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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/21/1991CITY COUNCIL 21 FEBRUARY 1991 The South Burlington City Council held a meeting on Thursday, 21 February 1991, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: Paul Farrar, Chairman; Michael Flaherty, John Dinklage, James Condos, William Cimonetti Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Nancy McGann, Mary McKearin, Assistant City Managers; Joe Weith, City Planner; Don Whitten, Water Pollution Control Dept; Sonny Audette, Street Department; Buzz Hoerr, Jerry Hurtz, Lee Hemingway, M. Cheng, John Henry, Bob Chittenden, Linus Leavens 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience not related to Agenda Items: A citizen asked if there is anything new on the Lime Kiln Bridge situation. Mr. Farrar said the traffic study has not yet been received. Mr. Hoerr read a letter from business owners in the area of the bridge asking that it be opened as a 2-way bridge. Mr. Cimonetti asked if it was the owners' opinion that funds should be more wisely spent opening a sub-standard two-lane bridge rather than one 12-foot standard lane. Citizens said they want the bridge back the way it was. It has been 10 ft. lanes for 30 years, and it needs to be open. Ms. Hemingway said that from all she could learn there won't be a new bridge at least till 1995-6. She also felt it was unfair to say if the bridge is repaired now to 2 lanes the state won't replace it for 10 to 15 years. She also didn't feel Colchester was unwilling to spend the money. Mr. Dinklage said the citizens' concerns are very real and very important to the Council. Mr. Hafter noted the Regional Planning Commission has been asked to address the issue of safety with a one-lane bridge and their report should be available next week. He said new estimates are needed for the repair work. CWD has been asked to issue bid specs in the name of the city and CWD. There will be 2 parts to the bid: a one lane and a new bridge for CWD. The bid return date is 7 March for CWD. Mr. Hoerr noted his displeasure with the fact that he is a property owner in S. Burlington and spends $9,000 or more in taxes each year and can't vote in the city. He noted that in business when there is a problem that shuts things down, they don't have the luxury of sitting around debating. They get it going again. He said a piece of the city's inventory is interfering with the ability of people to do business in the city, and the city isn't fixing it. Mr. Dinklage noted the delay was due to the amount of the bid that was for winter work. Ms. Hemingway then raised the question of Country Club Estates sewers. She said that Mr. Belter had said he wouldn't put in the pump station for at least 2 years, even if he gets his approvals. Mr. Hafter said he will recommend to the City Council that the taxes for the sewer be delayed. 2. Report on current legislative activities: Mr. Cimonetti said there are several types of building plans in the transportation area. One is a one-year capital plan; one is a 4-year development plan; a third is a project with some work being done on it but which is not in an active status. He said the Lime Kiln Bridge falls into the last category. He said he has asked if all other things are equal, would a 12-foot single lane bridge give a higher sufficiency rating than a 2-lane (10 foot lanes) bridge. He hasn't gotten an answer yet. He didn't feel the Council should act until that information is gotten. Mr. Cimonetti also noted there is a program which would turn money to the municipalities for bridge/culvert work without going through the state process. There is also a proposal to expand that program and there is a chance it will take in larger size structures. It may not, however, be for anything the size of the Lime Kiln Bridge, but there might be a special exception in the program made for that bridge. He didn't feel that was likely. Mr. Cimonetti felt there has to be a way to get information on road projects to the Planning Commission. Mr. Farrar suggested having a new list given to the Planner every year. He noted that some highway projects take 6 or 7 years to come about. Mr. Dinklage asked if there are any bills being introduced that the city should pay attention to. Mr. Cimonetti said the exemption of municipal drivers from the commercial driver's license will be eliminated sooner than thought. There is a potential for the expense to have drivers qualify. Emergency vehicle drivers will still be exempt. Mr. Weith asked the status of the Shelburne Road project. Mr. Cimonetti said it is in the project evaluation section and that planning is moving reasonably fast. 3. Continue Budget Review Process: Mr. Hafter presented the City Council budget. Item 79.00 is for Overlook Park. There is a 5% cost of living increase for the Council and its secretary. There is also an increase in Social Services to a total of $40,608. Mr. Hafter noted the Committee for Social Responsibility would like to present its requests at the next meeting. Planning Commission members were also given a raise in an attempt to bring them closer to City Council "salaries." Mr. Hafter noted the Planning Commission met 41 times last year and the Council met 44 times. The proposed figures are very much in line with information from other communities gotten from VLCT. Mr. Weith presented the Planning budget. The increase in operating funds is due to Act 200 money brought into the budget. The amount of money spent has not increased. There is a decrease in legal services. They are asking to upgrade the computer and street maps. Mr. Weith said they would like to get the city's tax maps computerized. These are used every day and the current ones are now inadequate. The cost would be $30,000. The state is now digitizing tax maps, but the maps need to be on an orthophoto base map and the city's are not. That cost is $20,000. Mr. Hafter noted that Zoning also brought in Act 200 money into its budget. The rest of the budget is down 5%. He noted there is now a tracing system for bonds held by the city. Mr. Audette presented the Highway Department budget. Major increases are for medical insurance and worker's compensation. Ms. McGann noted the worker's compensation increase is not based on experience but on a low estimate originally given by the insurer. There is $30,000 in the budget for the Lime Kiln Bridge. He noted that on the priority list there is a possibility of having to move Kennedy Drive back a year. Dorset Street south is to be done as soon as the frost is out of the ground. Laurel Hill Drive will also be done. They have moved Ethan Allen Drive back until there is a decision on the sewers. Regarding the landfill budget, Mr. Audette said they will draw on funds for closure for test wells. Mr. Farrar said a plan to implement closure is needed. Mr. Audette said they are waiting for final word from the state engineer. Mr. Audette also presented the Park Maintenance budget. They will put siding on the O'Brien Center. This is recommended by an energy audit. Mr. Dinklage asked if the facility is adequate. Mr. Audette said it is used 6 days a week. He noted there is a drastic shortage of meeting areas and the Center fills that need. Mr. Audette noted there is less than a 1% increase for all three budgets. He added that he felt the city was getting farther and farther behind in road maintenance. Mr. Audette felt the Park Maintenance has worked out well and there have been many compliments on its work. Mr. O'Neill is also happy with the arrangement. He said two of his people spend most of their time in park maintenance work. Mr. Condos asked about maintenance of the new recreation path. Mr. Audette said he had thought about that but will have to see what it looks like when it is done. He felt the department was in good shape for equipment but that priorities will have to be set for personnel. In his "wish list" requests, Mr. Audette included the repair of the Williston Rd./I-89 intersection. He felt it definitely needs doing. He added that the road behind City Hall should also be fixed and that would cost $5,000. Mr. Whitten then presented the Water Pollution Control budget. He said the Department has been taking sewage from Colchester. There is virtually no cost to the city now, but costs will increase in warmer weather. They will be adding one person for summer help and will try this instead of a full year person. Alarm systems will have to be put in both facilities. This will require more overtime. Mr. Whitten noted the large amount of testing mandated now and estimated an expenditure of $18,500 for testing of such things as ground water, sludge, etc. Mr. Farrar noted the sewer rate will not increase from last year. Mr. Hafter then discussed bonded debt issues. He noted the three bonds approved by the voters: Highway 90, Recreation Path, and Dorset St. The County Court and CCTA debts are down. There is also a decrease in the Solid Waste bond. Mr. Condos noted a policy statement is being formed in opposition to the state not funding landfills but making grants for this instead. Mr. Hafter noted a $50,000 hazardous waste facility payment is due this year. Mr. Hafter said this year the city will not meet estimates for income from fees but this will be offset as penalties for delinquent taxes are up. He also noted that all overdue taxes of $3,000 or more have either been paid or an agreement for payment worked out. No property had to be sold. 4. Appoint City Service Officer: Mr. Flaherty moved to appoint Mr. Hafter as City Service Officer. Mr. Dinklage seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Items for Information: Regarding the audit report Mr. Dinklage asked for a response as to whether the city will be accommodating recommendations from the auditors. 6. Planning Commission Agenda: On Item #5, Mr. Dinklage was concerned that there may be loopholes in the regulations. He asked that the Commission and Zoning Administrator pay close attention to that piece of property and suggested the Commission take no action until it has been reviewed by the City Attorney. Mr. Cimonetti raised the question of a Sketch Plan being on the Planning Commission agenda when the area in question is in Interim Zoning and only the City Council can make decisions on development in that area. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 10:20 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.