Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 08/04/1980CITY COUNCIL AUGUST 4, 1980 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, August 4, 1980 at 8:00 pm in the Conference Room, City Hall, 1175 Williston Road Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Martin Paulsen, John Towne, William Burgess Member Absent Michael Flaherty Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Frank Wilder, Sidney Poger, Robert Walsh, Pat Myette, Mary Thompson, William and Ethel Schuele, Sue and Richard Sweterlitsch, James Goddette, Fire Chief; Brent Jarvis, WVMT; Loretta and Samuel Cenzipa, Dale Macomber Casey and Reg Hayes, Shirley Adams, Mickey Walsh, Norma Jean Kenyon, Everett Talvo, David Spitz, Planner; Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Director; Gary Rounds, Frank Pichon, James Lamphere, James Thibault, Frank Mazur, William Wessel, Ralph Cramer, Don Whitten Agenda addition The following item was added: Sign a Resolution of Commendation. Minutes of July 28, 1980 The minutes were approved on a motion by Mr. Burgess, a second by Mr. Paulsen, and a unanimous vote. Disbursement orders There were no orders. Meet with New England Telephone Co. representatives to discuss overhead lines Mr. James Thibault represented the phone company and stated that they had some problems with the city's goal in the Master Plan of having all utilities underground. He said the company was under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Laws of Vermont and added that they just could not put everything underground and force other ratepayers to subsidize that expense. Regarding the current request on Dorset Street, Mr. Thibault said it was difficult to plan very far shead, but they plan to put in conduit on Dorset Street in 1981. This is contingent on plans for the widening of that street, however. Mr. Thibault said that if the Council could tell the company tomorrow its plans for the street, the company's plans could be incorporated. Mr. Thibault also noted that the poles were not owned by the phone company alone - they are half owned by Green Mountain Power and cable TV also uses them. He stated that if they did put conduit in, that would not necessarily mean that all the lines would go underground. One cable would usually be left to serve the street. Mr. Thibault said the phone company would be happy to discuss this issue with the city and he suggested that the power company and cable TV company also come to that meeting. He said company policy on underground lines had to be consistent throughout the state. The request on Dorset Street is to replace poles - 16 on that street and 5 on Hinesburg Road. Mr. Paulsen moved to remove the request of New England Telephone from the table and act favorably by granting the request to replace the poles on Hinesburg Road and Dorset Street with the condition that two-way traffic be maintained at all times, other than minor interruptions such as a truck turning around. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and all were in favor. Mr. Thibault said they could maintain two-way traffic. Mr. Burgess asked that the City Attorney pursue his investigation on underground lines. Meet with Chittenden County Transportation Authorities regarding petition on relocated bus route Mr. Frank Mazur, South Burlington's representative to the CCTA, noted that they had been requested to change the old route to serve the community better. He showed the former and current routes and noted that the CCTA had not wanted to increase the city's subsidy by the route change. He said the new route did not increase the subsidy, met the request for route change, and served the CCTA's investment better. He noted that the route change had been publicized before it was implemented. Ms. Casey Hayes said she was concerned about school children, who walk down the same street the bus uses. She felt that in the winter, with children walking in the road, the bus, cars, and parked cars would create safety problems. Other residents present shared these concerns. Mr. Cramer said the busses were not supposed to exceed 15 mph, but many residents felt they went much faster than that. Mr. Cramer urged them to report incidents such as this to the CCTA. Mr. Bob Walsh felt there were safety hazards for other cars as well as for the children with the bus on Hanover Street, and he mentioned increased noise in the neighborhood as another result. One alternative mentioned to the current route was to go straight down White Street. Mr. Cramer said he was not opposed to that but Mrs. Schuele said some people in the area did not want to walk that far to catch the bus. A second alternative mentioned was for the bus to go across Kirby Road to Patchen Road and then to Hinesburg Road. This would cut out the Richard Terrace, Maplewood, Pine Street loop. Mr. Cramer gave the Council a very rough idea of what the increase in subsidy might be for this change. This idea was acceptable to the residents of the area present. Mr. Cramer said it might make the schedule tighter, but said he would look into it. The CCTA feels it is very important for the busses to be on time. Mr. Cramer said that if the Council had a preference on the two alternates, he would like them to send him a letter stating that. Mr. Paulsen asked when a change might be put into effect and was told that Mr. Cramer would be sure the change, if it occurred, would be done before school opens. Mr. Burgess moved to ask the representatives of the CCTA to consider changing the bus route from Hanover Street to go up Airport Parkway, across Kirby Road and down Patchen Road to White Street. Mr. Paulsen seconded the motion and all voted aye. Review and sign Letter of Intent for construction of municipal building Mr. Paulsen moved to authorize the City Manager to sign the letter of intent to Pizzagalli Construction Company, dated July 19, 1980, with respect to the new municipal building. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion. Mr. Paulsen wanted to see the drawings referred to in the letter and the Council was shown these. Mr. Lamphere said there were 4 allowance items: $142,564 for mechanical items, and at the next meeting the engineers will go over the mechanical systems, $93,632 for electrical, $7200 for hardware, $7500 for the folding wall, and $13 per square yard for the carpet. Mr. Frank Pichon said they would like to start work tomorrow and would probably have the land cleared by the middle of next week. The motion passed unanimously. Determine the amount and sign resolution for the municipal building additional bond issue The Council had an outline of how the communication center cost had become $90,000 from $35,000 from Motorola, the company who sells the equipment. Mr. Goddette explained that it was a dual system which would serve both police and fire departments. Mr. Burgess wanted to know if the city had to buy this equipment from scratch, as it appeared they were doing. He said he had not been convinced that the city needed to spend this much money to replace something which exists now. Mr. Szymanski said the present equipment was 11-14 years old and there has been trouble with service because parts are hard to find. Mr. Goddette wanted to spend more time on the purchase of this equipment, feeling that it did not have to be ready to install the minute the municipal building was completed. Mr. Lamphere noted that the police system was very old and he urged Council members to look at it. He said Motorola was chosen because they can give the best service. Mr. Farrar said the question before the Council was whether this was the right time to ask for more funds for the building, and if so, how much. Cost of the control center is $90,600, for the firing range and carports, it is $105,000, paving will be $25,000, retention basin $1500, and kitchen cabinets $4300, for a total of $226,400. Total available for furniture and the control center is $131,000. The furniture estimate is $42,650 and for vault storage, $41,000, for a total of $83,650. The city is thus $179,050 short. It was noted that architect fees were not included in this, and that will be $8,000, $3000 has been spent on a survey, and demolition of the present building will cost $18,000, for a total of $210,000. Mr. Paulsen asked when the decision had to be made to have the question of more funding appear on the September ballot and was told it was probably August 9. Mr. Rounds felt it might save some money if the city could take the building down itself, instead of hiring it out. Mr. Towne agreed with Mr. Burgess regarding the communication center, and also expressed reservations about the carports and firing range. He felt an indoor range would be a convenience, but felt that police members would be shooting outside sometimes, and he felt they could continue to practice in the landfill. Mr. Farrar felt that was a dangerous situation. Mr. Lamphere was asked to break the cost of the carports/firing range into two pieces. Mr. Burgess asked how much the city could finish for the $1.4 million and was told they could have the communication center and vault shelving, but no furniture. Mr. Burgess wanted to have some justification for why the city should spend $90,000 instead of $35,000 on the communication center and he wanted to know how the figures came about. Mr. Szymanski said they had met with the fire and police chiefs and Motorola representatives to discuss the city's needs. Mr. Lamphere felt that the $35,000 figure had been for the police needs only, and that it had been a rough figure given without any specifications. The Council wanted to understand the system and why it is the way it is. It was noted that the vote could be held at the November election instead of in September. Mr. Farrar wanted to know what the center provided and why the department heads had asked that it provide what it did. Mr. Paulsen moved to table action on the resolution as presented tonight and Mr. Towne seconded. Mr. Paulsen asked when the information requested could be presented. He wanted a Motorola representative present also. The question is what functions the center performs and how they are different from what is in place today. Mr. Goddette said he would get the information and return in 10 minutes. The Council asked about television cameras monitoring areas of the building. There are 5 cameras and 2 screens. Mr. Rounds did not think having the police dispatch firemen was a good idea and Mr. Towne also had doubts. The motion passed with Mr. Farrar voting no. Consider updating landfill use fees Mr. Szymanski had proposed a new schedule which is in line with other area communities. Mr. Burgess asked Mr. Szymanski to look into possibly charging more for packer trucks, which carry more volume. Mr. Burgess moved to adopt the rates proposed by the City Manager for the sanitary landfill, dated August 4, 1980 to be effective August 11, 1980. Mr. Towne seconded the motion and all voted aye. Mr. Paulsen asked the status of the landfill evaluation and was told it should be in about 1 week. He also asked for a firm fill-out time for the landfill. Continued discussion of additional bond issue for municipal building Fire Chief Goddette had returned, and Mr. Burgess moved to take off the table the item which had been tabled. Mr. Towne seconded the motion and all voted for it. Mr. Goddette showed the Council the information he had on the center and explained what it would do. With this system South Burlington can communicate with trucks in other area departments, which they cannot do now. This system not only replaces what is in place today, it upgrades it to give the city extra flexibility, Mr. Goddette said. They can now communicate with any truck or station the city has a mutual aid agreement with. This communication will be direct, through the center. Cost of this function might be $5-6,000. Mr. Goddette said there would be switches to open and close the doors, and would be an intercom system. Mr. Farrar requested copies of the information Mr. Goddette had. Mr. Burgess asked the life of the equipment and was told it would be 10-15 years. He then asked if the city was paying a premium for central dispatch, but Mr. Goddette did not see any costs with this system that the city did not have now. He felt the present dispatch system would be kept as stand-by. The fire alarm panel was also discussed. Mr. Farrar said the Council could have another meeting on this when the City Manager was ready with the information. He hoped to have it Friday. Mr. Szymanski was also asked to look into having the city demolish the present City Hall, to see if that would save money. Mr. Paulsen moved to table the resolution, Mr. Towne seconded and all voted aye. Continue discussion of updated Master Plan On the question of how much land should be set aside for non-residential uses, Mr. Farrar said that, assuming that non-residential land in the future will be developed at the same intensity it is now and that residential land will be developed to its maximum potential, the city will need 818 acres more of non-residential land. In the calculations, he assumed that there would be 375 acres of parkland, and he asked Recreation Director O'Neill about that. Mr. O'Neill said the amount of park space needed would depend on the type of parks the city wanted - central, or neighborhood, but that 375 acres should be enough. The question of how much land the city would need for parks was discussed. Mr. O'Neill said he favored a central park, noting that many developers recently had provided some recreation for their residents. Mr. Poger added that the Commission favored the central park also. Mr. O'Neill said the needs might change if the character of people moving into the city changed. Mr. Paulsen asked how much land was under the airport approach cone and was told it was about 200 acres, so if more Industrial/Commercial land is wanted, the location should be chosen. It was decided to meet Monday, August 11 to discuss this further. Old business Highway Union request - Mr. Szymanski said no other department had a comparable policy with regard to holiday pay as the union requested at the last meeting. He recommended continuation of the present policy of time and one half. Mr. Towne saw no problem with the request, noting that only 3 holidays would be involved. Mr. Rounds compared certain points in the police contract to how things were handled in the highway department. Mr. Towne moved that the city pay the Highway Department double time for the specific holidays of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's if they are called in. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion. This will be in addition to their regular holiday pay. If a man works 10 hours on Christmas now, he receives 1 1/2 times pay and that would go to 2 1/2 times. The Council asked Mr. Rounds when the day started for the department and was told it was a clock day, so it began at 12:00 midnight. This policy would not apply to Christmas Eve, then. The motion passed with Mr. Paulsen voting no. Mr. Rounds mentioned treating all employees the same and Mr. Burgess noted that he did not feel there was any general intention to provide anything in a broad brush stroke, particularly since employees said they wanted to be treated individually, not lumped together. Sign Resolution of Commendation - Mr. Towne moved to sign the Resolution of Commendation for John Lucas. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and all voted for it. Firemen Holiday Pay - Mr. Farrar wanted more time to consider this request. Mr. Goddette explained the practice now. Pay Grade Review Committee - Mr. Szymanski updated the Council on that. The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 pm. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.