City Council

To be approved at 07/16//24 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held July 02, 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 (via remote) and Councilor Emel Cambel; from Ward II, Councilor Amanda Gustin 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: none Adjustments to the Agenda: Amend 07/03/2024 Warrant-Addition-Friends of the Winooski River- $47,812.00 Visitors & Communications: none Approval of Consent Agenda: A. Approval of Minutes: i. Regular meeting of June 25th, 2024. ii. Special City Council Meeting of Thursday, June 27th at 4pm B. Clerk’s Office Licenses and Permits; Firework Permit-Barre Partnership-approved C. Authorize the Manager to execute contracts; none D. Ratify Council’s 6/25/24 approval of a $108,000 with IXOM Watercare-Potable Water Circulation Equipment for the Barre West Hill Reservoir –Saving staff time to physically inject chemicals due to the lack of the mixer. E. Authorized Quitclaim deed to merge City owned lots with the Cow Pasture-accepted warranty deed from Marilyn Ford foe the purchase of 1.1 acres. Authorizing the annexation of those purchased lots, as well as several other city owned lots adjacent to the Cow Pasture. Acquired with ERSA funds. F. Set 2024/2025 tax due date; Sept 16th, 2024 Nov. 15, 2024 Feb. 17, 2024 May 15, 2024 G. Approve 2024-2025 Council appointments Moved for approval by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Stockwell. Approved 4-a. Approval of Warrants from Week of July 3th, 2024 AP Check Register dated 07/03/2024-(amended) $645,875.46 1 To be approved at 07/16//24 Barre City Council Meeting Payroll dated 07/03/2024 $161,382.36 Moved for approval by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. –Approved (Councilor Spaulding Abstained) City Clerk & Treasurer Report – 599 August Primary absentee ballots were mailed on June 27, 2024. Sample ballots are available for viewing on the City’s website, as well as directions on casting a ballot properly. City Clerks office will be closed July 4th & 5th for the Independence holiday. Liquor Control Board/Cannabis Control Board – None City Manager’s Report – Manager Storellicastro reported on the following: Pool passes are available at the Aldrich Library, donated by Rotary Club and Kiwanis Club these family passes may be check out on a daily basis. Barre pool will be closed July 4th. Paving projects are on schedule and going smoothly. Farwell St and Merchant St are finished and provide a nice ride if you are inclined to take a drive. Carol Dawes’s consulting role for Clerk/Treasurer ends Friday, July 5th, she will be transitioning to a contracted position managing TIF funds for the City. Friends of the Winooski will be providing public information on E.coli in the Stevens Branch River, as well as testing. Individuals within the community are posing as City Assessing staff. Please ask for I.D., check emblem on vehicles or call City Hall for verification. Barre City was awarded 3 million dollars for the Prospect Heights project. The project is moving forward. New Business – A) Approve ARPA-$250,000 revolving loan fund/trust- Angie Harbin & Tess Taylor Barre Housing Task force – Amortized and Non-amortized loans of $20,000 maximum, would be made available for qualifying applicants at below market interest rates. The scope of work that would be allowable/qualifying are health and safety codes, infrastructure or weatherization. All interest income would revolve back into the Barre City Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF). This proposal was tabled with the promise of returning with more information on subjects and concerns brought up by the Council members. 2 To be approved at 07/16//24 Barre City Council Meeting B) Approve Downstreet Housings request for City approval to access DCF funding for Quality Inn Project. Downstreet Housing and Community Development will be purchasing the existing Quality Inn at 173 Main Street in Barre City. Downstreet will continue to operate the building as a hotel that primarily rents rooms to individuals and families with urgent, unmet housing needs, but will increase on-site support services with the goal of helping occupants identify more stable housing options. Following the purchase, estimated fall 2024, Downstreet will begin an occupied rehab that will include painting the building exterior, adding 3 ADA units, addressing health and safety issues throughout, and making structural upgrades. Vermont’s Department of Children and Families has issued a Request for Proposals for funding to develop, expand, and operate emergency shelter capacity to be online by December 1, 2024. While this site is and will continue to be a hotel, it may be eligible to receive funding under the RFP. To access funding through this RFP, Downstreet needs approval from Barre City. This approval is not for a change of use, but only acknowledges a change of ownership of the hotel, continued operations as a hotel that rents rooms to people experiencing homelessness, and the intent to increase on-site support services. Motion carried by Councilor Spaulding, seconded by Councilor Cambel – Approved by Councilor Stockwell & Councilor Waszazak. Voted against the motion; Mayor Lauzon, Councilor Gustin, Councilor Deering C). Public Hearing warned 7:00 pm Close out of the VCDP Implementation Grant 07110-IG-2020-Barre C-51 Barre Recovery Residence (Downstreet Housing) Held/closed Upcoming Business – Next Council meeting is July 16nd, 2024. Prospect Heights moving forward-EMG push. Flood Resiliency DRAFT-Up Date (Councilors Gustin & Waszazak) Round Table – Councilor Stockwell- documentary “Just Getting By” was viewed at the Paramount and was well done. Councilor Spaulding- documentary “Just Getting By” was very sobering. Please if you have the opportunity to see this, do so. Councilor Deering- expressed his planned reflection of what Independence Day means to him. Councilor Gustin- recognized this is the 100 year anniversary of Vermont State Parks. Go outside and enjoy one of the many. . Public Broadcast ended 7:59pm Councilor Deering moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Councilor Waszazak. Motion carried unanimously. 3 To be approved at 07/16//24 Barre City Council Meeting The open portions of the meeting were recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl A. Metivier, City Clerk 4