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Minutes - City Council - 12/02/1991
CITY COUNCIL 2 DECEMBER 1991 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 2 December 1991, at 7:30 p.m., at South Burlington High School. Members Present: John Dinklage, Acting Chairman; William Cimonetti, Robert Chittenden, James Condos Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; William Schuele, Shelley Snyder, Sylvia Smith, Natural Resources Committee 1. Comments & Questions from the Public (not related to Agenda Items): No issues were raised. 2. Adoption of Resolution of Appreciation for Dorset Street Business Community and Residential Neighborhoods: Mr. Dinklage noted the Resolution was in recognition of the understanding and cooperation shown during the Dorset Street construction. Mr. Condos moved to waive reading of the Resolution. Mr. Cimonetti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Chittenden said the Council should send a resolution to Berard Dr. people for their two years of inconvenience and to all the taxpayers for high taxes. He felt this was not a policy he wanted to establish for all construction projects. Mr. Cimonetti said the Dorset St. project is the most exciting and will bring about the greatest change the city has seen. A substantial portion of the tax base of the city has been seriously affected over the months of construction, and the city will eventually be the beneficiary of this. He favored expressing the city's gratitude. Mr. Chittenden asked why this project is singled out. Mr. Cimonetti said it is a $12,500,000 project that is creating a downtown. It runs by the largest retail establishment in the state. He felt it was appropriate to encourage those retail establishments to remain there. Mr. Condos moved to sign the Resolution. Mr. Cimonetti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 3. Discussion of Issues with Natural Resources Committee: Ms. Snyder said that overall the Committee feels things are going well. They have been invited to go on several site walks with the Planning Commission and are pleased to give their input. They would like to see more wetlands issued in the city plan and development of criteria for variances where a Conservation Zone is involved. Mr. Dinklage asked if the Committee has adequate time to express itself where issues are involved. Ms. Snyder said she felt they did. Mr. Cimonetti asked if the Committee has any contact with neighboring communities. Ms. Snyder said they did. They have a group getting together to discuss Regional plans for natural areas. Two members of the S. Burlington Committee are involved. Mr. Schuele said that when the Winooski Park District was concerned about natural areas he attended a meeting. The District was interested in what S. Burlington had done. He did note that the Committee hadn't dealt directly with the Regional Plan. Mr. Dinklage noted the new Regional Plan will come to the city and the Council would ask the Committee to review it. He also noted that the Regional Plan would be reviewed yearly and updated. Mr. Schuele also noted that members of the Committee had met with Williston planners regarding Muddy Brook. Mr. Cimonetti noted the border between Red Rocks Park and the City of Burlington. Mr. Schuele said the Committee wanted very much to fence that border but got rejected. He said that's where many vehicles cross into the park and it is a very sore subject. Mr. Condos suggested notifying Burlington and having them look into it. Mr. Dinklage also suggested distributing fliers to residents there and noting the city's concerns and the intention to take action to enforce ordinances. Ms. Smith noted that Steel Griswold would like to add more picnic areas to Muddy Brook and would foot the bill for improvements. Williston is also in favor of this. The project is not on hold because of state work being done in the area. Mr. Hafter added that there is a property swap also involved. Mr. Schuele said he would like the city to keep the Committee informed on events surrounding the closing of the landfill. He felt this could become one of the city's natural areas. Mr. Cimonetti said he felt the issue begs a coordinated study. Portions of the landfill abut the Airport and there might be some commercial value because of that. He also felt there could be the ability to put a street in parallel to Kirby Rd. Mr. Dinklage added it might also be appropriate to put pedestrian trails around the edge of the landfill. Mr. Schuele said that when the Committee finds people cutting trees on city property, they need to get a fast response. He felt the person involved should have to pay the cost of replacing the trees. Ms. Snyder noted this also happens during development. Council members agreed they would like to have reports from the Committee on a seasonal basis. 4. Organization Structure and Charge for the Recreation Path Committee: Mr. Hafter thanked Mr. O'Neill who did most of the work. There will be a 5-person committee with meetings held at the discretion of the committee. All meetings will be in public facilities and will go through the public notice process. Mr. Cimonetti moved to approve the statement of organization for the Recreation Path committee with the addition of a subparagraph under "duties" as follows: "and conduct such other duties in coordination with the City staff as the committee may find reasonable such as raising of funds and securing of easement." Mr. Condos seconded. Mr. Chittenden questioned having the committee get easements. Following a brief discussion, the motion passed 3-1 with Mr. Chittenden opposing. 5. Request for approval of financing agreement for purchase of new telephone system for City Hall: Mr. Hafter said the present system is obsolete. He obtained a quote to buy the system out and that was more expensive than a new system. A bid was received from Vermont Telephone System in the amount of $11,309 which is about what the city is paying now. The Chittenden would finance this at 5.5%, to be paid off in 4 years. The new system would have call forwarding which is not now available and a paging and announcement system. He felt the system would last at least 10 years. The ultimate result would be a savings to the city. Mr. Condos moved to waive reading of the documents. Mr. Cimonetti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Condos moved to approve the staff recommendation for a new telephone system, to sign the capital equipment note and to sign a resolution dealing with capital equipment borrowing and non-arbitrage. Mr. Cimonetti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Acceptance of streets for public ownership: Mr. Hafter noted there is a punch list for approval of streets and a one year bond. The streets being approved for public ownership are: Oak Creek Drive, Moss Glen Lane, and Mill Pond Lane. Mr. Condos moved to accept the three streets as outlined in the City Manager's memo of 25 November 1991. Mr. Cimonetti seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Cimonetti said he would like to check into the policy on naming streets. 7. Review Planning commission Agenda for 12/3. No issues were raised. 8. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement orders were signed. 9. Information items: Mr. Hafter noted a hearing on 17 December in the Middle School Library on the Solid Waste Management District. 10. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Condos moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed. Mr. Hafter presented a catering permit from the Culinary Institute Catering for a fund raising auction at New England Telephone for benefit of the Baird Center on 6 December. Mr. Cimonetti moved to approve the permit as presented. Mr. Chittenden seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Executive Session: Mr. Cimonetti moved the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session to discuss contract negotiations, real property acquisition, and a personnel grievance and to resume regular session to take no action but adjournment. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The Council returned to regular session. Mr. Cimonetti moved adjournment, Mr. Condos seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:25 PM. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.