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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 10/03/1977CITY COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 3, 1977 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, October 3, 1977, in the City Hall Conference Room, 1175 Williston Road, South Burlington, Vt. MEMBERS PRESENT Chairman Paul A. Farrar, Michael D. Flaherty, William L. Burgess, Martin B. Paulsen and Frank H. Armstrong. MEMBERS ABSENT None OTHERS PRESENT City Manager William J. Szymanski, Catherine Neubert, and a reporter from the Free Press. Chairman Farrar called the meeting to order at 8 P.M. INTERVIEW APPLICANTS FOR VACANCY ON REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION Chairman Farrar began the interview with Mrs. Neubert by asking her why she was interested in serving on the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. She said that she had been able to attend various functions in the area which city officials could not attend. She noted that the city did not take part to the degree that it should in the matters being considered, and not as much as other communities seemed to be able to do. She emphasized that she knows most of the people on the different committees and she has the time to devote to taking an active part. READING OF THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 19, 1977 Martin Paulsen made a motion to approve the minutes of the meeting of September 19, 1977 as read. The motion was seconded by Mr. Burgess and passed unanimously. SIGN DISBURSEMENT ORDERS Chairman Farrar said that the orders were on the table for signing. REPORT ON SOUTHERN CONNECTOR - KAY NEUBERT Mrs. Neubert passed out inserts from the State Highway Department Environmental Impact Statement. Chairman Farrar said that the procedure to follow is to take the information, study it, and meet jointly with the Planning Commission next week. Mrs. Neubert spoke briefly on several alternative routes and presented maps showing these alternatives. She briefly reviewed the information she had distributed. Chairman Farrar said that if we are successful in extending the southern connector southerly we should cooperate with Shelburne to the fullest extent, and not be in the predictament we are now in with the City of Burlington in regard to the connection to the city. He recommended we meet jointly with the Planning Commission next Tuesday, October 11, 1977. Discussion of Water Department - Champlain Water District agreement Mr. Peter Jacob, Water Commissioner, was present. Mr. Paulsen removed himself from the discussion. Mr. Jacob said that he is involved with Regional Planning and that it has been his thought for some time that the District should take over and consolidate the water system. If this is done, he felt, there would be a monetary savings in every community and the process would be more efficient. There is a unique situation in South Burlington right now due to the fact that 2 top men have recently retired and another has four years to go. Because of this, the Water Department talked to the District and they both agreed to start the program on a pilot basis with a 60 day cut-off option on either side. The agreement was worked out this summer and has been begun. It is working very well, Mr. Jacob said, and he added that although the Water Department was independent, they would like the blessing of the City Council. Mr. Burgess said that he did not see any advantage to South Burlington financially, although he did not have any reservations about the project itself. Mr. Jacob said that it would eliminate a lot of duplication and make for better planning. Mr. Farrar felt that although there would be no great financial saving now, there might be in 5 to 15 years. Mr. Burgess asked why South Burlington was doing it, and Mr. Jacob said that many others are interested but that we have a unique situation now with the retirements. He expected that others would follow suit soon. Mr. Armstrong said that the present system had worked well for a long time and wondered where the priority would go in a crisis. Mr. Jacob replied that they all worked together now in crises. The system is patterned after the one in Portland, Maine. Mr. Burgess repeated that he did not see the advantage and Mr. Jacob said that they would now have access to District equipment that was not available before, and would be taking some of the work load off Mr. Szymanski. Eventually there will be better management and more savings for the city. South Burlington is not paying a premium for the service, he felt. The books will balance and the rates will not go up. Mr. Szymanski added that there will always be a man on call and Mr. Flaherty added that CWD can train new people better than South Burlington can. Either side can always pull out if it does not work out. Mr. Flaherty moved that the South Burlington City Council adopt the resolution that they adopt the Champlain Water District - South Burlington Water Department agreement for a three year trial period. The motion was seconded by Mr. Burgess and passed unanimously. At this point, Mr. Marvin came in, so the Council interviewed him. Mr. Farrar asked why he wanted to be on the Regional Planning Commission and he replied that he retired in 15 days and has always been interested in city affairs. Now he feels that he would have time to devote to them. He said that what Regional Planning does in the years ahead is very important. Mr. Farrar asked how he would resolve the inconsistencies in the local and regional plans and he replied that he felt that the role of Regional Planning was suggestion and recommendation but that the city or town should have the final say. He felt that there was always a solution to be found if people worked together and said that Regional Planning should recommend to every community an overall package to handle increasing growth but did not believe that they should participate in any town's local problems. Mr. Armstrong asked how he felt about communication between Regional Planning and the Council and was told that he thought that the representative should be ready to talk to Council any time and that he should sometimes take the initiative if he felt that the Council should know something that was going on. Mr. Farrar thanked him and said that it was going to be very hard to choose one of the three candidates but said that the decision would be made next week after a meeting with the Planning Commission. Consider naming Bartletts Bay Sewage Pumping Station Access Road Edwards Drive and changing name of Stanhope Road to Austin Road Mr. Szymanski said that Stanhope and Austin Roads are one continuous road. One party lives on the street and is moving and the other party owns the rest of the surrounding land. The latter person suggested the name change. He did not know who Stanhope was, and said that he would check with the new owner to see if he had any objections to the change. Mr. Paulsen moved that Stanhope Road be changed to Austin Road provided the property owners agree to the change of name. The motion was seconded by Mr. Burgess and passed unanimously. Mr. Szymanski showed the Council where the new pumping station would be located and said that they would be given the right of way and the land for the station. They have been asked to name the access road Edwards Drive. Mr. Burgess moved to name the Bartletts Bay Sewage Pumping Station Access Road Edwards Drive. Mr. Flaherty seconded the motion. Messrs. Paulsen and Armstrong were concerned about acquiring a public road which the city might have to upgrade. The City Attorney will be asked about the question. The motion passed with Mr. Armstrong dissenting. He felt that it should be investigated further. Review of Zoning Board and Planning Commission agendas On the Planning Commission agenda, the Council briefly discussed a post-approval review of Bonanza and the Burlington Savings Bank, and a zone change request. They did not discuss the Zoning Board agenda. The meeting was declared adjourned at 9:45 pm. 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