City Council

To be approved at 04-16-19 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held April 9, 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 was Manager Steve Mackenzie. Absent: Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Adjustments to the Agenda: The discussion on the opioid crisis is deferred to May. 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 Regular meeting of April 2, 2019  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2019-15:  Accounts Payable: $115,374.52  Payroll (gross): $116,516.51  2019 Licenses & Permits – NONE The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – NONE Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. Applicant Address Krystal & Tobias Bernier 527 N. Main Street Liquor Control – Council approved the following 2019 liquor license renewals on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. Establishment Address License American Legion 320 N. Main Street 1st class Cornerstone 47 N. Main Street 1st class Jerry’s Sports Tavern 30 Summer Street 1st class Ladder 1 Grill 8 S. Main Street 1st class & outside consumption Mingle Nightclub 214 N. Main Street 1st class Mulligan’s Irish Pub 9 Maple Avenue 1st class & outside consumption Mutuo Inc. 20 Beckley Street 1st class Quarry Kitchen & Spirits 210 N. Main Street 1st class & outside consumption AJ’s Sunoco 320 Washington Street 2nd class Bella Campt 131 S. Main Street 2nd class Dente’s Market 406 N. Main Street 2nd class Dollar General 74 S. Main Street 2nd class Dollar General 540 N. Main Street 2nd class Jiffy Mart 350 N. Main Street 2nd class Rite Aid (Walgreens) 355 N. Main Street 2nd class 1 To be approved at 04-16-19 Barre City Council Meeting City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Presentation at quarterly state brownfield meeting re Enterprise Aly project.  Finalizing details to get bid out for Keith Avenue parking lot and Pearl Street pedway projects.  Yard waste drop-off scheduled to begin April 27th.  Conference call tomorrow regarding fuel oil pricing for next heating season. Will request Council approval to accept a quote upon receipt to allow locking in the best price when available. Visitors and Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE New Business – A) Appointment of Fabio Balenzano to Cow Pasture Committee. Mr. Balenzano told the Council about his interest in serving on the committee. Council appointed Mr. Balenzano on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried. B) Appointment of Bernadette Rose to ADA Committee. Ms. Rose told the Council about her interest in serving on the committee. Council appointed Ms. Rose on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. C) Vermont Historical Society – New Exhibition. Amanda Gustin from the VT Historical Society said the recent exhibition on car racing in Vermont closed about a week and a half ago. The next exhibition on The War of Ideas features war posters from the state’s collections, from the Civil War through World War II, and opens next Monday. Ms. Gustin reviewed future planned exhibits. D) Discussion on Progress Addressing Opioid Crisis. Deferred to May. E) Barre Area Development Quarterly Update. Barre Area Development Corporation executive director Joel Schwartz gave an update on the following:  Barre Rock Solid marketing plan is ongoing, with the website being populated with videos, which will be available for preview next week.  Vermont Salumi will be relocating to North Main Street. BADC was involved in helping secure financing through the Vermont Community Loan Fund.  Jack Dente’s building on North Main Street was sold, and a retirement services business will be locating there.  Ormsby’s building on North Main Street is being marketed for sale, and there is serious interest.  A local non-profit is looking to consolidate their locations into leased space in the downtown.  The Office Block business is for sale. One current tenant is staying in the space. The sellers have been in discussions about accessibility of the upstairs space.  VTRANS is moving to City Place. The bulk of the move will happen in September and October. BADC is working with the City and Partnership on welcoming the employees to the City.  Met with CV Fiber to discuss lack of good information from current providers in the area, and demands for high speed access.  Working with Granite City Grocery on possible funding sources.  Co-sponsored meeting between City and Blanchard Block. There was discussion on the revisions being proposed to the zoning ordinances. Mr. Schwartz said he will put his thoughts and concerns in writing and submit them to the Council before the special meeting 2 To be approved at 04-16-19 Barre City Council Meeting next Wednesday. The Council said it intends to review all thoughts and concerns at that meeting. There was a discussion on activities during the winter quarter, development models in other communities, available development opportunities in the City, use of the opportunity zone and new market tax credits on one side of N. Main Street. F) Barre Partnership Quarterly Update. Councilor Tuper-Giles, in his capacity as interim executive director for the Partnership, gave an update on the following:  Hiring update – four additional candidates for the executive director position have applied and are being interviewed.  Heritage Festival is coming together. Most music acts have been booked, Kid’s Zone is returning, and there will be a dunk tank featuring the Mayor.  Concerts in the Park are scheduled for 12 weeks, running June through August.  Farmers Market will be held in conjunction with the concerts in the park.  Sponsors are being solicited for the festival and concerts.  Doing a membership and banner drive this year, with plans to replace the banner along North Main Street. G) Authorization to Execute Alumni Hall Heating System Assessment Agreement with DuBois & King, Inc. Manager Mackenzie reviewed his memo and recommendation. Council approved the recommendation on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. There was a brief discussion on whether the Manager needed Council authorization to allow him to sign the documents. Council approved authorizing the Manager to sign on behalf of the City on motion of Councilor Tuper- Giles, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. Round Table – Councilor Morey thanked people for voting in today’s Barre Unified Union School District election for school board members. He reviewed upcoming events at the Barre Opera House, and Wilkin’s Harley- Davidson. Councilor LePage commented on the low turnout at today’s election. Councilor Boutin thanked voters and congratulated those who were elected. Councilor Tuper-Giles lamented the crappy weather. Councilor Waszazak reminded everyone of this Friday’s Studio Place Arts BASH fundraiser. He thanked the good Samaritan who found his lost dog, and the police department and animal control for taking good care of the dog until it could be returned. Councilor Steinman congratulated the new school board members, and encouraged them to replace the seats in the Spaulding auditorium. He announced that tomorrow is Autism Awareness Day at the Statehouse. Mayor Herring reported on the following:  Last week was the 10th anniversary of the Central Vermont Job Fair, held at the auditorium. 3 To be approved at 04-16-19 Barre City Council Meeting  City appointments to the CV Fiber board will be made in the near future. Letters of interest can be submitted to the Manager.  Aldrich Library liaison position is open and letters of interest are being accepted.  April 27th is scrap metal day at the auditorium; also Sound the Alarm free smoke detectors, the Thunder Road car show, and Coffee with the Mayor on the same day.  Green Up Day is May 4th. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. There is no audio recording of this meeting. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4