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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/10/1986CITY COUNCIL 10 MARCH 1986 The South Burlington City Council held a special meeting on Monday, 10 March 1986, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Leona Lansing, George Mona, Francis Murray, Michael Flaherty Others Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Albert Audette, Highway Department; Margaret Picard, City Clerk; James Goddette, Sr., Fire Dept; Tom Fraga, Police Dept.; Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Department; Jane Lafleur, City Planner; Maureen Genzlinger, Molly Lambert, Pat Myette, Carole Lothrop, CAPS; Diane Gadhue, Alan Sousie, Sid Poger, The Other Paper Comments & questions from the public (not related to items on the agenda) No issues were raised. Finalize 1986-1987 Budget and Capital Budget Mr. Sousie made a request for funds for a $350 scholarship to sponsor a high school student to attend the Green Mountain Prevention Institute substance abuse workshop. He noted that the School Board had agreed to match the City's contribution. Mr. Sousie outlined the areas in which students trained at the Institute have functioned in the schools and in the community after their participation in the workshop. He said about 250 students have been through the workshop. Mr. Farrar then indicated that he had reviewed the City Manager's "projects" list as it affects the 10-year capital budget. He felt that approximately 15 cents of the total tax rate should be used for debt repayment and had made several adjustments in the projects list to reflect this. He felt it was reasonable to allocate 1/2 of the increase in the Grand List to added programs. The remainder should cover inflation, providing the rate of inflation is low. Another problem the Council must deal with is the loss of revenue sharing money, and he had made a few adjustments to cover this as well. Mr. Farrar suggested that for the budget under consideration the following items be added: $12,500 to start a Fire Dept. equipment "sinking fund 12,500 for an additional policeman to be hired in January, '87. 5,500 for a start on the library computer system 64 for Green-Up Day 1,000 to the Champlain Valley Area Agency on Aging 750 to Women Against Battered Women 350 for a scholarship to the Green Mountain Prevention Institute Mr. Mona said he would like to see a total figure for contributions as well as the individual line items. Members then discussed at length the request made by CAPS for a juvenile officer. Mr. Fraga felt that with a reshuffling of personnel in the department and the use of lateral transfers, it would be possible to have a juvenile officer. Mr. Murray said he didn't feel qualified to tell the Police Chief how to employ his staff. Mr. Fraga said it was a question of the efficient use of manpower, and the Council should be concerned with this when it affected budgeting. Mrs. Lothrop asked why a new person in the police dept. couldn't start before the school year. Mr. Farrar explained it was a question of money. Mr. Flaherty said he was concerned that the Chief had indicated a need for a detective, and if he gets money to add a person, that person will be a detective. He felt the Council should indicate where it wants the money to go. Mr. Flaherty then moved that the Council adopt the list of budget additions as recommended by Mr. Farrar. Mr. Mona seconded. Mr. Murray moved to amend the motion to transfer the money for the Fire Dept. for an additional half police officer. Mr. Flaherty seconded. In the vote which followed, the amendment was defeated 2-3. Mr. Mona moved that the increase in contributions of 2,200 be eliminated and that money added to the $12,500 for the police officer thereby allowing a person to be hired a month earlier. Mr. Flaherty seconded for the purposes of discussion, but noted that he felt that the additional month was not worth the loss in aid to the other groups. In the vote which followed, the amendment was defeated 1-4. In the vote which followed, the original motion passed unanimously. Mr. Mona then moved that the Council suggest to the Police Chief that additional personnel in the Police Department be clearly identified as 1/2 time juvenile officer and 1/2 time detective. If the Chief does not follow this suggestion, he should report his reasons to the City Manager. Ms. Lotnrop asked if there is any way the juvenile officer's work could not be implemented before January. Mr. Farrar said he didn't know but would talk to the chief. Mr. Farrar then suggested setting the tax rate at .509. Based on an estimated Grand List of $5,240,000 this would result in $2,758,780 to be raised by taxes for the Operating Budget. He also suggested holding out some of the Revenue Sharing money to ease the shock of the cutback next year. He suggested an amount of approximately $39,346 to be put aside. The rate for debt retirement and Other Entities would be .097 resulting in a total tax rate of $6.06, a 4% increase over last year. Mr. Flaherty then moved that .097 be used as the combined debt service and Other Entities rate. Mr. Murray seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Review Planning and Zoning Agendas No issues were raised. Sign Disbursement Orders Disbursement Orders were signed. Review Minutes of March 3, 1986 Mr. Flaherty moved that the minutes of March 3, 1986 be approved as written. Ms. Lansing seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. Other Business Mr. Farrar announced that the EPA decision has been received in the Charwill/Pizzagalli case, and the Council's decision to award the bid to Charwill has been upheld. He has heard that there is no plan to appeal. Executive Session Mr. Flaherty moved that the Council meet in Executive Session to discuss the Brand property acquisition and resume regular session only to adjourn. Mr. Murray seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. The Council came out of Executive Session and adjourned immediately. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.