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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 12/07/1987CITY COUNCIL 7 DECEMBER 1987 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 7 December 1987, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Michael Flaherty, Molly Lambert, George Mona, Frank Murray Also Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Wendy Schroeder, Business Mgr. Mary McKearin, Business Manager; James Condos, Zoning Board; Jane Lafleur, City Planner; Albert Audette, Street Dept.; Ruth Poger, The Other Paper; Mike Donoghue, Free Press Comments & Questions from the Audience (not related to items on the Agenda) Mr. Condos raised the question of traffic on Hinesburg Rd. between AT&T and Van Sicklen Rd. The traffic turning into the 2 new housing developments is often endangered by cars which are passing at that point of the road. Mr. Condos felt this should be a no passing zone and that the speed limit should be lowered. Mr. Szymanski noted this is a state road, and they will have to make any decisions. Mr. Flaherty suggested a blinking light at the entrances to the 2 developments. Mr. Szymanski will check with the state. Review City Manager's Report on Status of 1987-88 Goals On Item #5, Mr. Farrar suggested another meeting with the Planning Commission. On Item #10, Mr. Mona noted receipt of a letter from the Chairman of the Solid waste District and the possibility that this will impact next year's budget. Mr. Farrar suggested having the City's representatives to the District at the next meeting to report on what is planned. Continue Public Hearing on proposed amendments to the City Zoning Regulations on traffic impact standards Mr. Farrar will be meeting this week with the City Planner and traffic people. Mr. Murray moved to continue the public hearing until the next meeting. Mr. Mona seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Murray then moved to hold the Public Hearing on the City Center Zoning Regulations on 4 January 1988. Ms. Lambert seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Discuss additional media coverage of city public meetings Ms. McKearin reported she had attended a meeting called by Chittenden Community TV to find out what interest there would be in having public access cover local government meetings. Green Mountain TV will be selling to Adelphia, and they feel this would be a good time to get another public access channel. It would require dedication of this additional channel, $100,000 capital cost, and an operating budget of about $62,000 the first year. Some money would come from the cable owner. Coordination would be required to notify them of meetings, etc. At this point, there is no financial obligation to the city, but if the city wanted to do something special, such as a program on public safety, that might incur a cost. Ms. Lambert felt this was a good way for people to know what is going on in the city. Mr. Murray moved that the Council express its interest and desire to participate in this venture and request the City Manager to express this interest in a letter to the Public Service Board. Mr. Mona seconded. Motion passed unanimously Accept documents from Planning Commission and set date of public hearings a) Proposed zone change (R-4 to R-7) on a parcel of land located at 1342 Shelburne Road Mrs. Lafleur explained that the front piece of land is now C-1 and the back R-4. Mr. Blodgett, who owns the whole parcel, feels it couldn't be adequately developed for single family homes. The Holmes Rd. Extension lands on the property line and this will be a major connector street. In addition, the Green Mountain Drive loop will also be a commercial street. Mr. Blodgett originally asked for C-1 zoning, but the Planning Commission didn't want retail development there and would agree only to R-7. The neighbors were originally opposed, but as they learned more of the facts about setbacks, etc, they were more open to the proposed change. Mr. Flaherty moved to accept the proposed zoning change from the Planning Commission and to set the public hearing for 18 January 1988. Mr. Mona seconded. Motion passed unanimously. b) Proposed miscellaneous zoning amendments Mr. Mona questioned whether the "bed and breakfast" item was a hot issue. Mrs. Lafleur said it wasn't, but the Commission felt it should require site plan approval. Mr. Mona also raised the question of noise standards and asked whether an ordinance would be more enforceable than the zoning regulations. Mr. Farrar felt it could be done both ways. Mr. Murray questioned whether decibel counts work and said he would be more comfortable with "reasonable and unreasonable" noise. Mrs. Lafleur said she would check to see if the standard has been working in Essex. Mr. Flaherty moved to accept the miscellaneous zoning amendments and to schedule the public hearing for 1 February 1988. Ms. Lambert seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Accept new streets: Hopkins Street, Slocum Street, O'Brien Drive Mr. Audette advised that only part of O'Brien and a little piece of Slocum are complete. After a brief discussion, Mr. Flaherty moved that the City accept all of Hopkins Street, and the portion of O'Brien Drive on the easterly end from Barrett to the intersection of Hopkins Street. Ms. Lambert seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Farrar asked the City Manager to check whether a private street used for a long period of time automatically becomes a public street. Sign Chittenden Trust note for Highway Equipment Mr. Szymanski explained the note is for $20,400 for the sweeper and is at 6.05% which is up a bit from the last rate. Mr. Murray moved that the Council sign the note and accompanying resolution. Mr. Flaherty seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Planning and Zoning Board Agendas Mr. Mona noted that an applicant wants to put a building within one foot of a rear yard line. He felt this sounded very close. Mr. Szymanski noted there is a park behind the property. Mr. Mona asked that the Council's concern be expressed to the Zoning Board. Review Minutes of 16 November Mr. Flaherty moved to approve the Minutes of 16 November as written. Ms. Lambert seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Sign Disbursement Orders Disbursement orders were signed. Old/New Business Mr. Farrar presented a letter of resignation from David Boehm of the Zoning Board. Ms. Lambert moved to accept the letter of resignation from David Boehm. Mr. Mona seconded. Ms. Lambert asked if there was any previous history of someone resigning from a board because of the conduct of the board. Mr. Farrar said he had no recollection of it. Mr. Mona said Mr. Boehm's letter implies the Board is "bending the rules" and felt it was incumbent on the Council to get specific information on this assertion. Mr. Farrar felt the entire Zoning Board should be involved. Ms. Lambert felt the Council should postpone action on Mr. Boehm's resignation until they have met with him. She said it was important to have a balance on the various boards so there are not all people of one persuasion or another. She added she did not like to think that the Zoning Board could make a person of a different persuasion feel so uncomfortable that he or she would feel that resignation was the only course of action. Mr. Condos said he did not think the Zoning Board minutes give a true picture of what happens at meetings. The tone doesn't come across. He said he is very troubled by Mr. Boehm's resignation as he feels Mr. Boehm is a very knowledgeable person. Mr. Murray moved to table action on the motion. Mr. Flaherty seconded. Motion to table passed unanimously. Mr. Murray then moved to ask the City Manager to communicate to Mr. Boehm that the Council would like further details on the "numerous significant occasions" he felt the Board may have bent the rules and that he and the rest of the Zoning Board be asked to meet with the Council on 21 December 1987, and that a copy of Mr. Boehm's letter be forwarded to the Zoning Board. Mr. Flaherty seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Liquor Control Board Mr. Flaherty moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Murray seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Szymanski presented the following requests: a. Catering permit for Sheraton Burlington Inn for a company Christmas party at O'Brien Brother, 1855 Williston Rd, 12/4/87, 4-8 p.m. b. Catering permit for Wetherbees for a wedding reception at K of C. Hall, 12/12/87, 2 p.m. to Midnight c. Catering permit for Wetherbees for a Christmas party for Pizzagalli employees at K of C Hall, 12/11/87 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. d. Catering permit for Wetherbees for a Christmas party for Vt. Micro Systems at K of C Hall, 12/18/87 from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. e. Catering permit for Halverson's, Inc, for Mayo Subaru's Christmas party, Williston Road, on 12/11/87 from 6-8 p.m. f. Entertainment permit for Garfield's Tavern, QCP Rd., for a pool tournament, on 12 and 13 December, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Mr. Flaherty moved to approve the permits as presented by the City Manager. Mr. Murray seconded. Motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.