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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 02/21/1996CITY COUNCIL 21 February 1996 The South Burlington City Council held a meeting on Wednesday, 21 February 1996, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: William Cimonetti, Chair; Michael Flaherty, James Condos, Robert Chittenden Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Peg Strait, Asst. City Manager; Margaret Picard, City Clerk/Treasurer; Sonny Audette, Street Dept; Lee Graham, Police Chief; Don Whitten, WPC Dept; John Giebink 1. Consider Request from Pines Senior Living Community for Waiver of Impact Fees Related to Senior Center: Mr. Giebink said the fees amount to $6300 for traffic impact. This amount was not budgeted for the Senior Center, and the entire Senior Center budget is either state or local funds. The Center will be used by South Burlington residents who already use city roads. The impact fee is being assessed only for the Senior Center use, not for the rest of the Pines development. Mr. Giebink noted they have installed a traffic light and left turn lane. Mr. Hafter said the Pines was initially permitted under the lower impact fees; however, when the Senior Center was proposed, the impact fees had been changed to the new schedule. Mr. Giebink suggested considering the Senior Center an amendment to the original plan and charging the original fee that would have been applicable under the old schedule. Mr. Chittenden said he doesn't believe in impact fees but wants to be fair. He also wanted a ruling from the City Attorney as to whether the Council can grant a waiver. Members agreed to have the City Attorney research this. 2. Budget Workshop to Review City Manager's Proposed Budget: Mr. Hafter began by reviewing Charter limitations. The Grand list is up 1.5%, but the proposed budget is $500,000 less than what would be allowed by the Charter. Overall, the budget is $41,992 less than last year's city budget. The 1995 tax rate was 83.1¢ and the proposed 1996­7 tax rate would be 82.8¢. Mr. Hafter said that department heads should get a lot of credit for their efforts to control spending. He then explained the difference between the South Burlington budget process and that of other communities. In other towns, the budget is revenue driven, with a tax rate determined by the budget. In South Burlington, the budget is prepared based on the maximum that can be raised by taxes. This helps tighten up the budget. A review of individual department budgets then began. City Council: Mr. Hafter noted that VLCT dues are up 3%. He said he would like to suggest that VLCT level fund next year. Social Services have been level funded. Land acquisition money that will not be used for additional park land acquisition has been used to fund the Senior Center. There are increases in medical, dental and life insurances and also in liability insurance and the pension plan. The comp time buy-back has been eliminated in this budget as has the reserve future adjustment account. The latter will not be needed because all contracts have been negotiated and agreed upon. The "City News" column will not be in The Other Paper. Telephone expenditure is down as the system has been paid off and the city now owns the system. Legal services were over budget this year. Mr. Hafter said they hope to lower the proposed amount after the Court makes its decision on the Club Fantasy issue. The city believes it is owed $21,000 by Club Fantasy. There is a 5% increase in Ambulance Service. Mr. Chittenden felt the city really got its money's worth for the service it receives. There is also a 5% increase in electricity. Mr. Hafter said they are trying to negotiate a flat rate for street lighting. Under capital expenses, $1200 is proposed for a server to link computers. Police Department: Chief Graham said the personnel budget reflects contractually mandated raises. There are no new positions. There are now 35 full time officers in the department. The operating budget is significantly lower than the 1993-4 budget. One budget increase in the area of Crime Prevention. "National Night Out" was a great success and will be repeated on August 6. There is also increased involvement with Neighborhood Watch, with costs for the printing of pamphlets. Mr. Chittenden questioned the amount for dues and subscriptions. Chief Graham said that is money well spent, and they get a lot back from it, especially in the area of research. Chief Graham explained the Terminal Operating System which will link the city with the state computer system. Every department in the state will eventually be on the system. The state has the system and will supply it this year to the 10 largest police departments. It is anticipated that South Burlington will be on line in September. There is no cost to the city for this; there is, however, a fee for each person who uses the system, and these fees do appear in the budget. Under capital expenses, there are budget requests for 2 cruisers which will bring the vehicle replacement back on schedule. There is also a motorcycle lease and new radio equipment. Mr. Cimonetti asked the Chief if the city should consider getting a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Chief Graham said they may be able to pick up a military surplus vehicle from the National Guard. The Police will again be funding CASA for one more year with funds just received from the government for a drug case. Highway Department: Mr. Audette the total budget is $1,564,786 which is about $6,000 more than last year. He noted that one person who retired with 28 years experience and one who moved will be replaced with new people, so there will be savings in personnel. There is a slight increase in road salt, and maintenance is up slightly. Under capital expenses, they are replacing a pickup and the small Bobcat. Mr. Audette noted they have a drastic space problem and said there has to be action on the new Public Works building soon. Park Maintenance: This budget remains about the same. There are 2.5 full time people plus summer help. Among the projects planned for the coming year are the basketball court at Szymanski Park and a backstop for the new ballfield. There has been a loss of use of 2 school fields because of school construction, and the schools do not seem to be willing to work with the Park Department. To compensate for this, the Park people will put in a Peanut League Field at Dorset Park and will also put in one or 2 fields near the yellow pavillion. They are still hoping to have one at Central School. There has been a request for swings at Dorset Park, and the budget includes funding for 2 sets. Mr. Chittenden asked why the 1/2 person is kept on during the winter months. Mr. Audette said this person helps maintain the skating facilities, refurbishes benches, redid the voting booths. He challenged any other department to be more cost effective. Paving projects for the year include another course on Spear St. Mr. Cimonetti asked about painting of striped/crosswalks. Mr. Audette said there are 2 companies in the state that do it, but the city usually hired a Massachusetts company. Mr. Cimonetti suggested exploring what can be done to give the public the sense this is being attended to. Mr. Audette said the top item in the 5-year plan is Kimball Ave. This will be begin after 1 July. There are also 2 bridges in the plan, but Mr. Audette didn't know when they would be done by the state. Mr. Flaherty said the Poor Farm Rd. bridge may be given back to the city to do. The other bridge is scheduled for this year and bids are scheduled to go out next week. Planning and Zoning Departments: Mr. Weith reported there is a $1400 increase in the overall budget, all in the area of personnel. Under capital expenses, $250 is being requested for a file. Mr. Chittenden asked what the travel/training item consists of. Mr. Weith said there are seminars and workshops relative to planning, to help keep abreast of new laws, etc. There is specific computer training to use the GIS mapping data. There is also reimbursed private vehicle usage. In the Zoning budget, the Administrator is requesting an increase in Zoning Board salaries. There is a capital request of $100 for construction of a map storage cabinet. Water Pollution Control Dept: Mr. Whitten said the department has 5 employees plus himself. They will be required to add one more person after next year. There is an increase for sludge removal this year and more expense anticipated down the road. The biosolids facility is currently closed down but might be back on line soon. Mr. Condos noted this is currently in the hands of the Executive Board of the Solid Waste District. Mr. Cimonetti expressed concern at how much is being paid to Burlington for the sewer use for the East Woods section of South Burlington. Mr. Hafter said there is not a bulk rate and no credit for South Burlington maintaining the lines. Mr. Hafter said a 12.5% increase is required for sewer use, which translates to about $13.20 per home for the year. Mr. Cimonetti noted that more is coming soon, especially with the sludge problem and the need for additional personnel. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.