City Council

To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council (Draft) Held January 7th, 2025 at 6pm Council Chambers-Barre City Hall The warned Regular 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, Councilor Emel Cambel; from Ward II, Councilor Amanda Gustin (remote); and from Ward III, Councilors Samn Stockwell and Michael Deering. City staff members present were City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro and Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Metivier. Absent: Councilor Sonya Spaulding Adjustments to the Agenda – Replace item C on the Consent Agenda with designation of Clerk and Manager as authorized representatives for bond requisition. Visitors & Communications – *Ellen Kaye-Would like to have the link to meeting place on the top of the meeting agendas as in the past. *Poa Mutino-Proposed a use for the 143 N. Main St. lot. He would like a Community Center space for all local and regional communities to enjoy. *Bernie Allen, Jim McWilliams (Civic Center Marketing Director) and Robert MacLeod – The group spoke highly and fondly of the Barre Civic Center and the value it is to the community and potential it could offer for future events, including more regional school sporting events, including the VPA semi-final and finals for Wrestling teams, more elite events like the currently scheduled Governor Inaugural event scheduled for January 11th. The banner sponsorship has increased substantially, bringing revenue for improvements or equipment. *John LePage-Would like the community to be kind and civil in discussions. Consent Agenda A. Approval of Minutes i. Meeting of December 30, 2024 B. Clerk’s Office Licenses & Permits-none C. Authorize the manager to execute contract(s) - Designation of Clerk and Manager as authorized representatives for bond requisition. Motion to approve consent agenda made by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Cambel- approved Approve City Warrants i. Approve week of 01/08/2025 Motion to approve city warrants-Move made by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Cambel - approved 1 To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting City Clerk & Treasurer Report – Dog license renewal are due now through April 1st. Please provide most recent rabies vaccination certificate with all renewals. Licensing payment can be made in office, or online at barrecity.org. All relevant information, name, Barre City address, mailing address, contact phone number and rabies certificate must be provided, as well as payment prior to processing. Parking permits are now on sale. Day permits are annual, and allow you to park at any green top meter in the City. Overnight parking permits are semi-annual, and allow you to park in designated parking lots and parking places within those lots. More details are available on our website; barrecity.org. Liquor/Cannabis Boards-none Managers’ Report- Sewer lines work on N. Main St. is almost complete. There will be a Public Safety forum on Monday January 13th, at Alumni Hall, Chief Brad Vail will be present for question. The forum is for the community to share concerns, ideas and solutions to issues within the City. A thorough conversation with the City’s attorney validated the legality of Councilor Waszazak’s vote for the now approved $400,000 sponsorship toward the purchase of 143 N. Main St. New Business- A. 2nd Reading Warned 6:20PM Ord. #2024-03: Winter Parking Ban- Closed- Motion moved Acknowledging the 2nd Reading Warned 6:20PM Ord. #2024-03: Winter Parking Ban made by Councilor Deering, and seconded by Councilor Cambel. B. Discuss resident FY26 budget survey- The discussion lead to agreement in the value of a survey for the community to participate in as long as it relevant to Barre City issues, and can follow the clarity and simplistic format of the example from the survey developed by Port Hope. The concerns revolved around the survey answers being compromised and who would we allow to take the survey, but also should include all residents property owners and renters. C. Set elevation funding priorities-The allotted $900,000 would be divided with a cap of $300,000 per recipient. However if the cap was not met by a recipient, those funds could be utilized for another project. The initial (13) applicants have been dwindled down to (9). The search for additional resources to pair/team up with are still in progress. The current homes are on the Berlin, Vine and River Streets. D. Approve legal services policy-A policy was presented, laying out the rules for seeking legal advice within the Council, Mayor and Manager roles. All request should pass through the Managers office, unless there was a conflict of interest. The transparency in doing so, should be foremost. This will be placed on the next agenda for approval. E. Flood Resiliency Plan update (Gustin)- The Barre Auditorium was the focus. The City received $3,451,000 Congressionally Directed Spending grant, through USDA. The original project was scoped at $6,275,000. It has been communicated to the City that the project can continue with the “funded amount” as long as it covers the categories in the original application. Scope includes: HVAC, electrical, ADA upgrades. In November 2024, City was awarded $499,752 Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) grant. Half of the funding will support upgrades at the Auditorium, and the other half at City Hall. Scope at the Auditorium 2 To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting includes: building envelope, lighting, HVAC. This funding can contribute to the balance of the CDS grant. MERP funding requires no match, and the City has started to contact architects to begin design F. Approve warning for February 13, 2025 Ward Caucus to elect a Councilor from Ward II (Clerk)- The Legal Voters of Ward II in the City are hereby warned to Caucus at the Alumni Hall Second Floor Conference Room on Auditorium Hill on Thursday, February 13th, 2025 at 7:00 P.M. for the purpose of making nominations and electing a candidate to fill the vacant position of Councilor for Ward II until the next Barre City Annual Town Meeting Day Elections to be held on May 13th, 2025. Nomination of candidates will be made from the floor by the legal voters of Ward II present, and voting will take place by Paper Ballot. Adopted and approved by the Barre City Council held on January 7th, 2025. Motion to approve warning for February 13, 2025 Ward Caucus to elect a Councilor from Ward II moved by Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Deering. Up Coming Councilor Deering- upgrading cement stairway on back entrance to the Barre Auditorium. Councilor Stockwell-Review/update; amending vacant housing ordinance -Minimum housing ordinances for Air B&B’s -Grant funding updates Councilor Gustin-Amending housing ordinances/vacant buildings -Micro grants Round Table Councilor Deering-Drive safe Councilor Gustin-Grateful for the community support since her surgery Mayor-Attending Governor Scotts Inaugural Ball on January 11th at the Barre Auditorium Motion to move findings for executive session by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Cambel- approved Motion to enter executive session moved by session by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Cambel-approved Motion to exit executive session moved by session by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Cambel-approved Motion to adjourn moved by Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Stockwell, approved Meeting adjourned at 8:21pm Next regular meeting is scheduled for January 14th, 2025 at 6pm. The open portions of the meeting were recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl A. Metivier, City Clerk 3