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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 01/08/1990CITY COUNCIL 8 JANUARY 1990 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 8 January 1990, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present Paul Farrar, Chairman; John Dinklage, William Cimonetti, James Condos Also Present Charles Hafter, City Manager; Joe Weith, City Planner; Bruce O'Neill, Recreation Director; Albert Audette, Street Dept; James Goddette, Fire Department; Richard Ward, Zoning Administrator; Mary McKearin, Business Manager; William Schuele, Natural Resources Committee; Jean McCandless, Social Awareness Committee; Mike Smith, Steve Stitzel, Pamela Hameline, Mark Boivin; Sid Poger, The Other Paper 1. Comments & Questions from the Public (not related to Agenda Items) No issues were raised. 2. Public Hearing: Proposed amendment to the South Burlington Official Zoning Map to change the zoning district of the City-owned parcel located on the northwest corner of Spear Street and Deerfield Drive from Residential-1 to Parks and Recreation. Mr. Dinklage moved to waive reading of the amendment. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Dinklage moved to approve the amendment as presented. Mr. Cimonetti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 3. Review proposed amendment to Zoning Ordinance, Section 21.1.05 regarding Adult Day Care Facilities Mr. Farrar noted the language received from the Planning Commission has been reviewed by the City Attorney who proposed alternate language. If the Council approves the new language, it can be sent back to the Planning Commission now to save time. Mr. Dinklage moved to substitute language from the City Attorney for that received from the Planning Commission and refer the amendment back to the Planning Commission and further to instruct the City Manager to warn a public hearing for an appropriate date. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 3. Report of Social Awareness committee Miss McCandless reported that the Committee is trying to recruit two new members, a senior citizen and a schools' representative. They are also looking to change the Committee's name and offered the alternative of "Committee for Social Responsibility." Mr. Farrar explained the procedure for adding new members and also suggested that the committee's meetings be appropriately warned. Ms. McCandless also reported that the Committee has scheduled hearings with 11 agencies that have requested funding. She said the Committee's report will be forwarded to the Council in mid-February. Miss McCandless said the Committee has reviewed Burlington's request for help in dealing with the homeless. They have been trying to get more information as to what it might mean for South Burlington. A meeting is scheduled with representatives from CEDO and The Waystation. A report on this meeting will also be given to the Council. Mr. Cimonetti suggested changing the wording of the Committee's goal #2 to: "... to increase the Council's awareness of the need for..." financial support of social service programs. He also suggested that the Committee evaluate the performance of groups that have been funded by the city. Mr. Dinklage moved that the name of the committee be changed to South Burlin gton Committee on Social Responsibility. Mr. Cimonetti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Presentation of Position Classification/Pay Plan Mike Smith of the MMA Consulting Group noted that the city had requested a comparable classification/pay plan and also a labor market analysis. To compile the comparable class/pay data, MMA used 13 criteria and also made several "judgment calls." Mr. Smith noted that 80% of employees are at the level which the analysis would have them at. He noted that positions that are women-occupied traditionally don't reflect comparable other positions. He stressed they were not trying to solve all inequities but were trying to be more fair. He noted that MMA did not use comparisons with private industry. As part of the process, employees were interviewed then wrote up job descriptions of what they actually do. These were reviewed by the employee and his/her supervisor and were then rated. A draft was released to employees and an appeals process followed. Mr. Smith said there were many questions as to whom employees were placed with. It was the opinion of MMA that the City overall is paying fair wages to most employees. Two problems they cited were that the system is too heavily based on longevity and not on performance criteria and that management has to be grounded into an up-to-date system of evaluation of employees. Department Heads must be more into the personnel system. Mr. Dinklage asked how you get an employee started at the right step. Mr. Smith felt this process should be flexible. He said that MMA had placed employees nearest their current salary. He said they did not recommend cutting any salaries, but to correct problems at the time a position is re-hired. He also recommended no incremental increases above cost of living be given in those positions and no bonuses that are not on the base. Mr. Hafter strongly endorsed the level of participation by employees. He said he would try to see where the report falls in the budget process and felt the report would give the city more flexibility in budgeting. He also felt this could be a tool to motivate employees and increase productivity. The report has now been given to the Personnel Committee which should report back by the first March meeting. He encouraged the Council to become familiar with the report and to comment on it. 6. Resolution Honoring Jeanne Menard, Charter Member of Community Library Board of Trustees Mr. Farrar read the Resolution. Mr. Dinklage moved that the Council sign the Resolution honoring Ms. Menard. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Review and Consider: Proposal for Trade-In of Medical Insurance Benefits Mr. Farrar noted that in the proposal the city would reimburse an employee half the cost of medical insurance if the employee chooses not to be covered because he/she has coverage elsewhere. Mr. Dinklage said he supported the concept but would like to see guidelines which dealt with such issues as: what would happen if the spouses coverage ceased? What about pre-existing conditions? Would an employee have a right to come back into the city's plan? Mr. Farrar also felt the Council needed to know all the ramifications. Ms. Schroeder noted that Shelburne and Colchester now have such a plan and she has heard nothing negative. Mr. Cimonetti said he favored the concept but questioned if there was any potential cost increase to the city. Ms. Schroeder acknowledged that Blue Cross looks very closely at anything that gives them adverse selection. She added, however, that both Shelburne and Colchester are in VLCT and Blue Cross has not yet moved against them. Mr. Cimonetti said he was still not convinced there wouldn't be a problem. Mr. Farrar said he looked at the plan as a very marginal benefit at best and felt the Council had to be very sure they would not wind up paying for any such decision. It was the concensus of the Council that they would favor considering such a plan provided there was no down side to employees and/or to the City. City Staff was requested to return with more information. 8. Informational Items a) Regarding the appeals process on Dorset St., Mr. Stitzel said there are at least 10 appeals ready to go to public hearing though the State feels 2 or 3 of these may resolve themselves. Members agreed to set appeals hearings for 2/15, 2/22, and 3/1. Mr. Condos moved to authorize the City Manager to sign the required notices to establish dates and times for condemnation hearings on the Dorset St. project. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. b) Regarding the CCRPC proposal, Mr. Dinklage asked that Mr. Weith consider adding Swift St. if it is extended to Hinesburg Rd. Mr. Weith said it was his intention to cut down on the scope so CCRPC would fund the study. Swift St. could be done later. c) Mr. Dinklage noted that the City had prevailed in the Mobil Oil litigation. He suggested asking the Zoning Administrator and City Planner to work with the City Attorney to assess the process in the case to learn if anything can be done to preclude cases having to wind up in Court. He cited three possible questions for discussion: Was there communication between staff and boards? Did the Zoning Board appropriately exercise its authority? Could the Zoning Board have done anything to ease the burden on the Planning Commission? Mr. Dinklage noted that difficult decisions often fall into the lap of the Planning Commission. He said it may be inevitable that the tough ones hang up on traffic in Site Plan review, but if anything can ease the Commission's burden, it would be a benefit. Mr. Farrar noted the Zoning Board could make any approval conditional upon further action of the Planning Commission. d) Regarding the Southeast Quadrant studies, Mr. Hafter announced a joint meeting of the Council, Planning Commission and Southeast Quadrant Committee on 29 January to discuss the new Boyle study. 9 Review Planning Commission Agenda Mr. Condos noted the Pizzigalli sketch plan of a Hinesburg Rd. subdivision which is in the area of the proposed I-89 interchange. Mr. Audette noted that Mr. Szymanski is looking into this. 10. Sign Disbursement Orders Disbursement orders were signed. 11. Minutes of 18 December 1989 Mr. Dinklage moved to approve the Minutes of 18 December as written. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Members agreed to schedule the next meeting for 22 January instead of 15 January as originally scheduled. 12. Liquor Control Board Mr. Dinklage moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented a catering permit he had approved for Magrams to cater a party at Howard Johnson's on 30 December 1989, from 8 p.m. to 3 am. Mr. Dinklage moved that the Council sanction the approval of the City Manager for the Magram Market to cater a party at Howard Johnson's on 30 December 1989, 8 p.m-3 am. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented a special events entertainment permit request from Club New England for events on 2/18 and 2/25, from 8 p.m. to Midnight. He said there have been no problems with such events. Mr. Dinklage moved that the Board approve the special events entertainment permits for Club New England as presented. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 13. Executive Session Mr. Dinklage moved that the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter, contract negotiations, and appointments to the Zoning Board of Authority and Planning Commission and to resume regular session only to make appointments and/or to adjourn. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 14. Appointment to Planning Board The City Council reconvened in regular session. John Dinklage moved the appointment of David Austin to the Planning Board to fill Peter Jacob's unexpired term. Bill Cimonetti seconded, the motion passed unanimously. The Council scheduled a special meeting to be held on January 11, following the Steering Committee meeting. 15. Adjournment As there was no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 11:30 PM. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.