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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/01/1982CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 1, 1982 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, February 1, 1982 at 7:30 pm in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Michael Flaherty, Hugh Marvin, William Burgess Member Absent Martin Paulsen Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; David Minnich, Assistant City Manager; Pat Burgmeier, The Other Paper; MM Don Weinreich, Chip Levesque, James Poulin, Frank Mazur, Catherine Debo, William Wessel Agenda addition The following item was added: Accept a resignation from the Council. Minutes of January 18 and 19, 1982 The January 18, and 19, 1982 minutes were approved on a motion by Mr. Marvin, a second by Mr. Flaherty and a unanimous vote. Disbursement orders Mr. Szymanski explained that the disbursement orders were not ready. Accept a resignation from the Council Mr. Farrar read Mr. Martin Paulsen's letter of resignation from the City Council. Mr. Flaherty moved to accept, with sincere regret, Mr. Paulsen's resignation. Mr. Marvin seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Mr. Szymanski was asked to advertise for people to fill the vacancies on both the Council and the Regional Planning Commission and it was decided to interview people for those positions on February 22. Chittenden County Transit Authority - Director Ms. Debo Ms. Debo noted that the CCTA did very well in terms of revenue return compared to industry averages. She noted, however, that over the next 5 years there will be a phase-out of federal funding subsidies. The Authority is seeking new revenues in terms of contracts and is also planning a marketing program in March to help increase ridership. They also hope to find ways to cut costs. Mr. Farrar noted that the figures assumed a 10% cost increase per year and he wondered if that figure could be met, noting that it was much less than has been the experience in the past. Ms. Debo felt that figure could be met. Mr. Mazur said the CCTA would meet the city's budget date this year. Mr. Burgess came in at this time. Ms. Debo gave a presentation on a possible solution to special transportation problems. This is in response to replacement of the mini-bus system. She said the CCTA did not want to continue that system for several reasons. The bus is larger than necessary for a taxi-like service. One vehicle, also, cannot handle the entire Chittenden County area - in fact, it cannot handle the 5 communities now in CCTA. The mini-bus has peak demand hours and many people who would like to use it cannot because it is not available. Other times of the day it sits idle. In addition, the service is cost-inefficient, costing twice as much as a taxi would. Ms. Debo said two groups had been identified as not being able to use the lift-equipped fixed bus routes - those who live too far from the routes and those who are not eligible for a human service agency transportation service. The proposed new service would also serve volunteers who help the elderly and handicapped and it would be a catalyst for transportation coordination. Ms. Debo said the plan would have strict eligibility requirements, would use independent providers of transportation, would employ one person to act as a broker-schedular, would have a Charter of rules and a community-based policy-making board, and would have financial and other support from agencies and local governments. She felt the cost in the first and perhaps second year also would be $25,000 and that it would be covered by contributions. Users of the service will pay a fare set by the board using zone rates, and the difference in cost between the fare paid and the provider's expense would be passed through the broker to the communities. Ms. Debo felt the cost would be kept down by the contributions from human service agencies, optimum contracts with the providers and the continuation of services by agencies currently providing transportation. Ms. Debo said the broker was an important part of the plan. He/she will look for economies of scale, screen clients, develop contracts with agencies, and pass along reservations. The estimated cost to South Burlington for FY 1983 is $3300. Mr. Flaherty asked what would happen if the number of trips were much higher than estimated now. Ms. Debo replied that they would very carefully control the number of trips a particular client could take. Mr. Mazur noted that the service would be reviewed annually and a community could drop it any year. In addition to the $3300 for FY 1983, Ms. Debo said the CCTA would like $1100 from the city for the balance of this year. They hope to start the system in March. Mr. Farrar said the Council would take some action at the next regularly scheduled meeting. Conditional Use hearing for the Cork and Board, expansion at 100 Dorset St. Mr. Farrar noted that, since the area in which the Cork and Board is located is an area in which a zone change is being proposed by the Planning Commission, any request for a zoning permit must be reviewed by the Council as if under interim zoning. The City Planner and Code Officer have both reviewed the application and the Council has been informed that the proposed use conforms to the new proposed zoning. Traffic also meets the requirements in the zoning ordinance. Mr. Flaherty moved to approve the application of the Cork and Board for expansion at 100 Dorset Street as outlined in the David Spitz memo dated 1/28/82. Mr. Marvin seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Discussion on municipal building financing Mr. Minnich noted that last October the Council had signed short-term notes which ran until April 15. It was hoped that the long-term market would improve between October and April, but that has not happened. Now the best information is that it will improve between March and June. Representatives of the First Bank of Boston will be in the city in February to discuss what to do with the April 15 short-term notes. The decision has to be made 4-6 weeks ahead of time in order to have time to do all the things necessary for a sale. Mr. Minnich said that the interest rate for 20 year notes would be about 14%. If this dropped to 12%, the city would have $20,000 less per year to pay for the 20 year period. He said he was looking at shorter periods also, such as 10 years. At 10 years and 12% the difference would be $33,000 more annually. Mr. Szymanski said he would have to check on whether a period less than 20 years would be in conformance with the warning. Sign Resolution of Commendation for Gary Farrell Mr. Szymanski read the resolution. Mr. Marvin moved to sign the resolution and Mr. Flaherty seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Review list of Tax Penalty and Interest Waivers The Council looked at the list presented by the City Manager. Mr. Flaherty moved to receive the list of tax penalties and interest waivers from the City Manager. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and all voted aye. Sign renewal of land acquisition short term note Mr. Szymanski said this note was in anticipation of State and federal funding for the pruchase of the Nowland property. The note is with the Chittenden Trust Co. and is for $150,000 at a rate of 8.9%. Interest is $3,976.03. Mr. Flaherty moved to sign the renewal note of land acquisition. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Old business Mr. Burgess wondered what had happened to the peddler's ordinance and Mr. Szymanski said he would look into it. He then asked if there was anyone left who was supposed to hook to the sewer and had not. Mr. Szymanski replied that there were two people who had not hook up yet and he said he would get after them. Mr. Marvin asked when the Council was going to discuss the highway problems in the city. Mr. Farrar felt that would be discussed in detail when they started work on the budget, which will be at the next meeting. Since Mr. Marvin will be gone in March, it was decided to discuss highways this month. Work on the budget will start at the meeting on February 8. Meet as Liquor Control Board Mr. Flaherty moved to adjourn as the City Council and meet as the Liquor Control Board to consider first class liquor licenses and a temporary permit. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and all voted aye. Mr. Szymanski said Riby's had applied for a first class license. This is a case of a change in ownership. Riby's is located at 1242 Shelburne Rd. The fire and police chiefs have checked it out and have approved the license. He noted that there was a problem with the next application - for Ward Business Inc, at the site of the Old Board on Shelburne Road. The fire chief has not been able to inspect the building and the application is vague about some previous police offenses. Mr. Szymanski said the third application was for a temporary permit for Rice High School for February 7, 1982 for a party for the Democratic party between 5:00-10:00 pm. The caterers have applied for the permit. Mr. Burgess moved to approve the application for a first class liquor license for Riby's and the temporary permit for Rice High School for February 7, 1982 between 5:00 and 10:00 pm and to take no action on the application for Ward Business Inc. until we are satisfied, that their license application is in order. Mr. Marvin seconded the motion and all voted aye. Executive Session for continued review of the Police Association Contract At 9:00 pm, Mr. Flaherty moved to adjourn as the Liquor Control Board and reconvene as the City Council and go into executive session for the purpose of discussing the police association contract with the understanding that after we complete the executive session we will adjourn without taking any action. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and it passed with all in favor. At 10:10 pm, the Council came out of executive session and adjourned. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.