City Council

To be approved at 04/05/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held March 29, 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, Finance Director Dawn Monahan, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: Moved acceptance of Reina Dean’s resignation from the Police Advisory Committee to the consent agenda. Added appointment to Central Vermont Public Safety Authority board to the new items agenda. Rearranged new agenda items to accommodate those in attendance. Visitors and Communications – NONE Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items as adjusted on motion of Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. A. Approval of Minutes: i. Regular meeting of March 22, 2022 B. City Warrants as presented: 1. Approval of Week 2022-13, dated March 30, 2022: i. Accounts Payable: $461,141.61 ii. Payroll (gross): $137,185.32 C. 2022 Licenses & Permits: 1. Food Establishments: i. Snack Shack, 515 N. Main Street D. Acceptance of Rich Morey’s Letter of Resignation from the Manager’s Search Task Force E. Acceptance of Reina Dean resignation from Police Advisory Committee. [moved from new agenda item C] 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.  Brian Judd has filed paperwork to have the Vermont Supreme Court reconsider its recent decision in Judd v. City of Barre. Liquor Control Board – It was noted the liquor license renewal applications were not included in the Council packet. Clerk Dawes said that step is required for annual renewals as per City policy and agreement with the Division of Liquor Control. The applications will come to the Council next week. Council approved an educational sampling event permit from Matt Poquette for the VT Burlesque Festival at the Barre Opera House on April 22nd on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie said the only addition to his written report is that the cast on his left arm will be removed tomorrow. 1 To be approved at 04/05/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Unfinished Business – NONE New Business – B) Amendment to Municipal Bodies & Appointments Policy. Mayor Hemmerick reviewed draft amendments to the policy. Council made additional adjustments around posting deadlines, language regarding youth appointees, numbers of board and committee members, and providing reasonable accommodations as needed. Council approved the policy as amended on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Deering. Motion carried. Councilor Lauzon asked to have a discussion at a future meeting on use of executive sessions for appointments to committees and boards. C) Police Advisory Committee Resignation & Appointment. i. Resignation of Reina Dean [moved to consent agenda] ii. Appointment of Sandy Rousse Resident Sandy Rousse expressed her interest in and experience around the Police Advisory Committee. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. D) Planning Commission Appointment (One Vacancy) i. Rosemary (Lynn) Averill ii. Joe Reil Residents Rosemary Averill and Joe Reil expressed their interest in and experience around the Planning Commission. It was noted there is one vacancy on the Planning Commission at this time. Councilor Lauzon tendered his resignation from the Planning Commission so as to create another vacancy. Council accepted Councilor Lauzon’s resignation, and approved appointing both Ms. Averill and Mr. Reil to the Planning Commission on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. E) Warned for 7:30 pm: Downstreet Housing’s request for approval of VCDP Application for Granite City Apartments Project and adoption of Resolution 2022-02. Mayor Hemmerick opened the hearing at 7:53 PM. The Mayor noted this grant program is administered through the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development. He said he works for ACCD, but has no involvement with this grant program. Nicola Anderson, Director of Real Estate Development for Downstreet Housing, said the $500,000 grant will help fund the creation of nine apartments in the old Ward 5 school building, and make improvements to the Bromur Street apartments. There was discussion on federal requirements for surveillance; outreach in the Ward 5 school building neighborhood; concerns about lack of sidewalks, paving issues, blind curves and stormwater runoff in the area; Transportation Advisory Committee review of intersections in the area for increased traffic. Mayor Hemmerick closed the hearing at 8:06 PM. Council approved the application and resolution 2022- 02 on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Cambel. Motion carried. A) Barre Area Development Corporation Appointments i. Appointment of Manager Mackenzie as Staff Representative ii. Nomination & Appointment of Council Liaison Manager Mackenzie recommended the staff representative be the City Manager by title; not a particular named person. Council approved appointing the sitting City Manager as the staff representative to the BACD board on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. 2 To be approved at 04/05/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Councilor Deering volunteered to be Council liaison to the BADC board. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried. Added) Appointment of City representative to Central Vermont Public Safety Authority Board. Montpelier resident Steve Whitaker noted one of Barre City’s representatives tendered his resignation back in December, and the CVPSA charter calls for such vacancies to filled within 45 days. There was discussion on state initiatives to upgrade dispatch systems and improve cellular coverage statewide, and it was noted funding may flow through public safety authorities. Councilor Cambel volunteered to be appointed to the CVPSA board as one of Barre City’s representatives. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. F) American Rescue Plan Act Funding Community Outreach. Mayor Hemmerick reviewed his memo on a proposed process to collect public feedback, which includes engaging a consultant. There was discussion on using data from the All In For Barre community visit, using the upcoming strategic planning process to help inform the work, reviewing infrastructure needs before soliciting community ideas, reviewing the division of funds informally agreed upon by the previous Council, and using online surveys to gather community input. Council approved the proposal as outlined by the Mayor on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin voting against. G) Update on the Status of Bond Projects & Upcoming Capital Equipment Items. Manager Mackenzie reviewed his spreadsheets and noted 56% of the bond projects have been completed, and 69% of the funding has been expended. The largest outstanding project is the replacement of the North Main Street pump station. There was discussion on the funds allocated for review of the Merchant’s Row project, and the Quarry Street intersection project. H) Update on Planning Permitting Assessing Department Staffing. It was noted there are concerns about the ongoing vacancies for the assessor and permit administrator. Manager Mackenzie said the wages for the positions have been increased, and they’ve been re-advertised. Payroll Clerk Heather Grandfield, who was the previous permit administrator, will be working approximately 2 days/week to help with processing permits. There was discussion on the pros and cons of hiring a headhunter, and asking Barre Area Development Corporation to help spread the word. Upcoming Business/Events/Council Liaison Reports – Mayor Hemmerick reviewed items on upcoming Council agendas including:  Possible 6PM executive session next week  Bringing youth art to City Hall  Updates from the Manager’s Search Committee  Accept resignation from Tree Stewardship Committee  Openings on the Energy Committee  Discussion on cost-share for water/sewer ARPA funded dispatch equipment  Purchase of body and cruiser cameras for the Police Department Round Table – Councilor Stockwell noted the ongoing Front Porch Forum discussions on roaming cats and dogs, and asked if the City’s Animal Control Officer will capture feral cats. Manager Mackenzie said yes. 3 To be approved at 04/05/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Councilor Boutin said Wobby Jewelers owner Mary Jane Magnan was recently featured on the Barre Business Hour. Ms. Magnan said she frequently hears people say there’s nothing happening in Barre, but last summer she vowed to attend all activities to see firsthand all the great things happening in the area. Councilor Boutin said he is looking forward to a tour of the new Rainbow Bridge Community Center. Mayor Hemmerick reported on the following:  Sunday’s welcome event for Police Chief Braedon Vail was wonderful.  There will be a seed swap this weekend at the Aldrich Library.  Interviewed by Spaulding High School civics students.  Housing Working Group met. Executive Session – NONE The meeting adjourned at 9:10 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