City Council

To be approved at 8/22/23 Barre City Council Meeting Special Meeting of the Barre City Council Held August 15, 2023 The Special Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order in person and via video platform by Mayor Jake Hemmerick at 5:35 PM at Barre City Hall, Barre, Vermont. 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 and Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes. Absent: NONE Others Present: NONE Adjustments to the Agenda: Councilor Lauzon asked to add an executive session to discuss real estate. Visitors and Communications Steve Finner asked that additional porta potties be made available around the City. Approval of Consent Agenda: Council approved the following consent agenda items on motion of Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Motion carried. A. Approval of Minutes: i. Regular meeting of August 8, 2023. B. City Warrants as presented: 1. Approval of Week 2023-33, dated August 16, 2023: i. Accounts Payable: $216,773.77 ii. Payroll (gross): $141,395.51 C. 2023 Clerk’s Office Licenses & Permits: i. Entertainment Licenses: i. Rainbow Bridge Community Center, community cookout in Currier Park, Saturday, August 19th, from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM. City Clerk & Treasurer Report – City Clerk/Treasurer Carol Dawes reported on the following:  The Tax Year 2023 grand list was lodged today, and the tax bill file is scheduled to be created on Thursday. Tax bills will be mailed by the end of August, and the first quarter installment due date is October 2, 2023. There was a brief period of Zoom bombing, where people logged in for the purpose of being disruptive. Liquor Control Board/Cannabis Control Board – Council approved a tobacco substitute license for Grab N Go convenience store at 377 N. Main Street on motion of Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Lauzon. Motion carried with Councilor Boutin abstaining. City Manager’s Report – Manager Storellicastro reported on the following:  Debris collection is continuing through this week. City-provided dumpsters have been removed and will not be replaced. The hazardous waste drop-off site at the Civic Center is closing the end of this week. 1 To be approved at 8/22/23 Barre City Council Meeting  The FEMA disaster recovery center at the auditorium will remain open until September 9th. There was discussion on the old railroad bed that runs through the City, and was involved in a number of the recent flood-related landslides. Manager Storellicastro said the current focus is on the areas that still pose a threat, but the entire length of the railroad bed will be evaluated. The Manager said the City is working to reschedule the tire collection originally planned for mid-July. There was a request to also allow commercial tires to be collected, for a fee. New Business – A) Approval of FY24 municipal and local agreement tax rates. Clerk Dawes reviewed her memo and calculations for the municipal and local agreement tax rates. Support materials included a letter from the state setting the education tax rates, and the 411 report from the lodged grand list. The Clerk’s memo included the following breakdown: Homestead Taxes Tax rates Proposed municipal tax rate $2.1094 Proposed local agreement tax rate $0.0052 Homestead education tax rate set by state $1.4066 TOTAL homestead tax rate $3.5212 Non-Homestead Taxes Tax rates Proposed municipal tax rate $2.1094 Proposed local agreement tax rate $0.0052 Non-Homestead education tax rate set by state $1.6808 TOTAL non-homestead tax rate $3.7854 Council approved the total homestead and non-homestead tax rates as listed above on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Cambel, and requested that the calculation sheet and supporting documents be part of the permanent record. Motion carried. Upcoming Business –  Award paving contract for flood-related paving work at August 22nd meeting. Round Table – Members of the Council and the Manager participated in this morning’s tour of flood-damaged area with state representatives including members of the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs. There were also opportunities to offer testimony later in the day. Councilor Boutin thanked Councilor Waszazak for shutting down the Zoom bombing so expeditiously. Councilor Stockwell said she volunteered last weekend with the River Conservation Group, making repairs to the river bank and pathways near Rotary Park that were damaged in the flooding. Councilor Lauzon said the Barre Community Relief Fund is now accepting applications. He encouraged people to make donations or submit applications, and noted there’s a $50,000 matching challenge available. Mayor Hemmerick noted the presence of vactor trucks from other communities providing service in the City. Manager Storellicastro said other towns have been offering significant support in the aftermath of the flooding. 2 To be approved at 8/22/23 Barre City Council Meeting Executive Session – Councilor Lauzon made the motion to find that premature general public knowledge of potential purchase of real estate would clearly place the City of Barre at a substantial disadvantage should the discussions be public. The motion was seconded by Councilor Cambel. Motion carried. Council went into executive session at 6:13 PM to discuss potential purchase of real estate under the provisions of 1 VSA § 313 on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Boutin. Manager Storellicastro was invited into the executive session. Motion carried. Council came out of executive session at 6:45 PM on motion of Councilor Lauzon, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 PM on motion of Councilor Waszazak, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried. The open portions of the meeting were recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, Carolyn S. Dawes, City Clerk 3  FY24 property tax rates - APROVED 8/15/23 CITY OF BARRE, VERMONT 2023-2024 TAX RATE CALCULATION APPROVED 8/15/23 DATA INPUT: EDUCATION RATE (PROVIDED BY TAX DEPARTMENT) Education Homestead Rate 1.4066 from PVR 6/30/23 Education Non-Homestead Rate 1.6808 from PVR 6/30/23 GRAND LIST TY23 5,044,032.3400 lodged 8/15/23 (TY22: 5,022,887.60) AMOUNT TO BE RAISED BY TAXES: Amount To Be Raised By Taxes (General Fund) 10,066,676 Special Ballot Items: Paving / Street Reconstruction/Capital Improv. 403,245 Voter Approved Assistance 136,601 People's Health & Wellness 3,000 Washington County Mental Health 10,000 Barre Area Development Corp. Inc. 20,482 Total Special Ballot Items 573,328 A) TOTAL TO BE RAISED BY TAXES 10,640,004 B) GRAND LIST (lodged 8/15/23) 5,044,032.34 MUNICIPAL FY24 TAX RATE (DIVIDE A BY B) 2.1094 MUNICIPAL FY24 TAX RATE (approved 8/15/23) 2.1094 Grand List Applicable Taxpayer LOCAL AGREEMENT COMPONENT: Amount Education Rate Cost Voter Approved Contracts and Exemptions 4,050.00 1.6808 6,807.24 Homestead Veteran Exemptions Beyond $10,000 11,100.00 1.4066 15,613.26 Non-Homestead Veteran Exemptions Beyond $10,000 2,100.00 1.6808 3,529.68 TOTAL LOCAL AGREEMENT (IN DOLLARS) 25,950.18 LODGED GRAND LIST (as of 8/15/23) 5,044,032.34 LOCAL AGREEMENT TAX RATE (DIVIDE LA dollars by GRAND LIST) 0.0052 Municipal tax rate plus local agreement rate (approved 8/15/23) 2.1146 FY23 municipal tax rate plus local agreement rate - for comparison purposes 2.0319 MUNICIPAL AND EDUCATION TAX RATE MUNICIPAL AND EDUCATION HOMESTEAD MUNICIPAL AND EDUCATION NON-HOMESTEAD Municipal Rate 2.1094 Municipal Rate 2.1094 Local Agreement Rate 0.0052 Local Agreement Rate 0.0052 Education Homestead Rate 1.4066 Education Non-Homestead Rate 1.6808 2023-24 RATE 3.5212 2023-24 RATE 3.7954 FOR COMPARISON ONLY: FY22-23 Total Rate (Homestead) 3.3506 FY22-23 Total Rate (Non-Home) 3.6156 FY24 Proj. Muni plus LA (pre-election) 2.1313 For Comparison Purposes FY2019 FY2020 FY2021 FY2022 FY2023 Municipal tax rate 1.8085 1.8552 1.9141 1.9578 2.0180 Local agreement rate 0.0288 0.0261 0.0234 0.0191 0.0139 Homestead education tax rate 1.2698 1.3002 1.4190 1.4268 1.3187 Non-homestead eduation tax rate 1.5658 1.6274 1.6893 1.6974 1.5837 State of Vermont Agency of Administration Department of Taxes 133 State Street Montpelier, VT 05633-1401 Notice of Education Tax Rates for FY24 As per 32 V.S.A § 5402(b)(1) the Education Property Tax Rates for your municipality have been calculated and set for FY24. Town/City: Barre City 2023 Reappraisal (blank unless reappraising): Common Level of Appraisal (CLA): 82.76% Calculation Date: 06/27/2023 for comparison, FY23 Homestead Education Tax Rate to be Assessed: $1.4066 rate was $1.3187 Your Homestead Education Tax Rate is calculated from your city/town voter-approved per pupil education spending adjusted by the common level of appraisal (CLA). for comparison, FY23 Nonhomestead Education Tax Rate to be Assessed: $1.6808 rate was $1.5837 Nonhomestead property, previously called “non-residential,” is any property which is not homestead property. Your city/town Nonhomestead Education Tax Rate is the statewide rate adjusted by the CLA. Please refer to Education Property Tax Rates | Department of Taxes (vermont.gov) for a summary table of Education Property Tax Rates for all municipalities and/or to review frequently asked questions about Education Property Taxes. If you have questions about your Education Tax Rates, please call Property Valuation and Review (PVR) at the Vermont Department of Taxes at (802) 828-5860 or email tax.pvr@vermont.gov. https://tax.vermont.gov 08/15/2023 City of Barre Grand List Page 1 of 10 09:20 am Form 411 - (Town code: 036) cdawes Main District (Taxable properties only - State and Non-tax status properties are not listed below) REAL ESTATE Parcel Municipal Homestead Ed Nonhmstd Ed. Total Education Category/Code Count Listed Value Listed Value Listed Value Listed Value ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Residential I R1 2,292 322,441,229 216,668,518 105,772,711 322,441,229 Residential II R2 4 995,900 760,700 235,200 995,900 Mobile Homes-U MHU 0 0 0 0 0 Mobile Homes-L MHL 58 6,067,663 4,773,933 1,293,730 6,067,663 Seasonal I S1 0 0 0 0 0 Seasonal II S2 0 0 0 0 0 Commercial C 274 99,117,549 1,059,180 98,058,369 99,117,549 Commercial Apts CA 92 33,782,190 245,400 33,536,790 33,782,190 Industrial I 55 15,423,600 0 15,423,600 15,423,600 Utilities-E UE 2 14,911,700 0 14,911,700 14,911,700 Utilities-O UO 0 0 0 0 0 Farm F 0 0 0 0 0 Other O 77 10,686,500 9,624,000 1,062,500 10,686,500 Woodland W 0 0 0 0 0 Miscellaneous M 265 4,159,103 0 4,159,103 4,159,103 ------ --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- TOTAL LISTED REAL 3,119 507,585,434 233,131,731 274,453,703 507,585,434 P.P. Cable 1 1,920,600 1,920,600 1,920,600 P.P. Equipment 0 0 P.P. Inventory 0 0 ------ --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- TOTAL LISTED P.P. 1 1,920,600 1,920,600 1,920,600 =============== =============== =============== =============== TOTAL LISTED VALUE 509,506,034 233,131,731 276,374,303 509,506,034 EXEMPTIONS Veterans 10K 44/44 440,000 370,000 70,000 440,000 Veterans >10K 1,320,000 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Total Veterans 1,760,000 370,000 70,000 440,000 P.P. Contracts 1 1,920,600 Contract Apprv VEPC 0/0 0 0 0 0 Grandfathered 0/0 0 0 0 0 Non-Apprv(voted) 3/3 405,000 Owner Pays Ed Tax 0/0 0 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Total Contracts 4/3 2,325,600 0 0 0 FarmStab Apprv VEPC 0/0 0 0 0 0 Farm Grandfathered 0/0 0 0 0 0 Non-Apprv(voted) 0/0 0 Owner Pays Ed Tax 0/0 0 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Total FarmStabContr 0/0 0 0 0 0 Current Use 3/3 403,500 0 403,500 403,500 Special Exemptions 9 0 675,300 675,300 Partial Statutory 2/2 613,700 0 613,700 613,700 --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- Sub-total Exemptions 5,102,800 370,000 1,762,500 2,132,500 TIF 1 Exemption 155 see footnote 64,946 9,385,493 9,450,439 --------------- --------------- --------------- Total TIFs 64,946 9,385,493 9,450,439 =============== =============== =============== =============== Total Exemptions 5,102,800 434,946 11,147,993 11,582,939 =============== =============== =============== =============== TOTAL MUNICIPAL GRAND LIST 5,044,032.34 TOTAL EDUCATION GRAND LIST 2,326,967.85 2,652,263.10 4,979,230.95 NON-TAX 217 NON-TAX PARCELS ARE NOT INCLUDED ON THE 411 EXCEPT EDUCATION TIF BASE TOTALS highlighted amount is the grand list total used to calculate the tax rates. 08/15/2023 City of Barre Grand List Page 2 of 10 09:20 am Form 411 - (Town code: 036) cdawes Main District (Taxable properties only - State and Non-tax status properties are not listed below) REAL ESTATE Parcel Municipal Homestead Ed Nonhmstd Ed. Total Education Category/Code Count Listed Value Listed Value Listed Value Listed Value ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Status on Personal Property | | 1) Has inventory been exempted by vote of town/city? Yes_XX_ No____ | | | | 2) Has machinery and equipment been exempted by | | vote of your town/city? Yes_XX_ No____ | | | | 3) If yes for #2, what portion is now exempt? | | (include percentage) _____100.00_____ | | | | 4) If no for #2, please indicate below how your town/city is | | assessing business personal property (Place "X" by option used) | | a) at fair market value _____ b) at depreciated value _____ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Summary of Adjustments to Taxable Values (Local Agreements Etc.) | | Approved (VEPC) Contracts/Exemptions 0| | Grandfathered Contracts/Exemptions 0| | Non-Approved (Voted) Contracts/Exemptions 405,000| | Homestead Non-Approved (Voted) Contracts/Exemptions 0| | Nonhmstd Non-Approved (Voted) Contracts/Exemptions 405,000| | Municipal Contracts (Owner Pays Ed Tax) 0| | Special Exemptions 675,300| | Current Use (Use Value Appraisal Program) 403,500| | Veteran Exemptions 440,000| | Homestead Veteran Exemptions beyond 10K 1,110,000| | Nonhmstd Veteran Exemptions beyond 10K 210,000| | Partial Statutory Exemptions 613,700| | Homestead TIF Exemptions 64,946| | Nonhmstd TIF Exemptions 9,385,493| * Municipal TIF payments should be included in the municipal budget when calculating tax rates. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the highlighted amounts are used to calculate the local agreement tax rate 08/15/2023 City of Barre Grand List Page 3 of 10 09:20 am CONTRACTS - (Town code: 036) cdawes Main District: Listed By Type and Date Voted DATE VOTED PARCEL ID NAME CAT. BEGINNING ENDING STATUTE CODE VALUE BEFORE CONTRACT ASSMT LESS CODE DATE DATE TITLE EXEMPTION AMOUNT CONTRACT ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 04/30/18 1345-0102-0000 THE REYNOLDS HOUSE, LLC C 04/01/20 04/01/29 2741 428,900 169,800 259,100 036-011-12505 Nonhomestead 169,800 259,100 03/02/21 1295-0105-0000 GOOD SAMARITAN HAVEN CA 07/01/21 06/30/26 2741 225,200 225,200 0 036-011-11366 Nonhomestead 225,200 0 03/31/21 0350-0051-0000 51 CHURCH STREET LLC C 07/01/21 07/01/30 2741 270,000 10,000 260,000 036-011-10177 Nonhomestead 10,000 260,000 ------,--- Non-Approved (Voted) Contracts/Exemptions 405,000 03/04/97 PP-33786A-0000SPECTRUM NORTHEAST, LLC C PC 04/01/97 / / 3848:3849 1,920,600 1,920,600 0 036-011-10628 Nonhomestead 0 1,920,600 ------,--- Municipal Contracts (Owner Pays Ed Tax) 1920,600 / / 0870-0010-0000 TRUSTEES OF THE BARRE LOD C / / / / 506,700 379,700 127,000 Partial 036-011-12970 Nonhomestead 379,700 127,000 ------,--- Non-Taxable Church Etc 379,700 / / 1095-0201-0000 STUDIO PLACE ARTS INCORPO C / / / / 390,000 234,000 156,000 Partial 036-011-10586 Nonhomestead 234,000 156,000 ------,--- Non-Taxable Church Etc 234,000 green highlights are tax stablization agreements. blue is voter-approved exemption. orange are partially tax exempt. pink is equipment (personal property) that was previously being taxed but shouldn't have been, as Barre City eliminated equipment taxes in 1997. They will still get a tax bill because they have to pay the education taxes.