City Council

To be approved at 10-29-19 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held October 22, 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 II, Councilors Michael Boutin and Teddy Waszazak; and from Ward III, Councilors John LePage and Rich Morey. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: From Ward I, Councilors John Steinman and Jeffrey Tuper-Giles. Adjustments to the Agenda: The agenda items related to the Wheelock House and the grand list are deferred. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Regular meeting of October 15, 2019  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2019-43:  Accounts Payable: $503,535.66  Payroll (gross): $122,813.68 The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Dawes reported on the following:  The BCA is holding a joint meeting with the Barre Town BCA on October 23rd for a preliminary training on reapportionment.  There are three properties scheduled for tax sale on October 24th. Liquor Control – Council approved the following ½ year third class license on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. Applicant Address Smolder Mist Pub 107 South Main Street Council approved a request to cater application from Rock Solid Crew for a Christmas party at the Labor Hall on December 14th on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report - Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  Health insurance premiums are projected to increase by 14.2% for the platinum plan and 11.1% for the gold plan beginning January 2020.  Completion of paving for the season is scheduled for next week.  Ambulance revenues are looking strong for FY19. Current projections have them running a surplus for the year.  Participated in a conference call with ParkMobile. They are responsive to our concerns about the contract, and will be submitting a revised version for our consideration.  Transportation Advisory Committee met last week, focusing primarily on Merchant Street.  Yard waste drop off continues through November 3rd, and yard waste pick-up will run the first week of November.  The Pearl Street pedestrian way lighting and ribbon cutting is scheduled for November 8th.  The winter parking ban goes into effect starting November 15th and runs to April 1st. 1 To be approved at 10-29-19 Barre City Council Meeting  The VTrans welcome event is confirmed for December 4th at the auditorium.  The staff holiday luncheon is scheduled for December 16th at Ladder 1 Grill. All Councilors are welcome to attend. Visitors and Communications – NONE Old Business – A) Sale of City Properties via Realtor. Manager Mackenzie said he has received a sales agreement from William Raveis Realty for the sale of large City-owned parcels in Barre City, East Montpelier and Barre Town. New Business – A) Public Hearing 7:15 PM – Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District Substantial Changes. Mayor Herring opened the public hearing at 7:15 PM and invited Clerk Dawes to give an overview of the changes being proposed. The Clerk spoke about the items that were identified during the June TIF monitoring visit, and reviewed the narrative and financial plan portions of the substantial change packet to be submitted to the Vermont Economic Progress Council. There was discussion on the history of the TIF district and annual reporting requirements. Mayor Herring asked if there were any additional comments or questions from the Council or public. Hearing none, the Mayor closed the hearing at 7:20 PM. Council approved submitting the substantial change request to VEPC on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. B) Discussion and/or Action regarding the rear of the Wheelock House. This item is deferred. C) Resolution 2019-04: Approval of VT Revolving Fund Loan Documents for Digester Cover Engineering. Clerk Dawes said the resolution is part of the acceptance paperwork related to the digester cover engineering loan in the amount of $17,242. Council approved the resolution on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried. D) Review status of Grand List. This item is deferred. E) Discussion and/or Action regarding City Wide Reassessment. Manager Mackenzie said the common level of appraisal and the coefficient of dispersion are not yet at levels that would mandate a City-wide reassessment, however the last such assessment was in 2002 with a statistical update in 2006, and there are now inequities in the grand list due to assessment changes in the intervening years. The City receives funds each year from the state, which are set aside for a future City- wide reassessment. The balance in the fund is $300,000+, and the cost for a City-wide reassessment is projected to be approximately $350,000 - $400,000. Once the process begins, it will likely take 2 years to complete. Council approved authorizing the Manager to put out an RFP for City-wide reassessment services on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. F) DPS – Broadband Innovation Grant. Mayor Herring asked Council to authorize him to submit a letter of support from the City for the grant 2 To be approved at 10-29-19 Barre City Council Meeting application. Council approved authorization on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried. G) CVSWMD HHW Facility Grant. Mayor Herring asked Council to authorize him to submit a letter of support from the City for the grant application. Council approved authorization on motion of councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. H) Holiday Parking Discussion. Clerk Dawes asked Councilors if they were interested in offering the holiday parking donations program again this year, where coins placed in the parking meters during the holiday free parking period would be donated in support of children’s programs. Councilors LePage and Morey expressed interest in being involved, and Councilor Boutin asked that this item be placed on next week’s agenda for additional discussion in light of the fact that two Councilors are currently absent. Council approved free meter parking from Thanksgiving Day through New Year’s Day, and offering amnesty for parking tickets by a donation of toys or non-perishable food valued at or above the cost of the ticket on motion of Councilor LePage, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Councilor Morey said he will reach out to organizations to coordinate the food collection. I) Dollar Drop Date and Recipient. Mayor Herring said the dollar drop is usually held on the 1st Saturday in December, which is December 7th this year. There was discussion on how the funds should be used. Councilor Boutin made the motion that the donated funds will be given to the School Resource Officer to purchase gifts for children identified by the SRO and school, and that volunteers will wrap the presents for police officers to deliver. The motion was seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. J) Ratification – Approval of Barre Partnership Halloween Parade. Council ratified last week’s approval of the Barre Partnership Halloween Parade on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor LePage. Motion carried. Round Table – Councilor Waszazak thanked those Councilors who attended last night’s meeting at the Aldrich Library. He said in regards to the Manager’s report on rising health insurance costs, that unaffordable and inaccessible health care is a universal problem. Councilor Morey said there is a special Barre Partnership event coming in May, but he can’t tell us what it is yet. He said last Thursday’s housing forum was great. Mayor Herring reported on the following:  A proclamation on ending veteran homelessness was presented at last week’s housing forum.  Exploring Behind the Badge training opportunities for department heads.  Reviewed ordinances that will and won’t be going through edits in the next few months. Executive Session – Councilor Boutin made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of negotiations and real estate issues to be discussed would clearly place the City of Barre at a substantial disadvantage should the discussion be public. The motion was seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. Council went into executive session at 7:55 PM to discuss negotiations and real estate under the 3 To be approved at 10-29-19 Barre City Council Meeting provisions of 1 VSA § 313 on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. Manager Mackenzie and Clerk Dawes were invited into the executive session. Council came out of executive session at 8:27 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. Council approved authorizing the Manager to reissue an RFP for the sale of 5 Second Street with no minimum bid, and issue an RFP for the sale of 3 Portland Street with no minimum bid, on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried with Councilor Waszazak voting against. The Council meeting adjourned at 8:28 PM on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. An audio recording of the meeting is available through the Clerk’s office. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4