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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/02/1998CITY COUNCIL 2 MARCH 1998 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 2 March 1998, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. Members Present: William Cimonetti, Chair; James Condos, Joan Britt, Terrence Sheahan, David Austin. Also Present: Charles Hafter, City Manager; Peg Strait, Asst. City Manager; Albert Audette, Highway Dept; Rep. Frank Mazur, Rep. Susan Wheeler; Robert Fletcher, City Attorney; Roger Farley, The Other Paper; Tim Barrett, Ken Schatz, Larry Kupferman, Wesley Eldred. 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience (not related to Agenda items): Rep. Mazur gave members copies of the Sen. Doyle town meeting poll. Mr. Barrett reported on the use of the Meadow Rd. sidewalk. He said there is a need to paint a crosswalk at several intersections. He also asked that the double yellow line not be repainted as it gives the impression of a continuous road and people then don't stop at stop signs. Residents would like increased police surveillance, particularly with regard to speeding and drivers not stopping at stop signs. Mr. Sheahan noted he had gotten a call from residents of Butler Farms who feel the new egress to Hinesburg Rd. creates a thru-traffic situation at Oak Creek heading south. The concern is for children on bikes, and residents feel a stop sign is needed. Mr. Audette said this will be studied in the spring. Mr. Hafter said he received a request for a cross-walk on Hinesburg Rd. but was leery of that as it might give the illusion of safety. Mr. Cimonetti reported on the City Charter Committee meeting. The main topic was interpreting the Charter in light of Act 60. Members came to the consensus that for charter interpretation, the school should use the same grand list as the city, and agreement was reached that the school would use the same rationale as the city in preparing its budget limitations. At the School Board meeting later in the week, the School Board adopted a budget which adheres to those limitations. There are two capital items to be voted on: repairs to a school roof and purchase of 2 buses. There was also discussion about asking for fees for community use of the school. This will also be put to the voters. The school budget will be presented along with the city budget at the Steering Committee meeting on 19 March. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: a. Mr. Hafter reminded voters that there is a CWD bond issue to be voted on tomorrow. b. The last meeting of the independent S. Burlington Water Commission will be held on 10 March at 4 p.m. c. A legislative breakfast is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. on 16 March at the school. d. The Steering Committee will meet on 19 March at 7:30 p.m. e. The Coalition of Municipalities is looking for individuals to join its lawsuit regarding Act 60. f. An agreement has been reached with the Corrections Facility for notification of the city's Police Dept. in incidents of unusual activities (violence, escape, etc.) where neighborhood impact might be involved. g. Mr. Hafter advised that he and Mr. Audette attended a pre-construction meeting on the Shelburne Rd. project (north of Imperial Drive). Mr. Audette said the plan is to begin work the first week in April. Approaching streets on each side will be done as well. Paving will begin in May and will be done at night until the final course. It is anticipated that the project will be completed the first week in June. Mr. Audette noted that a short section at Imperial Drive will be excavated out. Mr. Audette also noted that there is a movement to beautify the section of road down near Queen City Park Rd. He wasn't sure whether the state has deeded that road back to the city but will check on it. 3. Consideration of warning public hearing for ballot item on Queen City Park Fire Protection Water Main: Mr. Hafter read the proposed warning and explained the payback on the debt service. Mr. Cimonetti asked why the warning reads "not to exceed $154,000" when the actual bond is for $77,000. Mr. Hafter said the city attorney advises this in case of an overrun. Ms. Britt asked if there would be a guaranteed price contract. Mr. Schatz said they didn't know. That type of contract can lead to higher bids. Mr. Cimonetti was uncomfortable with that high a contingency and suggested something closer to $80,000. Mr. Sheahan agreed and also suggested that the warning include the information that QCP Fire District will pay an equal amount. Members agreed. Mr. Hafter noted that there will have to be an informational meeting within 10 days of the bond vote. He will bring the revised ballot language to the next Council meeting. 4. Consideration of ballot items relating to tax installment due dates: Charter change and 1998-9 installments: Mr. Hafter suggested 13 and 20 April for the two public hearings. If the Charter change is approved by voters, it will have to go to the Legislature for approval. There are, however, two collection dates before there will be Legislature approval. The City Attorney recommends a ballot item just covering this year. Mr. Hafter then read the proposed language for that ballot item. Mr. Condos moved to schedule public hearings on 13 and 20 April for the Charter change and informational meetings on 4 and 18 May for the ballot question. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Cimonetti raised the question of the city offering a discount to people paying their total property taxes up front instead of in installments. He felt it was an item the Steering Committee could discuss. Mr. Hafter noted the city doesn't charge the maximum allowable interest for delinquent tax payments and suggested this might also be an item for discussion. 5. Consideration of approval of capital equipment refunding note and resolution for International Truck: It was noted that this is the 3rd year of a 4-year note. Mr. Sheahan moved to approve the note and resolution as presented. Ms. Britt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Acceptance of resignation of Julie Taylor from Natural Resources Committee: Mr. Sheahan moved to accept the resignation of Julie Taylor from the Natural Resources Committee and to have the City Manager send a letter of appreciation for her service. Ms. Britt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Appointment of Town Service Officer: Mr. Condos moved to appoint Charles Hafter as Town Service Officer. Ms. Britt seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. City Manager's review of changes to the proposed budget following 2/23/98 work session: Mr. Hafter reminded members that there had been a double entering of a revenue item. This has been offset by increasing administrative fees to WPC by $5,000, by decreasing land acquisition funding by $1000, by increasing the WPC User Fee revenue by $5,000 and by increasing the fund balance appropriation by $10,000. Mr. Cimonetti noted there is a $6,000 item for research on a local development corporation for the proposed city center. He sensed building enthusiasm for this and wanted to be sure members were comfortable with it and that enough has been appropriated. Mr. Cimonetti said he would like to see conceptual work for a city acquisition in the area, either for a park area or for a municipal building. Mr. Sheahan felt the idea had a tremendous amount of merit. Ms. Britt wanted to be sure the city got an end product. Mr. Condos noted that a city building and a local development corporation are 2 different things and he wasn't sure he wanted to see them combined as this might drive the price up considerably. He felt a government building with a green in front merited considerable thinking as it would bring people into the area. Ms. Britt agreed and felt it was time to be proactive. Mr. Hafter suggested adding $2,000 to that item and reducing the money allotted for conference room chairs. Members agreed. Members then expressed concern with the school's intent to charge for use of school facilities. Mr. Hafter distributed copies of the possible ballot language. His suggestion is to have the ballot item be for $50,000 for 3 years as reimbursement for community programs held in the school. Funding would come from fees for the programs. He felt this was a unique enough item to be put to the voters. Mr. Audette said that as a taxpayer he would object to this and felt there were many things the city does for the schools. Mr. Austin pointed out it would be cheaper for taxpayers to pay for this item on the "city side" of the budget than on the "school side" because of Act 60. This discussion will be continued at the Steering Committee meeting. 9. Review Zoning Notice for Public Hearing on 9 March 1998: No issues were raised. 10. Review City Council Minutes of 16 and 19 February: Mr. Condos moved to approve the City Council Minutes of 16 and 19 February as written. Mr. Austin seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement orders were signed. 12. Executive Session: Ms. Britt moved the Council meet in executive session to discuss a personnel issue and contract negotiations and to resume regular session only to issue a notice of intent on a contract and/or adjourn. Mr. Condos seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The City Council returned to regular session. Dave Austin moved the City's intention to award a contract for the construction of the Bartlett Bay WWTF expansion in the amount of $4,369,675 and approve a change order to add $200,000 to reflect a bid error and a change order to deduct $134,920 for adjustments to the project and authorize the City Manager to sign the contract and any change orders. Joan Britt seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Jim Condos moved approval of a resolution committing $500,000 from sewer impact fees and equipment reserve to fund the local share of the Bartlett Bay project. Joan Britt seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Terry Sheahan moved adjournment. Jim Condos seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.