City Council

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, August 5, 2025, 7:00pm IN PERSON LOCATION: Council Chambers, City Hall 6 N. Main St., Barre, VT Item 1. Call to Order; 7:00pm Item 2. Adjustments to Agenda; Add Executive Session-Personnel Remove Item 4F Item 3A-Resolution #2025-14 Recognizing Granite City Blast baseball team. Granite City Blast baseball team will be leaving on Monday, August 11, 2025 for their trip to Cooperstown, the team will represent Barre at a national event, in addition to working hard on the field, the team worked just as hard off the field, raising $30,000 to make the trip possible The team represents a strong tradition of youth baseball in Barre, and we are confident that these youngsters, their coaches, and families will represent the very best of Barre. The Barre City Council commend the Granite City Blast baseball team and wish players Michael Anderson, Keegan Bergeron, Henry Booth, Zachary Bradley, Tuckerman Cotton, Callahan Farnham, Evan Folsom, Cameron Fortier, Corbin Larabee, Miles Marineau, Keegan Myers, and David Texeira and coaches Jordan Bergeron, Tyler Bradley, Chris Fortier, and Andrew Myers the very best as they embark on their trip to the hallowed baseball grounds of Cooperstown. Item 3B-Resolution #2025-15 In appreciation of Assistant City Manager-Dawn Monahan Dawn Monahan was hired as Finance Director by the City of Barre in January 2019 and in November 2022, Dawn was promoted to become the City’s first ever Assistant City Manager, after having ably led the Finance Department and being a stand-out member of the City’s leadership team. In the aftermath of the 2023 and 2024 floods, Dawn assumed direct management and oversight of the City’s FEMA claims, which has resulted in millions of dollars in reimbursement over the last two years without any disapproved claims in that time. Dawn has been committed to her profession, and many professional achievements of which she should be very proud, including years of stellar financial audit results. Dawn has been integral behind the scenes to many successful initiatives, both large and small, including the acquisition of the new public works facility, headworks bond, and hiring a new class of lifeguards for the 2024 season. As Finance Director, Dawn has been responsible for crafting City budgets that have received broad community support, including delivering hundreds of thousands of dollars of savings, and managing our finances so well that the City was not required to absorb any new debt to respond to the 2023 and 2024 floods. The Barre City Council wishes Dawn Monahan the very best as she departs her role as the City’s Finance Director and first ever Assistant City Manager, and does hereby declare Friday, August 22, 2025 to be “Dawn Monahan Appreciation Day” to express to Dawn our most profound appreciation and sincere thank you for her dedicated service, and wish her the very best in her new role. Item 3. Visitors & Communications; John LePage-Would like to know when the next discussion on the Berlin St bridge possible removal will take place. The Mayor explained the grant funding did not go through so at this point the funds are not there to proceed. Item 4.Consent Agenda; A Approval of Minutes- 7/1/25 B. Licenses & Permits; Event-National Night Out – August 5th 5-8pm C. Approve 143 N. Main St initiative MOU with BADC (Barre Area Development Corp) Steve MacKenzie-Current total raised $740,000 with a goal of $850.000 of which $800,000 asking price and $50,000 is dedicated to unexpected expenses. D. Approve certificate of project completion for the $900,000 biosolids bond E. Authorize the Manager to execute contract(s) • White + Burke Up to $60,000 x This is a TIF-approved expense and will be paid out of TIF increment. • Cemeteries software- Cem Sites $39,500 x Ongoing annual license is $5,000, remaining cost is one-time implementation (i.e. data collection, data input, GIS mapping, etc.). - Fund source is interest earnings from Cozzi Fund and Capital Improvement Fund. - Annual license will be built into the annual cemeteries budget moving forward. • Finance Director Transition and FY25 Audit Assistance- Dawn Monahan Up to $18,600 - Anticipated 300 hours at $62/hour (rounded current hourly rate) Motion to approve the Consent Agenda was moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Bergeron, approved Item 4a. Approve City Warrants; i. Approve week 8/6/25 ii. Ratify week of 7/23/25 & 7/30/25 Motion to approve City Warrants moved by Councilor Bergeron, seconded by Councilor Gustin, approved *Councilor Spaulding abstaining Item 5. City Clerk Report; The due date for the 1st quarter is Friday, August 15th. The office excepts check or cash payments, but there is still the option of paying online through our payment portal. The link is available on our websites cover page, look for the blue dollar bill icon. The Clerk’s office also offers EFT options, this is not viable for this current payment, but may be utilized for the remaining three quarters by simply completing the application available online at; barrecity.org The Board of Civil Authority (BCA) will be gathering to conduct a voter checklist “clean up”. Members will go through the voter list to determine which parties should receive challenge letters, asking if they still are Barre City residents and would like to remain on the active voter list. Item 6. Liquor / Cannabis Control Boards; none. Item 7. City Managers Report; August 1st was the first round of FEMA buy-outs date. Attended the VT Economic Progress Meeting with TIF Admin Carol Dawes Grating of Allen St., Prospect St. and Berlin St will begin with the hopes to have all paving complete by the end of September. Councilor Deering inquired if a crosswalk at the Allen St. and Prospect St. intersection would be incorporated into the paving plan. The Manager thought the prep plan had included this but would confirm as soon as possible. Item 8. New Business; A. Flood Resiliency Plan update (Gustin) Focusing on infill development, Tess Taylor, with the assistance of Samn Stockwell, took the reins in outlining the next steps for analyzing and using the data from the study done by Central VT Regional Housing Committee. Tonight, focused on property owned by the City of Barre, which lots would be deem viable for housing of some manner. The City has 141 parcels, of which 19 checked many boxes, however only 5 came out on top for development. More studies will be forthcoming, and the results will be shared with the Council as they come. An upcoming goal is a Public Awareness Campaign, educating the public about opportunities, creating grab-and-go packets for services, permitting info, financing, etc. for ADUs and/or subdividing properties. B. Discussion of CDBG-DR (Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery) pre-applications The pre-applications submissions were due today, August 5th, and with much teamwork they were submitted successfully and timely. Combining the housing projects with hopes and the infrastructure hopes aided in solidifying the big ask. Keeping in mind, these funds are coming to Washington county to assist communities damaged by the 2023 flooding with expectation that a large percentage is used for housing. The final application is due  September 30th with decisions by November 20th, 2025. All funds must be used with six years of issuance. The City has three focal points for housing, including, 143 N. Main St., Prospect Heights and the North End. Receiving this money would be pivotal and transformative. C. Appoint a temporary committee to draft a long-term redevelopment plan Forming a long-term redevelopment plan committee to create one big plan converging data from many other studies and committees to support funding needs and future funding opportunities should be in place. A housing plan from these other-named committees would be led by Tess Taylor and include David Sichel, State Representative Teddy Waszazak, Amanda Gustin and Thom Lauzon. Motion to Appoint a temporary committee to draft a long-term redevelopment plan was moved by Councilor Spaulding, seconded by Councilor Bergeron, approved. D. Discuss Communication among and during Council meetings and correspondence Councilor Hilgartner shared her idea on how the in person and email correspondence should be conducted. Piggybacking the Councils current policy, but also including rude, unnecessary and unkind words or comments during meetings or within emails from or to constituents. Reminding the Council and viewers to exemplify model behavior and take steps to respond in any communication in a respectful manner whether in agreement or not. Item 9. Upcoming Business; Mayor Lauzon; Completion of final CDBG-DR grant applications. Review water & sewer rates for the Town of Barre and adjust if appropriate. Councilor Gustin; Housing Revolving Loan Flood Resiliency Plan update Councilor Spaulding; Look into the Orange Reservoir – concerns of in grown/vegetation taking over Manager; New Water & Sewer rates Edward Jones accounts updates-Carol Dawes (Treasurer) Item 10. Round Table; Mayor Lauzon; Thank you to Councilor Spaulding & Councilor Hilgartner for hosting the recent Ward I area meeting. Thank you to Traci Lewis of the Barre Partnership for all her efforts and success putting together the details and execution of the Heritage Festival. A great deal of background and behind the scenes work is done yearlong to create this event for our community and surrounding communities to enjoy. Thank you to all the participants, vendors, volunteers for making this a safe and glorious event. Councilor Deering; Thank you to all the Public Safety staff in hosing the “National Night Out” event. Thank you for pushing the time of the Council meeting back to 7pm so Council members could participate. Councilor Hilgartner; Thank you to all the Public Safety staff in hosing the “National Night Out” event. Thank you for pushing the time of the Council meeting back to 7pm so Council members could participate. Councilor Gustin; Attended the Queer Festival at Barre Town. Thoroughly enjoyed the vendors. Attended a watch party for Vermont Greens game. As a committee member of the Salvation Army, announced a “Stuff-a-Truck” event Sat at Walmart seeking school supplies. Councilor Bergeron; Thank you for recognizing the Barre Blast baseball team. Councilor Spaulding; The Ward I meeting was informative and appreciated all who came to share ideas and concerns. Attended the Queer Arts Festival in Barre Town. Volunteering to assist parking cars, she felt it was well attended and had a good feeling. Councilor Routhier Happy of the progress in the road construction and paving has made. Looking forward to the finished product. Item 11. Executive Session – Personnel Motion to move the findings for Executive Session was moved by Councilor Spaulding, seconded by Councilor Hilgartner, approved Motion to enter Executive Session was moved by Councilor Bergeron, seconded by Councilor Deering, approved at 8:40pm Motion to exit Executive Session was moved by Councilor Bergeron, seconded by Councilor Hilgartner, approved Item 12. Adjournment; Motion to adjourn moved by Councilor Bergeron, seconded by Councilor Hilgartner, approved Adjourned; 9:00 pm Next regular meeting is scheduled for August 26th, 2025, at 6pm. The open portions of the meeting were recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl A. Metivier, City Clerk