City Council

To be approved at 06/15/21 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held June 10, 2021 The Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order by Mayor Lucas Herring at 3:05 PM in the Alumni Hall 2nd floor meeting room. Councilors in attendance were: From Ward I, Councilors Emel Cambel and 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 were City Manager Steve Mackenzie, Finance Director Dawn Monahan, Planning Director Janet Shatney, Buildings and Community Services Director Jeff Bergeron, Buildings and Community Services Assistant Director Stephanie Quaranta, Public Works Director Bill Ahearn, Executive Assistant Jody Norway, Police Chief Tim Bombardier, Fire Chief Doug Brent, Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Aldsworth, Human Resources Director Rikk Taft, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Old Business – NONE New Business – Department Head and City Councilor Discussion Mayor Herring reviewed the agenda. A) FY21 Wrap Up and FY22 Council Priorities. Mayor Herring went through the FY21 list of items still on the list. There was discussion on creating and posting a “done list” of items the Council has completed and use of the Wheelock building. The Mayor said Councilors Reil and Stockwell are serving on the ad hoc charter review committee, and Councilors Boutin and Waszazak are serving on the ad hoc ordinance review committee. There was discussion on automated traffic ticketing. Councilor Boutin made the motion to not move forward with any further consideration, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried with Mayor Herring and Councilor Hemmerick voting against. There was discussion on designated truck routes. Councilor Waszazak made the motion to move forward with a staff assessment on the feasibility of designating truck routes, seconded by Councilor Reil. Motion carried. There was discussion on the following FY21 priority items: 1. Complete Streets Program. 2. Various plans the City has commissioned in the past. Manager Mackenzie said he will create a list of plans that need consultants and present it to the Council for prioritization. 3. Food vendor policy/ordinance. Councilor Waszazak made the motion to discontinue drafting an ordinance for food vendors and continue to operate under the current food vendor policy, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. 4. Staff evaluations. 5. Review and possible sale of City-owned small parcels. 6. Access to old railroad bed. It was noted excavation is needed to ease access at one end of the railroad bed. DPW Director Ahearn said it would take staff approximately 1 ½ days to complete the work. Councilor Boutin made the motion to authorize the excavation work, seconded by Councilor Reil. Motion carried. There was discussion on the following FY22 priority items: 1 To be approved at 06/15/21 Barre City Council Meeting 1. Upcoming Community Visit. 2. Ordinance reviews over the next two years. 3. Upcoming policy reviews. 4. Review of the winter parking ban by the Parking Team. 5. Appointments to boards and committees. 6. Water & sewer connection policies. 7. American Rescue Plan Act funds. 8. New staff positions. Mayor Herring quickly noted other items on the priorities list that there isn’t time to review in depth at this meeting due to time constraints, including: 1. Succession planning. 2. Tax Increment Finance future proposals. 3. Capital Plan and Capital Improvement Plan. 4. Merchant’s Row Master Plan. 5. Traffic Calming Corridor Plan/Parking/Traffic Changes. 6. Expansion of the Local Option Tax to include sales taxes. 7. Voting to allow retail cannabis. 8. Establishing Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for property tax-exempt properties. 9. Siting a year-round yard waste drop off location. 10. Researching a City-wide trash collection contract. B) Department Promotion of City (i.e. Arbor Day Designation, Awards). This item was deferred due to time constraints. C) Recruitment and Retention. This item was deferred due to time constraints. D) Strategic Plan Draft. i. List of documents for reference and updating. ii. Goals list. iii. These items were deferred due to time constraints. E) Municipal Master Plan Implementation Table. This item was deferred due to time constraints. F) Department Head Priorities. This item was deferred due to time constraints. The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Herring at 5:48 PM. There is no audio recording of this meeting. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 2