Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/17/1975CORRECTIONS TO MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 17, 1975 At the meeting of the City Council on March 3, 1975, it was voted to accept the Minutes of February 17, 1975, with the following corrections: Page 4, Second Reading of the Amendment to the Firearms Ordinance, Mr. Dinklage said the word have should have been waived. Page 5, priorities for BOR applications, the sentence beginning at the end of the 5th line should read: but the City does have an option on the Dumont Iby Street property and is ready to purchase it except for the mechanics of it. (This is to clarify that no reference to the other Dumont property was intended.) Because Mrs. Neubert felt that the condensed version of her U. S. Task Force report as contained in the Minutes of February 17th was incomplete, she asked that her memos of February 11th and February 26th be attached to the Minutes. Page 4, U. S. Task Force report, the word direct is to be deleted in the first line. 5th line, State Environmental Board should be State Highway Board. CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY 17, 1975 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, February 17, 1975, in the Conference Room, Municipal Offices, 1175 Williston Road. MEMBERS PRESENT Michael Flaherty, Chairman; John Dinklage, Paul Farrar, Catherine Neubert MEMBERS ABSENT Duane Merrill OTHERS PRESENT William Szymanski, City Manager; Betty Hooper, Betsy Davis, George C. Crooks, Jeanne B. Kennedy, Fred Maher, John D. Donoghue, Richard Underwood Executive Session The City Council met in executive session at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the Reappraisal Contract. The Council also discussed Velco with the City Attorney in the executive session. The Regular Meeting was called to order by the Chairmen at 7:50 p.m. Minutes of February 3, 1975 Chairman Flaherty said that Duane Merrill, who was unable to attend the meeting because of illness, had asked that the reading of the Minutes be postponed until the next meeting. This was agreeable to the members. Mr. Farrar noted a correction to be made on page 6 when the Minutes are read at the next meeting. Mrs. Neubert asked that a copy of her list of questions asked of the City Planner on January 20, 1975, regarding the Community Development Program, be included in the Minutes. Reconsideration of authorization to sign Reappraisal Contract Mr. Farrar moved that the Council reconsider the vote on his motion of February 3rd which was a motion to empower the Chairman of the Council to sign the contract for the City of South Burlington. Seconded by Mr. Dinklage. Mr. Farrar said his purpose in making this motion was that after discussion with the Board of Civil Authority there seemed to be other alternatives than the one they had explored. The Council voted unanimously to reconsider the motion. Mr. Farrar then moved that the Council table action on the authorization to sign the contract until the next Council meeting. Seconded by Mrs. Neubert. Voted unanimously to table. Discussion with Col. George C. Crooks on redistricting proposal Col. Crooks, Chairman of the Board of Civil Authority, said this was not the first time a proposal to redistrict had been made, nor the first time the Board of Civil Authority had discussed such a proposal. Opinions had been expressed that Chamberlin School would have to close; there would be added expense besides the cost of equipment; redistricting is done by the State and not by the City. The Chamberlin School objection was removed when an opinion was received from Superintendent Tuttle that neither he nor Mrs. Dunn, the principal at Chamberlin, felt it would be necessary to close school on election day. Mrs. Dunn did request that traffic supervision be provided when children were entering or leaving school. Col. Crooks cited the interstate as being a logical boundary when the City was divided into two districts. A natural boundary would have to be found if the City were to be divided into three districts. He put figures on the board showing the present number of voters in the two districts and explained the new pink slip system which provides notification to a town that one of their voters has registered in another town and can be removed from the check list of the first town. Col. Crooks stated that if over five per cent of the voters wish the City to be divided again, it would be up to the Board of Civil Authority to present a recommendation to the next legislature. The Board will act if the people want it to do so, but it has to be submitted to the legislature for approval. Mrs. Neubert asked about appeal and was told it would be possible to go before the legislature and say they did not approve it. The matter of saving mileage because of the energy crisis was considered unimportant by Col. Crooks because in many cases residents were an equal distance from Chamberlin and the Middle School. To know where to draw the lines, a survey would have to be taken of the number of voters on each street, not just the number of houses but the number of voters. This would be only for this side of the City, the Orchard School district remaining as is. The possibility of other polling places was discussed, though it was realized it has to be a public place. This ruled out the Lutheran Church, for instance. Mrs. Neubert said she was not satisfied that Chamberlin School is adequate to handle this. She requested copies of the recommendation regarding this. Col. Crooks said the letter from Wayne Jamieson quoted both the Superintendent and Mrs. Dunn as saying it was ok with them. Mr. Farrar pointed out that if a change is wanted before the next State Redistricting, the only way to do it is by a charter change. Otherwise the City would have to wait for the State Redistricting. Col. Crooks said that some people feel a charter change is useless because this is not a matter for the City to decide but for the State legislature. Fred Maher said there are two separate issues: 1) an additional voting place; 2) changing the legislative representation. The charter says there shall be a separate polling place for each separate district. The charter can be changed to apply to South Burlington. Chairman Flaherty suggested asking Dick Spokes to tell the Council exactly what the procedures are, before going to the voters. Mr. Farrar recommended, if a change is made, that it be done far enough ahead so that there can be no criticism or suggestion of political motives being involved. Col. Crooks said there had already been criticism of that nature. The Chairman of the Council suggested it could be put on the ballot for May after the requested information is received from Attorney Spokes. Mrs. Neubert suggested asking the City Manager to contact the City Attorney to get this needed information. Fred Maher said the Board of Civil Authority has no particular objection to the idea other than the problem in the school, and John Donoghue agreed there was only the question of inconveniencing the school. Chairman Flaherty said a straw vote would be considered for May; if voted negative that would kill it anyway. Col. Crooks emphasized it will take time and it should be started far enough ahead. Mr. Donoghue suggested the straw vote might explore the possibility of electing three people at large. Col. Crooks explained this would mean a three-man district and would not be allowed. A two-man district is the maximum. County Court Budget Chairman Flaherty said South Burlington presented its case at a hearing at which the new side judges presided, and the State's Attorney lowered his request for a secretary. Mr. Donoghue, one of the two judges recently elected, said the budget was prepared by the previous judges by taking in every request for a total of $450,000, and letting the new judges make the decisions. The new judges have already gotten it down to $246,000 and may get it down to $200,000 before they get through. Representatives of the Visiting Nurse Association, Vermont Dental Care Program, and the Champlain Sheltered Workshop — explanation of their programs Chairman Flaherty said the representative of the Sheltered Workshop had asked to be re-scheduled at a later date. Elizabeth J. Davis (Betsy) as Executive Director of the Visiting Nurse Association gave a brief explanation of the services offered by the Association. Because of the increasing demand for services, particularly services in the home to persons who would formerly have been in a hospital or nursing home, services to the City of South Burlington for the past year were provided at a loss of $2.500. The Association is requesting an increase of $500 in this year's allocation by South Burlington for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1975, from $5,000 to $5,500. Asked how the Association covered a deficit, Ms. Davis said it comes from the State appropriation. She described the growing awareness of trying to do something at home rather than putting people in hospitals and nursing homes, with a great difference in the cost of maintaining someone in a hospital as compared with keeping a person at home with the aid of Visiting Nurse services. Asked by Mrs. Hooper, school nurse, about the well child clinic, Ms. Davis explained South Burlington children go to the Burlington clinic, with free transportation provided. Clinic is financed by medicaid program. Mrs. Jeanne Kennedy explained the Dental Care Program, saying they are trying to get some of the Revenue Sharing funds for the program. There are now seven units in the State, operating on a day-to-day basis financially. She asked for approximately two percent of whatever the Revenue Sharing funds are, or perhaps a certain amount for each child. Money given by South Burlington will be spent on South Burlington children. Mrs. Kennedy said she wished to clarify a point in the School Board's vote to cut a page of items including dental care. The rationale behind the Board's vote was that dentists have been so good about treating South Burlington children. Mrs. Hooper said she had had lots of children in the Tooth Fairy Program which covered 75% of the cost, but she did not feel free to take children to the dentist if the other 25% was not coming. Some families simply don't have it. Second Reading of the Amendment to the Firearms Ordinance Mr. Dinklage moved that the Council have the second reading of the amendments to the Firearms Ordinance. Seconded by Mrs. Neubert and voted unanimously. Mr. Farrar then moved that the Council approve the Amendment to the Firearms Ordinance. Seconded by Mr. Dinklage. Council voted to approve the Amendment to the Firearms Ordinance by a vote of 3 to 1, Mrs. Neubert voting in the negative. U. S. 7 Task Force report - Mrs. Neubert Mrs. Neubert said direct legislative interference was responsible for getting consideration for Route 7 above Rutland; there is no real need for construction in this area and no indication had been made of any need above Rutland. Quite a bit had been done in the past. Route 7 is considered capable of handling traffic according to the State Environmental Board and she felt there had been no need for what the Route 7 Task Force had been put through. Therefore, she was recommending the "No Build" answer to the problem. However, she was strongly recommending that a transportation committee be formed, composed of people who are really interested, and who could become educated enough to look at traffic problems and make decisions. This should be a permanent committee. Mr. Farrar expressed concern that the use of Route 7 as the only entrance and exit might be perpetuated when South Burlington becomes over-crowded. If the Highway Department should up-grade Route 7 south of here, it would be a mistake. South Burlington would be basically locked in. Mrs. Neubert said there is no need for South Burlington to be part of the recommendation of the entire task force; it can make its own recommendation. No Build does not eliminating fixing the road — Shelburne Road could be widened if the need should arise. Chairman Flaherty reported that South Burlington had been turned down for Urban Funding. Mr. Szymanski is to meet with the Regional Planning Commission. The money has to be spent in the core area and it had been suggested that the City go after improvements on certain roads. In order to get money from the Urban System, it is necessary to be in the Urban System. Mr. Szymanski showed a sketch designating the Urban System. Regarding the proposed southern, southern connector, Mrs. Neubert said the Council should decide whether it wanted a limited access road or a planned commercial development road, and perhaps make a formal recommendation to the Planning Commission. Mrs. Neubert said she would like the Council to approve the "No Build" south of the South Burlington town line. Mr. Farrar said he was still worried about getting looked into a situation of Route 7 going to a four lane road, and by that time so much money would have been spent the by-pass needed would never be built. He would be happy if Mrs. Neubert could get that concern into her recommendation somehow. The Council was in agreement in a general way with Mrs. Neubert's points. Public Hearing on Amendments to Zoning Ordinance Chairman Flaherty announced the public hearing on amendments to the zoning ordinance would be held at 7:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room on Tuesday, February 18th. He said the plan would be to vote on these proposed amendments as far as possible, then recessing the hearing to finish at a later date. Priorities for BOR applications Mr. Szymanski said he had received a call from the BOR people asking that the City set its priorities because only one project can be funded this year. The possibilities were the DeGraff property, the Dumont property, and the Lakelands Estates lakeshore property. There is no option for the DeGraff property as he would not give one except for the whole amount, but the City does have an option on the Dumont property except for the mechanics of it. It was felt the DeGraff property is too close to the landfill. Mr. Farrar said he would favor Lakelands as first priority, while the City Manager suggested putting in for the larger one, the Dumont property. Mrs. Neubert said the City was going to have to buy that outright in order to be able to put anything it wants on it. The Deslauriers property of 13 acres was then discussed, with the possibility of sometime building a City Hall on it. Mr. Szymanski thought there might be a better possibility of getting funded for this than for the Dumont property. Mr. Farrar moved that the Council make the Lakeland property its number one priority in applying for BOR funds. Seconded by Mr. Dinklage. Voted unanimously for approval. Kennedy Drive Speed limit Mr. Flaherty said he had a phone call from Mrs. Morselli explaining why she felt the 50 mile per hour limit was a hazard for children walking to school, and he had promised her to have it on the agenda again. The general feeling of the Council was that 50 miles per hour was a safe speed for Kennedy Drive, that any danger to children would arise from persons driving over the speed limit; that the Police Department should be asked to enforce the speed limit; and that the Chief of Police be asked for a report on this. A motion for adjournment was made by Mr. Dinklage and seconded by Mr. Farrar. Meeting declared adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.