City Council

To be approved at 06/25//24 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held June 25, 2024 Council Chambers-Barre City Hall The Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order in person and via video platform by Mayor Thomas Lauzon at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Barre, Vermont. In attendance were: From Ward I, Councilor Sonya Spaulding; from Ward II, Councilor Amanda Gustin (via remote) 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 Cheryl Metivier. Absent: Councilor Emel Cambel Adjustments to the Agenda: Request ratification of IXON water care purchase for next week’s agenda. Visitors & Communications: none Approval of Consent Agenda: A. Approval of Minutes: i. Regular meeting of June 17th, 2024. B. Clerk’s Office Licenses and Permits; O/C consumption expansion for Pearl St. Pizza. Bring serving area to include table out front, roped off by barrels and rope. The Church of Good Sheppard is holding an event in Currier Park to commemorate the year earmark for the July 2023 flood. Offering hope and help. C. Ratification appointment of Joshua Piascik to the Parks & Rec Committee D. Authorize the Manager to execute contract(s); Service = Drainage improvements Vendor = Lajeunesse Construction Cost/Funding = $52692.00 (FEMA hazard mitigation project as part of City Hall restoration). Repairing drainage that contributed to the damage at City Hall as a result of the July 2023 flood. (DR-4720). Moved for approval by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Spaulding. Approved 4-a. Approval of Warrants from Week of June 26th, 2024 AP Check Register dated 06/26/2024 $338,237.93 Payroll dated 06/26/24 $154,560.19 1 To be approved at 06/25//24 Barre City Council Meeting Moved for approval by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. –Approved (Councilor Spaulding Abstained) City Clerk & Treasurer Report – August 13th Primary ballots have been delivered. Absentee requests will be mailed this week. Each voter will receive (3) ballots including, Democratic, Republican and Progressive. You are instructed to vote (1) ballot and place that voted ballot in the “voted ballot” envelope, please sign this envelope. The (2) unmarked ballots are to be placed in the separate “un-voted ballots” envelope. Place both the “voted” envelope and the “un-voted” envelope in your return envelope. Return to the clerk’s office via the (2) drop boxes (front door or back drive-up). Liquor Control Board/Cannabis Control Board – None City Manager’s Report – Manager Storellicastro reported on the following: The TIF Spring Monitoring went well. Things are moving in an exciting direction, but not ready for council approval. Paving projects are on schedule and going smoothly. Upper Merchant St (Hope Cemetery end) is nearly complete and upcoming are Brook St., Merchants Row and lower Merchant St. HVAC in City Hall is complete. The City’s hydrant cooling events were a huge success, bring staff and the community kids and adults out to play together! The Barre City pool opened on Saturday, June 22, fully staffed! There are (9) lifeguards on staff for the safety of children and adults alike. New Business – A) Draft-Flood Resiliency Plan (Councilors Gustin & Waszazak) Councilors introduced an outline under (3) guidance principles; Barre City seeks to center the perspectives and experiences of its residents in a collaborative planning process toward a more flood-resilient future. (Listen to residents) Barre City will work with local, statewide, and federal partners to leverage funding, collaboration, and creative solutions. 2 To be approved at 06/25//24 Barre City Council Meeting Barre City will emphasize an understanding of climate, watershed, and natural resources in its planning. (Let nature do what it does with the least impact). Barre Flood Resiliency Plan-DRAFT.pdf Outlining the progress the city has made in connection to flood recovery, mitigation and clean-up. Including; Grant opportunities; VEM $90 million grant-for buyouts, structural elevation, dam removal, infrastructure projects, flood proofing residential and commercial properties, culverts, bridges, road relocation, soil stabilization. Application due by 11:59 pm on August 16th. EPA Community Change -$2 billion for partnership between (2) communities based on non-profit organizations. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until November 21, 2024. Data gathering forums; Barre Up takeaways; ■ Housing - Address short-term housing needs for flood affected families; support rebuilding/renovating flood affected housing; support long-term new housing development ■ Social and Community Wellbeing - Support community connections; creation of a recovery resource hub; improve the image of Barre City in the rebuilding ■ Infrastructure and Planning - Focus on City, regional, and statewide flood/hazard assessments and planning; Identify and implement City infrastructure improvements to support flood resiliency; Deeper and more inclusive emergency services planning and communication; Advance river corridor and watershed mitigation and restoration plans City/State neighborhood meetings takeaways; ■ Housing priorities: ● Mixed use developments with nearby services, housing for those navigating buyouts, development of vacant lots/infill in downtown, financial support for repairs to damaged homes ■ Resiliency priorities: ● Fix the low bridges, remove the trestle, upsize culverts, remove defunct/unnecessary dams, work with regional and state partners to take a macro look at the Watershed (what our neighbors upriver do affect us, as what we do affects those downriver, etc. Other opportunities; Gain clear understanding of city wide water flow, based on recent trends. Culvert identification and upsizing, analyzing all culverts across the city for capacity relative to expected flow to ensure they remain clear during flood events. Continued outreach around infill development and downtown vacancies. Citizen-led neighborhood flood knowledge Resident education, the City can lead workshops and informational gatherings to educate residents about small flood mitigation improvements to their own properties in keeping with good storm water planning and water flow. B) Project Management Capacity (Manager) 3 To be approved at 06/25//24 Barre City Council Meeting Manager Storellicastro explain the capacity challenge isn’t that we are missing the right people to do the work, we are missing staff to take some workload off of the existing competent staff, so those who are qualified may apply their skill sets to the more detailed and complex issues at the forefront. Staff Capacity.pdf Upcoming Business – Next Council meeting is July 2nd, 2024. Approve ARPA-funded revolving loan fund/trust. Approve Downstreet’s request for City approval to access DCF funding for Quality Inn project. Public Hearing Warned 7:00PM: Closeout of the VCDP Implementation Grant 07110-IG-2020- Barre C-51 Barre Recovery Residence (Downstreet Housing) Round Table – Councilor Spaulding- Was moved by the support, gratitude and the intake of the community diversity as she stood out on the corner of Main St and Seminary St for 6hrs to show support and lend a reminder to the community the importance of casting a vote. Supports the Vermont Food Bank Councilor Deering-Echoed how great the “Fire Hydrant” cool down event was, and how it brought out the child in everyone! Councilor Gustin- Reminder that COVID is still spreading in this community and to please test when you are not well. Please take measures to avoid infecting others by staying home. Please test! The Council and Mayor announce the need for executive session. Councilor Stockwell moved and Councilor Deering seconded. Approved Councilor Stockwell moved to go into executive session and Councilor Deering seconded. Approved Public Broadcast ended 7:40pm Councilor Stockwell moved to exit Executive Session, seconded by Councilor Deering. Motion carried unanimously. Councilor Deering moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Motion carried unanimously. The open portions of the meeting were recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, 4 To be approved at 06/25//24 Barre City Council Meeting Cheryl A. Metivier, City Clerk 5