Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/14/1983CITY COUNCIL FEBRUARY 14, 1983 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, February 14, 1983 (rescheduled from February 7, 1983, due to weather conditions), at 7:30 pm, in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; William Burgess, Leona Lansing, Hugh Marvin Member Absent Michael Flaherty Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; David Minnich, Assistant City Manager; Frank Mazur, Cathy Debo, Chittenden County Transity Authority; Sue Hayes, Kirby Road Sidewalks Committee; James W. Goddette, Sr., South Burlington Fire Department; Barry Carris, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission; Bill Schuele, A1 Audette (Sonny). Read Minutes of January 17, 1983 Mr. Burgess moved that the minutes of the regular meeting of January 17, 1983 be accepted as written. Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous approval. Meet with Chittenden County Transit Authority for Quarterly Report Speaking for the Authority, Mr. Frank Mazur explained that under the present system, costs are allocated to member communities on a mileage basis, with a community paying a subsidy based on its percentage of the total mileage. He said that this system has pitfalls. For example, if a community wished to cut out service on one line, it would take a full fiscal year before the community realized any financial savings. Also, if a town wishes to join the CCTA (such as Jericho and Colchester now indicate), during their first year, they would have to underwrite their full cost of the operation that was not covered by fare boxes. During the second year of their membership, however, the other member communities plus the new community would underwrite the cost of the new community. With a community such as Jericho, this would involve a lot of mileage and tremendous costs. The Authority thus saw the need to rewrite the formula so as not to discourage towns such as Jericho from joining, but also to be equitable to all other members. Under the new proposal, existing routes would be part of the system (these routes have been returning about 50¢ on the dollar, from the fare boxes, which is a very good return). For any new routes that come into the system, the towns will be billed a net cost. The Authority will keep tallies of the income these routes generate, and this income would be measured against the expense. The difference would be borne by the community providing the service until such time as that return equals the system average. The new proposal also defines very specifically the terms (i.e., debt contribution) under which a community can withdraw from the Authority. Mr. Mazur explained that in order to put these changes into effect, there must be unanimous approval by the Councils of present Authority members. Mr. Szymanski noted that in the new plan, if a community chose to leave the Authority, its debt obligation would have to be paid in no more than three annual installments. He said this could be quite a heavy burden on the community. Mr. Mazur replied that this would still be less than the annual subsidy. Mr. Farrar asked whether the community would pay on the debt or the debt plus accrued interest. Mr. Mazur replied that under the present formula, the community would pay both on the debt and the interest. Under the new plan, the community would pay the interest plus the principle from the time the community had it. If, for example, a community paid in equal installments over a 3-year period, it would pay only the interest for the three years (even though the note would be a 10-year note). Mr. Szymanski asked if a community would be liable for the debt if it paid off its share in a year and then for some reason the Authority defaulted. Mr. Mazur said this would require a legal answer which he was not prepared to give. Mr. Farrar said that this point should be explicitly stated in the new wording. Mr. Marvin asked whether the new agreement would affect South Burlington's costs, and Mr. Mazur replied that costs would not be affected at all. Mr. Burgess asked what the Authority would do if a community paid off its debt before the 10-year period. Mr. Mazur said the money could be invested or it could be pre-paid to the lender. Mr. Farrar noted that the Council had made a suggestion for wording changes and clarifications. He asked Mr. Mazur what would now be the procedure. Mr. Mazur replied that they would like a conditional approval from the Council and then they would have the Authority's attorney review the Council's suggestions. Ms. Debo asked whether a letter of clarification from the attorney would be sufficient, and Mr. Farrar said it was possible. Mr. Burgess then moved that the Council approve in concept the CCTA's proposed changes with final approval subject to clarification of the wording changes suggested by the Council. Mr. Marvin seconded with unanimous consent. In closing, Mr. Mazur made reference to the MPO discussions currently underway. He emphasized that the Authority serves at the wishes of the Councils of the five member municipalities and is thus obligated to those communities. From an MPO standpoint, an organizational structure that still has the Authority responsible to the communitie's is very important. Ms. Lansing asked whether the Authority would like to see a specific group set up to be the MPO. Mr. Mazur replied that he thought the Authority would like to see the MPO made up of the chief elected officials of the member communities. Discuss MPO and Dorset Street Improvement (MPO-Metropolitan Planning Organization) Mr. Spitz explained that MPO is a concept new to this area and there has been some feeling that this will only add another level of bureaucracy. It had been felt that possibly communities under 200,000 would be excluded, but apparently this is not to be the case, and the MPO must now present a Transportation Improvement plan for the area served by the MPO. He noted that where mass transportation is involved, the money would go directly to the MPO, but highway money would go to the State which would still be responsible for its distribution. In the case of highways, the MPO would recommend a program to the State, which could or could not approve and finance it. If there is no highway proposal in the plan, the project could not be funded. Several proposals have been made as to who would comprise the MPO. The first of these was that the Regional Planning Commission serve also as MPO, but most communities did not want to go along with this. A second proposal had the State of Vermont serving as MPO via the Agency of Transportation. This is closest to what actually happens now and would probably require a little more active role for local government. A third proposal would have the local governments serve as MPO, with each represented community having one member. This member would have to present a plan from his community. This would involve making decisions on a local level that have never been made at that level before. One important consideration would be which communities would actually be represented in the MPO. The more communities included, the harder it would be. Mr. Szymanski asked who would make the final decision. Mr. Farrar replied that the Governor would do this, which is why it is important to get together on a proposal. He indicated that he agreed with Mr. Spitz's recommendations though he was not sure whether Milton should be included or not. Mr. Marvin asked whether Mr. Spitz felt that the Agency of Transportation was the best group to handle this. Mr. Spitz replied that he did since this sort of decision should be made locally. Mr. Spitz noted that the next MPO organizational meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 22nd, and that the Council should have a recommendation to make at that time. Since Council members wanted a chance to consider the options, it was decided to continue the discussion and determine the Council's position at the February 21st regular meeting. Regarding Dorset Street, Mr. Spitz said the proposal is moving along. The legislative committee on which Daivd Kaufman sits will be meeting shortly. He noted that the City's three top priority projects (Dorset Street and the two Williston Road projects) will require a $350,000 local share input from the City. Since the City could not acquire this amount in five years he felt there was a good case to present to the voters for a bond issue. He noted that the State will still have the option as to how much local funds will be required for a project, but the assumption is that it will remain at 10%. Ms. Lansing asked whether Mr. Spitz was suggesting bonding only the 3 major projects or other street projects as well. Mr. Spitz said they should get input from the Street Department on needed repairs and get a bond for these and for those which will or won't have State financing. Meet with Kirby Road Residents on Sidewalks Speaking for Kirby Road residents, Sue Hayes reminded the Council that 13 young children must walk to school at the edge of the road and are subject to the dangers of high speed and truck traffic. In bad weather, the children's instinct is to walk in the car tracks, and during last week's storm, a car narrowly missed several children. Ms. Lansing suggested that if the City bonds for street improvement, Kirby Road should be in that plan. Clarification of Personnel Rules on Employee Fringe Benefits Mr. Minnich reiterated the necessity of having the language of the Personnel Rules and Regulations conform with the table on Page 19, so that only full-time employees will be viewed as eligible for benefits. Mr. Marvin moved to accept the changes to the Personnel Rules and Regulations as stipulated in Mr. Minnich's memo to Council of January 17, 1983. Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous consent. Sign Certificates for City Highway Mileage Mr. Szymanski explained that as the result of an audit last fall, several changes were noted in the classification of City streets. Three or four roads which the City has been maintaining for some time (Bacon Street, Cedar Street, Hough Street and Stanhope Street) have not been included in the mileage. The Certificate to be signed states that the City has been maintaining these streets for at least the past 15 years. Mr. Burgess moved to sign the Certificate as requested by the City Manager indicating that Bacon Street. Cedar Street, Hough Street and Stanhope Street have been so maintained by the City. Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous consent. Mr. Szymanski indicated that Berard Drive had been improperly classified as a gravel road and also had been indicated under its previous name, Industrial Rd. It now has to be properly classified. Mr. Burgess moved that the street previously known as Industrial Road be indicated as Berard Drive and that it be reclassified as Bituminous Concrete, Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous approval. Regarding Thompson Court, Mr. Szymanski noted that this has been completely abandoned and is no longer a city street. Mr. Burgess moved that the Council sign the certificate indicating the discontinued use of Thompson Court as a City street. Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous consent. Mr. Szymanski then presented a list of new streets which had to be added to the listing of City Streets. Ms. Lansing moved that these streets: Barrett Street, Brookwood Drive. East Terrace addition, Oakwood Drive, the road in Red Rocks park, Hayes Avenue, Highland Terrace, Karen Drive. O'Brien Drive, Stone hedge Rd, Twin Brooks Drive, Twin Oaks, and Twin Oaks North be added to the listing of City Streets and that the Certificate so indicating be signed. Mr. Marvin seconded with unanimous consent. Mr. Burgess then moved that the Council sign the Certificate of Highway Meleage for the year ending February 20, 1983. Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous consent. Review Planning and Zoning Agendas Mr. Schuele expressed his frustration that whenever someone wants to put something in a conservation zone, they can get permission. He noted that the Zoning Commission agenda contains a proposal by University Mall to relocate a tributary of Potash Brook, which is within the conservation zone. Mr. Szymanski added that this action would in fact push the conservation zone into residential area. Mr. Burgess moved that the City Manager be directed to send a communication to the Zoning Board outlining these concerns. Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous consent. Mr. Schuele then stated his concern that complex items which are being discussed by the Council and which involve written materials cannot be fully understood by others in attendance who do not have these materials. He asked if it would be possible to have these items projected on a screen for the benefit of interested parties. Mr. Szymanski said he would see what might be arranged. Start Review of 1983-84 City Budget It was agreed to postpone consideration of the budget until Monday, February 21st. Mr. Marvin moved for adjournment. Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous consent. The meeting adjourned at 9:40 pm. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works. CERTIFICATION OF HIGHWAY MILEAGE City of South Burlington City Highway Mileage Discontinued City Street This is to certify that T60 Thompson Court (0.12 miles) is no longer a City Street and its use for public travel discontinued. Date Approved February 14, 1983 Michael D. Flaherty SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL CERTIFICATION OF HIGHWAY MILEAGE @ City of South Burlington City Highway Mileage Addition of Old Streets This is to certify that the following City Streets are part of the City Street System and have been open to public travel and maintained by the City for at least the past fifteen (15) years. City Street Number Miles Added Explanation 0.060 Old City St.-Bacon St. 0.020 Old City St.-Cedar Court 0.060 Old City St.-Hough St. 0.030 Old City St.-Stanhope St. Date ~~~roved:Februar~ 14, 1983 a Michael D. Flaherty William L. Burgess U SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL CERTIFICATION OF HIGHWAY MILEAGE 'e City of South Burlington City Highway Mileage Reclassification of City Street This is to certify that .270 miles of T115 Industrial Park Road has been reclassified from 2nd Class Gravel to Bituminous Concrete surface and the entire road (0.41 miles) renamed Berard Drive. Date Approved: February 141 1983 Michael D. Flaherty William L. Burg SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL