City Council

To be approved at 05/18/21 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held May 4, 2021 The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order on video conference by Mayor Lucas Herring at 7:00 PM. In attendance, participating on video or phone, were: From Ward I, Councilor Jake Hemmerick; from Ward II, Councilors Michael Boutin and Teddy Waszazak; and from Ward III, Councilors Ericka Reil and Samn Stockwell. City staff members present via video or phone were Human Resources Director/Acting Manager Rikk Taft, Planning Director Janet Shatney, Fire Chief Doug Brent, Public Works Director Bill Ahearn, Buildings and Community Services Assistant Director Stephanie Quaranta, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: From Ward I, Councilor Emel Cambel. Adjustments to the Agenda: HR Director/Acting City Manager Rikk Taft said new agenda items B and C should be reversed. Councilor Hemmerick asked that consent agenda items D, E and F be taken up separately from the consent agenda. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Hemmerick, seconded by Councilor Reil. Motion carried on roll call vote, with all voting in favor. A. Minutes of the following meetings: a. Regular meeting of April 27, 2021 B. City Warrants as presented: a. Approval of Week 2021-18, dated May 5, 2021: i. Accounts Payable: $115,865.16 ii. Payroll (gross): $124,194.35 C. 2021 Licenses & Permits: NONE G. Authorization to submit “Vermont Afterschool Summer Matters for All” Grant. Council approved the following on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried on roll call vote, with Councilor Hemmerick recusing himself from the vote due to conflict of interest. D. Resolution 2021-09 for adoption of ACCD form Residential Anti-Displacement and Relocation Plan for the Barre Recovery Residence grant award Special Conditions. E. Resolution 2021-10 Adoption of ACCD form MP-1 Municipal Policies and Codes for Barre Recovery Residence grant award Special Conditions. There was discussion on the striping equipment, striping as a way to control traffic speeds, and what types of paint applications have the longest life on the road. Council approved the following on motion of Councilor Hemmerick, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried on roll call vote, with all voting in favor. F. Authorization to Purchase Line Striping Equipment. Mayor Herring noted the time and said new agenda item A will be moved to here due to the warned public hearing time. New Business – A) Second Reading and Public Hearing Warned 7:15pm Ord. #2021-02: Chp 7 Minimum Housing Ord. Mayor Herring opened the second reading and public hearing at 7:25 PM and invited comments or questions from the public. Hearing none, the Mayor closed the public hearing at 7:26 PM, and invited comments from the Council. There were no comments or questions from the Council. Council approved 1 To be approved at 05/18/21 Barre City Council Meeting the ordinance changes on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Hemmerick. Motion carried on roll call vote, with all voting in favor. The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Dawes reported on the following:  The Barre Unified Union School District budget re-vote will be held on Tuesday, May 11th. In- person voting will be drive-through in the BOR fieldhouse.  Fourth quarter property taxes are due by May 17th, as May 15th falls on a Saturday. Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report - Acting Manager Taft said next week is National Police Week, and thanked the City’s Police Department staff. Visitors and Communications – Resident Bernadette Rose thanked Governor Scott for his proclamation naming this week as Abenaki Recognition and Heritage Week in Vermont. Ms. Rose said there are now four state-recognized Native American Indian tribes in Vermont:  Elnu Abenaki  Nulhagen band of the Coosuk Abenak Nation  Koasek Abenaki of the Koas  Missisquoi, St. Francis-Sokoki band Ms. Rose said with mutual honor and respect for the rich heritage of the state’s indigenous people, this week we honor the centuries-old culture and traditional of Vermont Abenaki communities. We recognize Abenaki citizens still living and sharing their culture and traditions. Old Business – NONE New Business – continued C) WWTF Asset Naming Request. Public Works Director Bill Ahearn said City employee Joe Rouleau has spent more than four decades serving the community at the wastewater treatment facility. Mr. Ahearn requested Council consider allowing a portion of City facilities to be named for employees in appreciation of long service to the community, and suggested the clarification circles at the wastewater treatment facility be named for Mr. Rouleau for the next 20 years. There was discussion on Mr. Rouleau’s years of service, and the changes that have happened during his tenure. Council approved the naming request on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried on roll call vote, with all voting in favor. B) Resolution #2021-11: Recognition of Service for Joseph Rouleau. The resolution honoring Mr. Rouleau was read aloud, and approved on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Reil. Those in attendance offered a round of applause for Mr. Rouleau’s years of dedication to the City of Barre. Motion carried on roll call vote, with all voting in favor. D) Central Vermont Council on Aging Update. CVCOA Director of Development and Communications Mary Hayden, and Community Engaged Tech Specialist Luke Rackers spoke of CVCOA’s new program to combat isolation and loneliness. Ms. Hayden said CVCOA serves 54 towns in central Vermont providing services to those 60 years and older, including meals on wheels, education, legal and housing support. They have adapted and responded to COVID by implementing creative care kids for homebound older adults, where people are encouraged to express themselves through art projects, and maintain contact with a volunteer who checks in with them on a regular basis. There was discussion on what Barre City can do to be a more age friendly community, 2 To be approved at 05/18/21 Barre City Council Meeting including involving seniors in discussions on nutrition, traffic and sidewalks, pool and recreation, housing and transportation, and accessibility. E) Appointment of Joanne Reynolds to the Transportation Advisory Committee. Joanne Reynolds expressed her interest in serving on the TAC. Mayor Herring reviewed the committee charge. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried on roll call vote, with all voting in favor. F) Appointment of Jake Hemmerick to the Transportation Advisory Committee. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Reil. Motion carried on roll call vote, with Councilor Hemmerick abstaining. G) Appointment of Nancy Wolfe to the Recreation Committee. Mayor Herring noted Ms. Wolfe is not present, and deferred the appointment to a later meeting. H) Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A) Committee Update. i. Approval of Committee Charge. ii. Approval of Committee Priorities. Councilor Reil, who serves as chair of the ADA Committee, and committee secretary Bernadette Rose reviewed the charge and priorities, including citizen feedback on the City’s website, cracked sidewalks, and providing advocacy and support to the City in addressing accessibility issues. Council approved the charge and priorities on motion of Councilor Hemmerick, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried with Councilor Reil abstaining. Round Table – Councilor Boutin said he was disappointed the Granite City Grocery is considering disbanding. He thanked his niece Alicia for organizing last Saturday’s Blow Up to Glow Up event in downtown Barre, and said it was a huge success on social media. He offered to deliver copies of the City’s annual report to anyone who requests one. In honor of May the 4th, Councilor Boutin donned a Chewbacca mask. Councilor Stockwell waved her light sabre, and Councilor Reil showed off her Jedi robes. Councilor Hemmerick said he and Councilor Reil have organized a housing and transportation forum that will be held on May 19th. Mayor Herring said the Granite City Grocery board is attending the May 25th Council meeting before their annual meeting on June 10th. The Mayor said Council will have a discussion on meeting again in person again. He asked Councilors to let him know the total number of Green Up bags they each filled. Clerk Dawes said Council will hold a workshop on the grand list and assessments with the district advisor from VT Dept. of Taxes Property Valuation and Review Division on Tuesday, June 1st, at 6:00 PM. Executive Session – NONE The Council meeting was adjourned by Mayor Herring at 8:43 PM. There is no audio recording of this meeting. The meeting was recorded on the video conference platform. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3