Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 06/04/2007CITY COUNCIL 4 JUNE 2007 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, 4 June 2007, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: C. Smith, Chair; S. Magowan, M. Boucher, D. O'Rourke, S. Dooley Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; T. Leblanc, City Assessor; T. Moreau, CSDW; A. Parent, The Other Paper; P. Stabler 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience, not related to Agenda Items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements and City Manager's Report: Mr. Boucher reported on the first meeting of the City Charter Review Committee. He noted that John Simpson had been elected Chair of the Committee with Terry Sheahan as Vice Chair. The meeting focused on how city charters work. For the next meeting, members were asked to bring back their "hot button" issues. A plan will then be developed to engage the community in the discussion of these issues. Mr. Hafter noted that Fred Blais and Fred Maher will be invited to address the committee about the writing of the original City Charter. Mr. O'Rourke asked whether the committee will consider the annual meeting date. Mr. Hafter felt this was a good item for Steering Committee discussion. He noted that there is a small window to accommodate a re-vote, if needed, so the annual meeting could take place in either March or May. Mr. O'Rourke reported that the Communications sub-committee of the Police Facilities Committee will be meeting next week. Mr. O'Rourke said the City is very fortunate to have such a skilled and thoughtful Fire Department. He thanked them for their assistance after Saturday's storm. Mr. Hafter noted that the 18 June agenda will include a report from the Police Facilities Committee. Mr. Hafter also noted that Verizon has sold their option to Fair Point. He received a call from GBIC indicating that Fair Point wants to apply for an economic development grant to add more jobs. Mr. Hafter felt there is a question as to whether the City could support this without giving the impression that they support the sale of Verizon to Fair Point. Mr. Magowan said he wouldn't want to be seen as supporting the sale and felt the City should stay out of it. Mr. O'Rourke agreed. He couldn't understand why Fair Point should approach the City before the sale is approved. Ms. Dooley felt it would be hard for the City to support the grant without having that action construed as supporting the sale. 3. Update on Grand List and Status of Change of Appraisal Notices for Fiscal Year 2007-8: Mr. Leblanc said appraisal notices will be sent out on 11 June. A lot of condo appraisals have to be revised from last year. Reissued notices of changes will go out. There were 450 building permits issued in 2006. Some will and some won't have value changes associated with them. Mr. Leblanc reviewed the appeal time-lines. Mr. Hafter noted that condos were not reappraised after last year, so the same notices will be issued that were not allowed from last year. Mr. Leblanc said that next year they will re-look at commercial values. There haven't been a lot of sales, except in Meadowland Park. Values will need to be adjusted. Regarding prebates, Mr. Gravelin said individuals will not get prebates directly from the State. The City will get the money via files from the State of the homeowners prebates. The amount of their prebate will show directly on the tax bill as a credit. This credit will be applied to the first installment, and any carry-over to subsequent installment(s). Mr. O'Rourke asked if the city will track additional time involved for city employees. Mr. Gravelin said a lot of the time will be for programming. The city's consultant is working with the State, so it should go smoothly. Mr. Gravelin added that the City cannot control data from the State, so if individuals have any issues, they will have to appeal directly to the State. 4. Request for Approval of Tax Rate to Support FY2008 Budget, Special Assessment Districts, User Fees for Sanitary Water and Sewer, and Storm Water Services; Approval of Tax Due Dates and Fiscal Year Budgets: Mr. Hafter said the general tax rate proposed is .405 as presented at the public hearing on 5 April 2007. This will produce $10,534,050 in tax revenues. The Spear Street Northeast special assessment district tax rate should be set at .159. This represents 50% of the cost to install sanitary sewers in 2002 and is the fifth year of a ten-year assessment. The 8 properties in the Spear Street South special assessment district will each be billed $732.81. This is the 5th of a ten-year payment schedule. The sewer user fee being requested represents a 5% increase to $20.85 per 1,000 cubic feet of water usage. The fee for the Town of Colchester is being requested at $22.95 per 1,000 cubic feet, per contract agreement. The water service fee being requested is $19.53 per 1,000 cubic feet of usage. There is no increase from the previous year. The storm water service fee being requested is $4.50 per ERU of 2700 sq. ft. of impervious surface, the same as the present rate. The budget to be approved is the same as that warned in the public hearing of 5 April 2007. Tax due dates will be: 15 August 2007, 11 November 2007, and 17 March 2008. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the 2007-8 city budget, fees, assessments, tax rates and due dates as presented. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 5. Discussion with Paul Stabler, City Representative to CSWD regarding Solid Waste Issues: Mr. Stabler reviewed some recent legal rulings. He noted there has been vocal opposition to the siting of the landfill in Williston, and there is a lawsuit against the Town of Williston and CSWD claiming the "host town" agreement is illegal. Mr. Moreau has suggested putting permitting on hold for a year to review new technologies, which could reduce the amount of trash that has to be put into the landfill. Mr. Stabler said he can see logic to the delay, but his concern is both ecological and economic, specifically the amount it costs to transport trash to 2 other landfills. Mr. Moreau's suggestion will be voted on at the June meeting, and Mr. Stabler asked for guidance from the Council. Mr. Magowan said there are interesting things happening in terms of waste handling. He felt the people challenging the agreement are credible emotionally but not in terms of inadequate notice. He wondered whether delaying the process would given an opening for a Superior Court Judge extend the delay. Mr. Magowan said that how we deal with waste will say a lot as to how we survive as a planet. He cited the need for better communication with the public before these become explosive issues. Mr. O'Rourke said he trusts Mr. Stabler's judgment completely. The issue for him is whether to lose 12-18 months. Ms. Dooley said she was comfortable with the delay because it is impossible to see where the losses would be greater. Mr. Moreau felt that if they are going for a large bond, it will be good for the public to see CSWD as both a recycling and landfill operation. Mr. Hafter cited the need to make it clear this is a strategic plan. 6. Review Development Review Board Agenda for meeting of 5 June 2007: No issues were raised. 7. Review and Approve Minutes of Organizational City Council Meeting held on 21 May 2007: Mr. Boucher moved to approve the Minutes of 21 May as written. Ms. Dooley seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 8. Review and Approve Minutes of Regular City Council Meeting of 21 May 2007: Ms. Dooley noted that Mr. Smith had agreed to go with Ms. Hinds to the Regional Planning Commission with concerns about volunteer workload for Commission people. Ms. Dooley then moved to approve the Minutes of 21 May as amended. Mr. O'Rourke seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 9. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 10. Liquor Control Board: Mr. Boucher moved the Council adjourn and reconvene as Liquor Control Board. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Hafter presented a Liquor License Application from the new owners of Cheese Traders. He noted that all inspections have been passed; however, the new owners have not yet attended the State Liquor Seminar. The approval motion should make this attendance a condition. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Liquor License Application of Cheese Traders with the stipulation that the owner(s) attend the State Liquor Seminar. Mr. Boucher seconded The motion was then passed unanimously. As there was no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.