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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - Steering Committee - 11/17/2008 • ' � MsumuticroM yf+ 4.4 � , ' City of South Burlington `� , r �14.� 575 DORSET STREET [>:l;�l f�'!�1 �# SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT 05403 TEL. (802) 846-4107 ��+���ti,�``a FAX (802) 846-4101 dyfO°rows r►... CITY MANAGER CHARLES E. HAFTER AGENDA South Burlington Steering Committee City Hall Conference Room 575 Dorset Street South Burlington, Vermont Regular Meeting 6:00 p.m. Monday, November 17, 2008 1. Update on education funding in Vermont; John Everitt ` 2. Final comments on Legislative Breakfast series 3. Discussion of School Farming program 4. Other items to come before the Committee. STEERING COMMITTEE 24 SEPTEMBER 2008 The South Burlington Steering Committee held a meeting on Wednesday, 24 September 2008, at 6:00 p.m., in the Cafeteria, Tuttle Middle School, Dorset St. Members Present: City Council: C. Smith, M. Boucher, M. Emery; School District: E. Fitzgerald, J. Allo, T. Manazir, A. Clift, R Cassidy; J. Everitt, Superintendent of Schools Also Present: D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; J. Stewart, School District 1. Election of Officers for 2008-2009: Mr. Boucher nominated Sandra Dooley for the position of Chair of the Steering Committee. Mr. Smith seconded. There were no further nominations, and Ms. Dooley was elected unanimously. Ms. Allo nominated Agnes Clift as Vice Chair. Ms. Fitzgerald seconded. There were no further nominations, and Ms. Clift was elected unanimously. In the absence of Ms. Dooley, Ms. Clift presided over the remainder of the meeting. Mr. Smith nominated Mr. Halter for Secretary. Ms. Fitzgerald seconded. There were no further nominations, and Mr. Hafter was elected unanimously. 2. Minutes of 10 April 2008: Ms. Fitzgerald moved to approve the Minutes of 10 April 2008 as written. Ms. Clift seconded. The motion passed with Mr. Boucher, Mr. Smith and Ms. Allo abstaining. 3. Discuss Change in Budget Time-Lines for a March 3, 2009 Voting Date: The deadline for adopted budgets to go to the printer will be 6 January 2009. The deadline for the Annual Report to be delivered to citizens will be 12 January 2009. The Steering Committee's public hearing on the budget will be scheduled for 22 January. Mr. Boucher suggested a "Town Meeting/Public Forum" on 2 March, before the vote the next day. Ms. Clift suggested this could be one of the 4 required Steering Committee meetings. Supt. Everitt said the timing will be tight for them, but they will work on it. S LEERING COMMITTEE 24 SEPTEMBER 2008 PAGE 2 4. Discuss Upcoming Legislative Breakfast Series and Ideas for Improvement: The breakfast series has traditionally been set for the first Monday of the month while the Legislature is in session, usually from 7:30-9 a.m. Mr. Cassidy said it would be useful to come to an agreement on whether/how school funding should be changed. Mr. Boucher noted that it will be interesting to see what happens this year with the CLA going down. Mr. Cassidy said South Burlington values will probably go down at a slower rate than elsewhere in the state. Ms. Fitzgerald said that in the past there have disparate agendas from the City and School. She suggested there might be a presentation of what budgets are starting to look like. She also suggested that in March the Legislators could be asked for a report on their efforts to represent South Burlington in a fair and equitable way. Mr. Cassidy said it is important to be realistic about the Legislative process. It is very complex. He suggested that rather than just saying "we don't like this," it would be€ better to present three to five "principles" to guide Legislators through the Legislative session. Mr. Smith suggested having Mr. Halter and Superintendent Everitt come up with some ideas which the City Council and School Board could then endorse. I Ms. Fitzgerald cited the need for a clear understanding of demographics in South $ Burlington (e.g., age of population, homes vs. apartments, etc.). She asked if there is a good updated city plan. Mr. Gravelin said that information is in the city's Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Cassidy suggested having someone like a Bill Talbott come to a Steering Committee meeting in November to provide some budgeting background. Members felt this was a good idea. 5. Other Items to Come Before the Committee: a. Mr. Smith outlined the process for the Town Meeting to be held of 2 October for discussion on the upcoming vote on the use of the Calkins property for a Police station. The meeting will run from 7-9 p.m., preceded by a community pot luck supper at 6. David Young will be the moderator. Chief Whipple will make the major presentation, and Mr. Halter and City Planner Paul Conner will make brief presentations on city planning. STEERING COMMITTEE. . .__ `. ... 24 SEPTEMBER 2008 PAGE 3 Mr. Boucher explained that it is the city's plan to dedicate 12 acres that were previously designated as "Oak Creek School Site" as open space in exchange for using the Calkins site for the Police facility. Ms. Emery noted that it is unfortunate scheduling that South Burlington schools are ; holding open houses on that evening as well. Supt. Everitt said he would get information out to parents to come to the Town Meeting after the school events. Ms. Emery said there can also be discussion about sharing City Hall space with the School District once the Police facility is built. As there was no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. t t; ( i . • l .