City Council

To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting Regular Meeting of the Barre City Council Held May 20th, 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, Councilor Sonya Spaulding, Councilor Beth Hilgartner ; from Ward II, Councilor Amanda Gustin and Councilor Jeff Bergeron; and from Ward III, Councilor Don Routhier, Councilor Michael Deering. City staff members present were City Manager Nicolas Storellicastro, Chief Brad Vail, TIF Administrator Carol Dawes, and Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Metivier. Absent: none Adjustments to the Agenda  Please note that the correct resolution numbers for items 3-a (A) and (B) are #2025-08 and #2025-09, respectively.  Manager requested an agenda item #4-b to provide approval for all actions necessary to effectuate closing on 277 Morrison Road, which is scheduled for June 2, 2025. The suggested motion is below, and this action will require ratification at the June 3, 2025 Council meeting. o Motion to accept the Warranty Deed for the City’s purchase of the +/-6.43-acre property at 277 Morrison Road in Barre Town; to approve a warrant for $3,010,000 to the City Attorney’s IOLTA account for the purchase; to waive recording fees; and to authorize the City Manager to execute the closing statement and any other documents necessary and advisable to close on the transaction, subject to final review and approval by the City Attorney.  Manager requested an executive session on legal issues to be added to the agenda. The Council will be updated via email about the contents of the executive session.  Councilor Spaulding requested 4(D) from consent agenda be moved as a separate item  Councilor Spaulding requested 4(F) from consent agenda be moved as a separate item Visitors & Communications – Lisa Liotta- Quoted and wanted to confirm the Mayor would keep his word (past statements made at Council meetings) in regards to attendees discussions and questions and whether the (2) minute time limitations would be enforced. Bernadette Rose- Provide statistics and written literature about tick prevention and detection. Steve Mackenzie, Vice President for the Barre Area Development, introduced the new Executive Director Josh Jerome. Josh then spoke of his passion for Barre City and how he hopes to make a huge impact on the development of a better and bigger downtown, and City as a whole. 4. Consent Agenda A. Approval of Minutes i. Meeting of 5/6/25 B. Clerk’s Office Licenses & Permits – Emslie’s Florist-Mural Unveiling Sat. June 21st. C. Volunteer appointments (Police Advisory Committee, Transportation & Public Works) Sandy Rousse (Police Advisory Committee) and Steve Mackenzie (Transportation & Public Works) 1 To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting Recommend that Sandy be reappointed to a 2-year term, and that Steve be reappointed to 2-year terms. D. Approve Civic Center Improvement fund use policy (moved to 4d.) E. Ratify 5/6/25 appointment of Cheryl Metivier as Acting Treasurer F. Approve amendments to the Rules of Procedure (moved to 4c.) G. Approve local emergency management plan H. Authorize the Manager to execute contract(s) The motion to approve the Consent Agenda was moved by Councilor Spaulding, seconded by Councilor Deering-approved 4-a. Approve City Warrants i. Approve week of 5/21/25 ii. Ratify week of 5/14/25 The motion to approve the City Warrants was moved by Councilor Spaulding, seconded by Councilor Bergeron-approved (Councilor Gustin abstained) Mayor Lauzon recused himself from the following action. Councilor Michael Deering led the council on the following action. 4-b Provide approval for all actions necessary to effectuate closing on 277 Morrison Road, which is scheduled for June 2, 2025. Motion to accept the Warranty Deed for the City’s purchase of the +/-6.43-acre property at 277 Morrison Road in Barre Town; to approve a warrant for $3,010,000 to the City Attorney’s IOLTA account for the purchase; to waive recording fees; and to authorize the City Manager to execute the closing statement and any other documents necessary and advisable to close on the transaction, subject to final review and approval by the City Attorney was moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Bergeron, approved. 4-c. Approve Letter of Support for wetlands provision contained in S102, boosting housing development Danielle Owczarski spoke to the Council on compromising wetlands and flood storage, concerned about shrinking buffers and the repercussions and the effect on future flooding. State Rep. Teddy Waszazak spoke of concerns of increased landslides if increased development in wetlands are allowed. Motion to approve Letter of Support for wetlands provision contained in S102 was moved by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Bergeron. Nays; Councilor Hilgartner, Councilor Gustin, Councilor Spaulding Yeas; Councilor Deering, Mayor Lauzon, Councilor Bergeron, Councilor Routhier 4-d. Approve Civic Center Improvement fund use policy- Council decided to defer the conversation until the next meeting. 4-e. Approve amendments to the Rules of Procedure Additional language to the rules of procedure were discussed, including noting any message, text or chat during 2 To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting a meeting would become public record. Motion to approve amendments to the Rules of Procedure was moved by Councilor Hilgartner, seconded by Councilor Gustin, approved. 5. City Clerk & Treasurer Report Election results may be viewed on our website; barrecity.org. Three of the results are reflected on the Council podium tonight, Welcome! 4th quarter property taxes collection are finished and the office is moving closer to closing the quarter and the year. 6. Liquor/Cannabis Control Boards Summer Street Tavern –Outside Consumption Permit Motion to approve presented Liquor License renewals moved by Councilor Bergeron, seconded by Councilor Deering, approved. 7. City Manager’s Report The severe storms over the weekend, did not result in major damage. Main St. did not pool as it had in the past. Critical areas around the City were monitored periodically over the duration of the storms. Regroup App is the best way to stay informed of local (Barre City) weather events, emergencies, road closures etc. It is easy and free. Paving on Merchants Row begins May 21st. The DPW have been actively prepping the area prior to the paving team due to begin. Rental Registry is beginning with a due date of June 30th. All non-owner occupied residents, apartments or accessory dwellings need to complete the registration process with the Planning and Permitting Department. The Winooski River Water Shed meeting was informative and inclusive at a regional level. Learning the way water ways and flows from neighboring communities effect Barre City, and how what we may be doing can impact our neighbors downstream. Barre City seems to be ahead of neighboring communities in recovery due to lots of hard work and great ideas put to use. The “Stump Dump” in Barre Town is still available to City residents open Saturdays 8-12, and Tuesdays 10- 3pm. 8. New Business A. Barre Pride event update – Erica Reil updated the Council and attendees of all the activities planned for the 5th Barre Pride-Baked with Love event scheduled June 7th at the City Hall Park. Food Trucks, games, bake sale and a silent auction are in development. A full schedule of events will be available within the next 8-10days. Councilor Gustin invited the Council to a friendly challenge for donations. 3 To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting B. Review TIF development agreement Stephanie Clarke of White + Burke Real Estate Advisors gave an introduction on behalf of the Stevens Branch Apartments Team, the new TIF project to support the construction of affordable housing on Seminary Street. The materials in the packet are the basis for the infrastructure work the City is proposing to provide and the Substantial Change Request required to get VEPC approval for the use of TIF. It will be a legal agreement to be signed between City and Downstreet Housing & Community Development bringing affordable housing into the TIF district area. This will not affect the tax rate and will grow the grand list. C. 1st Reading Warned 7:00PM: Ord. #2025-02 Public Conduct Ordinance (Mayor) Being called to discussion at 7:29pm, the initial question in the reading was brought by Councilor Spaulding, noting the Mayor consulted with City attorneys and paid out of pocket for those services. Stating the action was a loophole, or the policies only apply to some. And motioned to table the reading of the 1 st reading of the Public Ordinance, seconded by Councilor Hilgartner, failed. Yays; Councilor Spaulding, Councilor Hilgartner Nays; Councilor Deering, Councilor Gustin, Councilor Bergeron, Councilor Routhier, Mayor Lauzon Presented as an additional tool the police department could use to assist in the increasing “quality of life” occurrences. The ordinance creates boundaries on behavior, including child occupied areas, areas moneys are handled, and where public gatherings are occurring. Classifications A, B and C levels marking the seriousness in offenses “A” being the most serious, with penalties collaborating with each level. Attendees (Constance Godin, Mary Fifield, Ginger Cloud, Jeremy Spiro-Winn, Rachel Van Vliet, Danielle Owczarski, Mel Cambel, Christopher Roberts, Ellen Kaye, Joelen Mulvaney, Tom Treece, and Councilors alike voiced strong opposition to this ordinance. Overwhelmingly calling the ordinance language too vague, an opportunity to discriminate against the unhoused, stating it had not been reviewed through the equity tool and may be unevenly applied and wondered if all offenses within the document were not already against the law. State Attorney Michelle Donnelly, spoke of criminal offenses vs civil and stated the vague language should be tightened up. Community member and business owner Rich McSheffrey plead with the Council to allow the ordinance to pass to give the local law enforcement members the additional tool to help curb the increasingly growing lawless behavior. A motion to move the approval of the 1st Reading Warning of Ord. #2025-02 Public Conduct Ordinance was motioned by Councilor Bergeron, seconded by Councilor Deering, approved. Nays; Councilor Gustin, Councilor Hilgartner, Councilor Spaulding Yays; Councilor Routhier, Councilor Bergeron, Mayor Lauzon, Councilor Deering D. Flood Resiliency Plan update (Gustin) Adopted November 12, 2024 the plan has been moving forward successfully with many projects going strong. The question is, how to classify the “done” projects, or is there such a thing as done? Some attendees suggested specific events as “done” such as the removal of the train trestle. While some may classify as done, yet still require periodic maintenance, would these be considered done. Setting and 4 To be approved at the next Barre City Council Meeting meeting benchmarks could be a tool to gage completion of projects. Future projects suggested-traffic calming in relation to roadway water run off-water table reporting-water table education and workshops-implementing an app similar to the “See-Click-Fix” (acknowledging that during emergencies calling dispatch is the best route) Asking for input, nothing was set in stone, but ideas and suggestions are welcome. 9. Upcoming Business Mayor Lauzon will be petitioning Legislature and the 50 million dollars designated for Washington County on behalf of the City of Barre. Councilor Bergeron- Update on Civic Center “Sanders Funds” Councilor Spaulding- Update on BADC fund raising goals. 10. Round Table Councilor Deering-Thursday 5:30-7pm @ Old Labor Hall – Empty Bowl fundraiser $10-$15 per Bowl Councilor Gustin-Pam Wilson-artist, will be assisting at the Empty Bowl fundraiser River Walks May 28th & 31st (exploring the green space) Councilor Bergeron-Proud of the work the Veterans do raising all the flags up and down Main St. and throughout the cemeteries. Councilor Spaulding- Welcome to the newly elected Council members. Thank you to Samn Stockwell for all the great work done as Ward 3 Councilor. Councilor Routhier- Thank you to the constituents who voted him as Ward 3 Councilor. Reminder; Memorial Day Parade, May 30th 10am. 11. Executive Session – none 12. Adjournment Motion to adjourn moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Spaulding, approved Meeting adjourned at 9:37 pm Next regular meeting is scheduled for June 3rd, 2025 at 6pm. The open portions of the meeting were recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl A. Metivier, City Clerk 5