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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 07/21/1998CITY COUNCIL 21 JULY 1998 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 21 July 1998, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: William Cimonetti, Chair; James Condos, Terrence Sheahan, David Austin Also Present: Peg Strait, Assistant City Manager; Albert Audette, Highway Dept; Don Whitten, WPCD; Tom & Mikki Fraga, Chuck Bolton, Joe Graham, Donald Bruce, Scott Bronson, Chuck Deslauriers; Roger Farley Other Paper; Rep. Frank Mazur 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 Monday, 27 July. b. Mr. Condos noted that the Solid Waste District meeting scheduled for tomorrow night has been cancelled. c. Mr. Cimonetti noted meetings of the MPO Board at 7 p.m. tomorrow night and the CCTA Board at 5 p.m. tomorrow night. d. Mr. Audette reported on problems that occurred during the recent rain storm. The most serious locations were Allen Road where sides of the road were washed away, Bartlett Bay Rd. where water came over the road and near homes, Brigham Rd., Central Avenue where one part of the bank slid down (the State Natural Resources Department will be coming to evaluate this damage), Farrell Park where there were drainage problems, Laurel Hill where there were also drainage problems, Spear Street/Swift St. intersection where water couldn't get under the road quickly enough, Deerfield Drive where several homes were flooded, Dorset St. near the Lutheran Church where there was a washout in the ditch line, Farrell St. culvert near the Interstate bridge, Williston Rd, Logwood Rd, and Cheese Factory Road where water came over the road. Mr. Audette observed that the north end of the city was not hit as badly as the south end. No roads were closed down during the storm except for 2 private roads at Bartlett Bay. Costs for work to address the emergency situations are still not fully known. FEMA has been advised. Mr. Cimonetti observed that Allen Rd. looks as if it will need serious work. Mr. Audette said it will. They have already done a lot of cleaning up, but the land is still very wet in some places. Mr. Cimonetti asked if any outside contractors had to be brought in to help. Mr. Audette said the Department did all the work. Mr. Cimonetti noted there will be two different FEMA programs, one that involves municipalities and the state and one for individuals with damage to their homes. Mr. Mazur noted that FEMA was very prompt with service to homeowners and he has already received a check. Mr. Sheahan noted the bike path on the Wheelock property will need some serious work. Mr. Audette said it is not critical at this point. The ravine has held up. Mr. Audette added that they had to do the roads at Red Rocks Park three times in one week as they kept washing out. He said that in 30 years on the job he had never seen the amount of water the city got in one day. Mr. Condos asked if it might make sense to get outside contractors if FEMA will cover the costs. He felt it would help keep the department from falling behind in its regular work. Mr. Audette said they might do that with Central Avenue but will wait to see what FEMA will cover. Mr. Condos asked if any culvert problems were the result of ice storm debris. Mr. Audette said not in the city. Those culverts had already been cleared out. Mr. Audette added that the city was lucky the storm happened in the daytime; at night, they would certainly have lost Allen Road. As it was, the city lost no homes, no roads and no bridges. He noted that the City Council has given the department the staff and equipment it needs to do the kind of job they did during the emergency situations. d. Mr. Cimonetti asked Mr. Whitten how the Sewage Treatment Plant functioned during the storm. Mr. Whitten said they got hit very hard, 5-6 inches of rain in a short time. The treatment facility completely flooded to the point it was overflowing highly diluted raw sewage into the brook. Mr. Whitten said he had never seen it flood so quickly, under an hour. Flows from the sewer line continued till 10 p.m. No equipment was lost. Mr. Whitten said the building project is still pretty much on schedule. Gene Forbes, consulting engineer on the project, said that during the storm sewage was flowing into the excavation. Contractors reacted quickly and dealt with the problems. The area where the secondary clarifiers are located also had damage from the rains and has also been cleaned up. Mr. Forbes estimated that the project should be completed on schedule with very high quality work. e. Mr. Fraga reported on the upcoming National Night Out. The focus this year will be on city services such as Recreation, Fire, Police and Highway Departments with a theme of "Together We Make A Difference." There will be concerts, recognition ceremonies, and fireworks. Mr. Fraga asked Council members to attend and be visible to the people. The event will occur on Tuesday, 4 August, from 5 p.m. on. f. Mr. Cimonetti reported on a meeting last week of the Board of Civil Authority to address property assessment appeals. He said he has been asked to remind people of the difficulties a property owner can face if the records in the assessor's office are incorrect. The Supreme Court recently rendered a decision that states that unless a property has a clear record of approvals, the title is clouded and is probably not transferrable. If there have been alterations to the property and there is no record, the title is not valid and a sale cannot take place. Mr. Cimonetti urged people who have a property for which records may not be accurate to come in and set the record straight. Mr. Austin added that the same problems can occur in trying to refinance a home. 3. Consideration of appointments to Boards and Commissions - interviews with candidates for Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment: Members interviewed incumbent John Dinklage and Scott Bronson for openings on the Planning Commission. Mr. Dinklage said he would like to be reappointed and feels he can bring a perspective that is helpful to the Commission. He enjoys working with the Commission and with staff and supports the restructuring that is planned. He said he would prefer to be on the Development Review Board. Mr. Bronson grew up in South Burlington and has a degree in Business Management from Champlain College. He wants to help make the community better and feels he can bring a fresh view to the Commission. He had no preference for which Board he would serve on after the reorganization. The Council then interviewed incumbent Randall Kay and Charles Bolton for the Zoning Board: Mr. Kay said a number of people are leaving the Zoning Board and he feels continuity is important. Mr. Kay said he would lean toward appointment to the Board that will involve less of a time commitment. Mr. Bolton is a city native who wants to give something back to the community. He is involved in real estate sales and appraisals and works independently. Mr. Bolton also felt he would prefer the Board with less of a time commitment. Mr. Kay felt the Zoning Board could use more direction from the City Council. Mr. Condos noted the Council has to be cautious because the Zoning Board is a quasi-judicial board. The Council does indicate the issues that concern them. Mr. Cimonetti explained the appointment process and noted that the success of the city depends on good volunteers. 4. Consideration of Approval of Capital Funding and Resolution for Firefighting Equipment: Ms. Strait said the note is for $30,000 at 4.15% interest and is for bunker equipment. Mr. Condos moved to approve the Capital Funding Note, Resolution and Certificate of Nonarbitrage as presented. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Review and Sign Proclamation on South Burlington's "Night Out": Mr. Austin moved to adopt and sign the Proclamation as presented. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Review Public Information Meeting Minutes from 29 June and City Council Minutes of 6 July: Mr. Sheahan moved to approve the Public Information Meeting and City Council Minutes as presented. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed 3-0 with Mr. Austin abstaining. 7. Consideration of Signatory Approval to the Agency of Transportation to Proceed with the Lime Kiln Bridge Project: Mr. Condos moved to sign the approval as presented. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 9. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Condos moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. a. First Class Cabaret License application from Hawthorn Suites Hotel, 401 Dorset Street: Mr. Deslauriers said that 4 nights a week there is a social hour between 5 and 7 p.m. at which beer and wine will be served within the Lodge area and on the patio. It is for residents only. Mr. Condos moved to approve the First Class Cabaret License application for Hawthorn Suites Hotel as presented. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session: Mr. Condos moved the Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session to discuss personnel issues and appointments to boards and commissions and to resume regular session only to a make appointments and/or adjourn. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Council came out of executive session and Jim Condos moved to adjourn. Mr. Sheahan seconded; the meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.