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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 11/14/1983CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 14, 1983 The South Burlington City Council held a Special Meeting on Monday, November 14, 1983, at 7:30 pm, in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present Hugh Marvin, Chairman; Leona Lansing, Michael Flaherty, Paul Farrar Member Absent William Peters Others Present Corrections Center Liaison Committee: Vincent D'Acuti, Chairman, David Kaufman, John Dusten, Clarice Fisher, Fred Blais, Maurice Cloutier; William Szymanski, City Manager; David Minnich, Assistant City Manager; Reps. Robert Walsh, Robert Chittenden; Margaret Picard, City Clerk/Treasurer; Ruth Poger, The Other Paper Report of the Corrections Center Liaison Committee Mr. D'Acuti read the report of the Committee (attached) and praised the members for their outstanding effort. In explaining the various exhibits, committee members made the following observations: The proposed expansion will not alleviate the over-crowding; it will merely add 50 more people. The facility is not being used as the original plans indicated. Originally, only short-termers would be housed there, but now there are inmates with longer sentences and for more serious crimes such as sexual assault and murder. The justification given for this is that the inmates must be kept closer to home, or to their attorneys. Originally, one of the main criteria for choosing the site was that it was close to areas of employment, schools, churches, etc., so that a number of prisoners would be on work-release programs. The situation now is that very few prisoners are involved in such programs. Inmates are encouraged to seek vocational and academic education, and both a sex offenders and substance abuse program are available. The need for security improvements was stressed; the list of "wants" generated at a supervisors' meeting includes 24 items, most of which relate to security needs. A major fear is that a contract with the border patrol may bring in dangerous fanatics who may have a following of supporters to cause trouble at the facility. Mr. Kaufman explained that capital improvements would have to come from the capital budget, and this has not been a priority in recent years. Mr. Farrar asked if the fulfillment of the security needs would create a facility that could care for 150 prisoners. Mr. Dusten said at least they could control the population. Mr. Kaufman stressed that until the facility is run securely with the present population, it would be unwise to add to the numbers. Mr. Cloutier praised Supt. Turner for doing as well as he has and stressed that in the future there should be some kind of accountability to the City. Mr. Walsh noted that they will be asked in the legislature for hard evidence that requests for security upgrading have not been met. Members of the committee will try to get written documents to support this area. Mr. Dusten noted there are some communications between Mr. Turner and Commissioner Walton on some of the needed improvements. Mr. Walsh said that as a matter of courtesy, a report should be sent to the Commissioner. Mr. D'Acuti also suggested it would be helpful if Council members visited the facility. Mr. Farrar moved that the City Council accept with thanks the report of the Corrections Liaison Committee and that a copy of the report be forwarded to the Head of the Corrections Department and to the Superintendent of the Corrections Center. Mr. Flaherty seconded with unanimous approval. Mr. Farrar then moved that based on the information in the Corrections Liaison Committee report the Council go on record as opposing any expansion of the population of the Chittenden Community Corrections Center and furthermore request that the items listed in Exhibit 5 be given the highest priority by the Legislature for appropriate action to improve our ability to handle the present excessive population. Mr. Flaherty seconded with unanimous approval. Mr. Walsh suggested that the cover letter to Commissioner Walton request a written comment. Mr. Farrar then moved that the Corrections Committee meet with The Commissioner of Corrections after he has had time to review the report and subsequently the the Commissioner be invited to appear at the City Council. Mr. Flaherty seconded with unanimous consent. The Corrections Committee set a date of Friday, December 2nd, at 4 PM, to meet with the Commissioner. Mr. Marvin again expressed appreciation for the work of the committee and said he hoped they would continue their fine work. Meet with City Representatives to discuss pending legislation Mr. Marvin referred to the October 24, 1983 letter (attached) from the three City Representatives. Regarding roads, Mr. Farrar asked how the legislators plan to interact with MPO, since if the MPO does not include a project in its plan, then federal dollars cannot be spent. It was decided that the Council would discuss this item at its next meeting. Regarding the boundary line dispute, Mr. Flaherty asked if Mr. Chittenden would want the Council to go to the Board of Civil Authority. Mr. Chittenden said just to clarify the current boundary line. Mr. Walsh said many people in Montpelier don't want to open the issue up. Ms. Picard said she would check the Board's ruling and would advise the Council at the next meeting. Regarding taxes, Mr. Flaherty stressed that it was the feeling of the Council that property transfer tax increase money should come back to the towns. Mr. Farrar then moved that if there is to be any increase in the property transfer tax fund, that the proceeds from this increase be returned to the community in which the funds were generated. Mr. Flaherty seconded with unanimous approval. Regarding the County Tax, Mr. Flaherty moved to delay legislation on the county tax payment date. Mr. Farrar seconded with unanimous consent. Mr. Farrar indicated that he would discuss enforcement of local ordinances with Bob Chittenden. Regarding Act 250, Mr. Farrar said he would favor language which would let the local communities come up with a plan that would satisfy Sect. 9B. Ms. Lansing suggested getting input from the Planning Commission and Natural Resources Committee. Mr. Szymanski said he would make those contacts. Mr. Szymanski noted that a few years ago, a proposal originating at Regional Planning suggested that all or a large part of property taxes for the first few years from a new commercial or industrial development locating in a community be retained by the community to implement improvements impacted by the development. Mr. Farrar said he wasn't sure this needed legislative action and suggested referring it to the Charter Committee. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works. STATE OF VERMONT HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MONTPELIER 05602 October 24, 1983 Mr. Hugh Marvin, Chairman South Burlington City Council South Burlington City Hall Dorset Street South Burlington, VT 05401 Dear Hugh: We are writing to review the status of a variety of subjects about which the City Council has expressed interest as the 1984 legislative session approaches. We are prepared to work with the Council on the subjects discussed below or on any other topics which the Council decides need attention. Correctional Center Expansion: The Correctional Center Liaison Committee will be making its recommendations in a report to the Council, almost immediately. Following review of the report by the council we are prepared to introduce legislation as appropriate in an effort to implement South Burlington's recommendations. South Burlington Roads: The Vermont Agency of Transportation has contracted with a private engineering firm for the preliminary engineering for widening Williston Road in front of Gaynes and the Sheraton, and for widening Dorset Street from Kennedy Drive to Williston Road. We are optimistic that without any major problems in obtaining right-of-way, construction of both these projects will occur in summer 1984. Additionally, widening of Williston Road from Dorset Street to Hinesburg Road is included in the current five-year highway plan with construction scheduled for 1986 or 1987. Beyond the projects just noted, we need the cities "wish list" for future projects in priority order so that we can work to have them included in 1984's updated five-year plan. We should have this list before the end of calendar 1983. Mr. Hugh Marvin South Burlington, Vermont I i. District 6-1 and 6-2 Boundary Line: October 24, 1983 Page 2 The boundary between Districts 6-1 and 6-2 involving a small number of residents on Dorset Street remains unresolved. Representative Walsh, who sits on the House Government Operations Committee, has reservations as to the feasibility of retaining these residents in District 6-2 without raising questions about other apportionment problems throughout Vermont. However, Bob Walsh has agreed to work with Representatives Chittenden and Kaufman to retain the residents in question in District 6-2. Both Bob Chittenden and Dave Kaufman feel strongly that these residents logically belong in 6-2. Therefore, your three representatives plan to introduce necessary legisla- tion to accomplish this. We would like a letter of recommendation from the Board of Civil Authority supporting our effort and hope that the Council will request such a letter from the Board. For political reasons, this may be a tough issue, but we feel we should work for it. Taxes ! You have no doubt been reading about the myriad of recommendations being made by the House Ways and Means Committee, dissenting recommendations, ideas from the Governor's office, etc. The City Council has expressed particular interest in the property transfer tax as a method of raising new revenue which would be of local benefit. The Subcommittee on Property Taxes of the Committee on Ways and Means has included in its report a recommendation to raise the property transfer tax to 3/4% or 1%. They have not made any recommendation as to the distribution of the additional funds. We would be prepared to work for action on the property transfer tax as requested by the Council. We would want to be sure that any change in the transfer tax does not jeopardize state money provided to South Bur- lington for schools, highways, etc. It is probably not necessary to introduce a bill to make our wishes known, because all tax recommendations, in bill form or through direct testimony to the Ways and Means Committee, will, in all likelihood, be included in a comprehensive committee bill. ~ Mr. Hugh Marvin South Burlington, Vermont October 24, 1983 Page 3 County Tax Payment Date: Legislation to change the tax payment date was drafted in 1982. While we could introduce the same or similar legislation, we would caution that South Burlington is the only municipality which has expressed con- cern over the date. In a year of so many other major issues, we are not optimistic about obtaining support for this matter. In light of the cost of introducing legislation, we might wish to wait until 1985 when there will be a full biennium in which to pursue our issue. The council's opinion is requested on this subject. I Enforcement of Local Ordinances: We are not completely clear on the needs here. Bob Chittenden will be discussing the topic with Paul Farrar, who seemed to express the greatest concern on the topic. I If warranted, we will prepare legislation on this subject. Other Topics: We would appreciate any input the Council has to offer concerning Act 250; specifically as to any changes, pending or which could be proposed, which would be of positive impact on South Burlington and Vermont. Finally, we would welcome input on any other topics not mentioned above on which the Council would like us to assist. We look forward to receiving the Council's input and recommendations, either via letter or by meeting at a mutually convenient time. Thank you very much, Sincerely, David A. Kaufman Robert Chittenden Robert Walsh State Representative State Representative State Representative 6- 1 6- 2 6- 3 DAK/RC/RW:ad Enclosures