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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 07/15/2002CITY COUNCIL 15 JULY 2002 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 15 July 2002, at 7:30 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members present: J. Condos, Chair; C. Smith, T. Sheahan, S. Magowan, D. O'Rourke Also present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; Rep. A. Audette, Chief D. Brent, Fire Department 1. Comments & questions from the public not related to Agenda items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements and City Manager's report: Mr. Sheahan: Regional Planning Commission meeting, 22 July. Slate for new Executive Committee will be announced. Mr. Magowan: Bill Wessel will attend next CCTA meeting Mr. Condos: MPO monthly meeting, Wednesday Mr. Hafter: The Vermont Dept. of Conservation will fund a South Burlington Planning Grant for Bartlett Brook & Centennial Brook Watershed Improvement Project. Mr. Magowan & Mr. Hafter will serve on the VLCT Quality of Life Committee. A meeting will be held on 24 July at noon. Mr. O'Neill and Mr. Condos will serve on the Transportation Committee. A Potash Brook Remediation Plan meeting will be held 24 July, 5 p.m. Mr. Hafter read a letter to Juli Beth Hoover from the Army Corps of Engineers regarding funding for Tributary #3 of Potash Brook. The Natural Resources Committee will meet on land conservation on 17 July, 7:30 p.m. Bids are out for the sanitary sewer projects for the 2 systems that have been approved. The next agenda will include a discussion of the proposed Aquatic Center. 3. Interviews with applicants for city Boards and Committees: The Council interviewed Judy Barron, Lori Lustberg, Randy Gaulin, Bernie Gagnon and Chuck Bolton for the Development Review Board. Ms. Barron indicated that she moved to South Burlington 6 months ago and wants to get involved. She has a banking background Mr. Gaulin is a lifelong resident of the city and runs a motel. He felt he would be a good representative for South Burlington's future. Ms. Lustberg said her first choice would be the Natural Resources or Design Review Committee. She moved here 6 months ago because she wanted more of a community life. She uses the rec path and Dorset Park every day and wants to give something back to the city. Mr. Gagnon is a professional engineer and is looking for a chance to serve the community. He had no preference between the DRB or Design Review Committee. Mr. Bolton is a lifelong city resident who is in the real estate appraisal business. He indicated if he had any conflict with an application he would step aside, but he did not feel this would happen. Mr. Hafter reviewed the time commitments for various committees/boards and also the process for selection. 4. Consideration of bond issue for Police, Fire and Highway communication system and construction of an emergency operations center: Chief Brent noted that in 2002 funds were allocated to seek advice from a consultant in a number of areas: improving 2-way radio coverage, replacing obsolete equipment, ensuring compatibility with future multi agency dispatch, and developing a radio channel plan for Fire, Police and Highway. The consultant did surveys, interviews, reviewed FCC licenses, reviewed the E-911 system, assessed communications personnel and facilities, and assessed response units. During the assessment, the concept of an Emergency Operations Center arose. It was determined that a portion of the upstairs of the new Public Works facility could be used for this purpose. The area would include capability for emergency power, sanitary facilities, space for multi-agency response, planning/mapping area, computer access, etc. Chief Brent then reviewed the radio systems for the Fire, Police and Highway Departments. Most equipment is 15 or more years old. The Fire Dept. transmits and receives from one location. They have 9 mobile radios, 20 portable radios and 20 pagers. All are more than 10 years old. The Police Department has 21 mobile radios, 38 portables and 1 motorcycle (summer lease). Radios are 10-15 years old. The average age of components in the Highway Department is 15-25 years. The limitations of the Fire Dept. equipment include: different models/makers/types of radios with different features; no common radio channel plan, no dedicated fire ground channel, inadequate and unsafe fire ground coverage; no personal ID, no channel scan, and no direct communication with police at incidents. There is also poor portable coverage in the Mall, Airport and Technology Park. Chief Brent stressed that safety requires portable radios for use as a lifeline. Limitations of the Police equipment include: fixed network equipment is manufacturer discontinued, many types and models with different features, no common radio channel plan, no personal ID, no direct communication with Fire Dept. at incidents, no alphanumeric displays, need for added tactical channels, inadequate portable coverage, co-channel interference, limited car-to-car coverage. Limitations of the Highway Dept. equipment include no direct communication with Police at incidents, aging inventory of equipment, no common frequency for highway, Police and Fire. The Chief then reviewed the attributes of the proposed new system including: improved communications center, replacement of all Fire, Police and Highway Dept mobile and portable radios and alert receivers, new receivers installed at Fire Station #2, Highway Dept, CWD Tank on Dorset St., Communications Center, U-Mall, everyone can talk with everyone else, increased safety and reliability with reduced maintenance cost, higher level of preparedness in instances of a city-wide event. The Chief noted that Burlington and Colchester are both using the proposed system. Rep. Audette cited the importance of including the Sewer Dept. in this loop as well. Mr. Condos asked if any grants have been looked into. Chief Brent said they have been in contact with Vermont's Senators and there is a possibility of some grant money. The total cost of the plan is $1,295,000. Mr. Hafter noted that at 5% for 10 years, the average cost for the system on a home valued at $100,000 would be $12.00 a year for 10 years. Mr. Sheahan felt a bond vote should be held in November because more people are likely to vote then. Mr. Magowan moved to place an item for up to $1,300,000 on the November ballot for the proposed emergency communications system and to approve the Resolution. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Consideration of adoption of a Resolution increasing membership of the Planning Commission from five to seven members effective January 1, 2003: Mr. Magowan moved to adopt the Resolution increasing the Planning Commission from 5 to 7 members. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Stormwater Resolution: Mr. Hafter reviewed the history of this item. He said its approval would enable the City to receive the grant money. Mr. O'Rourke moved to approve the stormwater resolution as presented. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Appoint voting delegate to VLCT Town Fair: Mr. Sheahan moved to appoint Mr. Condos. Mr. Smith seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 8. Review Development Review Board Agenda for 16 July 2002: Mr. Sheahan expressed concern with the Gracey's application for expansion. He cited circulation problems and confusing action on that corner. Concern was also raised with the proposal for a drive-thru at Dunkin' Donuts. 9. Review minutes of 1 July 2002: Mr. Sheahan moved to approve the minutes of 1 July 2002 as written. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 11. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Smith moved that the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented a First Class Restaurant and Cabaret License for Waterfront Catering (at Holiday Inn). He said the application was in order. Mr. Smith moved to approve the First Class Restaurant and Cabaret License for Waterfront Catering as presented. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter then presented a Liquor License application from Mobrid, the new owner of M.T. Bellies. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Liquor License for Mobrid as presented. Mr. Sheahan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Session: Mr. Smith moved that the Liquor Control Board adjourn and reconvene as City Council in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing appointments to Boards and Commissions and to resume regular session on for the purpose of making such appointments and/or adjourning. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Regular Session: The Council returned to regular session. Mr. Smith moved the following appointments to boards and committees: Planning Commission Marcel Beaudin 2005 (Term Ends) Development Review Board James Cameron 2005 Larry Kupferman 2005 Gail Quimby 2005 Chuck Bolton 2003 Design Review Committee Mary Benoit 2005 Bernard Gagnon 2005 Judy Barron 2005 Natural Resources Committee Ellen Powell 2005 Lori Lustberg 2003 Recreation Committee Laura DeMaroney 2005 Joe Hameline 2005 Ken Mahl 2005 Leisure Arts Committee Joan Aguirre 2005 Rosemary Perkett 2005 Library Board of Trustees Charlie Jones 2005 Recreation Path George Sporzynski 2005 David Jacobowitz 2005 Red Rocks Committee Jed Lowy 2005 Ethel Schuele 2005 Correctional Center Liaison Comm Tim Barritt 2005 Maurice Cloutier 2005 City Charter Committee Bill Cimonetti 2005 David Austin 2005 Mr. O'Rourke seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Smith moved adjournment. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.