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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 07/05/2016 CITY COUNCIL 5 JULY 2016 The South Burlington City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, 5 July 2016, at 7:00 p.m., in the Community Room of the Police Station, 19 Gregory Drive. MEMBERS PRESENT: H. Riehle, Chair; P. Nowak, T. Barritt ALSO PRESENT: K. Dorn, City Manager; T. Hubbard, Deputy City Manager; B. Nowak 1. Agenda Review: Additions, deletions or changes in order of agenda items: Mr. Dorn asked to add 2 brief items to Other Business. 2. Comments & Questions from the public not related to the agenda: No issues were raised. 3. Announcements and City Manager’s Report: Council members reported on meetings and events they had attended. Mr. Dorn: Received word from Justin Rabidoux that they are very close to a settlement with Village at Dorset Park in the stormwater issue. 4. Consent Agenda: a. Sign Disbursement b. Approve Minutes for 13 June, 20 June, and 22 June 2016 Mr. Barritt moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Ms. Nowak seconded. Motion passed 3-0. 5. Council Discussion Regarding Allegation of Violation of Vermont Open Meeting Law by the Council: Mr. Dorn noted that the Council Chair had received a complaint from a citizen of another committee alleging that the South Burlington City Council had violated the Vermont Open Meeting Law when three or more Council Members attended a briefing by the Vermont Air National Guard on 22 July 2016. This complaint was later profiled in a Burlington Free Press article. Mr. Dorn said that the public had previously been noticed by the City in its weekly posting of meetings and activities, as is the protocol, that 3 or more Council members could be attending the briefing in response to an invitation from the Air Guard. Mr. Dorn then explained that the presence of 3 or more Councilors in the same location does not, in itself, constitute a public meeting of the Council. For such a meeting to occur, business of the Council must be discussed or an action taken. No business of the Council was discussed at the Guard event, and no Council action was taken. Therefore, there was, by definition, no violation of the Vermont Open Meeting Law, and the allegation has no merit. Ms. Nowak asked how to avoid having this issue come up time and time again. Mr. Dorn said the best way is to not have 3 or more Councilors in a room. However, there are times when the City Council goes to a meeting/event to learn about an issue. Not to be able to do this would mean Councilors were not doing their job. Mr. Dorn said the law is very clear that when 3 or more Councilors are in the same location, they should avoid discussing any city business. They would not then be in violation of the Open Meeting Law. 6. Set Municipal Tax Rate and Establish Dates for Tax Payments for FY17: Mr. Hubbard noted that the City Assessor had projected the Grand List in December and then went out in April to actually check “what is in the ground.” He then finalizes the Grand List on 30 June. Mr. Hubbard also noted that in the 3 years he has been doing this, it has been possible to lower the tax rate a little bit. For this budget, the tax rate will go from the projected .4737 to .4731 as the grand list came in about $41,000 higher than the projection. Mr. Barritt asked about a report in the paper that some properties were reassessed. Mr. Hubbard explained that these properties are in newer developments that have been built within the past few years. Ms. Nowak then moved to set the tax rate at $0.4731 for fiscal year 2017 and that tax payment due dates be 15 August 2016, 15 November 2016, and 15 March 2017. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Mr. Hubbard said tax bills will probably go out on 11 July. 7. Consider and Act Upon T D Bank, N.A., Capital Improvement Financing Loan Documents: Mr. Dorn explained that this is a $1,125,000 loan for 10 years for open space enhancements. The rate is 2.15%, which may go down slightly. He directed attention to the commitment letter from the Bank with the terms and conditions. The money will be transferred sometime next week. The first payment will be due next July. Ms. Nowak stressed that the money to pay for this loan is coming from the ½ cent approved by voters. Mr. Hubbard said that money will go into a special fund and the money raised by the ½ cent will go directly back to T D Bank. Mr. Barritt moved to approve the resolution and all other pertinent documents associated with procuring a $1,125,000 loan from TD Bank, NA, to be used to fund a variety of maintenance projects and enhancements to open spaces. Ms. Nowak seconded. The motion passed 3-0. 8. Liquor Control Board: All Ranks Club (Club 356) – First Class Mr. Barritt moved the Council convene as Liquor Control Board. Ms. Nowak seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Ms. Riehle noted that the application is now complete. Mr. Barritt moved to approve the First Class Liquor License for All Ranks Club (Club 356) as presented. Ms. Nowak seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Ms. Nowak moved to reconvene as City Council. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed 3-0. 9. Other Business: A. Items Held from Consent Agenda No items were held. B. Other: Mr. Dorn drew attention to a document from the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission which will be brought to the Council for consideration at its next meeting. This involves the potential for a regional dispatch center. The Legislature paved the way for this to happen. Mr. Dorn said there is consensus among most town managers and police chiefs that a regional system will be best for the area. The action will be for a study as to how to accomplish this. Mr. Dorn also noted that he and Mr. Hubbard have been talking with Winooski Valley Park District people regarding having them manage some of the city’s open space passive areas. They may be doing this for other communities as well. Mr. Dorn noted South Burlington already pays the Park District an annual fee. This would have the potential for them to manage more directly such areas as Wheeler Nature Park, Red Rocks Park, etc. The city would continue to manage the active recreation areas (ballfields, etc.). Ms. Nowak felt this was a logical step as the city has acquired more land and has only a certain number of staff to maintain that land. Mr. Dorn said the city does not now have the staff to maintain all of those areas. As there was no further business to come before the Council, Ms. Nowak moved to adjourn. Mr. Barritt seconded. Motion passed 3-0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works. South Burlington Water Dept. Accounts Payable Check Register Date: 07/06/16 Date Check No. Paid To Memo Amount Paid 7/6/2016 3017 All Seasons Excavating 4,732.75 Date Voucher Number Reference Voucher Total Amount Paid 6/8/2016 VI-14017 28998 4,732.75 4,732.75 7/6/2016 3018 City Of Burlington Water Resources 12.50 Date Voucher Number Reference Voucher Total Amount Paid 6/24/2016 VI-14023 REFUND 12.50 12.50 7/6/2016 3019 Champlain Water District 50,930.63 Date Voucher Number Reference Voucher Total Amount Paid 6/30/2016 VI-14016 SBWD-315 50,930.63 50,930.63 7/6/2016 3020 Champlain Water District 113,184.47 Date Voucher Number Reference Voucher Total Amount Paid 6/30/2016 VI-14014 SBWD-308 62.63 62.63 6/30/2016 VI-14015 JUNE CONSUMPTION 110,642.09 110,642.09 6/28/2016 VI-14018 S.BURL-CCR-2016 2,479.75 2,479.75 7/6/2016 3021 E.J. Prescott, Inc. 984.98 Date Voucher Number Reference Voucher Total Amount Paid 6/23/2016 VI-14019 5095208 799.81 799.81 6/20/2016 VI-14024 5100189 65.79 65.79 6/14/2016 VI-14026 5097672 55.44 55.44 6/13/2016 VI-14027 5096900 63.94 63.94 7/6/2016 3022 Ferguson Waterworks #590 173.28 Date Voucher Number Reference Voucher Total Amount Paid 6/22/2016 VI-14021 0405873 173.28 173.28 7/6/2016 3023 Office Essentials 170.95 Date Voucher Number Reference Voucher Total Amount Paid 6/27/2016 VI-14022 32876 170.95 170.95 7/6/2016 3024 SoVerNet, Inc. 42.70 Date Voucher Number Reference Voucher Total Amount Paid 6/15/2016 VI-14025 3646528 42.70 42.70 7/6/2016 3025 Ti-Sales Inc. 2,574.00 Date Voucher Number Reference Voucher Total Amount Paid 6/28/2016 VI-14020 INV0066415 2,574.00 2,574.00 Printed: June 29, 2016 Page 1 of 2 South Burlington Water Dept. Accounts Payable Check Register Date: 07/06/16 Date Check No. Paid To Memo Amount Paid Total Amount Paid: 172,806.26 SOUTH BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Printed: June 29, 2016 Page 2 of 2