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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 01/10/1972SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 10, 1972 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting at the City Hall Conference Room on Monday, January 10, 1972 at 7:30 P.M. Chairman Stearns called the meeting to order. MEMBERS PRESENT Chairman Raymond E. Stearns, Frederick G. Blais, Walter Nardelli and Dr. Harold P. Brown. Councilman Jarvis arrived at 8:15 P.M. MEMBERS ABSENT None OTHERS PRESENT William J. Szymanski, City Manager Charlotte C. Marsh, 1220 Shelburne Road Mrs. John Gleason, 175 Dorset Street Mr. Anthony Socinski, 1459 Shelburne Road Mr. William Schuele, 33 Clover Street Mr. George Baron, 155 Dorset Street, Manager of Zayre's Store Mrs. Kay Neubert, 52 Elsom Parkway READING OF THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 20, 1971 and JANUARY 3, 1972 On a motion made by Mr. Blais, Seconded by Mr. Nardelli, and unanimously passed, the minutes of December 20, 1971 and January 3, 1972 were approved as read. SIGN DISBURSEMENT ORDERS Chairman Stearns reminded the Councilmen that the disbursement orders were on the table for signing before adjournment. ADOPT A RESOLUTION OPPOSING PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 385 Chairman Stearns briefly explained House Bill No. 385 and stated that the proposed resolution before the Council was at the request of Representative Wayne Jameson. Councilman Blais read the resolution, a copy of which is attached to these minutes. Councilman Nardelli made the motion that it be introduced and adopted. The motion was seconded by Councilman Blais, Chairman Stearns asked for a discussion on the motion. Councilman Brown stated that the alternate as stated in the resolution should be defined or deleted. Councilman Nardelli said the $163,000 figure in the resolution is conservative and the actual amount is in excess of $200,000. Mrs. Gleason stated that the personal property tax as it now exists is very inequitable and discriminatory and that legislators should be instructed to take steps to amend the law. Mrs. Gleason also stated that to her knowledge no businesses in South Burlington were ever consulted regarding this bill. Chairman Stearns said that we can make recommendations to our legislators, but that we do not possess the authority to instruct them. He further stated that as a businessman he is aware of the inequities in the present law, also that the meeting with legislators held last December 29th was an excellent opportunity for opponents of the bill to present their objections and urged them to be present at the next scheduled meeting on February 28, 1972. Councilman Blais stated another inequity in the tax is that it is not based on the ability to pay. Chairman Stearns stated that a more equitable tax would be on gross income. Further inequities were discussed, a specially as they apply to the sale of autos and fuel oils. Charlotte Marsh objected to the formal wording of the resolution, saying that the resolution should emphasize the amending of the present law to make it more equitable, also that it should be postponed and copies of the bill be obtained and read. ADOPT A RESOLUTION OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 385, CONTINUED The Manager of the Zayre store, Mr. George Baron, also expressed his feelings regarding the inequities of the law. Chairman Stearns requested that a copy of the bill be obtained. He also suggested to those present that a South Burlington Businessmen's Association be formed to have a voice in such matters. This was in answer to Mr. Baron of Zayre's. Councilman Nardelli requested that his motion be withdrawn. All were in favor. Mr. Nardelli then made the motion that the City Manager write each City Senator and Representative that legislation be introduced to plug the loopholes in the existing tax structure and make it a more equitable tax. All were in favor of the motion. ADOPT A RESOLUTION RECOMMENDING PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 393 Councilman Nardelli made a motion to adopt a resolution recommending passage of House Bill 393 (to set the date of the third Tuesday of May as Town Meeting Day throughout the state). Doctor Brown seconded the motion. There was no discussion, and the vote was unanimous in favor of adopting the resolution a copy of which is filed with these minutes. REPORT FROM THE WINOOSKI VALLEY PARK COMMITTEE BY BILL SCHUELE Bill Schuele, a member of the Chittenden County Winooski River Regional Park Committee described the function of the committee and stated that to be effective a Union Municipal District has to be formed so that agreements can be entered into for acquisition of lands and rights-of-way to develop the Park. The formation of the District would require a vote by Australian ballot in all areas simultaneously. South Burlington is the only community in the proposed district where the elections are not held on March 7th. The law requires that the vote to form the District be held simultaneously, therefore, Mr. Schuele requests the Council to hold a special election on March 7th, 1972, and that the voting hours be 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. A public hearing is scheduled for February 1, 1972, at the High School. Mr. Schuele stated than an affirmative vote will not bind the City to any financial obligation now or in the future. Councilman Nardelli stated that more publicity should be given to the work and the objectives of the committee. There was concern among the members of the Council on the cost of a special election, estimated at approximately $400. An unanimous motion was made and passed to table the request for a Special March 7, 1972 election so that the City Attorney, Mr. Ewing, could be consulted for alternatives. SCHEDULING THE CBC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ZONE CHANGE HEARING Chairman Stearns confirmed the date of January 24, 1972 for the C-B-C Development Corporation zone change hearing scheduled for 7:30 P.M. at the Middle School Cafeteria. DISCUSSION ON SENIOR CITIZEN'S PROPERTY TAX AND RENT REFUNDS Chairman Stearns read a letter from the State of Vermont requesting the notice on property tax and rent refunds for senior citizens be published in the City Report. A copy of this notice is attached. Since the City report is published in September it is too late to be effective. Mr. Stearns requested that the notice be placed in next year's City Report, that it be mailed to each resident over 65 with their water billing, that it be published in next month's Spokesman. It was also suggested that it be published in the local paper. DISCUSSION ON THE STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT PLAN FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE SPEAR STREET-EAST TERRACE-WILLISTON ROAD INTERSECTION A copy of the proposed state highway department plan for reconstruction of the Spear Street-East Terrace-Williston Road intersection was posted and explained by Mr. Szymanski. Mr. Nardelli made the motion that the plan be submitted to the City Planning Commission for its recommendations, that the Commission hold a public hearing on the plan, and that the residents of the area be notified of the hearing in writing. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Chairman Stearns set Monday, February 7, 1972 as the date for Council action on the plan. NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATION FOR A NAME CHANGE Councilman Blais read a letter from Barbara Bull of the Natural Resources Committee requesting the name of the committee be changed to Conservation Commission whose job function would not change. The advantages of being a Commission is that it would be eligible for Ford Foundation Grants and affiliation with state and regional conservation groups. Councilman Blais was asked to cross-reference the duties of the Committee as described by the City and the duties of Commissions as described in enabling legislation. Mr. Blais is to report at next meeting for Council action. Councilman Jarvis made the motion to adjourn to Executive Session at 9:00 P.M. Mr. Nardelli seconded the motion which passed unanimously. The Council adjourned the Executive Session at 10:30 P.M. Approved Walter Nardelli, Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.