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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/18/1981CITY COUNCIL MARCH 18, 1981 The South Burlington City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, March 18, 1981 at 7:30 pm in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Michael Flaherty, William Burgess, John Towne Member Absent Martin Paulsen Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Richard Spokes, City Attorney; James Goddette, Fire Chief; Sonny Audette, Highway Department; Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Director; Donald Whitten, Water Pollution Control Department; Francis Salem, Gary Rounds Meet with City Attorney to discuss budget related items and pending litigation Litigation involving the sign ordinance and the Coburn-Feeley lawsuit was discussed. Mr. Spokes also mentioned the status of other cases involving the city. How to handle the CCTA assessment was discussed at some length. Mr. Spokes felt that if the Council wanted to know how the citizens felt about continuing the subsidy, they could be informed of the cost and it could be put on the ballot as a referendum item. The subsidy will have to be paid this year anyway. A charter change could make that assessment an off budget item, as some other expenditures are. Mr. Burgess favored the referendum item but he also wanted to have the charter change on the ballot. Regarding the repeal of the inventory tax over a 10 year period with a cap, Mr. Spokes felt the charter change to allow that would be the best way to go. The proposed change to 100% valuation was discussed. The Council wants to physically reappraise 10% of the agricultural properties, 10% of the residential, 10% of the commercial, and 10% of the industrial properties every year. That way every property will be inspected once every 10 years, and the inspections will give a base for changing the valuations of similar properties. The airport contract was discussed and Mr. Spokes asked for a signed copy. Continue work on 1981-82 city budget Revenue sharing was about $70,000. That will be pulled out as a separate item. Mr. Farrar felt a reasonable number of outstanding projects could be fit into that. Mr. Burgess felt that the JC park fencing and the fire truck repair should be done. The fencing for JC park, Red Rocks fencing, and a backstop will cost $3,000. The truck, without the hose reel, will cost $20-25,000. Messrs. Flaherty and Towne agreed that the fence and the backstop were important. Mr. Towne added a concern about roads. Mr. Farrar favored $25,000 for the fire truck, $25,000 for roads, $15,000 for police manpower, which left $5,000. Mr. Szymanski said the only capital items included now were for the Potter property and the water line and frontage for Kimball Avenue. It was felt that the $25,000 for the highway department would be a start for some of the projects that need doing. Mr. Flaherty suggested making this a line item - road maintenance. It was decided to put the money under Special Construction. $15,000 was put in the police budget for additional manpower. This will let them add 1 part-time dispatcher and an additional person. The final decision on revenue sharing was $15,000 for the police manpower, $25,100 for the fire truck repairs, $3,000 for fencing and a backstop, and $27,585 for the highway work. The Council felt the CCTA should be put on the ballot as a referendum item and that the charter change should also be on the ballot. The Council also wanted to have a charter change to repeal the inventory tax over a 10 year period with a cap put on the ballot. Mr. Szymanski noted that the sewer charges would have to be increased from $4.00 per 1,000 cu. ft. to $4.75. He added that the library had requested a catalogue file, but it was decided that would have to wait. Mr. Flaherty moved to approve the budget, Mr. Burgess seconded, and all voted aye. The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 pm. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.