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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 03/05/2007CITY COUNCIL 5 MARCH 2007 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Monday 5 March 2007, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: J. Condos, Chair; C. Smith, M. Boucher, S. Magowan, D. O'Rourke Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; J. B. Hinds, Director of Planning & Zoning; B. Hoar, Public Works Director; D. Adamson, A. Clift, S. Katz, J. Simpson, C. Caldwell-Edmunds 1. Comments & Questions from the Audience, not related to Agenda items: No issues were raised. 2. Announcements & City Manager's Report: Mr. Magowan: The Library Governance Committee will meet this week. He will have a report for the next Steering Committee meeting. Mr. Condos: Will attend the MPO Executive Committee meeting this week. Mr. Hafter: The City Clerk received a petition for the May ballot to reverse the "two strikes and out" provision of the recently proposed Charter change. The petition would require that after 2 failed votes, the budget would revert to the last budget plus a cost of living increase. The City Clerk will check the signatures and will let the Council know at its next meeting if the petition is valid. A letter was received from the Champlain Housing Trust. They received the grant which will enable Chittenden County residents to apply for loans to rehabilitate their homes for health and safety concerns. Funds will be available at the beginning of April. The Police Facility Committee will meet at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. The Steering Committee will meet on 15 March. Mr. Hafter gave members the Agenda for this meeting. The sign at the corner of Market St/Dorset St. is a legal sign, even though it is at the corner and not at the access to the Blue Mall. Mr. Hafter asked members to go by and look at this and see if they feel this is an issue that needs to be addressed. 3. Interviews for Appointments to the City Charter Revision Committee: Mr. Condos thanked those who have applied. He stressed that this will be a comprehensive review of the entire City Charter. Members then interviewed candidates as follows: a. Duncan Adamson: Mr. Adamson said he is a Director of Marketing and lives in Laurel Hill South. He has designed telecommunications and in his current job reviews long documents. He said he is very pragmatic and likes to help make things work. b. Carol Caldwell-Edmunds: Ms. Caldwell-Edmunds noted that she is currently serving on the School Board and has volunteers in the schools for 10 years. She also testified regarding Act 60. She has been part of funding projects to get grants, etc. She is also a technologist. She felt she would have a realistic input on such things as costs and be able to put money values to what works and what doesn't. She added that she believes that compromise is the best way. Mr. Boucher noted that the School Board will have a representative on the Committee and questioned having 2 School Board members. Ms. Caldwell- Edmunds said she would serve as a community members and felt she could remain in that role. c. Agnes Clift: Ms. Clift said she has been active in the community since her children were in Chamberlin School. She is a member of the Community Education Fund and became interested in the Charter when Act 60 came in. She felt there were little mistakes to fix and some major issues to address with the current Charter. d. Sheldon Katz: Mr. Katz said he is a lawyer with experience in government. He has been Special Counsel to the Vermont Dept. of Public Service. He has also been involved in Constitutional Law in a variety of cases. He taught at the Vermont Law School. He said he is interested in getting a Charter that keeps government accountable. e. John Simpson: Mr. Simpson said he has lived in South Burlington for 25 years. He is now retired. He formerly worked in local and county government and then in private business. He has a Masters Degree in Public Administration. He felt that in some ways the Charter is outdated, but in others it is a very good document. Mr. Hafter said there are other candidates to be interviewed before the Council makes a decision. 4. Discussion of Planned Short-Term Traffic Safety Improvements at Airport Parkway, Lime Kiln Road, Shamrock Drive, and Ethan Allen Drive: Mr. Hoar noted that the MPO had approached the city regarding problems at this intersection. A committee from the MPO, including engineers, etc., looked at the alignment. They then brainstormed solutions and came up with a recommendation. The plan would involve creating a short one-way street. All the work would be done within the existing right-of-way. Public Works Department would do the work. Mr. Condos asked if this is a long-term solution. Mr. Hoar said it is not. It is based on what is happening at the intersection today. Mr. Hoar said there are no state funds for this project. There are some impact fees. He felt the project would cost $5,000-$10,000 with Public Works doing the work. Mr. Hoar also said there is a plan for which the State is providing funds to address the Williston Road/Double Tree/Windjammer intersection. There would be a "lead-lag" left turn at this location. There would also be a new pedestrian crossing with an audible signal. Mr. Hafter noted that the lead green at Williston Rd./Hinesburg Road/Patchen Road has made a great difference. 5. Annual Appointment of Town Service Officer: Mr. Boucher moved to appoint Mr. Hafter as Town Service Officer. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 6. Consideration of Capital Equipment Refunding Notes for Highway Equipment and Police Cruiser: Mr. Hafter reviewed the equipment involved and noted that the money for these notes is in the budget. Mr. Smith moved to approve the refunding notes and accompanying resolutions for Highway equipment and the Police cruiser. Mr. Boucher seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 7. Review Development Review Board Agenda for Meeting of 6 March 2007: No issues were raised. 8. Review Planning Commission Agenda for Meeting of 6 March 2007: Mr. Condos asked that the Commission pay close attention to the Velco East Avenue Loop. Ms. Hinds said the Commission is working with City Attorney Joe McLean on this. She added that there are some very significant impacts. 9. Review and Approve Minutes of 12 February 2007: Mr. Hafter noted a correction on p.5. The figure should read 1714, not 1741. Mr. Magowan moved to approve the Minutes of 12 February as amended. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 10. Review and Approve Minutes of 15 February 2007: Mr. Smith moved to approve the Minutes of 15 February as written. Mr. Boucher seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 11. Review and Approve Minutes of 22 February 2007: Mr. Smith moved to approve the Minutes of 22 February as written. Mr. Magowan seconded. Motion passed 4-0 with Mr. Boucher abstaining. 12. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 13. Executive Session: Mr. Boucher moved that the Board meet in Executive Session to discuss real property acquisition and resume regular session only for the purpose of adjournment. Mr. Smith seconded. Motion passed unanimously. 14. Regular Session: The Council returned to regular session. Mr. Smith moved adjournment. Mr. Boucher seconded. The meeting adjourned at 9:20pm. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.