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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/05/1980CITY COUNCIL MARCH 5, 1980 The South Burlington City Council held a meeting on Wednesday, March 5, 1980 at 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Room, City Hall, 1175 Williston Road Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Kenneth Jarvis, Martin Paulsen, Michael Flaherty, William Burgess Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Richard Spokes, City Attorney; Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Director; Albert Audette, Street Department; James Goddette, Fire Chief; Don Whitten, Water Pollution Control Department; Willis Estus, Ray Whitten, Steve Crowley and Don Duell, Water Pollution Control Department Agenda addition The following item was added: Sign application for federal highway aid to replace signs so that they will conform with federal standards. Possible executive session with City Attorney Mr. Burgess moved to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing pending litigation with the City Attorney. Mr. Jarvis seconded the motion and all voted aye. At 8:25 p.m. Mr. Jarvis moved to adjourn the executive session and reconvene the City Council meeting, after a 5 minute recess. Mr. Flaherty seconded the motion and it carried 5-0. Budget hearings Mr. O'Neill presented the recreation department budget. There are few changes, he said, except that he had to account for the new, higher minimum wage. He is also finding that he has to pay some game officials for their time. He increased the car allowance this year, and the department needs a new typewriter. A new boat is also needed for the beach, and with the new parking lot behind JC park, some backstops are needed so cars do not get hit by balls. A 4' high chain link fence is also necessary to keep cars off the park. Mr. Farrar told Mr. O'Neill and the other department heads present that he would like them to be ready to tell the Council where 3% of their budgets could be cut, in order of priority. Fine Arts - Mr. O'Neill also presented this budget. The chorus director and accompanist have not had raises for 4 years, so that has been increased this year. The Council members questioned the amount shown for swimming in the recreation budget and Mr. O'Neill said he would give them the breakdown on that. It was decided to meet on Monday, March 10 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the Library and Natural Resources budgets, and on Wednesday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. Water Pollution Control - Mr. Whitten said that they run behind in salaries each year, so this year the salaries will be caught up, because next year they will have to get ready to have phosphorus control. Mr. Whitten said the new budget took into account moving men into the requested classifications. He is looking into whether it would be a good idea for the city to switch from oil to natural gas heating in the Airport Parkway plant. It was suggested that the city look into having a WATS telephone line. Mr. Jarvis told Mr. Whitten that the Council had received a request from his department for some personal equipment. Mr. Whitten said this budget covered the cost of the gloves, hard hat, etc., but did not include the Dunham boots requested. Mr. Farrar said the Council would take the request under advisement and let the men know when it was going to be discussed, so they could be present. Fire Department - Mr. Goddette said he had absorbed the costs of 1 week's pay for two week's sick time for the men. The breathing tanks will be upgraded and new ones added. Mr. Goddette said that he had not purchased the coats last year because of the new cost of salaries he had absorbed, so he is asking for them again this year. Mr. Flaherty had to leave at this point. Mr. Farrar asked whether a new fire truck or a tanker truck was more important and was told the new fire truck was more important. Highway Department - Mr. Audette said he had to add another mechanic - they have almost 60 vehicles and it is too much for one man to service, so another salary is included in the budget. Mr. Farrar noted that some people were charged against other departments, so this budget has more people than money budgeted. It was suggested that the city try to make the budgets reflect more accurately where the money was spent. The highway department does some work for the recreation department, for example, so money for that should be moved from highway to recreation. Part of the money shown in the highway budget is actually spent for recreation. It was decided to leave it as it is this year and look into doing that next year. Mr. Audette said it was not his recommendation that the proposed new mechanic work on police department vehicles. He also told the Council that he was looking into heating with methane gas out of the landfill. This could serve the garage, sewer plant, and school bus garage, perhaps. A new landfill machine is needed and the department is working on getting the landfill certified by the state. The bookkeeping situation in the city was discussed. Sign application for federal aid Mr. Burgess moved to sign the application for federal highway aid to replace signs so that they will conform with federal standards. Mr. Jarvis seconded the motion and all voted aye. The meeting was adjourned at 11:40 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.