City Council

To be approved at 10/26/21 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held October 19, 2021 The Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order in person and via video platform by Mayor Lucas Herring at 6:00 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, Fire Chief Doug Brent, Deputy Fire Chief Joe Aldsworth, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Members of Montpelier City Council present: Mayor Anne Watson, Dona Bate, Conor Casey, Lauren Hierl, Jack McCullough, Jay Ericson, and Jennifer Morton. Members of Central Vermont Public Safety Authority Board present: Chair Dona Bate, Vice Chair Doug Hoyt, and Brent Householder. Others present: Montpelier City Manager Bill Fraser, Montpelier Assistant Manager Cameron Niedermayer, Televate representative Rick Burke, Televate representative Dominick Acuri, and Montpelier resident Steven Whitaker. Absent: NONE Montpelier Mayor Watson, and CVPSA Chair Dona Bate officially opened their meetings at 6:00 PM. Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Public Comment: Montpelier resident Steven Whitaker read a statement regarding the Televate report, and the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority. Mr. Whitaker said regional public safety is all about governance, and a regional cooperative approach is needed to create an integrated public safety system. CVPSA Televate Communications Report Presentation. CVPSA Chair Dona Bate reviewed the background of the public safety authority from the 2009 committee that began discussions through 2014 when the charter was approved by the voters in Montpelier and Barre City, and approved by the legislature. Since then the member municipalities have been joined by Capital Fire Mutual Aid System. Ms. Bate spoke of the needs for upgrades to the police, fire and EMS radio systems throughout the Authority’s coverage areas, and noted the weakest components are the dispatch consoles. Rick Burke from Televate gave a Powerpoint presentation on their region-wide assessment and proposed solutions to resolve radio dead zones. Mr. Burke went over their key findings related to police and fire using different frequencies, antiquated equipment, congestion, and interference from other systems throughout the region. Dominick Acuri from Televate spoke of the recommendations for equipment, consoles, redundancies to allow dispatch centers to cover for each other, regional interoperability, and broadband improvements. Mr. Burke spoke of the need for a governance foundation integrating leadership from the cities, expanding the charter, and developing partnerships with service partners such as CVFiber, Washington Electric Coop and VT Electric Power Company. There was discussion of current and proposed coverage areas, regional fair share formulas, expanding on the Twin City leadership team to review and possibly revise the governance model, and the need to work together to go after state and federal funding. 1 To be approved at 10/26/21 Barre City Council Meeting The meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. Montpelier Mayor Watson and CVPSA Chair Bate adjourned their respective meetings at 7:00 PM. The meeting was recorded on the video platform. Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held October 19, 2021 The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order in person and via video platform by Mayor Lucas Herring at 7:05 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, Police Chief Tim Bombardier, Deputy Police Chief Larry Eastman, Buildings and Community Services Director Jeff Bergeron, Finance Director Dawn Monahan, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: Council approved adding adoption of Resolution #2021-15 to the agenda on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Reil. Motion carried. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Reil. Motion carried. A. Minutes of the following meetings: 1. Regular meeting of October 12, 2021 B. City Warrants as presented: 1. Approval of Week 2021-42, dated October 20, 2021: i. Accounts Payable: $214,029.38 ii. Payroll (gross): $145,083.29 C. 2021 Licenses & Permits: NONE The City Clerk/Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Dawes reported on the following:  Accepting applications for the VT COVID Arrearage Assistance Program 2 through October 24th.  The draft apportionment maps are available on the Legislative Apportionment Board website. The LAB is recommending single-person districts rather than two-person districts, and have divided Barre City along Route 302 into two districts. The Board of Civil Authority will review the maps at its meeting next week. Liquor Control – NONE City Manager’s Report - Manager Mackenzie said there was nothing to add to his written report. Visitors and Communications – NONE Old Business – NONE 2 To be approved at 10/26/21 Barre City Council Meeting New Business – Added) Approval of Resolution #2021-15 Honoring Police Chief Timothy Bombardier. Deputy Police Chief Larry Eastman read the resolution honoring Chief Bombardier on the occasion of his retirement at the end of October. Several of those in attendance offered their congratulations to the Chief, and their remembrances of his 15 years of service. Chief Bombardier spoke of his years in Barre City. Council approved the resolution on motion of Councilor Waszazak, with all other Councilors seconding the motion. Motion carried. All those present honored Chief Bombardier with a standing ovation. A) Chapter 20 Tree Ordinance. Buildings and Community Services Director Jeff Bergeron said the Tree Stewardship Committee has been reviewing the ordinance and related state statutes. They will continue the review with an eye towards creating an ordinance that melds the two. Mr. Bergeron said two members of the committee recently resigned, leaving two vacancies. There was discussion on tree warden duties, clarifying language regarding the City’s responsibility related to trees on private property, and protecting City trees. B) Finance Update and FY23 Budget Preview/Review. Finance Director Dawn Monahan reviewed her draft FY23 budget and noted an increase in training & development. Ms. Monahan said she hopes to provide additional training opportunities for her staff. C) Clerk Update and FY23 Budget Preview/Review. Clerk Dawes reviewed her draft FY23 budgets for the Clerk’s office, delinquent collections, and elections. The Clerk noted changes and adjustments in several revenue line items that cross her desk, and she reviewed her department priorities for FY22 and FY23. D) Manager Update and FY23 Budget Preview/Review. Manager Mackenzie reviewed his draft FY23 budgets for Administration, Legal and Manager Office. He noted changes year-over-year related to no continuing need for expenses associated with the manager’s search, the requirement for a single audit due to ARPA funds, increases in software and advertising, decreases in legal fees associated with labor contracts due to fewer contract negotiations in FY23, and the addition of an IT systems administrator position. E) Review and/or Approval of a Volunteer Appointment Policy. Councilor Hemmerick reviewed the draft policy. There was discussion on onboarding and training for volunteers, cross-referencing other related policies, making sure the City’s social media sites are accessible, posting volunteer contact information on committee pages on the website, removal for non- attendance, and taking & submitting minutes. It was recommended staff members have an opportunity to review the draft to make comments. Councilor Hemmerick will share with relevant staff members and incorporate the changes, and put the policy on the consent agenda for approval in the near future. Round Table – Councilors noted October is Adopt-A-Dog month, and encouraged people to welcome a dog into their lives. Councilor Waszazak said he’s pleased Governor Scott has extended the motel voucher program to the end of the calendar year for those experiencing homelessness, but urged the Governor not to end the program in the middle of winter. He also expressed his enthusiasm for the Red Sox, and wished them well in their pennant race. 3 To be approved at 10/26/21 Barre City Council Meeting Mayor Herring announced the following:  Third step of the All In For Barre community visit is scheduled for October 20th, beginning at 6:30 PM at the auditorium.  Prescription Drug Take Back Day is October 23rd. There is a drop-off bin at the Public Safety Building.  Councilors are invited to a Habitat for Humanity work day on October 23rd.  The Barre Partnership is hosting a Halloween costume contest on October 29th, and a parade and trick or treating in the downtown on October 30th. Executive Session – Councilor Cambel made the motion to find that premature general knowledge of a contracts issue 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 Reil. Motion carried. Council went into executive session at 9:10 PM to discuss contracts under the provisions of 1 VSA §313 on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. Manager Mackenzie was invited into the executive session. Council came out of executive session at 9:20 PM on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. There was no action. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Cambel. Motion carried. The meeting was recorded on the video meeting platform. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4