Barre City Council Regular Meeting - August 27, 2025
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Barre City Council Regular Meeting - August 27, 2025
The Barre City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 (official summary date August 27, 2025) at 6:01 PM. The meeting covered consent calendar approvals, public comments on sidewalk improvements, USPS mailbox conversion, and an overdose awareness vigil, followed by discussions on flood resiliency loan funds, regional future land use mapping, city fund balances, CDBG-DR grant applications, and a growing drug-related criminal activity crisis.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes of August 5, 2025.
- Approved licenses and permits for Resume Energy LLC (drink vendor behind Harry & Lloyd's).
- Approved November 5 as an alternate meeting date for city council.
- Approved an additional $20,000 opioid settlement allocation to Turning Point Center (on top of $40,000 previously allocated).
- Enacted Resolution 2025-16 setting fiscal year 2026 water and sewer rates.
- Ratified the USW contract after a briefing and in-person session two weeks prior.
- Authorized the manager to execute a contract for public safety building drainage and access improvements with RJ Pichet Excavating for $45,274 (FEMA-funded, competitively bid).
- Added item 4H: Approved a letter of support for the Good Sam street outreach team program.
- Approved city warrants for the week of August 27, 2025, and ratified weeks of August 13 and August 20, 2025 (one councilor abstained on the later warrants).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Vernon thanked the council for the new sidewalk on Allen Street, noting it improves pedestrian safety and avoids a crosswalk, and urged faster response to community safety concerns.
- Alexandra Paster raised concerns about USPS converting home mailboxes to roadside units, especially on steep streets; she requested city coordination and mentioned Public Works plans to visit her street on Friday.
- Rayleigh announced an overdose awareness vigil on Sunday, August 31 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at City Hall Park, with 128 names read, remarks from Chief Vail, and participation from treatment court and Turning Point Center.
- Colin and CNF from Resume Energy introduced themselves as applicants for a drink trailer behind Harry & Lloyd's; the item was expected to be on the consent agenda.
Discussion Items
Flood Resiliency Plan Update (Downstreet Housing - Angie Harbin)
- The revolving loan fund (RLF) established with ARPA funds for home repairs (households 81–120% AMI) has seen no utilization; one applicant chose a HELOC instead.
- Downstreet proposed more aggressive marketing via city bill inserts and realtor outreach, or converting to silent loans (repaid upon home sale) to better assist low-income homeowners.
- Council decided to include an insert in the next water/sewer bill and contact local realtors and partner organizations (e.g., Capstone, Efficiency Vermont) to increase awareness. A six-month trial was agreed upon before considering structural changes.
- Counselors noted potential use for minor flood mitigation (utility raising) and for homes under $200,000 needing repairs.
Regional Future Land Use Map (CVRPC - Brian Boyett and Nikki Savado)
- Act 181 establishes a tiered framework for Act 250 jurisdiction: Tier 1A (full exemption, requires municipal administrative capacity), Tier 1B (up to 50 units exempt), Tier 2 (status quo), and Tier 3 (additional jurisdiction in critical natural resource areas).
- The map is under development; an interactive version expected November 2025.
- Council expressed interest in Tier 1B given current staffing constraints (planning department short-staffed) and the possibility of contracting services or using regional support.
- Decision on Tier 1B designation must be made by early December 2025 to be included in the initial regional plan submission (January/February 2026). Choosing Tier 2 now does not preclude later opting into Tier 1.
- The map does not supersede local zoning.
City Funds Presentation (Treasurer Carol)
- Provided an overview of all city funds totaling approximately $6.7 million in balances (including restricted funds).
- Key funds: Semperbond Bequest Fund ($600,000 available, council-allocated to bike path but can be re-prioritized); Semperbond Annuity ($10,000/year to bike path, $5,000/year to tree maintenance); Opioid Settlement Fund ($85,000 remaining after $20,000 allocation); Cemetery funds ($3.4 million total, with $120,000 unrestricted general, $66,000 Russell Request for Hope, $5,500 St. Monica's earmarked for consolidation); Italian American Memorial Fund ($31,000 for bench and statue maintenance, no written restrictions).
- Council discussed using interest from restricted funds (e.g., Hope Cemetery) for broader cemetery needs, and considered annual drawdown strategies for flexible funds.
- Treasurer will explore consolidating small funds and documenting restrictions.
CDBG-DR Applications Update (Manager)
- State feedback on pre-applications for $67 million in disaster recovery funds (2023 floods):
- Housing: 143 North Main and Prospect Heights unchanged; North End Gateway scaled back to $10 million (removed daycare, grocery, recreation components). Includes seven buyouts (no redevelopment), seven acquisitions (with redevelopment), and seven elevations.
- Infrastructure: Stormwater upgrade changed to planning grant ($1 million placeholder); OD shelter deemed not competitive; Potash Brook changed to planning grant; Willie Street and Harrington Avenue remain as proposed.
- Planning grants for housing and miscellaneous were discouraged.
- Total application value reduced from ~$40 million to ~$25 million. Public hearing scheduled September 23; full applications due September 30.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved with warrants approved separately (one abstention noted).
- Flood resiliency RLF marketing plan approved; Downstreet to design bill insert and conduct outreach.
- Council expressed interest in pursuing Tier 1B designation for planned growth areas; staff to work with CVRPC on feasibility.
- Fund review to continue; Treasurer to pursue consolidation of St. Monica's fund and clarification of Italian American Memorial restrictions.
- CDBG-DR applications revised based on state feedback; final applications due September 30.
- A dedicated discussion on criminal activity will be scheduled, with invitations to the police chief, state's attorney, and housing authority to explore enforcement and legislative options.
Meeting Transcript
26, 2025. Oh, sorry about that. Council, it is Tuesday, August 26th, uh 2025, 6.01 p.m. I'm calling this meeting of the regular city, uh, this regular meeting of the Barrie City Council to order. We do have got to count carefully because we barely have a quorum. We have four members present. Uh so hopefully nobody's abstaining on any votes or uh someone joins us. So moving along, any adjustments to the agenda. I I have one uh Mr. Mayor is to add an item 4H to the consent agenda. This was uh described in the packet memo. It would be to approve a letter of support uh related to the Good Sam out uh street outreach team program. Um and the draft letter was included in the packet as well. And we'll be ratifying that next week. So you'll see that on the consent agenda again next week. Uh anything else, council or manager? Um if we have time, I don't anticipate this is going to be a terribly lengthy meeting. Um if we could, and if you have if you're inclined, I'd like to just have a little conversation at the end of the meeting about um some of the activity, some of the criminal activity that's going on in the city and and how we can help. It's been for me, it's been a pretty frustrating week, I gotta tell you. And uh so if we have time, just a conversation and some brainstorming about how maybe we improve things. Okay, so moving right along under visitors and communications. Anyone wishing to address the council regarding an item that is not on the agenda? Vernon. Hi, thank you. Thank you all for being there. I just wanted to acknowledge the sidewalk that is going in on the lower part of Allen Street on a curve that I hope will make it a much safer place for pedestrians. It also the way it's um engineered. It avoids having to have a crosswalk at the bottom of the street. I think it'll take drivers a while to become acquainted with it because it is something new. Um of course still has to be all the paving around it needs to happen later in September. But I just wanted to say thank you. Um and just also address that. I don't know, I've probably been talking about uh the need for a sidewalk for the people that live here for 10 or 12 years, and it felt like a long time to address such a serious need. Uh I hope that going forward when people in our community who might not be on a committee come to council with concerns uh of ways that we can see small things that help our community to be a safer and healthier place to live. So I I just heard your comment about the crime, and I don't know what you're referring to tonight, but it's like all of us working on uh making sure that the people that are are here have housing and they have places to shower and go to the bathroom and that kind of stuff. Um so uh I'll be listening to hear what you uh have been dealing with and some thoughts that you might have on helping to find what people need to be successful in our community. So thank you very much. Thank you, Vern. Uh anyone else? Yes. Hi, Alexandra Pass. Would you would you mind? Oh, I'm sorry. Yeah, otherwise the mic doesn't pick you up. Thank you. And if you could just state your name for the record, I know you, but of course. Um Alexandra Paster, thank you for having me here tonight. Um I can go. Oh, of course. Oh, yeah, okay, great.
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