City Council

To be approved at 12-03-19 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held November 26, 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, Councilor Teddy Waszazak; and from Ward III, Councilor Rich Morey. Also present were City Manager Steve Mackenzie and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: From Ward II, Councilor Michael Boutin. There is one vacancy in Ward III. Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Steinman, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried.  Minutes of the following meetings: o Special meeting of November 19, 2019 o Regular meeting of November 19, 2019  City Warrants as presented: o Approval of Week 2019-48:  Accounts Payable: $419,156.35  Payroll (gross): $124,203.36 o 2020 Licenses:  Food Establishment Licenses:  Domino’s Pizza, 322 N. Main Street  Mutuo Inc., 20 Beckley Street  Hollow Inn & Motel, 278 S. Main Street  Ladder 1 Grill, 8 S. Main Street  Chinatown Restaurant, 302 N. Main Street  Basil’s Pizza, 20 S. Main Street  Si Aku Ramen Co. LLC, 237 N. Main Street  Mister Z’s, 379 N. Main Street  Quality Inn, 173 S. Main Street  Capstone Community Action Kitchen, 20 Gable Place  Food Takeout Licenses:  Central VT Career Center Bake Shop, 136 N. Main Street  Quality Market, 155 Washington Street  Entertainment Licenses:  Barre Opera House 6, N. Main Street  Ladder 1 Grill, 8 S. Main Street The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Dawes reported on the following:  Water/sewer bills are being mailed out. Payments are due by December 31st.  City Hall is closed Thursday and Friday this week for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Ward III caucus is scheduled for Thursday, December 19th, at 7PM at Alumni Hall. Liquor Control – Council approved an Educational Sampling Event Permit Application for Matt Paquette for an event at the Barre Opera House on January 17, 2020 on motion of Councilor Morey, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried with Councilor Tuper-Giles abstaining. 1 To be approved at 12-03-19 Barre City Council Meeting City Manager’s Report - Manager Mackenzie reported on the following:  City hosted VEPC board meeting last week, at which the City presented its TIF substantial change requests.  DPW union contract negotiations are going well.  Reached a tentative agreement on the firefighters’ union contract. Will brief the Council in executive session at next week’s meeting.  FY19 audit report has been completed and submitted to the auditors. Their presentation to Council is tentatively scheduled for December 17th.  The BOR alarm system is functional, with troubleshooting and final items being completed by December 20th.  Park Mobile implementation conference phone call is scheduled for Monday, December 2nd.  Council is holding a budget workshop next Monday, December 2nd, at 6PM. Visitors and Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE New Business – A) Authorization to Award/Execute Ambulance Lease. Manager Mackenzie reviewed a memo from Fire Chief Doug Brent, and said lease/purchase bids were solicited for the new ambulance. Chief Brent and Finance Director Dawn Monahan recommend awarding the contract to low bidder Municipal Leasing Consultants of Grand Isle, VT. Council awarded the contract as recommended, and authorized the manager to sign, on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Steinman. Motion carried. B) Authorization to Purchase Confined Space Rescue Equipment. Manager Mackenzie reviewed a memo from Chief Brent, and said purchase of the equipment is part of the VOSHA settlement agreement. The Manager said the most cost effective approach to satisfying the VOSHA agreement is to purchase the necessary equipment and become certified. The equipment is a sole source purchase to maintain consistency of equipment. Council approved the purchase on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. C) Discussion/Decision re: Changes in Parking Meter Rates. Councilor Morey reviewed his matrix of current and proposed parking meter, parking ticket and parking permit fees. There was discussion on the costs and time associated with updating meter rates, effective dates, rates as compared to Montpelier, the last time rates were increased, and considering the proposed changes separately. Mayor Herring suggested a parking meter rate structure that was different than those on Councilor Morey’s matrix. Councilor Tuper-Giles made the motion to approve the rate structure as proposed by the Mayor. The motion died for lack of a second. Councilor Morey made the motion to approve “scenario #2” of the parking meter rate structure as appeared on the matrix. The motion died for lack of a second. Councilor Morey made the motion to approve “scenario 1” of the parking ticket rate structure, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Councilor Waszazak offered a friendly amendment to include approving the Mayor’s proposed parking meter rate structure. The friendly amendment was not accepted by the mover and seconder. The original motion did not pass with Councilors Steinman, Tuper-Giles and Morey voting in favor, and Mayor Herring and Councilor Waszazak voting against. 2 To be approved at 12-03-19 Barre City Council Meeting It was agreed there would be no adjustments in the parking permit rate structure. All permits will continue to increase by 2.5% on an annual basis. Councilor Tuper-Giles made the motion to approve “scenario #1” for meters and “scenario #2” for tickets, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. The motion did not pass with Councilors Tuper-Giles and Waszazak voting in favor, and Mayor Herring and Councilors Steinman and Morey voting against. Councilor Morey made the motion to approve “scenario #2” for meters and “scenario #2” for tickets, seconded by Councilor Tuper-Giles. Motion carried with Councilor Waszazak voting against. Parking Meter scenario #2  $0.05 = 5 minutes  $0.10 = 10 minutes  $0.25 = 25 minutes Parking Ticket scenario #2  Expired meter = $12.00  Other infractions (previously $15.00) = $23.00  Other infractions (previously $25.00) = $38.00  Parking in handicap space = $150.00 Manager Mackenzie and Clerk Dawes will research time and costs associated with updating the meters and what will be involved in changing rates through Park Mobile. This information will be reported back to Council for determining the effective date for the rate changes approved at this meeting. D) Update on Addition of Volunteer Organization Weblinks to the City Website. Mayor Herring said only a few organization weblinks have been received by the City for inclusion on the website. Local volunteer organizations interested in having a link on the City’s website should contact Councilor Morey or the Manager’s executive assistant Jody Norway. E) Solid Waste Management Committee Update. Mayor Herring said former Councilor John LePage is interested in continuing to serve on the joint Barre City/Montpelier Solid Waste Management Committee. The Mayor said the committee hasn’t been meeting, but the Montpelier public works director is looking to resurrect the committee in the near future. Councilor Morey said he has the names of a couple other people interested in joining the committee. Mayor Herring said Mr. LePage is also interested in continuing to serve on the Garden Committee. Round Table – Councilor Morey said there will be horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown Barre this Saturday as part of the holiday festivities, which include a parade and tree lighting. Councilor Steinman wished everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Mayor Herring reported on the following:  CV Fiber received a $60,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study.  BUUSD received a grant for the purchase of an electric bus.  Neighborhood watch meetings have been held in all areas of the City.  “Downstream” – a film on the effects of parental incarceration on children – is available on-line. 3 To be approved at 12-03-19 Barre City Council Meeting Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM on motion of Councilor Tuper-Giles, seconded by Councilor Morey. Motion carried. An audio recording of the meeting is available in the Clerk’s office. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4