City Council

To be approved at 03/22/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held March 15, 2022 The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order in person and via video platform by Mayor Jake Hemmerick at 7:00 PM at Barre City Hall. In attendance were: From Ward I, Councilors Emel Cambel and Thom Lauzon; from Ward II, Councilors Michael Boutin and Teddy Waszazak; and from Ward III, Councilors Michael Deering and Samn Stockwell. City staff members present were Manager Steve Mackenzie, Fire Chief Doug Brent, Deputy Fire Chief Joe Aldsworth, Buildings and Community Services Director Jeff Bergeron, Buildings and Community Services Assistant Director Stephanie Quaranta, Police Chief Braedon Vail, Deputy Police Chief Larry Eastman, Planning Director Janet Shatney, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: Approval of the coin drops is moved to the consent agenda. Committee appointments is moved before the Barre Partnership liaison appointment. Consent agenda items on the Wastewater Treatment Facility equipment storage MOU and the North Main Pump Station will be taken up individually under new business. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items as amended on motion of Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. A. Approval of Minutes: i. Regular meeting of March 8, 2022 B. City Warrants as presented: 1. Approval of Week 2022-11, dated March 16, 2022: i. Accounts Payable: $296,106.03 ii. Payroll (gross): $131,862.26 C. 2022 Licenses & Permits: NONE D. Approve Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District/Barre City Wastewater Treatment Facility Equipment Storage Memorandum of Understanding. [moved to new business] E. Ratify 2022 State Homeland Security Radios Grant Application. F. Authorize Manager to Execute North Main Pump Station Step III Construction Phase Engineering Agreement. [moved to new business] G. Review/approval of 2022 coin drop requests [moved from new business] City Clerk & Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Dawes reported on the following:  Water/sewer bills were mailed earlier this month, and are due by March 31st.  The Vermont Supreme Court has issued its ruling on the Brian Judd v. City of Barre appeal, and has upheld the lower court’s ruling in favor of the City. Liquor Control Board – Clerk Dawes said renewal applications are being received and require inspection and approval by the Fire Department before coming to the Council for consideration. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie had nothing to add to his written report. Mayor Hemmerick congratulated Manager Mackenzie, Public Works Director Bill Ahearn and Barre Area Development Corporation executive director Cody Morrison for successfully lobbying Senator Sanders’ office for a congressional earmark to assist in funding the North Main Street Pump Station project. 1 To be approved at 03/22/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Visitors and Communications – NONE Unfinished Business – NONE New Business – A) Service Recognition for Andy Supernault. Manager Mackenzie and Buildings and Community Services Director Jeff Bergeron presented outgoing Auditorium foreman Andy Supernault with a certificate recognizing his 43 years of service to the City of Barre. Several people spoke of Mr. Supernault’s dedication to the City’s youth and the events at the Civic Center, and those in attendance offered a standing ovation. B) Mayoral Proclamation for Jim & Larissa Haas & Rise Up Bakery. Mayor Hemmerick read a proclamation honoring Jim & Larissa Haas for the efforts opening and operating Rise Up Bakery at the Old Labor Hall, and raising funds in support of Ukrainians in the face of the current war in that country. D) Appointments for Consideration/Action. i. Rebecca (Becky) Wigg for the Planning Commission ii. Michael Hellein as Barre City Rep to the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission Transportation Advisory Committee Rebecca Wigg expressed her interest in serving on the Planning Commission. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Lauzon. Motion carried. Michael Hellein expressed his interest in serving as the City’s representative to the CVRPC Transportation Advisory Committee. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. C) Barre Partnership Council Liaison. i. Nominations & Appointment Councilor Lauzon nominated Councilor Boutin to serve as liaison to the Barre Partnership, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. Hearing no additional nominations, Council appointed Councilor Boutin on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Lauzon. Motion carried. Mayor Hemmerick said he will be recusing himself from the following agenda item, and noted Council had a responsibility listed in charter to appoint one of its members to act as mayor during the Mayor’s absence or disability. Councilor Waszazak nominated Councilor Boutin to continue to serve as the acting mayor as necessary, seconded by Councilor Lauzon. Motion carried. Hearing no additional nominations, Council approved Councilor Boutin as acting mayor as necessary on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. Mayor Hemmerick stepped down from chairing the next agenda item due to conflict of interest. Councilor Boutin assumed the chair. From Consent Agenda: (D) Approve Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District/Barre City Wastewater Treatment Facility Equipment Storage Memorandum of Understanding. Manager Mackenzie said the MOU is to formalize a relationship that’s been in place for many years allowing CVSWMD to store some equipment at the wastewater treatment facility. Councilor Lauzon noted he owns the building in Barre City where CVSWMD leases space, and offered to recuse himself from the decision-making. Councilors did not require such recusal. Council approved the MOU on motion of Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. 2 To be approved at 03/22/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Mayor Hemmerick resumed chairing the meeting. From Consent Agenda: (F) Authorize Manager to Execute North Main Pump Station Step III Construction Engineering Agreement. Manager Mackenzie said this phase of the project will lead to putting it out to bid with the hopes of construction being completed by late fall. The Manager said the funding sources for the project include the previously mentioned congressional earmark, voter-approved bond funding, and the Northern Borders Regional Grant. Council authorized the Manger to execute the agreement on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. E) Approve Purchase of 2022 Police Cruiser. Deputy Police Chief Larry Eastman said they are requesting Council approve sole source purchase of a cruiser from MHQ for July 1, 2022 delivery. Deputy Chief Eastman said this cruiser is included in the capital equipment plan for FY23, and approval prior to the start of the new fiscal year is due to supply chain issues. The life expectancy of cruisers is 6 years with the first four years serving as a front line vehicle, and the last two years being a detail vehicle. Resident Bernadette Rose asked about the funding mechanism, and if this is the same source of funding as public works equipment. Manager Mackenzie said equipment purchases are funded out of the capital equipment fund, and such purchases are based on the Capital Equipment Plan, which is updated annually. Council approved waiving the procurement policy requirements related to sole source purchases, and allow the sole source purchase of the cruiser as requested on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. F) Preview/Discussion of Strategic Planning Contract – No Action. Council reviewed the draft contract with Fio Partners LLC, and made suggestions for adjustments to the sections on limitations of liability and arbitration. Fio consultant Jim Berson said he will work with Manager Mackenzie on amending the contract, which will come back for Council consideration at next week’s meeting. G) Review/Approval of 2022 Coin Drop Requests. Approved as part of the consent agenda. Announcements/Upcoming Events – Mayor Hemmerick reviewed upcoming Council agenda items, and said he is working on a meeting schedule for the next year. Council will get an update from the Manager Search Task Force at next week’s meeting, and is scheduled to make appointments to the Housing Working Group at the same meeting. Councilor Stockwell asked to have a discussion about limiting use of the auditorium on the day before an election to allow for election set-up. It was noted the Vermont Principals Association holds the annual high school basketball tournaments each year on the days around Town Meeting Day, with games held the day before the election. Set-up for the election cannot happen until the games get over around 10:00 PM Monday evening. Manager Mackenzie said the games are part of a two-week rental of the auditorium, and the revenue is important to the City. Clerk Dawes thanked those who helped with the late night set-up this year. Round Table – Councilor Deering said he feels very welcomed as a new Councilor. Councilor Waszazak called attention to the fundraiser being held at Rise Up Bakery to benefit Ukranians. 3 To be approved at 03/22/2022 Barre City Council Meeting He said the Police Advisory Committee had a great meeting last night. Councilor Lauzon said he has been bringing himself up to speed by reviewing recent City audits and the State Auditor’s TIF audit from last summer. He offered everyone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and kudos to the UVM Catamounts men’s basketball team for being in the NCAA March Madness tournaments. Councilor Lauzon noted Planning Director Janet Shatney is filling many shoes due to vacancies in her department, and asked what is being done to fill those vacancies. Manager Mackenzie said ads are out for the permit administrator position, and the City has been struggling to fill the assessor position for more than a year, with no success to date. Manager Mackenzie said the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual St. Patrick’s Day breakfast on Thursday, and will be honoring Barre City businessman Bob Nelson, who has a long career of service to the community. Mayor Hemmerick reported on the following:  Thanked everyone for their patience as he is coming up to speed in his new role as Mayor.  Gusto’s is hosting a Red Nose fundraising event on Sunday, March 20th, to benefit Capstone Community Kitchen.  Shared a list of upcoming trainings being offered by VT League of Cities and Towns.  VT Municipal Bond Bank is offering a capital planning forum in April.  Burn permits are now available. Executive Session – NONE The meeting adjourned at 8:22 PM on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. The meeting was recorded on the video meeting platform. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4