City Council

To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council - Draft Held January 28th, 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 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Barre, Vermont. In attendance were: From Ward I, Councilors Emel Cambel and Sonya Spaulding; 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: Adjustments to the Agenda – Executive Session is necessary legal and a personnel matter. Visitors & Communications – *BUUSD Superintendent JoAn Canning and BUUSD Board Chair Michael Boutin – Sharing information of the proposed BUUSD budget set to be voted on in the March 4th, 2025 BUUSD election. The goal is to maintain the quality of education for the students while lowering the budget, in hopes to create a budget voters will approve the 1st time around. Through compromise they reached 4.95%, which does not negatively impact students and curtailed some expenses. *Peter Anthony and Danielle Orwzanski from the Barre City River Access Task Force. Information on the grant money received through Friends of the Winooski River, and how the group was going to apply the funds for a scope study tailored to finding ideal access points to the river, and to build an access point from Rotary Park. A community input meeting is scheduled for Feb11th, from 5-7pm at the Aldrich Library. This is open to all, and snacks will be available. *Beth Mueller spoke high praise for all contributors who managed to create a warming shelter for the unhoused during the extremely frigid temperatures. Tess Taylor, Keith Cushman, Joe Aldsworth and Tom Baker and Barre PD, together were successful in finding a warm, safe space at the Barre Auditorium. Consent Agenda A. Approval of Minutes i. Approve minutes from 1/14/25 B. Clerk’s Office Licenses & Permits-none C. Appoint Manager as ethics liaison (Appoint HR Director with Manager as alternate liaison) Will be ratified. D. Approve certificate of highway mileage E. Approve Planning Commission letter of support for future battery storage facility F. Approve Gopher program letter of support G. Authorize the Manager to execute contract(s) Motion to approve consent agenda made by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Cambel-approved 4-a. Approve City Warrants i. Ratify week of 1/15/25 and 1/22/25 ii. Approve week of 1/29/25 5. City Clerk & Treasurer Report 1 To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting Motion to approve city warrants-Move made by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Cambel – (Councilor Spaulding abstained) – approved 5. City Clerk & Treasurer Report- *The 15 elected Justices of the Peace were sworn in last night. I wish them well and I am looking forward to working side by side with them through the terms. *The Clerk’s office would like to remind the community, Dog Licenses are up for renewal with a final due date of April 1st. Please register your dog with our office prior to April 1st deadline to avoid late fees. *As we reach the end of the month, we are a few short weeks away from the 3rd quarter tax payment due date of February 17th. We have verified that the additional school education tax balance from the 2nd quarter will be included in the payments for those who have the tax payments paid via escrow accounts or through Direct Debit with the City. 6. Liquor/Cannabis Control Boards – none 7. City Manager’s Report *Urged community members to complete the budget survey. It will be a useful tool in constructing the upcoming budget. *Flood repairs to City Hall are nearly complete with the relocation of the DPW offices set for February. *Thank you to Tess Taylor, in gathering the necessary staffing, supplies and space for the Warming Shelter at the Barre Auditorium. Church members in the area contributed time, supplies and staff to get the project together. *Federal spending freeze may impact grants and funds that are not obligated at this time. Flood grants from 2023 are okay, because they are obligated. The buyouts are secure because they are obligated. 8. New Business A. Volunteer appointment a. Cow Pasture Stewardship Committee Emily Hoffman- Motion to approve the Volunteer appointment to the Cow Pasture Committee made by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Cambel-approved B. Approve Cow Pasture Stewardship Committee charge Chris Russo-Fraysier gave a narrative of the projects completed and visions of future goals. The mission statement/charge still current and has stood the test of time. Motion to approved the Cow Pasture Stewardship Committee charge moved by Councilor Spaulding, seconded by Councilor Gustin-approved. C. Youth First Mentoring presentation – Sally Russel New to the area, the program is designed to bring compatible mentoring adults in the community and youth ages 8-18yrs together to provide mentoring, teaching to set goals, reach goals, grow through learning and instill values that will benefit the youth later in life. Meant to serve all youth in the area, but have joined with local schools and organization to connect with the most vulnerable and at risk youth, the group hope to establish roots within the community in order to provide optimal mentoring and support. The 2 To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting organization is in need of funding and is open to partnering with others to collaborate on funding opportunities. D. 1st Reading Warned 7:00 P.M. Ord. #2025-1: Open Meetings Law updates- Changes- pg 55-Sec 2-21 -omit “every” Pg 57-sec 2-61 –strike “may” insert “shall” - strike “monthly” insert “quarterly” Motion to approved 1st Reading Warned Ord. #2025-1: Open Meetings Law updates (with corrections) moved by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Gustin-approved E. Approve amendments to Rules of Procedure Changes-page 71 (B) strike second “city” in line one. Page 73 (6) stike “than 300 words” – next to last line Page 73 (6) omit “shall” insert “may” Page 75 (6) omit “shall” insert “may” Motion to approved amendments to Rules of Procedure (with corrections) moved by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Gustin-approved F. Flood Resiliency Plan Update (Gustin) –Manager-  67: Buyout applicants  28 approved by the City  $124,564: Estimated property taxes lost if all buyouts close  17: Buyouts “approved” by FEMA, including all 5 landslide buyouts Areas include; the North End, Vine St/Scampi Sq/Berlin area, Gunner Brook area, River/Granite St. & Landslide areas. G. Accept VHB Prospect St/Berlin St report With the suggestion of VHB to narrow the street, stripe the street, and clear vegetation. The Council agreed move forward with the plan and gave the projects a timeline to review of 4-6 months. Motion to Accept VHB Prospect St/Berlin St report moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Deering-approved H. Councilor resignation procedures – The council reviewed the current procedures outlined in Roberts Rule of Order. However, Councilor Spaulding and Councilor Stockwell requested further discussion and clarity, with a specific procedure to follow across the board. No action was taken. 9) Upcoming Business; Councilor Stockwell- additional updates and/or information of public safety ordinances specific to panhandling. Councilor Gustin – Focus on finding a new DPW location Updating the Flood Resiliency Plan 10) Round table; Councilor Deering – Thought the presentation from the Youth Mentoring Service very impactful, and had never heard of this program but it is a step in a direction for younger community members need. Councilor Spaulding- Thankful for the information from BUUSD Superintendent JoAn Canning and Michael Boutin provided and urged registered voters to request absentee ballots and get out to vote. Thanking the community for the humbling recognition of OML violations, and it is difficult to admit to these actions. Corrections have been made and the Committees and Councils will be more diligent. 3 To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting Mayor Lauzon – Thanking Tess Taylor for her hard work and quick action to put a Warming Shelter in place during some of the coldest temperatures of this year thus far. Recognized Governor Scotts support in funding for the Prospect Heights project. Finding for the need for executive session were moved by Councilor Stockwell, seconded by Councilor Cambel-approved Motion to move into executive session were moved by Councilor Cambel, seconded by Councilor Deering-approved Motion to exit executive session were moved by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Cambel-approved Motion to adjourn meeting moved by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Cambel- approved Meeting adjourned at 9:36 pm Next regular meeting is scheduled for February 11th, 2025 at 6pm. The open portions of the meeting were recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl A. Metivier, City Clerk 4