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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/09/1983CORRECTED CITY COUNCIL MARCH 9, 1983 The South Burlington City Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, March 9, 1983, at 8:00 pm in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Leona Lansing, Michael Flaherty, Hugh Marvin, William Burgess Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; David Minnich, Assistant City Manager; Ruth Poger, Margaret Picard, Sue Hayes, Brenda Wilson, Alan Sousie, Donald Whitten, Bruce O'Neill, Albert C. Audette, James W. Goddette, Sr., Ethel Schuele, William Schuele, Susan Metcalf, Brian Metcalf, Dennis Delaney, State Senator Minutes of Special Meeting of March 1, 1983 Mr. Marvin moved that the minutes be approved as printed. Mr. Flaherty seconded with unanimous approval. Sign Disbursement Orders Disbursement Orders were signed. Request for funding two scholarships, Green Mountain Prevention Project Mr. Allan Sousie, speaking on behalf of the project, outlined what their goals and needs were for the upcoming year. The Green Mountain Prevention Project seeks to help adolescents deal more effectively with the questions of whether they should use drugs or not, how to lead groups, how to make decisions, how to solve problems, and how to express feelings. Most of the time people turn to drugs and alcohol to help them deal with these kinds of issues. Those involved in the project feel that working with young people and getting them to a level where they can do something around those issues rather than turning to the drugs would be a reasonable way to prevent the problem. This year they plan to have two institutes, one held in June at St. Michael's College for 5 days for students from other counties than Chittenden and Addison, and another institute held in August for the students of Chittenden and Addison counties. Their goal is to have 50 students for each session this year. The cost for each student this year is $275 which includes room and board and all the materials provided to the students. The money also helps pay for an extensive follow-up program. Mr. Sousie requested that the City Council demonstrate some kind of financial support to help fund two students from South Burlington High School. Mr. Farrar noted that Mr. Sousie should also seek financial aid from the school board and to approach them soon as they are now working on their budget. Mr. Flaherty asked if the amount of $30,000 was used for the two sessions and the follow ups. Mr. Sousie said that the money was used for the sessions, follow ups, and planning for the next year, with some anticipated money used for honorariums this year. Mr. Flaherty also asked what the criteria for picking the students was if there were more applications than space would allow. Mr. Sousie answered that the criteria used was that first the children of alcoholics would not be discouraged to attend, whereas students who are currently having difficulty with using drugs would be discouraged since the program is not a treatment program. The basic criterion is what demonstrated leadership does this person have. Mr. Marvin asked how do the students become aware of the program. Mr. Sousie stated that information is given to the guidance counselors in all high schools, the principals are informed, some presentations by the members of the project have been given to the students where brochures are distributed, and some publicity in the newsprint. When asked by Mr. Marvin why the schools were not supporting this rather than the municipalities, Mr. Sousie informed the Council that the schools were supporting the project to some extent, but that he felt the project was a community owned program rather than school-owned. In addition, they would be willing to accept even a street adolescent who demonstrated leadership. Review Zoning & Planning Agendas There were no questions or comments on this item of the Agenda. Continue Review of 1983 - 1984 Budget Mr. Farrar estimated the grand list to be $215,800,000. That is 10 million dollars greater than what was estimated in the previous fiscal year. Mr. Farrar's estimate is greater than what the city manager used in his fiscal year 83 - 84 budget document which the City Council is reviewing this evening. Therefore, Mr. Farrar's new estimate will generate $34,628 more tax revenue. Mr. Flaherty moved that the City Council accept the estimated grand list for fiscal year 83 - 84 to be $215,800,000. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion with unanimous consent. Mr. Farrar read a proposed list of ways the $34,628 could be spent. Discussion followed on the exact amount to be designated for each item on the list. Then the list was put to a vote as follows: Mr. Flaherty moved that the City Council approve the proposed following list: 1. Visiting Nurse Association $250 2. Special Transportation $4,000 Ms. Lansing seconded the motion with a unanimous vote. Mr. Flaherty moved that the City Council approve the proposed following list: 1. Dehumidifier for City Hall $ 200 2. Library Books and Supplies 150 3. Green Mountain Prevention Project 275 4. Sidewalks 24,000 Mr. Burgess seconded the motion with a unanimous vote. Mr. Flaherty moved that the City Council approve the proposed following list: 1. GBIC $1,000 2. Settling Pond at City Hall 2,428** 3. Uniforms for Policemen 500 4. Board of Civil Authority 500 5. Tennis Courts Lights 1,325 Mr. Burgess seconded with a vote of 4 yes and 1 no. ** In Ms. Lansing's motion below, the amount for the Settling Pond at City Hall is decreased to $2423. Ms. Lansing moved that the City Council take the $2428 from the Settling Pond and place it in a fund for Bike Paths. Mr. Flaherty seconded the motion. Ms. Lansing stated that although $2428 was not a lot of money, that it was a beginning for the bike paths. She said that this is something the Council has been promising, but never fulfilled. Mr. Farrar noted that probably the Council shouldn't place money in the fund if they weren't intending on spending it. He further said that if the City wasn't going to do any other construction on highways, it probably wouldn't be enough to start the bike paths. It may be more feasible to start the bike paths when construction of the highways is started. Ms. Lansing asked Mr. William Schuele if it was feasible to start with $2400. Mr. Schuele answered that basically he wanted to alert the Council that this was an on-going concern. $2400 wouldn't buy much in bike paths anyway. He was primarily concerned that this is something he was guaranteed for years, but always put aside. He wants this noted so that the Council will know that this is an on-going concern for the citizens of South Burlington. Ms. Lansing asked if she could withdraw the motion and change it to put $5 in the bike paths. Ms. Lansing moved that the City Council take $5 from the Settling Pond at City Hall and put it toward the Bike Paths. Mr. Flaherty seconded the motion with a vote of 3 yes and 2 no. Mr. Flaherty moved that the City Council approve the budget as presented by the City Manager plus the additions we made tonight for a total of $2,735,393. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion with a vote of 4 yes and 1 no. Mr. Flaherty moved that the City Council approve the Water Pollution Control Budget for FY 83 - 84 and the Capital Budget for the Water Pollution Control. Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous approval. Highways Mr. Farrar stated that the council had discussed in previous meetings either adding or proposing additional items or a bond issue of approximately one-half a million dollars to fund local projects and to pay the city's matching share of projects that would come under the urban system funds. He said that he had suggested that the Council do this by a special tax of $100,000 for five years and Mr. Marvin had suggested a bond issue. After thinking it through, Mr. Farrar said he felt that Mr. Marvin's suggestion had some additional merit in the sense that the amount of funds that the city expends in an given year would depend on the amount of state funds and federal funds available. The bond issue would allow complete flexibility of what years the city would spend the money. Mr. Minnich stated that the least costly method for the City would be to have a five year tax of $100,000 each year. Mr. Marvin noted that this money should be designated for exact projects and that at least half of this money would be matching funds with a specific pay back period of time. The Council noted that also during construction of the three projects that this would be the ideal time to also delineate the bike paths. Mr. Marvin moved that the City Council ask the voters on May 17, 1983 for authority to issue bonds, in the amount not to exceed $500,000 in principle, to be paid back in a period of time not to exceed ten years, for the purpose of repaving, reconstructing and making drainage improvements to roads in South Burlington and for constructing bicycle paths and sidewalks. A portion of these bond proceeds will be used to match State and Federal funds for road improvements. Mr. Flaherty seconded the motion with unanimous consent. Report from State Senator Dennis Delaney Ms. Lansing introduced Mr. Dennis Delaney, State Senator from Chittenden County. Mr. Delaney reported that the Jobs Bill passed the Senate today. He noted that the City Council could make application to this especially in regards to the bike paths. That was the only report Mr. Delaney had, but he asked if there were any questions. Mr. Marvin asked if the 3¢ gas tax would be approved? Mr. Delaney stated that he didn't know, but that it was in the House right now. He also said that if it does go through, at 3¢, the City will get almost 14 percent more. Mr. Farrar clarified that the 14 percent is direct state aid for local highways, but the larger portion of it would be the urban systems matching funds from Washington. The funding formula requires 30 percent for local share of which 20 percent would be the State's portion and 10 percent for local portion. Mr. Farrar expects that it would enable the City to match considerably more federal dollars. Mr. Marvin expressed concern that the City needs someone to watch this money and keep the Council informed on how to apply for the money which becomes available. Other Business Ms. Lansing expressed concern that Burlington has asked for three million dollars of transportation money to clean up the barge canal, apparently used to expediate the beginning of the exit rather than having to go through the process of getting funds from the Superfund. She felt that maybe that should not be used from transportation money and that perhaps other parts of the State should receive that money for transportation. Mr. Farrar stated that this is an unban system highway and that a portion of it would be constructed using that money. Ms. Lansing said that she just objected to Burlington's tactic in getting the money. Mr. Burgess stated that Mr. Frank Mazur wanted the Council and the public to be aware that, in light of the article and photographs of the fellow in the wheelchair on Williston Road, the City pays for and participates in a program to transport handicapped people in South Burlington. The Council requested that Mr. Szymanski write a letter to the man in the article stating that there is transportation available and that the City contributes a set amount of money to the special transportation program. Mr. Marvin suggested that the city manager assign the city planner to follow the money situation for highways for the next three months. Mr. Farrar noted that there were two areas that the Council would like covered; one is what format the federal funds are going to come down as, and the other is what type of projects will be funded out of the funds. Mr. Minnich stated that the negotiations for the City Hall and Highway unions were about to begin and that he needed to know what format the City Council wishes to participate. The Council said that they wish to handle these negotiations in the same way they will handle the Policemen's Union. Mr. Flaherty moved that the City Council allow the city's attorney, Mr. Joe Obuchowski, to act as spokesman and to have one member of the Council act as observer. Ms. Lansing seconded the motion with unanimous approval. Mr. Burgess moved that the City Council authorize the city manager in preparing the budget to take approximately $144,970 to prepare a valid item of revenue sharing. Mr. Flaherty seconded the motion with unanimous consent. Mr. Farrar noted that there would be a regular Council Meeting on March 14, 1983, Steering Committee meeting on March 17, 1983, and a regular Council meeting on March 23, 1983. The Council meeting prior to the Steering Committee meeting was cancelled. Mr. Flaherty moved that the Council go into executive session to discuss pending litigation. Ms. Lansing seconded with unanimous consent. Mr. Farrar also stated that the only motion made after the executive session was the motion to adjourn. The regular meeting adjourned at 10:15 pm. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.