City Council

To be approved at 05-21-19 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held May 14, 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, who was at the polls for the special Barre Unified Union School District budgets election. Adjustments to the Agenda: The Mayor said the old business item on the possible sale of Orange property will be taken up at the end of the new business portion of the agenda. 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 May 7, 2019  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2019-20:  Accounts Payable: $536,839.06  Payroll (gross): $138,286.01  2019 Licenses & Permits – NONE The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – NONE Approval of Building Permits – NONE [N.B. Council did not notice there were building permits to be approved that had been included in the Friday packet, so they skipped over this section of the agenda. Subsequently the Clerk signed the building permits on May 15th, and they will be ratified at the May 21st Council meeting.] Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Test camera installed on the front of City Hall for a 45 day trial period. May be basis for installation of additional cameras downtown.  Opening bids tomorrow for the Pearl Street/Keith Avenue projects.  Seeking volunteers for committees. Annual appointments will be made at the June 18th meeting.  Held second VTRANS transition planning meeting yesterday with local stakeholders. Welcome event will likely be in October.  Pot holes and street patching has been underway since early spring.  City finished Summer Street wall repairs. The wall will be painted before the mural is installed.  All wreaths and artificial flowers must be removed from cemeteries by May 15th.  Yard waste drop off at the Barre Town yard waste site continues through this weekend.  Beginning June 18th, Interstate 89 exit 6 will be closed for approximately 6 weeks while the state does ledge work in the area.  The Manager will be at the Vermont managers conference later this week, at which time the his term as president of the organization will end. 1 To be approved at 05-21-19 Barre City Council Meeting Visitors and Communications – Councilor Tuper-Giles, in his capacity as outgoing Interim Director of the Barre Partnership introduced Tracie Lewis, the next executive director. Ms. Lewis has experience working with Barre businesses, and she looks forward to helping local businesses grow. Mr. Tuper-Giles said this year’s Heritage Festival planning is going well. They are keeping Depot Square open this year, and have changed the parade route to circle back to the starting location on auditorium hill. Most dates for the concerts in the park have been booked, starting in June and running into August. The Farmers Market is scheduled to run the same afternoons as the concerts in the park. Ms. Lewis will be on next week’s agenda for a more complete update on the Partnership. Old Business – B) First Reading Ordinance Revisions: Chapter 11. Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions. Council warned the second reading and public hearing for next week’s meeting on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. New Business – A) Vermont Granite Museum Update. VGM executive director Scott McLaughlin and board president Patty Meriam updated the Council on recent events. The museum opened on May 1st, and they anticipate between 6,000 – 9,000 visitors this year. The official opening day event is this coming Saturday. They are working on completion of a conference room that will seat up to 30 people. Advertising will be enhanced this year, and they are working in conjunction with Rock of Ages and Millstone Trails to create an all-day destination for the Barre area. They have enhanced exhibits and materials, and are encouraging former visitors to return. Oral histories are being collected, and trails are being improved. Three pedal cars have been purchased to allow additional access to the paths. The Granite Festival is October 12th. They are looking for interns and volunteers for a wide variety of tasks. The board is developing short and long term planning, and looking for people to serve on committees. B) First Reading Vacant Building Ordinance. Deferred until next week. C) Authorize DuBois & King Metro-Way Path Segment Design Agreement. Manager Mackenzie said the bike path committee has reviewed the agreement and recommends approval. City staff will perform the construction when the design is ready. Construction is planned for next year. There was discussion on the path routes, and use of Fairview Street to connect from downtown to the path segment that runs to the elementary and middle school. Council approved the agreement and authorized the Manager to sign on behalf of the City on motion of Councilor Steinman, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. Manager Mackenzie said easements are being granted by Metro Development and the railroad to construct the path along those properties. This will complete the core downtown segment from Prospect Street to Granite Street. D) Authorize DuBois & King River Street Path Feasibility Study Agreement. The Manager said the plans for the route are being revised beginning at Enterprise Aly and moving north. This feasibility study will explore the options for revising the route, and will allow the City to decide about moving forward with a revised plan. The bike path committee has reviewed the agreement and recommends approval. Council approved the 2 To be approved at 05-21-19 Barre City Council Meeting agreement and authorized the Manager to sign on behalf of the City on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. E) Discussion on Chapter 18, Regulations of Solid Waste Disposal. Mayor Herring sent a copy of the ordinance to the Agency of Natural Resources for review as the Mayor works with the Agency on necessary revisions. The Mayor invited Councilors to submit any changes they would like to see made to the ordinance. F) Authorize VTrans F&M Amendments re: Barre City FEGC F026-1(34) – North Main St. Reconstruction Project. 1) Supplementary Agreement #1 – Contract # F05401-02 2) Supplementary Agreement #2 – Contract # C00373 3) Supplementary Agreement #1 – Contract # UT0145 Manager Mackenzie said these finance & maintenance agreements will allow the state to complete additional billing to the City for the Big Dig project. Council authorized approval of the three F&M agreements and authorized the Manager to sign on behalf of the City on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. G) Appointment of Giuliano Cecchinelli to the Multi-Use Path Committee. Mayor Herring noted the committee is known as the Charles Semprebon Memorial Bike Path Committee, and will be renamed in the future. Mr. Cecchinelli expressed his interest in serving on the committee. Council appointed Mr. Cecchinelli to the bike path committee on motion of Councilor LePage, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. Old Business, continued - A) Consideration/Action re: Unsolicited Proposal re: Purchase of Orange Land Parcel. Manager Mackenzie said about a year ago the City received an unsolicited proposal to purchase a plot of land that is part of the reservoir land in the town of Orange. Staff recommendation is to not sale the land, as it could be important to the City’s water supply in the future. Council approved acceptance of staff’s recommendation to not sell the land on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. Round Table – Councilor Morey said this week is National Police Week, and he shared his gratitude and appreciation of the service provided by the Barre City police officers. Councilor LePage echoed the sentiments regarding the police department. He said the local churches provide valuable service supporting local residents in need. Councilor Boutin attended Monday’s neighborhood watch meeting, which was well attended. He will not be here for next week’s Council meeting. Councilor Tuper-Giles said the Reynolds House hosted its first bridal party this weekend, which was great. They are holding an open house next week. Councilor Waszazak thanked those who voted today at the school budget elections, and he also echoed the comments thanking police officers. Councilor Steinman thanked voters from today’s election. 3 To be approved at 05-21-19 Barre City Council Meeting Mayor Herring reported on the following:  Over 20 neighborhood watch meetings have been held to date. The next meeting is May 22nd at Highgate.  May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  Free trees are available June 1st. They must be reserved in advance.  Attended tonight’s CV Fiber board meeting. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 7:59 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried. There is no audio recording of this meeting. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4