City alternate representative isn’t interested in continuing, and the current Barre City representative is interested in continuing as the alternate. The Mayor said those who are interested in being appointed should submit their interest in writing to the City Manager. Round Table – Councilor Morey wished everybody a happy spring. Councilor Tuper-Giles said there’s a neighborhood watch meeting tomorrow evening at 6PM at alumni hall. The meeting is specifically for the lower Hill Street area. The Vermont Bicycle Shop and Forget Me Not Flower Shop are relocating to larger spaces in the downtown, and are holding ribbon cuttings on April 1st. He said Reynold’s House is holding a soft opening on April 1st. Councilor Waszazak thanked the Quarry for changing to compostable straws, and he thanked the public for participating in this evening’s discussion on the draft vacant building ordinance. Councilor Steinman said the VT Fish and Wildlife Department has issued an alert for people to take down their bird feeders, as bears are waking up and coming out of their dens. People should also protect their trash barrels, pets and chickens. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. There is an audio recording of this meeting available in the clerk’s office. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3