City Council

To be approved at 07-30-19 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held July 23, 2019 The Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Lucas Herring at 6:00 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, Councilor Rich Morey. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie, Police Chief Tim Bombardier, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: From Ward III, Councilors John LePage. Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE New Business – A) Review/Further Action Re. Bergeron Taxi Driver License Suspension. Chief Bombardier reviewed the circumstances under which Council suspended Douglas Bergeron’s taxi driver license on June 18, 2019. The Chief said Mr. Bergeron had his arraignment hearing last week, and has been charged with a felony for selling illegal cigarettes. Council discussed whether to continue the suspension, and the need for clarification in ordinance language. Council approved discontinuing the suspension on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. Chief Bombardier said the next hearing date is August 27th. Council will continue to monitor. The Council meeting adjourned at 6:18 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. There is no audio recording of this special meeting. Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held July 23, 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, Councilor Rich Morey. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: From Ward III, Councilor John LePage. Adjustments to the Agenda: Mayor Herring said new items A and E would be swapped on the agenda to accommodate those in attendance. The Mayor said there will be another new item added at the end of the agenda: Authorization to Submit a Vermont Water & Wastewater Revolving Loan Fund Application in Support of Biosolids Project. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting of July 16, 2019 1 To be approved at 07-30-19 Barre City Council Meeting  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2019-30:  Accounts Payable: $329,350.61  Payroll (gross): $122,682.81 o 2019 Licenses:  Food Establishment Licenses:  ABC 4 LLC (Subway), 86 N. Main Street (new owner) The City Clerk/Treasurer Report –  The first quarter property tax payments are due August 15th.  The Clerk will be away on vacation next week. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. Applicant Address Richard Freeman 4 Glenwood Ave. Renee & Thorsten Evans 78 Country Way Alex Ibey 84 Woodland Dr. Liquor Control – Council approved an outside consumption permit application from Asian Gourmet on motion of Councilor Steinman, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried with Councilors Boutin and Tuper-Giles abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Working on water/sewer rate adjustments, which will be considered an upcoming meeting.  Repairs to the chiller system at the BOR have begun.  Installation of the BOR alarm system has started.  Trees in City Hall Park will be trimmed to raise the canopy for public safety reasons.  The Police and Fire Departments are fully staffed, as of September 1st.  There are several vacancies in the Public Works Department, which is hindering completion of summer projects.  Steelworkers and Firefighters contract negotiations are ongoing.  Keith Avenue parking lot project is on schedule.  Pouliot Avenue stormwater project bid openings are tomorrow. There was discussion on trimming around the trees along N. Main Street. Visitors and Communications – Mayor Herring said the link will be activated to allow public submittal of choices for an ATHENA Young Professionals Leadership nomination. Council will make a selection at the August 13th meeting. Old Business – NONE New Business – E) Discussion and/or Action on Housing Rehabilitation in Barre City. Barre City legislative representatives Peter Anthony and Tommy Walz distributed copies of H.488, their bill in support of increased affordable housing. There was discussion on ways to support rehabilitation of existing single and duplex housing units, growing the workforce and population, ways to hold those with vacant properties accountable, partnering with VT Housing and Conservation Board, tax incentives, and revolving loan funds. 2 To be approved at 07-30-19 Barre City Council Meeting Rep. Anthony reviewed the draft letter he and Rep. Walz have written to the administration. Council voiced support of the bill, and will draft a similar letter. Mayor Herring will draft the letter and bring it back to Council for final approval. Councilor Waszazak said there will be a housing forum on Thursday, October 17th, from 6-8 PM at the Old Labor Hall. B) Appoint Authorized Representatives for Access to Bond Proceeds. Clerk Dawes said Council needs to name representatives who can make reimbursement requests from bond proceeds for the new bonds that will be issued later this month. The Clerk recommended the authorized representatives be the Manager, Assistant Treasurer Sherry Chase, and the Clerk/Treasurer. Council approved the appointments as recommended on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. C) Charter/Ordinance Administrative Changes. Councilor Tuper-Giles said there are a number of administrative corrections that need to be made to the ordinances to bring gender and other terminology up to date. These corrections can be made administratively without going through the ordinance change process. Council authorized the Clerk to make all such changes on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. Clerk Dawes said she will make the changes over the next several months. D) Update on Park Mobile Contract. Manager Mackenzie said he expects to complete his review within the next two weeks. A) Update on Crosswalk Painting and Downtown Signage. Manager Mackenzie said due to the DPW staffing shortages, summer workload and equipment failure, street painting is on hold. There was discussion on ways to temporarily mark crosswalks, stop bars and lane markings. The Manager said he needs to review proposed signage language with Public Works Director Bill Ahearn and City Attorney Oliver Twombly. F) Authorization to Submit a Vermont Water & Wastewater Revolving Loan Fund Application in Support of Biosolids Project. (added) Mr. Ahearn said the loan fund application is in support of the $900,000 project and bond approved by voters last fall. Should the City receive the loan, it will allow for reduced borrowing costs, and the state would forgive the $17,000 design costs loan. Council approved authorization of the application on motion of Councilor Steinman, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. Round Table – Councilors reminded people of this weekend’s Heritage Festival activities, which begin tomorrow with the Concerts in Currier Park, Farmers Market and Authors at the Aldrich. The annual Rotary Breakfast is Saturday morning on the library lawn. Mayor Herring reported on the following:  Kudos to City staff and community organizations who coordinated last week’s cooling stations during the heat wave. 3 To be approved at 07-30-19 Barre City Council Meeting Mayor Herring led a moment of silence in honor of Hunter Wiltse, the 4 year old from Barre who drowned in Montpelier over the weekend. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 8:11 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. An audio recording of this meeting is available in the Clerk’s office. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4