City Council

To be approved at 09/14/21 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held August 31, 2021 The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order in person and via video platform by Mayor Lucas Herring at 7:00 PM at Barre City Hall. 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, Planning Director Janet Shatney, Human Resources Director Rikk Taft, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: There was discussion on whether resignations could be included in the consent agenda in the future. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Cambel. Motion carried. A. Minutes of the following meetings: 1. Special meeting of August 24, 2021 2. Regular meeting of August 24, 2021 B. City Warrants as presented: 1. Approval of Week 2021-35, dated September 1, 2021: i. Accounts Payable: $127,747.44 ii. Payroll (gross): $125,558.94 C. 2021 Licenses & Permits: 1. Food Establishment License: i. Made in Brazil, 81 N. Main Street The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Dawes reported on the following:  The first quarterly property tax payment is due by September 15th.  Water/sewer bills went in the mail today, and are due by the end of September.  The Board of Civil Authority is meeting Thursday evening at 6PM at Alumni Hall to approve the list of voters to be challenged this year, and to begin discussions on reapportionment. Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report - Manager Mackenzie noted his report was sent out via email. The Manager said the assessor position has been filled, with the acceptance of the employment offer by Steve Schellhamer, who will be joining the City in mid-October. Visitors and Communications – Resident Brian Judd requested Council approval to hang a large American flag over N. Main Street in honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Mr. Judd said he was scheduled to be on one of the planes that flew into the World Trade Center. He has been in contact with the people who own the buildings that would anchor the cable to hold the flag, and a structural engineer and contractor to ensure the hanging system is secure. Manager Mackenzie said state and local permits will be required. Clerk Dawes said ordinance requires Council approval to hang anything over a street or sidewalk. There was a question raised as to whether the state needs to approve hanging the flag over the state route. The Manager will contact VTRANS to ask. Councilors voiced support for the plans, and requested Mr. Judd attend next week’s meeting with documentation of the permits and other supporting materials, at which time Council will consider the request. Old Business – NONE 1 To be approved at 09/14/21 Barre City Council Meeting New Business – A) Unified Development Ordinance Enforcement Update. Planning Director Janet Shatney said she’s aware Councilors have been getting questions about enforcement of signage regulations. Ms. Shatney said the Planning Commission is looking at revising the language for temporary and window signs, and therefore enforcement is currently being delayed. There was discussion on removing these illegal lawn signs from City property, including medians, and contacting those responsible for the signs to let them know they aren’t allowed to be on public property. B) Accept Resignations from the Public Art Committee: i. Jason Broughton ii. Jeffrey Tuper-Giles iii. Randall Kuhlman iv. Alexander Raeburn C) Accept Resignation from the Planning Commission: i. Rachel Rudi D) Accept Resignation from the Development Review Board: ii. Richard Deep Council accepted all resignations listed above, with gratitude for their service to the community, on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. E) Committee and Task Force Discussion. Human Resources Director Rikk Taft said a volunteer page has been added to the council and committees section of the City website, with an application for people to submit if they are interested in filling a vacancy. There is also a list of such vacancies and links to committee descriptions. It was suggested that a statement of affirmation of diversity be added to the webpage. F) Appointments to the Manager’s Search Committee. Those who submitted letters of interest in serving on the Manager’s Search Committee were invited to share their interest in participating in the search:  Paul Cook  Thom Lauzon  Amanda Gustin  Tracie Lewis  Jake Hemmerick  Rich Morey  Sue Higby  Michael Siton Ms. Higby and Mr. Siton were not present. Mr. Cook, who was attending virtually, was experiencing technical difficulties and unable to be heard. It was noted he made several attempts to participate. Mayor Herring said Council will consider the list of interested people in executive session and appoint seven members to the committee in open session. G) Appointments to the Homelessness Task Force. It was noted the following people submitted letters of interest to serve on the Homelessness Task Force:  Joe Aldsworth  Ericka Reil  Tammy Menard  Teddy Waszazak  Brooke Pouliot Councilor Reil said Ms. Menard recently found housing in Montpelier, and so she is no longer available to serve on the task force. Councilor Waszazak said he recently met a woman at the Community Visit who is interested in being appointed, and will get that information to Mr. Taft. The names will be considered during Council’s executive session later this evening. H) Set Date for Next Round of Appointments. Mayor Herring suggested waiting until after the next phase of the Community Visit, which is scheduled for 2 To be approved at 09/14/21 Barre City Council Meeting September 29th. It was agreed that letters of interest for committee and task force vacancies will be accepted until October 1st, and appointments will be considered at the October 12th Council meeting. I) Barre City Nominations for the Athena Awards. Mayor Herring said there are three nominations: Alexis Dexter, Bernadette Rose, and Tracie Lewis. Ms. Dexter falls into one category, and Ms. Rose and Ms. Lewis fall into another. Councilor Boutin made the motion to nominate Ms. Dexter and Ms. Lewis, seconded by Councilor Reil. Motion failed with Councilors Stockwell, Hemmerick, Cambel and Reil voting against. Councilor Hemmerick made the motion to nominate Ms. Dexter and Ms. Rose, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried with all voting in favor. Round Table – Councilor Hemmerick said he’d like updates on the following on future Council agendas: 1. Minimum housing ordinances. 2. Energy committee status update on finding regulatory and non-regulatory solutions related to energy costs for renters. 3. Easements related to TIF, and accounting for maintenance services the City provides. 4. Local costs for the state’s Quarry Street project. Councilor Stockwell asked Councilors if they would be interested in volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity project. Councilors voiced their support for such a volunteer opportunity. Mayor Herring wished everyone a Happy Labor Day. Executive Session – Mayor Herring said the Council will now go into executive session to discuss committee and task force appointments. Councilor Boutin made the motion to find that premature general knowledge of personnel 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 Stockwell. Motion carried. Council went into executive session at 8:00 PM to discuss personnel under the provisions of 1 VSA sec. 313 on motion of Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Hemmerick. Motion carried. Council came out of executive session at 8:17 PM on motion of Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. Mayor Herring said not all of the potential appointees had received adequate notification to place this meeting on their schedules, and therefore those who were not able to attend this evening will be invited to next week’s meeting. Appointments will be made after that. Letters of interest received after the August 27th deadline will not be considered at this time. The meeting adjourned at 8:18 PM on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Hemmerick. Motion carried. The meeting was recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3