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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 04/04/1967BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING APRIL 4, 1967 The South Burlington Board of Selectmen held a regular meeting at the Town Office Building, 555 Dorset Street, South Burlington, Vermont on Tuesday, April 4, 1967 at 7:30 P.M. Mr. Vincent J. D'Acuti, Chairman, called the meeting to order. MEMBERS PRESENT Vincent J. D'Acuti, Chairman; Robert K. Ashley, Frederick G. Blais, Augustus T. Stannard. MEMBERS ABSENT Stephen M. Whittlesey OTHERS PRESENT Henry LeClair, Town Manager; Mr. John T. Ewing, Town Attorney, Edgar Myers, Free Press Reporter; School Superintendent Robert Lull, Mr. Frederick Maher and Mrs. Amy Bond of the School Board and thirty residents of Iby Street and the surrounding area. READING OF THE MINUTES The minutes of the March 21, 1967 meeting were accepted as read. USE VARIANCE REQUEST OF MCDOWELL-GILBERTSON The Selectmen took under consideration the request of McDowell- Gilbertson Enterprises Inc. doing business as McNash Motors for a variance from the terms of the South Burlington Zoning Ordinance to permit the operation of Automotive Sales and Service at the property located at 1301 Shelburne Road presently owned by Leona Ballard. On a motion made by Mr. D'Acuti and seconded by Mr. Ashley the use variance request was approved. FIRST READING OF ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH ZONE CHANGE REQUEST On a motion made by Mr. Blais and seconded by Mr. Ashley the first reading of the Ascension Lutheran Church zone change request was approved as read. FIRST READING OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE DELETING "MULTI-FAMILY FROM RESIDENCE B Mr. D'Acuti read from the minutes of the Planning Commission meeting of March 30, 1967 pertaining to "multi-family" dwellings. He then asked for discussion from the floor. Mr. Paul Minch presented the Selectmen with two petitions signed by residents in the area of the proposed development. The first petition expressed disapproval of duplexes, apartment buildings, and multi-family dwellings, the second petitioned a rezoning of the land so this type of building (multi-family) cannot be built, these petitions are filed with the minutes of this meeting. In response to numerous questions Mr. D'Acuti and members of the Board explained that the Dumont Construction Company had met $$ subdivision rules and regulations and also agreed to eight modifications. Mr. D'Acuti assured the area residents that a right-of-way to Barrett Street would be completed and eventually would be a street by the time the proposed second unit is built. Mr. D'Acuti also assured the area residents that all plans would be checked carefully to be certain that requirements are fulfilled. A member of the Iby Street Delegation brought out that the total land in the area would not meet the requirement of 7,500 sq. ft. per family for 60 units, and that under Section 403E of the Subdivision Regulations (streets arranged in squares, ovals and circles, etc., must have at least two street connections at points substantially opposite to each other on the perimeter of such square, oval and circle.). Mr. D'Acuti acknowledged that these were two points worthy of consideration and instructed the Town Manager to call this to the attention of the Planning Commission. Several of the residents asked why the proposed ordinance cannot affect the proposed Dumont development. Mr. Blais explained that an ordinance was passed in 1964 allowing multi-family dwellings in Residence B and it cannot be changed after the fact. He said if the ordinance is approved it can stop them in the future but cannot affect one that has already been approved. Many residents expressed concern for children who play in the street and Mr. D'Acuti said that the children should not be playing in the street and therefore, it was the responsibility of each resident and not the Town to protect them. Mr. D'Acuti then read the proposed ordinance to omit all "multi-family units in Residence B. On a motion made by Mr. Blais and seconded by Mr. Ashley the Board accepted the first reading of the proposed ordinance. MEETING WITH SCHOOL OFFICIALS The Selectmen met with two members of the School Board and Superintendent Lull. Mr. D'Acuti asked Mr. Lull if the town would have to pay for use of the school building for purposes such as the recent overflow crowd at the Planning Commission meeting. Mr. Lull explained that there were four categories in which meetings were classified and these categories determine whether there is a charge. He also explained that the town came under the first category and there was no charge. He said he was not sure the town was listed in the category but that it should be. Mr. D'Acuti told Mr. Lull that he felt the town could save money if the school would house their busses at the town garage. Mr. D'Acuti explained that the town is going to add on to the present garage and if the school housed their busses in it would save them from building entirely new housing at the school. Mr. Lull felt it would be worth looking into. Mr. D'Acuti asked about plans for the middle school. Mr. Lull said the plans should be ready around April 10, 1967 and the school must be ready by September 1968. Mr. D'Acuti then asked if the School Board had any questions for the Selectmen. Mrs. Bond asked if the town wished to add to a brochure that was going to be sent out for the bond sale. The Selectmen thought it sounded like a good idea and said they would consider it. WEBSTER-MARTIN INC. CONSTRUCTION AGREEMENT The Manager presented the Webster-Martin, Inc. contract for project engineer, consulting resident engineer inspections, etc. on Phase III of the sewer construction for the Board's approval. Mr. Ewing, Town Attorney, found the contract in order and after a brief discussion the Board accepted and signed the agreement. SEWER MATTERS - CHLORINATION SECTION OF TREATMENT PLANT The Manager asked the Board for permission to make changes in the chlorination section of the Sewage Treatment Plant at a cost of approximately $1000 for the purpose of enabling the town to use one ton chlorine tanks instead of 150 lb. bottles. The purpose of the request was twofold ­ first, because the chlorine could be purchased at approximately 6¢ per lb. cheaper, and second, it would reduce the potential number of gas leaks from 36 to 1 because of the multiple connections required of the small tanks. The Board authorized the manager to request specifications of Webster-Martin, Inc. for securing the price quotation from Murray & Blake. TRUCK FOR SEWER DEPARTMENT The Manager requested permission to purchase a pick-up truck for transportation to plants and substation for the operator. The Board authorized the manager to purchase the vehicle subject to proper bid procedures. POLICY WITH RESPECT TO SEWER CHARGES The Town Attorney and Town Manager presented the findings of a committee made up of the above two individuals, Mr. Thompson, auditor; and Mr. Douglas, Director of the New Sewer System; based on a research of what other communities are doing in the country. In essence the informal committee found that other communities user charge had not produced a satisfactory arrangement for adoption by South Burlington. Mr. Ewing, Town Attorney, stated that state statues in most areas severely limited the methods for charges, and further that use of front foot assessment from Vermont standards for South Burlington purposes would be illegal. The informal committee found the fairest methods applicable to South Burlington seemed to be in the form of two types of payments, the first being based on general taxation and the second being based on two portions of one bill. The first is a charge for sewerage as determined through the water meter, and the second portion is arrived at through the rate based on the grand list of each respective property. After further discussion, the Board established a policy encompassing the recommendations, and instructed the manager to develop charges based on the above policy. (For point of clarification of policy arrived at) 1. All taxpayers in South Burlington would be charged a portion of the total bonded indebtness through their existing property tax. 2. Those citizens on completed existing sewer systems, example Fire District 4, would be charged the first charge plus a user charge based on water meter readings. 3. Those citizens on the new sewer system presently under construction would be charged number one and two and in addition to this would be charged also for a third payment based on the grand list of their specific property. POLICY WITH RESPECT TO REQUESTS FOR EXTENSION OF SEWER SYSTEM In regard to future requests for extensions of the present sewer contract areas, a general discussion was held in order to acquaint those present with the basic problems involved in extension of any and all sewer lines beyond the current planning of sewer construction with no attemp to establish a policy with regard to same. Mr. D'Acuti pointed out that the town is about to receive its first request in the area of Kennedy Drive and Hinesburg Road, and suggested to the Board members that some thought be devoted in the near future so that the town may adopt a policy with respect to same. DISCUSSION ON MUNICIPAL MALL The Selectmen went into considerable discussion about the Municipal Mall with respect to future town buildings and voted in favor of forming a committee of three or five citizens to take the future needs under study for the purpose of designing a new Municipal Mall in the present area of the town office building. The Committee would be asked to develop a site plan for a public safety building housing both the police and fire departments, to study the present and future space requirements for administrative offices of the town and of the water company, and to propose recommendations for the construction of other related municipal activities such as a public library. The Board would expect such a committee to forward a capital improvement program in order to implement the needs with a construction time table that would allow the town to initiate construction of the facilities on a priority basis with an overall plan that would result in a well designed municipal complex of buildings properly related to each other. The Chairman asked the Board members to forward nominations for committee members. DISCUSSION ON BOOKKEEPING MACHINE PURCHASE The Town Manager initiated preliminary discussion with respect to purchase of a bookkeeping machine. The hour being near twelve o'clock the Board requested that all information gathered with respect to bookkeeping machines be produced in the form of a report to them between now and the next meeting. As there was no other business proper to come before the meeting it adjourned at 12 midnight. APPROVED Robert K. Ashley, Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.