City Council

To be approved at the 9/30/2025 Council meeting. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, September 24th, 2025, 6:00pm IN PERSON LOCATION: Council Chambers, City Hall 6 N. Main St., Barre, VT Item 1. Call to Order at 6:00 PM Councilor Gustin arrived at 6:30pm. Item 2. Adjustments to Agenda: Add Item 4-D to consent agenda to authorize the Manager to negotiate a 12-month extension on the Prospect Heights property; to be ratified at the September 30, 2025 Council meeting. Remove item 8-H(i) concerning resolution #2025-24 relating to a housing project at 143 N Main Street. Item 3. Visitors & Communications None. Item 4.Consent Agenda A. Approval of Minutes of the 9/9/25 Council meeting B. Licenses & Permits; Ratify an Event Permit for Workers Over Billionaires – City Hall Park on Thurs. Sept 18th Approve Event Permits as follows: Saturday, September 27th - 4pm to 9pm at the Barre Auditorium and adjoining parking lot: The Light Radio-“Unspoken” Concert w/ food trucks/ bouncy house, all department Supervisors have signed off. Sunday, Oct 5th – 10am to 1:30pm at Currier Park: Church services, all department Supervisors have signed off. C. Authorize the Manager to execute contract(s) There are 3 contracts for approval as follows: • $39,575 for a Wastewater Treatment Plant utility truck • $56,880 for actuated valve replacements at the Water Treatment Plant • $75,200 for a new hybrid Police Department cruiser D. Authorize 12-month extension option for negotiation of Motion to authorize the approval of the Consent Agenda dated 9/24/2025 moved by Councilor Deering --Seconded by Councilor Bergeron, approved by all. Item 4a. Approve City Warrants To be approved at the 9/30/2025 Council meeting. Approve City Warrants; i. Approve week 9/24/25 ii. Ratify week of 9/17/25 Motion to approve City Warrants moved by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Bergeron, approved. Councilor Spaulding abstained. Item 5. City Clerk Report The CVCC (Central VT Career Center) ballots have arrived at the Clerk’s office. We will be sending absentee ballots to all who have requested election ballots for the year. If you have not yet requested an absentee ballot you may contact the Clerk’s office for one. Item 6.Liquor / Cannabis Control Boards Pine Birch LLC – Catering. Private wedding at 210 Hill St. Motion to approve Liquor/Cannabis licensures moved by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Spaulding, approved by all. Liquor & Cannabis Board closes. Item 7.City Managers Report; The Managers primary focus has been on completing the CDBC-DR application that have a due date of September 30th. Paving throughout the city is completed, so traffic should resume to normal. Item 8.New Business; New Business; A. Warned for 6:15 P.M.: Public Hearing for CDBG-DR applications The Manager provided a summary of all the CDBG-DR applications to be submitted by the City. At 6:22PM, with 26 persons in attendance in-person and via the Zoom platform, Mayor Lauzon opened the hearing for the Prospect Heights Project. Resident Ed Stanak had previously submitted a memorandum to the Council and followed with detailed concerns from that memorandum cost to taxpayers, the stormwater runoff, current infrastructure shortcomings, water supply, wastewater disposal and the wetlands with the EO 06- 25 to promote housing saying the plan was done prior to this EO. Hoping bending the rules would not put lower properties at risk. Chris Dayton of Cleveland Ave expressed concerns about the vetting process and wondered whether this housing project would draw and sustain residents who strive for prosperity, safety and healthy community growth. To be approved at the 9/30/2025 Council meeting. Pat Moulton explained the vetting process, and the obligations required by the grant funds. Assuring the income levels for single and family units would sustain and foster a healthy neighborhood. At 6:50PM, seeing nobody else wishing to speak on the project, Mayor Lauzon closed the hearing. B. Resolution #2025-17 Prospect Heights housing project CDBG-DR application approval A motion to approve the Resolution #2025-17 Prospect Heights housing project CDBG-DR application was moved by Councilor Deering, Seconded by Councilor Bergeron; approved. Yay(s): Councilor Deering, Councilor Gustin, Mayor Lauzon, Councilor Bergeron and Councilor Routhier Nay(s): Councilor Beth Hilgartner, Councilor Sonya Spaulding At 6:51PM, Mayor Lauzon opened the hearing for the North End Housing Project. Justine Macris of Second St. came to the table to discuss a previously denied elevation application. The Manager explained the process, funding available and final decision process. Shayd Pecor of Third St. asked for definition of the 6yr timeline, the acquisition process, HUD assistance in new housing for those put out by the acquisitions. Mr. Pecor thanked the Council, City Manager, and all involved in helping the residents get back on their feet. The Manager did state all residents in effected areas were contacted and had consented to the plans presented for their properties in the application. At 7:07PM, seeing nobody else wishing to speak on the project, Mayor Lauzon closed the hearing. C. Resolution #2025-18 North End/Gateway housing project(s) CDBG-DR application approval A motion to approve Resolution #2025-18 North End/Gateway housing project(s) CDBG-DR application was moved by Councilor Bergeron, seconded by Councilor Hilgartner, approved. At 7:08PM, Mayor Lauzon opened the hearing for the Downtown Housing Project at 355 N Main Street. Christina Morris, resident of Barre Town and owner of Rooted Yoga, has commercial space in the section set to be eventually demolished on the 355 N. Main St. lot to make way for a 48+ unit housing project. She fears for her safety from the prospective future residents of the building. At 7:30PM, seeing nobody else wishing to speak on the project, Mayor Lauzon closed the hearing. To be approved at the 9/30/2025 Council meeting. D. Resolution #2025-19 Downtown housing 355 N Main St. project(s) CDBG-DR application approval A motion to approve Resolution #2025-19 Downtown housing 355 N Main St. project(s) CDBG-DR application was moved by Councilor Bergeron, seconded by Councilor Deering, approved. At 7:31PM, Mayor Lauzon opened the hearing for the Willey Street bridge mitigation project. The Manager explained the project’s origin, having been one of the City’s top 3 mitigation priorities following an extensive public process. At 7:34PM, seeing nobody else wishing to speak on the project, Mayor Lauzon closed the hearing. E. Resolution #2025-20 Willey St bridge mitigation project CDBG-DR application approval A motion to approve Resolution #2025-20 Willey St bridge mitigation project CDBG-DR application was moved by Councilor Hilgartner, seconded by Councilor Gustin, approved. At 7:35PM, Mayor Lauzon opened the hearing for the Harrington Avenue Floodplain mitigation project. The Manager explained the project’s origin, having been one of the City’s top 3 mitigation priorities following an extensive public process. At 7:42PM, seeing nobody else wishing to speak on the project, Mayor Lauzon closed the hearing. F. Resolution #2025-21 Harrington Ave floodplain mitigation project CDBG-DR application approval A motion to approve Resolution #2025-21 Harrington Ave floodplain mitigation project CDBG-DR application was moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Hilgartner, approved. At 7:43PM, Mayor Lauzon opened the hearing for the Stormwater Planning project. The Manager explained the project’s origin and described the reason for the reduction in funding sought for the project. At 7:44PM, seeing nobody else wishing to speak on the project, Mayor Lauzon closed the hearing. G. Resolution #2025-22 Stormwater planning/design project CDBG-DR application approval A motion to approve Resolution #2025-22 Stormwater planning/design project CDBG-DR application was moved by Councilor Deering, seconded by Councilor Spaulding, approved. At 7:45PM, Mayor Lauzon opened the hearing for the Stormwater Planning project. To be approved at the 9/30/2025 Council meeting. The Manager explained the project’s origin and described the reason for the reduction in funding sought for the project. At 7:46PM, seeing nobody else wishing to speak on the project, Mayor Lauzon closed the hearing. H. Resolution #2025-23 Potash Brook/Currier Park planning/design project CDBG-DR application approval A motion to approve Resolution #2025-23 Potash Brook/Currier Park planning/design project CDBG-DR application approval was moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Hilgartner, approved. I. Approve long-term redevelopment plan A motion to Approve long-term redevelopment plan (with additional links inserted) was moved by Councilor Spaulding, seconded by Councilor Bergeron, approved. J. Approve purchase and sales agreement for 143 N Main St A motion to Approve purchase and sales agreement for 143 N Main St was moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Bergeron, approved. Yay(s): Councilor Deering, Councilor Hilgartner, Councilor Gustin, Mayor Lauzon, Councilor Bergeron and Councilor Routhier Nay(s): Councilor Spaulding K. Update on regional drought conditions The Manager described the water levels at the Dix Reservoir following the ongoing severe drought conditions in the State. While water levels have been lower than usual, they have not triggered mandatory conservation notices. Even though mandatory conservation practices are not in effect, residents were encouraged to keep non-emergency water use to a minimum. No action required. Item 9. Upcoming Business Mayor Lauzon; Meeting with other local municipalities leaders to discuss the current justice system CDBG-DR grant work Item 10. Round Table Mayor Lauzon; Reminded Councilors and community members to remain civil when having political disagreements. Councilor Deering; To be approved at the 9/30/2025 Council meeting. Attended the Americans for Prosperity event at the Elks Club. The Light Radio station is sponsoring a concert at the Barre Auditorium, Saturday, September 27th 6-9pm Councilor Hilgartner; The benefit concert-Sat. 20th at 3pm-Good Shepard Church w/ John Mark Harrison – call Water, Love, Loss made over $1,300 for the warming shelter. Councilor Gustin; Pass. Councilor Spaulding; Attended the Granite Museums festival. 60 tour buses are scheduled to visit the Granite Museum in the next few weeks, and hopes they eat and shop in downtown Barre. The JEDIB committee is hosting a book club at the Aldrich Library, September 25th @ 530pm. The book – Evicted Councilor Bergeron WPTZ- Ben Frechette visited the Hope Cemetery for a tour with Cemetery committee members. Councilor Routhier Attended the Americans for Prosperity event and thought it was informative and enlightening. Item 11. Executive Session – real estate Finding for going into executive session was moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Spaulding, approved. Motion to enter executive session was moved by Councilor Spaulding, seconded by Councilor Deering, approved. Motion to exit executive session was moved by Councilor Gustin, seconded by Councilor Hilgartner, approved Item 12. Adjournment Motion to adjourn moved by Councilor Hilgartner. approved Adjourned at 8:36pm. To be approved at the 9/30/2025 Council meeting. Next regular meeting is scheduled for September 30th, 2025, at 6pm. The open portions of the meeting were recorded on the video platform. Respectfully submitted, Cheryl A. Metivier, City Clerk