Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 01/23/1989CITY COUNCIL 23 JANUARY 1989 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 23 January 1989, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Rooms, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Member Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; Michael Flaherty, Molly Lambert, John Dinklage, William Cimonetti Also Present William Szymanski, City Manager; Stephen Stitzel, City Attorney; Joe Weith, City Planner; Wendy Schroeder, Mary McKearin, Business Managers; Margaret Picard, City Clerk/Treasurer; James Goddette, Fire Department; Albert Audette, Street Department; Sid Poger, The Other Paper; Mike Donoghue, Free Press; Natalie Borioh, WCAX-TV; Marcel Beaudin, Jim Condos, Vic Ratkus, Bob & Cynthia Hoehl, Ann Pugh, Robert Fisher, Jon Falley, Alex Darling, Ed Darling, Geoffrey Fitzgerald Executive Session Mr. Flaherty moved the Council meet in Executive Session to continue discussion of the City Retirement Plan Agreement. Mr. Cimonetti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session Comments & questions from the public (not related to items on the Agenda No issues were raised. Continue Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to City Zoning Regulations regarding the creation of the Spear Street View Protection Zone Mr. Farrar asked if members had any changes to propose to the proposed language. Mr. Dinklage said he was not convinced of the necessity or desirability of any of the changes suggested by Mr. Cooper. Mr. Cimonetti said he saw some merit to the 2-angle concept which would square off the lots and treat them more equitably. Mr. Cimonetti moved to amend the proposed amendments to incorporate the concept of "Concept D". Mrs. Lambert seconded. Mr. Dinklage said he was concerned with decreased flexibility of house placement on the lower numbered lots and felt it may be more in the public interest to have houses further back from Spear St. In the vote which followed, the motion was defeated 1-4 with only Mr. Cimonetti voting in favor. Mr. Flaherty then moved to give preliminary approval to the draft of Proposed Amendments to Cover Zone A and refer it back to the Planning Commission for their comments with a new public hearing to be held within the mandated time. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Members then considered Zone B. Mrs. Lambert moved to strike Section 19.474b from the document entitled Draft of Zone B amendments Presuming Zone A has Already Been Passed. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Mr. Stitzel noted it is the property owner's burden to demonstrate that vegetation pre-dates the applicable zoning regulations. In the vote which followed, the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Dinklage asked for a general discussion on what he felt was an essential issue: whether or not there is power in the City's authority to enact the Interim Zone as it now exists, thus limiting the ability of any property owner to put a structure on the lots in question. He said it is a question of financial implications to the property owners and to the City as to whether a compromise should be sought. Mrs. Lambert asked if it wasn't implicit in the approval of the modified zone that the Council took time to study the issue and developed a permanent zone for the area, thus indicating the possibility of compromise. Mr. Dinklage noted it is also possible to take the view that it is possible to protect the whole view from Spear St. He said he views the current document as a minimum of protection which is better than no protection at all. Mr. Cimonetti said he was confident that a vote to approve and send the document back to the Planning Commission does not imply final approval of the document. He strongly supported the idea that the discussion suggested by Mr. Dinklage be part of the first discussion of Interim Zoning. Mr. Hoehl said he took exception to the idea that all alternative have not been explored. Mr. Farrar said it was not a question of alternative but of the implications of any decision, one way or the other. Mr. Flaherty then moved to send to the Planning Commission the draft of Proposed Amendments to Cover the Zone B Area Assuming that Zone A Area has Already Been Established, as amended. Mrs. Lambert seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Review Fire Dept. proposed 1989-90 Budget Chief Goddette noted they have to pay time and a half to firefighters who come in to calls on their time off. Mr. Dinklage asked if that expenditure could be reduced if there were more volunteers. The Chief said there are problems in the south end of the city where there are only 3 volunteers. He said they are losing a lot of good people who have been with the Department because they cannot afford to live in South Burlington. He added that people who can spend $200,000 to $300,000 on homes either aren't interested or don't have time to be volunteer firemen. Chief Goddette then outlined other significant budget items including increased phone costs to pay for a line to the south end station and a PA system to dispatch. Showers have to be replaced. Training costs are up since the State has a new training program and fire fighters will have to be certified. Two more portable radios are also required. Review Minutes of 1/9/89 and 1/11/89 It was noted that at the bottom of p.1, the word "minutes" should follow 15. It was also noted on p. 2, para. 4, the words "with him" should follow "Judge agreed.." Mr. Flaherty moved that the Minutes of 1/9 and 1/11/89 be approved as amended. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Liquor Control Board Mr. Flaherty moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Szymanski presented a second class Liquor License for Tinguini's change of partnership which had not been ready for signing at the previous meeting. Mr. Flaherty moved the Board sign the License for Tinguini's as presented. Mrs. Lambert seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session Mr. Flaherty moved the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session to discuss recommendations of the Manager Selection Committee with its Chairman and to meet with the City Attorney to deliberate on a decision on the Hoehl building permit application and to resume regular session only for the purpose of adjournment. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The City Council came out of Executive Session at 11:00 PM and adjourned immediately. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.