Barre City Council Regular Meeting – August 12, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Barre City Council Regular Meeting – August 12, 2025
The Barre City Council held its regular meeting on August 12, 2025, addressing a range of topics including resolutions honoring community members, approval of consent agenda items, updates on flood recovery and housing initiatives, and the submission of major grant applications. The meeting also included public comments, a discussion on council communication standards, and appointments to a temporary committee.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of July 15, 2025.
- Approved a Night Out permit for Courier Park (taking place during the meeting).
- Approved an MOU with Barre Area Development Corp. (BADC) for the 143 North Main Street initiative.
- Approved the certificate of project completion for the $900,000 biosolids bond.
- Authorized the city manager to execute three contracts: White and Burke TIF Consulting (up to $60,000), SEMSITES Cemetery Software ($39,500), and Don Monahan transition and audit services (up to $18,600).
- Discussion occurred on the White and Burke contract (backdated to October 1, 2024) and the BADC MOU (update: $740,000 raised to date; goal is $850,000; sale price $800,000; $50,000 expense contingency).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Mr. LePage inquired about the Berlin Street Bridge removal/demolition and requested advance public notice for any future actions. The city manager responded that no funding mechanism exists currently, so no timeline is set; the city will provide notice if funding becomes available.
Discussion Items
- Flood Resiliency Plan Update – Infill Housing Study: Tess Taylor and Sam Stockwell from the Housing Task Force presented an update. The task force has identified approximately five viable municipal properties for potential infill development (from an initial 141 city-owned parcels, narrowed to 19, then 10, then 5). A public awareness campaign is planned through September 2026, and a measurable unit goal (e.g., number of units by April 2028) will be set. The committee will develop a comprehensive housing plan.
- CDBG-DR Grant Applications: City Manager Nicholas presented a summary of pre-applications submitted for the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program (total available: $67.8 million, with $54.2 million reserved for Washington County). The city submitted 11 pre-applications totaling over $40 million:
- Housing (61% of ask, ~$25M): 143 North Main Street ($4.61M), Prospect Heights ($5.2M), North End Gateway ($15.21M) – including a 64-unit mid-rise building at Wabi Park, acquisitions for flood-resilient housing, daycare, grocery, and green space.
- Infrastructure (15 projects, ~$15M): Stormwater upgrades citywide ($5M), Auditorium match funding, Potash Brook floodplain/culvert work ($3M), Willie Street Bridge and Harrington Avenue Debris Rack projects.
- Planning Grants (2, each $250,000): Downtown housing planning and grand list strategic planning.
- Final applications are due September 30, 2025; a public hearing is scheduled for September 23, 2025.
- Council Communication Standards: Councilor Hillgartner raised concerns about a recent email exchange between a councilor and a resident that she characterized as disrespectful. She urged adherence to the council’s communication policy, emphasizing civility, respect, and professional tone in all interactions. No formal action was taken.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted Resolution 2025-14 honoring the Granite City Blast baseball team (unanimous vote). The team raised $30,000 and departs August 11, 2025, for a national event in Cooperstown.
- Adopted Resolution 2025-15 recognizing Assistant City Manager Don Monahan for her service (unanimous vote). August 22, 2025, was declared Don Monahan Appreciation Day.
- Approved consent agenda items (unanimous).
- Approved city warrants for the weeks of July 23, July 30, and August 6, 2025 (unanimous; Councilor Ruth Eury abstained on the full package citing content concerns).
- Appointed a temporary committee to draft a Long-Term Redevelopment Plan for CDBG-DR scoring purposes. Members: Tess Taylor (lead), Councilors Hillgartner and Gustin, Planning Commission Chair Dave Sitchell, and State Representative Teddy Wazazak. (Motion carried unanimously.)
- Council will set water/sewer rates and receive a fund update (Bruce A Trust, Semper Bond) at the next meeting (August 26, 2025).
- Entered executive session for personnel discussion (no action expected); session and subsequent adjournment approved unanimously.
Upcoming Business
- August 26, 2025: Water/sewer rate setting, fund update, and revolving loan fund update.
- September 23, 2025: Public hearing on CDBG-DR applications.
- September 30, 2025: Deadline for final CDBG-DR applications.
Meeting Transcript
2025 recording. We're recording. Good deal. And I'll call this uh regular meeting the very city city council to order under adjustments to the agenda council. The manager has requested uh an executive session uh regarding personnel. Are there any other adjustments? Yes. I'd like to bring up my issue with about um communication among the um council and um and city residents, which we deferred from last week last time because there wasn't time on it if there's no objection from the council, we will put that under item 8D. Thank you. Okay, uh anything else? Any other adjustments to the agenda? Yes, um Mayor, just one one technical thing. Uh the agenda in the room may be showing an a consent agenda item 4F about a support letter for the street outreach team. That was removed from the agenda that was printed in the paper. But just for clarity, we are not doing 4F today. That will be deferred to the next meeting. Got it. Okay. Uh that it okay. Council under item 3A, we will be approving resolution 2025-14 recognizing the granite city blast baseball team. Counselor Burcheron. Well, it's all yours. Okay. Uh resolution honoring the Granite City Blast Baseball team. Whereas the Grand City Blast baseball team will be leaving on Monday, August 11th, 2025 for their trip to Cooperstown. And whereas the team will represent Barry at a national event. Whereas, in addition to working hard on the field, the team worked just as hard off the field, raising $30,000 to make the trip possible. And whereas the team represents a strong tradition of youth baseball in Barry, and we are confident that these youngsters, their coaches and families will represent the very best of Barry. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Barrie City Council that the members of the council commend the Granite City Blast baseball team and wish players Michael Anderson, Keegan Bergeron, Henry Booth, Zachary Bradley, Tuckerman Cotton, Callahan Farnum, Evan Folsom, Cameron Fortier, Corbin Larraby, Miles Marino, Keegan Myers, and David Tishera, and coaches Jordan Bergeron, Tyler Bradley, Chris Fortier, and Andrew Myers, the very best as they embark on their trip to the hallowed baseball grounds of Cooperstown. And be it further resolved that the city council extends to each of the members of the Granite City Blast baseball team our sincerest wishes for the continuing success on and off the field. And be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be placed in the permanent records of the city of Barrie and that a copy be transmitted to the members of the team and coaching staff by order of the city council this fifth day of August 2025. Is there a second? Second. Thank you. All those in favor of the motion is presented. Please signify by saying aye. Aye. And those opposed, motions carries. Coach, they take orders really well. Congratulations. So you want to hang out right here. We got to get you on the microphone. Oh, you gotta stand out. Sorry, you gotta stand down there. It's not that I'm nervous. I just the microphone won't pick you guys up. So how many of you have moms and dads watching at home? None? Come on, you gotta have better fans than that. Coach, anything you'd like to say?
openpublica.com