City Council

To be approved at 08/02/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held July 26, 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 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 City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro, Finance Director Dawn Monahan, Deputy Fire Chief Joe Aldsworth, and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Also present: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: NONE Visitors and Communications – NONE Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. A. Approval of Minutes: i. Regular meeting of July 19, 2022 B. City Warrants as presented: 1. Approval of Week 2022-30, dated July 27, 2022: i. Accounts Payable: $225,751.78 ii. Payroll (gross): $130,219.77 C. 2022 Licenses & Permits: NONE City Clerk & Treasurer Report – Clerk/Treasurer Dawes reported on the following:  Absentee ballots for the August 9th primary are available. Voters may stop by the office to vote or pick up their ballots, or call to request them by mail. Liquor Control Board – Council approved a catering permit application from Cornerstone Pub & Kitchen for a beer tent on Church Street for this weekend’s Heritage Festival, on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Storellicastro noted the following:  Reminder the library is available as a cooling center during the extreme hot weather.  The municipal pool has been busy. Swimming lessons have started, and the pool is a free meal site for those up to 18 years old.  Summer camps have ended for the year.  Last Saturday’s free tire drop for residents collected 1,551 tires. Unfinished Business – NONE 1 To be approved at 08/02/2022 Barre City Council Meeting New Business – A) Appointment to the Planning Commission – Raylene Meunier. Raylene Meunier expressed her interest in serving on the Planning Commission. Council approved the appointment on motion of Councilor Boutin, seconded by Councilor Cambel. Motion carried. B) Approval of FY21 Fund Balance Allocations. Manager Storellicastro reviewed the FY21 fund balance, and the proposed $233,219 assignment from the fund balance to the capital fund. It was noted the assignment was made at a budget workshop on December 18, 2021, but wasn’t properly warned, nor timely ratified. Councilor Waszazak made a motion to allocate $233,219 from the general fund balance to the capital fund, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Councilor Lauzon reviewed the history of past fund balances, and the charter language adopted in 2012 that allows the City to hold an undesignated fund balance up to 5% of the budget. He said there are questions as to whether it’s appropriate to make an allocation at this point, when the fiscal year closed on June 30th. There was discussion on assigning $233,219 from the fund balance to the capital fund, capital needs around the City, prior Council discussions on the proposed transfer, and the legal opinion received from City Attorney Oliver Twombly on the charter language. Councilor Stockwell made a motion to call the question, seconded by Councilor Cambel. Clerk Dawes noted such a motion requires 2/3 approval. Motion did not pass with Mayor Hemmerick and Councilors Stockwell, Cambel and Waszazak voting in favor, and Councilors Lauzon, Deering and Boutin voting against. Finance Director Dawn Monahan said the assignment of $233,219 to the capital fund would be booked in FY22. There was continued discussion on the effect of the proposed assignment on the fund balance, capital needs outweighing capital funding, and when paving work is scheduled to begin. Council voted on the motion as presented. Motion carried with Councilor Lauzon voting against. Councilor Lauzon made a motion that the City retain any fund balance up to $641,817.00 as of June 30, 2022 as an undesignated fund balance for future use as allowed under Section 601(b) of the City Charter, and - recognizing its obligation under Section 601(b) of the City Charter – use any General Fund Balance in excess of $641,817.00 as of June 30, 2022 to reduce the 2023-2024 municipal tax rate. The motion was seconded by Councilor Boutin. It was decided to have further discussion on these topics at next week’s meeting. The mover and seconder withdrew the motion. C) Discussion of Municipal Tax Rate for FY23. Manager Storellicastro reviewed his briefing memo, and said staff’s recommendation is to not use any additional fund balance towards the tax rate. Clerk Dawes said preliminary calculations indicate an overall reduction in the tax rates. The grand list will be lodged later this week, and the tax rate will be calculated and presented to Council for approval at next week’s meeting. Upcoming Business – NONE Round Table – Councilors talked about this coming weekend’s Heritage Festival, and their float in the parade. Councilor Lauzon noted the success of last Saturday’s tire drop-off, and said the Additional Recyclables 2 To be approved at 08/02/2022 Barre City Council Meeting Collection Center (ARCC) on N. Main Street will take tires for a nominal fee. Councilor Waszazak reminded everyone to vote on the August 9th primary, either early/absentee or in person. Clerk Dawes said she received word today of a bequest left to Hope Cemetery. She will have more public details in the near future. Manager Storellicastro said his family was here over the weekend, as they haven’t moved to the City yet. They spent time at the municipal pool, and are looking forward to making Barre City their home. Executive Session - NONE The meeting adjourned at 8:17 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 3