City Council

To be approved at 05/17/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held May 10, 2022 The Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order in person and via video platform by Mayor Jake Hemmerick at 5:00 PM at Barre City Hall. In attendance in person or virtually 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 Human Resources Director Rikk Taft, Planning Director Janet Shatney, and City Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Others present: Members of the Manager Search Task Force: Amanda Gustin, chair, and Michael Sitton; Stephanie Clarke from White + Burke. Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Executive Session – Councilor Stockwell made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of personnel discussions associated with the city manager search, and property acquisition, would clearly place the City of Barre at a substantial disadvantage should the discussions be public. The motion was seconded by Councilor Lauzon. Motion carried. Council went into executive session at 5:01 PM to discuss personnel and property acquisition under the provisions of 1 VSA § 313 on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Rikk Taft, Amanda Guston, and Michael Sitton were invited into the executive session for the personnel discussions. Motion carried. Mr. Taft, Ms. Guston and Mr. Sitton left the executive session at 6:30 PM. Janet Shatney, Carol Dawes and Stephanie Clarke were invited into the executive session at 6:33 PM for the property acquisition discussions. Council came out of executive session at 7:13 PM on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. There was no action taken. Mayor Hemmerick said the regular Council meeting will begin at 7:20 PM. The meeting adjourned at 7:14 PM on motion of Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. There is no recording of this meeting. Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held May 10, 2022 The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order in person and via video platform by Mayor Jake Hemmerick at 7:20 PM at Barre City Hall. In attendance in person or virtually 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, Planning Director Janet Shatney, Public Works Director Bill Ahearn, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. 1 To be approved at 05/17/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Absent: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: The Keith Avenue item was moved from the consent agenda to the end of the new items agenda. Visitors and Communications – NONE Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Cambel. Motion carried on roll call vote. A. Approval of Minutes: i. Regular meeting of May 3, 2022 B. City Warrants as presented: 1. Approval of Week 2022-19, dated May 11, 2022: i. Accounts Payable: $144,065.15 ii. Payroll (gross): $132,131.73 C. 2022 Licenses & Permits: NONE D. Accept Resignations of the 3 Members of the Barre City Energy Committee i. Elaine Wang ii. Phil Checchini iii. Conor Teal E. Approve Acceptance of Dry Hydrant Grant from VACD (VT Association of Conservation Districts) F. Authorize Contract with Stone Environmental, Inc. for Keith Avenue Site Closure Plan [moved to end of new agenda items] Councilors thanked the Energy Committee members for their years of service to the Community. City Clerk & Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Dawes reported on the following:  Fourth quarter property taxes are due by May 16th, as the 15th is a Sunday.  House bill 444 containing the City’s 2021 and 2022 charter changes has passed both legislative bodies and is headed to the Governor’s desk for his signature.  Completed the TIF spring monitoring visit earlier today with representatives from the VT Economic Progress Council (VEPC). Liquor Control Board – Council approved the alcohol day use permit request from CVMA Community Health for their employee retreat at Rotary Park on May 12th, from 3 – 8 PM on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Cambel. Motion carried on roll call vote with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Mackenzie said he had nothing to add to his written report. There was discussion on using the same zoom link for multiple meetings held consecutively; ongoing negotiations on the North Main Street pump station project; progress on retaining an ARPA consultant, and creating a tracking spreadsheet for appointments; and the impact of staff vacancies on the City’s ability to offer springtime curbside pickup of yard waste. Councilor Lauzon thanked the Manager and Barre Town for extending the stump dump drop-off dates through this week. Unfinished Business – NONE 2 To be approved at 05/17/2022 Barre City Council Meeting New Business – A) Downtown Parking Study Update. Stephanie Clarke from White + Burke and Andy Hill from DESMAN spoke of the final parking study, and noted the study showed no statistical parking shortage, although there may be a perceived shortage. Structured parking is not advised. There was discussion on possible parking adjustments that might be tied to future development projects; short-term options; funding sources including TIF; wayfinding improvements; smart meters and kiosks; and changes in parking needs post-pandemic. Council expressed their thanks to Mr. Hill and DESMAN’s work on the parking study. B) Approval of VTrans Merchant Street/Rte. 14 Intersection Design. VTrans employees Taylor Sisson and Nick Bredice, and Public Works Director Bill Ahearn reviewed the plans for the Merchant Street/Route 14 intersection project. Mr. Sisson said the changes are to address safety concerns, as there is a history of collisions at the intersection. The plan calls for creating a T- intersection and stop sign coming from Merchant Street onto Route 14, and creating a left turn lane from Route 14 onto Merchants Street. The project will also replace the water & sewer lines and make stormwater improvements in that area. It is 100% federally funded with no required local match. Construction is slated for the 2023 season. Transportation Advisory Committee chair Michael Hellein said the TAC supports most of the project, but isn’t in favor of the left turn lane. The TAC wishes to discourage the left turn lane in an effort to discourage traffic in the Merchant Street residential neighborhood. Mr. Hellein said there are pedestrians in the area of the intersection, and they should be accommodated in the plan. Mr. Ahearn said the intersection serves residents in the surrounding areas, and the left hand turn would provide them with safer access to the area. He said a crosswalk in the area is a possibility. Councilors, VTrans representatives, Mr. Ahearn, and community members Rosemary Averill, Renita Marshall engaged in a discussion on traffic control in the project area including traffic calming measures on Route 14 north of the intersection, and additional traffic calming along Merchant Street; whether the left turn lane will increase traffic on Merchant Street; accommodating pedestrians in the area; adding sidewalks in the area around Hope Cemetery; the connection between property values in neighborhoods and available street maintenance funds raised through property taxes; and speeding issues throughout the City. Council approved the VTrans design as presented on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Lauzon. Motion carried on roll call vote, with Councilors Boutin, Lauzon, Waszazak, Cambel and Deering voting in favor, and Mayor Hemmerick and Councilor Stockwell voting against. Other – moved from consent agenda) Authorize Contract with Stone Environmental, Inc. for Keith Avenue Site Closure Plan Manager Mackenzie gave the background on the project and the environmental remediation measures being taken on the site. Public Works Director Ahearn said completion of the closure plan will allow the City to get its SMAC letter (Site Management Activities Completed). The Manager noted this isn’t a new contract; it’s an amendment to an existing contract. Council approved authorizing the contract amendment on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried on roll call vote. Upcoming Business – NONE 3 To be approved at 05/17/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Round Table – There was discussion on the number of Green Up Day trash bags various Councilors filled. Councilor Boutin said last Saturday’s Blow Up for Glow Up event was a success. The meeting adjourned at 8:57 PM on motion of Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. The meeting was recorded on the video meeting platform. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 4