City Council

To be approved at 07-09-19 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held June 25, 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, Councilor John Steinman; 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: From Ward I, Councilor Jeffrey Tuper-Giles. Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Steinman, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting of June 18, 2019  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2019-26:  Accounts Payable: $97,976.29  Payroll (gross): $157,219.61 o 2019 Licenses:  Animal Licenses:  Michael Boutin, 5 Hillside Avenue, 1 ferret  Taxi Driver Licenses:  Sandra Lee Jenkins, CV Green Cab  Entertainment Licenses:  Sexual Assault Crisis Team, 4 Cottage St., July 13th, 9 AM – 3 PM. Community work day & celebration. Yard sale, food potluck, kids activities, gardening. The City Clerk/Treasurer Report –  Water & sewer bills are due by July 1st.  Office is preparing for changes to access and certified copies of vital records beginning July 1st.  Office is preparing for changes to land records recording fees beginning July 1st. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Steinman, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. Applicant Address David Berry 140 Berlin Street Kimberly Baker 11 Coolidge Street Liquor Control – Council approved an alcohol day use permit for Randy Pickel for a family gathering at the Rotary Park picnic shelters on Friday, July 5th, from 12 – 7 PM on motion of Councilor Steinman, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Keith Avenue parking lot/Pearl Street pedestrian way projects contractor mobilized yesterday. Substantial completion scheduled by August 23rd.  Municipal swimming pool opened for season yesterday. 1 To be approved at 07-09-19 Barre City Council Meeting  There are several staff vacancies listed on the City website.  The bid process has started for the Pouliot Avenue erosion mitigation project. Visitors and Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE New Business – A) Appointment of Jacob Hemmerick to the Barre City Planning Commission. Jacob Hemmerick expressed his interest in serving on the Planning Commission, and shared his relevant past experience. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. B) Appointment of Tim Terway to the Paths, Routes & Trails Committee. Tim Terway expressed his interest in serving on the Paths, Routes & Trails Committee, and shared his relevant past experience. Council approved the appointment on motion of councilor LePage, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. C) Appointment of Amy Galford to the Tree Stewardship Committee. Amy Galford was not in attendance. Her appointment consideration is deferred until the next meeting. D) Warning for 7:15 PM: 2nd Reading and Public Hearing of the Unified Development Ordinance. Mayor Herring opened the 2nd reading and public hearing at 7:17 PM and asked if there were any questions from the public or Council. Hearing none, the Mayor closed the public hearing at 7:18 PM. Council approved adoption of the Unified Development Ordinance on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried with Councilor Steinman voting against. E) Approval of 2019-2020 Annual Appointments. Manager Mackenzie reviewed the appointment list he distributed via email earlier this afternoon. It was noted the list included appointment of Ms. Galford, who was not present this evening, and therefore not appointed, so her name is removed. Council approved the list of 2020 annual appointments as amended on motion of councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. F) Authorization to Proceed with Unbudgeted Repair of BOR Chiller System. Manager Mackenzie and Buildings and Community Services director Jeff Bergeron said they are meeting with the compressor repair person tomorrow to discuss options for getting the chiller system running again in time for this fall’s ice season. There was discussion on options for re-tubing the current chiller, replacing the chiller system with one that’s more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, funding options, financial and community impact if BOR rink is closed for a season, average annual costs versus revenues, temporary portable options, and review of capital needs for the civic center complex. Councilor Morey said he is willing to spearhead fundraising efforts. Manager Mackenzie will report on the meeting with the compressor repair person, and if necessary, a Council meeting will be called next week for consideration of repairs to the chiller system. G) Authorization to Execute Keith/Pearl Projects Construction Phase Agrmt with D&K. Manager Mackenzie said the agreement with Dubois & King covers construction administration, field supervision, and onsite observation of environmental conditions. Council approved executing the 2 To be approved at 07-09-19 Barre City Council Meeting agreement, and authorized the Manager to sign on behalf of the City, on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. H) Approval of FY20 Municipal Tax Rate. Clerk Dawes said the 2019 grand list was lodged in her office yesterday. The Clerk said she has calculated the draft municipal tax rate based on the grand list and voter approved items from March 2019 town meeting elections. The Clerk recommended Council add $38,000 to the amount to be raised, to be allocated towards the Capital Fund deficit. Including the recommended amount, the draft municipal tax rate is equal to the amount projected during budget discussions leading up to the March 2019 town meeting elections. The Clerk said the draft municipal tax rate is $1.8552. Council approved the municipal tax rate of $1.8552 on motion of Councilor LePage, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. I) Affirm Allocation of Semprebon Bequest Funds to Community Garden Committee. Clerk Dawes said in 2011 Council had allocated $3,500 from the Semprebon Bequest Fund to the Community Garden. The Community Garden used some of the funds, but when the garden closed and the group disbanded, there was $716.96 in unspent funds remaining. The Council froze the funds in 2013 until such time as the Community Garden group became active again. With the recent creation of the Community Garden Committee, the Clerk recommended the funds be unfrozen and reallocated to the Committee. Council approved unfreezing the funds on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. Round Table – It was noted there is no regular Tuesday evening Council meeting next week. Councilors wished everyone a Happy July 4th in advance of the holiday. Councilor Morey asked Councilors if they were comfortable with him spearheading fundraising for the BOR chiller repairs. Councilors gave informal approval. Councilor LePage said the BOR is a valuable community resource. He offered kudos to City staff for their diligent work during last week’s heavy rains. Councilor Waszazak said Rockfire is this weekend at Millstone Trails. He said he met with the Vermont Historical Society in preparation for submitting the application for an historic plaque commemorating Theodore Roosevelt’s 1912 visit to Barre City. Mayor Herring reported on the following:  Thanks to Bernadette Rose for her reminders about ticks. He found a tick on himself last week, and reminded people to be vigilant in searching themselves and their pets.  There was a neighborhood watch meeting last night for the north end of the City. There will be another meeting for the Circle Street area on July 8th.  Congratulations to the 5-6 and 7-8 girls’ lacrosse teams for winning the state championships.  With school out for the summer, please be careful of kids when driving around the City. Executive Session – Councilor Boutin made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of personnel issues to be discussed would clearly place the City of Barre at a substantial disadvantage should the discussion be 3 To be approved at 07-09-19 Barre City Council Meeting public. The motion was seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. Council went into executive session at 8:20 PM to discuss personnel under the provisions of 1 VSA § 313 on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. Council came out of executive session at 8:40 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. No action was taken. The Council meeting adjourned at 8:41 PM on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried. An audio recording of this meeting is available in the Clerk’s office. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4