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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 11/17/1997CITY COUNCIL 17 NOVEMBER 1997 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 17 November 1997, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: James Condos, Acting Chair; David Austin, Joan Britt, Terrence Sheahan Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Peg Strait, Asst. City Manager; Anna Johnston, The Other Paper; Albert Audette, Highway Dept; Don Whitten, WPC; Tom Joslin, Vt. Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Eugene Forbes, Dave Maclaughlin, Dwight Palmer, Chuck Deslauriers 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience (not related to Agenda items): No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: a. Mr. Sheahan advised that the Regional Planning Commission will meet on 24 November. b. Mr. Condos advised that the Solid Waste District Board will meet on 19 November at 7 p.m. Mr. Hafter reported the following: a. He met today on the Williston Rd. bridge project over I-89. There has been a continuing desire on the part of the city for pedestrian and bicycle access. For the first time, the state now seems willing to address this issue. The thought is to widen the sidewalk and add a 4 ft. shoulder for bicycles and address access to the bridge as a bicycle path. They are now looking for a grant for funds so the work can be done at the same time as the work on the bridge. b. The Commuter Rail Steering Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Mona's. c. The MPO will meet at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. d. There will be a meeting on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at CCTA regarding a proposal from the state that CCTA take over management of the commuter rail. Mr. Condos said he would try to attend that meeting. Mr. Hafter said the state wants to integrate the rail system with the bus system and also wants regional governments to own the system after a while. Mr. Hafter said it would be his suggestion to put the management of the system out to bid. d. On November 20th, there will be a meeting with AOT on the Lime Kiln Bridge project. The new plan is to knock down the old bridge and rebuild it in the same style as the old bridge. The city is concerned that the old bridge not be destroyed until there is a new one in place. e. There will be a meeting on 25 November with AOT regarding the maintaining of the "detour" used during the Shelburne Rd. project. 3. Public Hearing on Amendment to Ordinance Regulating Truck Traffic to Implement a 12,999 lb. Weight Limit on Old Farm Road; second reading: Mr. Hafter noted that a similar ordinance has been effective on Spear Street. The Ordinance would not apply to trucks making deliveries on Old Farm Rd. or to emergency vehicles. Public comment was solicited, but none was forthcoming. Mr. Sheahan moved to close the public hearing, waive the reading of the ordinance and approve it as presented. Mr. Austin seconded. The motion was passed unanimously. 4. Consideration of granting easement to Dorset Hotel Associates for placement of power transformers in public right-of-way Sherry Road: Mr. Hafter explained that Green Mountain Power requires an easement for placement of transformers in the right-of-way so that if they have to be moved, it would be at the city's expense. There are currently two transformer pads in the public right-of-way. It is the city's feeling that the pad areas should be landscaped to minimize impact. He suggested the applicant add some landscaping to all the pads on Sherry Road. Mr. Deslauriers showed the location of their first preference for siting the pad, but there is not enough room there. They will come up with a plan to screen the transformer on three sides so it can't be seen from the adjacent property. GMP has design standards for transformers because they get hot, so there needs to be air circulation around them. The structure will be 6 ft. high on a one ft. pad. The goal is to plant arborvitae which would grow to the same height at the transformers. Mr. Deslauriers indicated they will also put in a catch basin to address a drainage problem on the adjacent property. Mr. Austin said he would like the adjacent property owner to have a chance to comment. Mr. Deslauriers said the property owner is away and won't be back until 23 November, and there is a time consideration. Ms. Britt then moved to authorize the City Manager to execute the appropriate easement for placement of the transformer in the right-of-way. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed. 5. Public Hearing on Bartlett Bay Wastewater Treatment Facility Finding of No Significant Impact: Mr. Hafter advised that the project went to bid last week. Bids will be opened on 17 December. The public now has a chance to comment on the project. Mr. Forbes, consulting engineer on the project, said the project will expand the capacity of the plant to 1,250,000 gpd flow. There will be no increase in discharge of pollutants into the lake. They are also designing some new processes at the plant which will have the capability of absorbing more phosphorous. They will also use an ultra violet disinfectant instead of chlorine and will replace existing outfall to better disperse the flow into the lake. The project budget is $3,800,000. There is already interest from contractors from as far away as Connecticut. The award should be made in early 1998 with construction to begin in mid-March. It is estimated that the construction will take a year and a half. The public has the right to submit comments through the first week in December. Mr. Hafter noted there was a recent meeting with residents of the area regarding odor control. The plant was designed so that sludge can be trucked out. It is the water from the sludge that causes the odor, so this year, instead of removing all of the water on site, a more liquid form of sludge is being trucked out. The new project will include a dome over the sludge area that will recirculate the odorous air back into the plant instead of into the atmosphere. Mr. Forbes added that there will also be less noise because of some of the new equipment. Mr. Joslin said that the funding for the project will be via a no interest loan from the state to the city. The project will be phased so that the plant can be kept running during construction. Public comment was then solicited. None was forthcoming. Mr. Sheahan moved to close the public hearing. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Consideration of Approval of Bonding Documents to Finalize State Revolving Loan Fund for Bartlett Bay Waste Water Treatment Facility Expansion Final Design: This is a ten year loan at 0% interest. The first payment is due in the year 2003. Mr. Hafter said it is the city's feeling that rates will not have to be increased to any significant extent. Ms. Britt moved to approve the Resolution & Certificate, General Obligation Bond, Certification of Registration and Arbitrage and Use of Proceeds Certificate as presented. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter noted that the Living Technologies Plant has been funded to operate for its third year. 7. Information on Legislative Breakfasts for 1998: Mr. Hafter advised that the breakfasts will begin in January and will take place on the first Mondays of the months following. Mr. Hafter also noted that the Chamber of Commerce also has Legislative breakfasts on the second Mondays during the legislative session. 8. Review Zoning Board of Adjustment Notice and Addendum for Public Hearing on 24 November: No issues were raised. 9. Review Agendas for Planning Commission meeting held on 11 November 1997 and meeting to be held on 18 November 1997: No issues were raised. 10. Review Minutes of 3 November 1997: Ms. Britt moved to approve the Minutes of 3 November 1997 as written. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed 3-0 with Mr. Sheahan abstaining. 12. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 13. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Austin moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented an application from Sheraton Vermont Corporation for a First Class Liquor License and Cabaret License for the Sheraton which is being purchased by Sheraton ITC Corp. He indicated that the application has been reviewed by Police, Fire and Tax Departments with no adverse comments. Mr. Austin moved to approve the First Class Liquor and Cabaret License for Sheraton Vermont Corporation as presented. Ms. Britt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.