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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 12/18/1972SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 18, 1972 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting in the Conference Room of the City Hall on Monday, December 18, 1972, at 7:30 P.M. Chair man Blais opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. MEMBERS PRESENT Chairman Frederick Blais, Dr. Harold Brown, Mr. Michael Flaherty, Mr. Brian Gee and Mr. Walter Nardelli. OTHERS PRESENT William Szymanski, City Manger Richard Ward, Zoning Administrative Officer Wes Picard, WesRae Kennels Charlotte Marsh Cheryl Benfield, Free Press William Robenstein Sonny Audette G. Wilson, WCAX David Belanger, Winnoski Valley Park Commission An item concerning tax abatements was added to the agenda. READING OF THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 4, 1972 Chairman Blais asked if there were any corrections, deletions or substitutions to be made to the minutes of December 20, 1972. Councilman Gee requested that a correction be made on P. 6. Councilman Nardelli moved that the minutes be accepted as corrected by Councilman Gee. Councilman Gee seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously. DISBURSEMENTS Chairman Blais reminded the Councilmen that the disbursements were ready for signing. DOG CATCHER AGREEMENT Mr. Wes Picard of the WesRae Kennels explained the proposed Poindkeeper Agreement. He said the main intent is to pick up a dog before it joins a pack. Councilman Gee questioned if property rights would be violated if a loose dog were to be picked up on its owner’s property. Mr. Picard suggested that there should be a definition of “running loose”. Councilman Flaherty also was concerned about the justification of picking a dog up on its own property. Mr. Picard suggested the dog’s owner could be notified, if they were home at the time. Councilman Gee requested that the contract should have a provision that there would be no disclosure of the names of persons reporting dog violations. Councilman Flaherty asked what is the cost to the city for disposing of dogs not saleable or reclaimed. Mr. Picard said $5.00 per dog. Councilman Gee suggested that the telephone number of the dog catcher be listed in the telephone directory under the City of South Burlington. Chairman Blais asked if the City’s cost of $7,000 for the year could be reduced if the land in the south eastern part of the city were not to be patrolled dail. Mr. picard replied that he did not recommend exempting some areas. Chairman Blais said that an exempted area could always be added at a later time if it became a problem. Miss Marsh expressed her belief that the dog ordinance should be enforced in the whole city. Councilman Nardelli suggested a six month pilot program to see what is right and wrong with the system. Mr. Picard was asked if he would mind a January to June program, and he replied he would not. Councilman Brown also endorsed the idea of a six month program, which could then be extended in May for next year’s budget. Mr. Robenstein expressed his belief that the top priority of the dog catcher should be to respond to complaints rather than picking up a single dog at random. Chairman Blais said that for every complaint there are two or three other violations. Chairman Blais and councilmen discussed the possibility of changing the dog ordinance so that the first violation would incur a fine, not just a warning. Councilman Blais requested that Mr. Szymanski meet with Mr. Picard to negotiate the final terms of the Poundkeeper agreement. WINOOSKI VALLEY PARK DISTRICT’S BUDGET REQUEST Mr. Belanger explained that the trustees of the park district are submitting an alternative budget to the one submitted October 3, 1972. The alternative budget is $900.00 less and prorated as follows: Burlington - $4,098 S. Burlington - $1,064 Winooki - $776 Exxes Town & Village - $1,162 Mr. Belanger said the district needs administrative help for negotiation and acquisition of land and for developing a comprehensive plan. Councilman Gee asked what would happen if a member community disapproved the budget request. Mr. Belanger said there would be less service, especially in that particular community. Councilman Flaherty asked if it was expected that the district might have added members. Mr. Belanger said Colchester may be a future member and then perhaps Williston. Mr. Belanger said that the district can seek funds from private orgainiztions. He said that the Chittenden Regional Planning commission has made available to the district, office use, secretarial help and assistance from Mr. Hogan, the director of the planning commission. Mr. Belanger said federal funds are available but only if there is a comprehensive plan. Chairman Blais and Councilman Nardelli explained that the present budget does not include the park district’s request. Councilman Gee asked Mr. Belanger if the park district could wait for payment of S. Burlington’s share until after the city’s new budget in May is adopted. Councilman Nardelli liked Councilman Gee’s suggestion to consider the total park budget for next year’s city budget. Councilman Flaherty said if the district does not receive funds to hire a director, there would not e much hope for planning and site acquisition other than what could be accomplished by the trustees devoting two or three nights a week of their own time. Chairman Blais suggested that the park district make a formal budget to the city manager in time for the budget hearing in February. Mr. Belanger said he would draft a budget proposal by the end of January. MODIFICATION TO BARTLETT’S BAY SEWERAGE TREATMENT PLANT Mr. Szymanski said the State of Vermont has requested that the Barlett’s Bay Treatment Sewerage treatment plant should have installed a digester which would provide an auxiliary blower to the single one existing and would also increase treatment. The cost would be $18,000, 85% financed by the state. The remaining 15%, $3,000, can come out of the capital budget which has a surplus. Councilman Nardelli moved to sign the engineering agreement for modification to the Bartletts Bay sewerage treatment plant as recommended by State and Federal agencies. Councilman Flaherty seconded the motion. Councilman Brown asked how the plant was rated by the state. Mr. Szymanski said well. Chairman Blais said the pollution has been reduced. The motion was passed unanimously. METHOD OF BUDGET PRESENTATION Councilman Flaherty proposed to make budget hearings open to the public. He said that it was the responsibility of the Council to get ideas from the voters, and to dispel lack of credibility. He recommended that the dates and subjects should be published, and that there be various sites around the city. Councilman Flaherty moved that the Council open its budget hearings to the public and where applicable publish dates and subjects, except where personnel and salaries are involved. Councilman Gee seconded the motion. Mr. Robenstein asked if there would be data fro the public. Mr. Ward said it would possible to have a data sheet posted. Chairman Blais said deliberations on salaries would be confidential, but that the final proposal would be made public. Chairman Blais said the public would not be allowed to interject at the public hearings until after the Council finished its own discussion. The motion was passed unanimously. AUXILLIARY POLICE FORCE Councilman Gee outlined his proposal for an auxiliary police force. He said a ready reserve of trained volunteers available could take some burden off the regular police force for such areas as traffic control, disasters, enforcement of burning ordinance, emergencies, patrolling of parks, mob control, parades, special events, road blocks, and bicycle safety checks. He said the sole purpose is to augment the police in hard pressed areas. He proposed that total control, training and direction would be under Chief Carter. He said some benefits would be increased protection and sense of security, building up of morale and a building up of potential troups for full-time police work. Councilman Nardelli expressed concern about expending time and money for para-professionals and suggested looking tinto other avenues of strength. Councilman Gee replied that he believed an auxiliary force would relieve the police of time-consuming duties, providing more time for more serious crime problems. Councilman Flaherty asked what would be involved for training and the cost of it. He suggested that mob control and park patrol were two different things. He said mob control perhaps needed highly trained men. Councilman Brown thought the police should be consulted as to what areas it would be helpful to receive assistance from volunteers. He believed citizen apathy would be less apt to happen with a volunteer program. Councilman Nardelli expressed concern that a volunteer program associated with police work might possibly weaken the image of the police. Chairman Blais agreed that the Chief of Police be consulted as to what kind of help it would use. Councilman Flaherty requested that only areas where no big problem could arise be specified. He said each situation should be weighed as to whether trained volunteers or professionals are more valuable. Miss Marsh said the community needs more professionals. TAX ABATEMENTS-ADDED TO AGENDA Mr. Szymanski briefly indicated the reasons for late tax payments for 13 properties, and he said the total amount of penalties was $2,122.04. He recommended that the penalties be waivered. Councilman Gee moved to cancel the penalties as approved by the City Manager. Councilman Flaherty seconded the motion. Councilman Nardelli asked how many others would have requested waivers for late payments. He was concerned aobut seeting a precedent for future late payments. Mr. Szymanski said that new owners are being notified of tax due dates and that tax appeals do not have to paid until a decision is made. The motion was passed unanimously. ADJOURNMENT -9:45 P.M. Councilman Gee moved to adjourn. Councilman Flaherty seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously. Approved Brian J. Gee, Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.