City Council

To be approved at 08-27-19 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held August 20, 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 Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: City Manager Steve Mackenzie. Adjustments to the Agenda: The Prospect Street agenda item is deferred. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Special and regular meetings of August 13, 2019  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2019-34:  Accounts Payable: $85,179.02  Payroll (gross): $121,342.27 o 2019 Licenses: NONE The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk’/Treasurer Dawes reported on the following:  First quarter property taxes were due August 15th. The delinquency rate was 4.19%, which is the lowest it’s been since November 2011. Approval of Building Permits – Council approved the following building permits on motion of Councilor Tuper- Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. Applicant Address John Kilian 7 C Street Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report – NONE Visitors and Communications – Mayor Herring reviewed some legal opinions related to social media and maintaining content on the City’s Facebook page and on personal Facebook pages. Old Business –NONE New Business – A) Discussion on Budget Survey and Process to Receive Information. Councilor Boutin distributed copies of the results from the 2014 and 2015 public budget surveys. He suggested the Council conduct a similar survey this fall. A link to the survey can be shared through the City website, Facebook page, Front Porch Forum, and other electronic means, and hard copies can be available in City Hall, through the Barre Partnership, the library, and possibly with downtown merchants. The same questions from the previous surveys will be used to allow comparison. B) Authorization to Engage Appraiser for Valuation of Old Firehouse Weathervane. Human Resources director Rikk Taft reviewed his memo on engaging an appraiser for the weathervane, which is currently on exhibit at the Vermont History Center. The estimated cost for appraisal is $1,550. Currently the City insures the weathervane for $1.2 million at a cost of $2,283 annually. An insurance appraisal might lower the cost of insurance. There was discussion on what the future of the weathervane is, what the appraisal information would be 1 To be approved at 08-27-19 Barre City Council Meeting used for, the source of funding for the appraisal fee, and possibly donating the weathervane to the Vermont Historical Society. Councilor Steinman made the motion to approve moving forward with the appraisal, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Councilor Tuper-Giles made the motion to table the discussion until a future time, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried with Councilors Herring and Steinman voting against. C) Authorization to Accept USDA Grant for Ambulance. Fire Chief Doug Brent said the City has received notification from USDA that the $50,000 grant application for funding support of the purchase of an ambulance has been approved. Council protocol calls for the Council to officially accept the grant. Council accepted the USDA grant on motion of Councilor LePage, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. D) Discussion and/or approval of Letter of Support for H.448. Mayor Herring asked if there were any comments or suggested edits to the draft letter he sent via email. There was discussion on the current wording of the bill, and language as yet to be drafted. Council approved the letter of support on motion of Councilor LePage, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. E) Authorization of Delegate for VLCT Annual Business Meeting. Council approved Manager Mackenzie to serve as the City’s delegate to the VLCT business meeting on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. F) Authorization to Auction (Langevin) Parcels 124 & 125 Prospect St. This item is deferred. Round Table – Councilor Steinman said school will be starting soon, and people should be careful of kids walking to school or on the roadside waiting for the bus. Councilor Waszazak reminded people of this Thursday’s community picnic in Currier Park. Councilor Tuper-Giles said he missed last week’s meeting to celebrate his father’s 70th birthday. Councilor Morey said the Elks Club is holding a party in their parking lot this Friday, August 23rd. Mayor Herring reported on the following:  Informational materials are being developed to educate the public on the impacts of the recently-approved water & sewer rate changes.  The City experienced a water main break over the past weekend. Repairs have been made.  The City will be flushing water lines in the near future. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 7:38 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried. An audio recording of the meeting is available through the Clerk’s office. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 2