City Council

To be approved at 10/22/24 Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council (Draft) Held October 8th, 2024 Council Chambers-Barre City Hall The scheduled Meeting of the Barre City Council was called to order in person and via video platform by Mayor Thomas Lauzon at 6:02 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Barre, Vermont. In attendance were: From Ward I, Councilors Emel Cambel (remote) and Sonya Spaulding; from Ward II, Councilors Amanda Gustin and Teddy Waszazak (remote) ; and from Ward III, Councilors Samn Stockwell and Michael Deering .City staff members present were City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro, Finance Director/Assistant Manager Dawn Monahan and Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Metivier. Absent: Adjustments to the Agenda –Move item (G) to (B) on the New Business section of the agenda. Visitors & Communications: Peter Anthony consider expanding child care when planning neighborhood investments, with higher standards and compensation. The need is dire and young families would find that attractive when searching for housing and employment. Amy Galford –Please consider the rerouting of emergency vehicles, school buses and commuter buses when weighing options for raising the Berlin St bridge. Approval of Consent Agenda: A. Approval of minutes i. Regular Council meeting Tuesday, September 24th, 2024 (Corrected) B. Clerk’s Office License & Permits-none C. Authorize Manager to execute contracts- none D. Designate the Manager as a voting delegate at VLCT, PACIF, and VERB annual meetings Motion moved by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Gustin- approved 4-a. Approval of City Warrants A Ratify warrant from week of October 2, 2024 B. Approval of warrants from week of October 9th, 2024 Moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded Councilor Stockwell – Approved (Councilor Spaulding abstained) City Clerk & Treasurer Report General election ballots have been sent, as well as the Bond vote ballots. We have gotten 300+ undeliverable ballots returned to the Clerk’s office. If you have not received one yet, please reach out to the office @ 802-476-0242, we may have it here. All ballots can be returned directly to the office during normal hours, or by placing the ballot in one of our (2) convenient drop boxes. Liquor/Cannabis Control Boards - none 1 To be approved at 10/22/24 Barre City Council Meeting City Managers Report *Stump dump is available for use. See “Barre Town” website for hours of operation. *FEMA still has closed its operation at the Auditorium. *Cashiers and skate guards are needed for the upcoming skating season. . *Information on the Headwater Bond vote will be up on social media and other platforms to provide more information. New Business A. Public hearing warned 6:15pm: TIF substantial change (Carol Dawes) Mayor Lauzon opened the public hearing at 6:15 PM. TIF Administrator Carol Dawes reviewed the details surrounding the TIF substantial change request, and noted the process requires this public hearing, and Council approval to submit the request. The Mayor asked for additional comments or questions, and hearing none, closed the public hearing. Council authorization to submit the substantial change request was moved by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Deering - approved. B. Issue a charge to the JEDIB committee (Mulvaney) Would like to use VT equity assessment tool. https://racialequity.vermont.gov/sites/reap/files/doc_library/SOV%20IA%20Tool%20%5BRev%202022-08-18%5D.pdf Use this tool when looking at ordinances, with a lens on equity Charge=divide into (2) groups Use the assessment tool when non-profits are asking for funding Better criteria when appointing members Fair removal processes. Clear guidelines for acceptance. C. FY25 Budget Update – Dawn Monahan • $14.8M total expense budget • $10.1M to be raised by property taxes • $246,000 in savings identified by staff • $1M from the state legislature for operational flood relief Revenue FY24 Enacted FY25 Proposed (Change from FY24) Property taxes & PILOT 78% 72% (6%) City Generated Revenue 21% 20% (1%) Federal & State Assistance 1% 8% +7% $246K in savings $1M in state funding 0.2% increase in municipal taxes • January 2025 o Council budget kickoff of Staff budget congress • February 2025 o Council budget briefings o Partner presentations (Aldrich, Barre Partnership, BADC) • March 2025 o Council budget briefings/seminar on Preliminary Budget presented to Council • April 8, 2025 o Warned budget for Town Meeting Day • May 13, 2025 o Town Meeting Day D. Amend municipal bodies and appointments policy 2 To be approved at 10/22/24 Barre City Council Meeting Motion moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Deering – approved with a review of the policy in 120 days. E. Discuss suspension of the Winter Parking Ban. The Manager would like to use a system similar to Burlington. Parking would be allowed unless the city initiates the snow ban for a duration of a storm, notifications consisting of; •Barre City Resident Alerts via ReGroup Mobile App (Coming Soon!) •VT-Alerts (https://vem.vermont.gov/vtalert) •Facebook page (@BarreCityVT) •Website (barrecity.org) Residents could still purchase parking permits for guaranteed parking, but could also use the BOR parking lot as an off street option during snow emergencies. The Pilot program may become permanent upon success. Councilor Waszazak suggested possibly notifying landlords and placing some responsibility to inform tenants of the process of the Pilot program. The final take on the program is to ease the parking burden, but ensure during snow events the Public works department can plow, and clear snow without obstacles in the way. F. Discuss use of elevation funding The funding may cover (3) properties of the current (13) intakes. Some of the objective standards that should be considered: •substantial damage •no FEMA buyouts •number of units the process would help •financial need •probability of flooding again and again. G. Presentation of Prospect Heights housing project tax base impacts (Mayor) The project is approx. 37 acre lot off Prospect St and Jacques St., primary of single family housing, approved locally in 1991. The design will have to be re-engineered for today’s land use, water supply, waste water and storm standards. The preliminary cost estimated at $6m, resulting in approx. 50 single family homes (or duplex/triplex) and two larger lots supporting a 32 unit and 48 unit respectfully. This project was named #1 on the CVRPC regional priority list with $2,875,870.00 in funds secured through grants, and another $60,000 in the works through ACCD Community Development. Project timeline; Nov 2024 Consultants will be chosen and contract drafted/executed. Winter/Spring 24/25 Engineer / Due Diligence completion Summer/Fall 2025 Construction ready plans and permits Jan-Feb 2026 Bid process and bid award Spring 2026 Ground breaking Fall 2026 Completion Councilors would like to plan a boundary walk soon. Upcoming Business Councilor Stockwell – CVRPC update priorities Infill projects TIF update Grants for downtown developments Bus stop at North Barre Manor Update on 4way intersection at Berlin St/Prospect St/Westwood Pkwy 3 To be approved at 10/22/24 Barre City Council Meeting Councilor Spaulding – What can be done about W. Patterson St. and can we inform the community. Round Table Councilor Deering – Substitute teachers are needed at every school. Think about providing some assistance for the school System. Councilor Gustin – Tess shared a conversation on the unhoused and on a warming center. Floor resiliency meetings by ward; Ward 1 – 10/16 at Spaulding High School Ward 2 – 10/21 at Aldrich Library Ward 3 – 10/23 at the Labor Hall Councilor Spaulding – commented on the Flood Resilience Forum, with the sobering message and the vast resources made reference to within the piece. She encouraged all to watch. Adjournment- moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Stockwell- approved Meeting adjourned at 9:07pm Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 22th, 2024. The open portions of the meeting were recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl A. Metivier, City Clerk 4