Barrie City Council Meeting Summary: December 10, 2025

The Barrie City Council convened on December 10, 2025, to address a variety of municipal priorities including the approval of routine agenda items, updates on the overnight warming shelter, and significant discussions on the River Access Master Plan and the upcoming citywide reappraisal. The Council also engaged with state legislators to outline local priorities regarding education reform, housing affordability, transportation funding, and flood resiliency, while receiving a status update on the post-flood buyout and demolition process.

Consent Calendar

• Agenda Approval: The agenda for the regular meeting was unanimously approved with no adjustments.
• Minutes: Minutes from the December 18, 2025, regular meeting and the November 25, 2025, special meeting were approved.
• Parking Ratification: Ratified the Council's November 18, 2025, decision to grant free downtown parking during the holidays.
• Tax Corrections: Approved minor errors and omissions corrections for tax year 2025 regarding 51 Church Street. Councilman noted a minority ownership interest in the property (People's Health and Wellness Clinic) but confirmed no conflict of interest existed.
• Parking Lease: Approved the lease agreement between the City and the State of Vermont for the use of the Elm Street parking lot.
• Lobbyist Contract: Authorized the City Manager to execute a contract for lobbyist services in the amount of $5,000.
• Warrants: Approved city warrants for the week of December 10, 2025, and the week of December 30, 2025. Councilor Gustin noted an abstention (though the transcript indicates a vote carried without tally detail).
• Liquor License: Approved the renewal of the Summer Street Tavern's Class 3 and Class 1 liquor licenses; both Police Chief and Fire Marshal had signed off.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Shelter Support: A resident (Byrne expressed full support) thanked the Council for facilitating the community's efforts and encouraged volunteerism for the overnight shelter, noting its full capacity and high appreciation from the community.
• Charity Success: The speaker expressed full support and gratitude for the "Christmas for Kids" program, reporting a record-breaking coin drop raising over $18,000.
• Shelter Impact: A resident visiting the shelter expressed full support for the community's response, noting the positive transformation of shelters providing showers and safety, and commending the volunteers.
• River Access Vision: A resident supported the River Access Master Plan, emphasizing the desire for safe, accessible riverfronts. However, they expressed concern that remote, secluded access points (like Rotary Park) may currently attract illegal activities and recommended prioritizing open, visible areas to ensure public safety and security.
• River Access Safety Concurrence: Another resident concurred with concerns regarding safety and security at remote sites, noting a history of issues like needle litter at cleaned-up sites, and urged a focus on open areas that feel safe for families.
• Childcare Concerns: A parent expressed concern that new regulations reducing childcare capacity limits are eliminating after-school slots, turning children into "latchkey kids" and reducing workforce participation.

Discussion Items

• Overnight Warming Shelter:

  • Capacity and Need: The City Manager confirmed the shelter has a capacity for 12 and has consistently served 10 individuals during two nights of operation. Tess is employed by the city but the service is largely volunteer-run. Councilor Deering expressed full support for the efforts, noting Tess works beyond her paid hours.
  • Funding: It was clarified that the City makes an indirect contribution through Tess's time; the City Manager noted no direct expenditures for meals or staffing, which are volunteer-prepared. The daytime warming shelter receives financial support for snacks and coffee.
  • Intake Success: Tess confirmed no individuals were turned away recently, including one late intake facilitated by a Police Department call.

• Winter Parking Bans:

  • Enforcement: The City Manager discussed increased towing incidents, attributing them to residents misunderstanding forecast-dependent bans. The City Manager expressed a position that towing is necessary for street clearing and safety, noting that "pass-through costs" are incurred and that excuses like "not knowing" are ineffective as parking was historically prohibited.
  • Communication: The Mayor emphasized the need for residents to register for the "Regroup" alert system to stay informed about ban timing.

• Barrie City River Access Master Plan:

  • Plan Overview: Representatives from the Barrie River Collective and Du Boys and King presented a comprehensive plan to improve access to the Stevens Branch, Jail Branch, and Gunners Brook. The goal is to remove barriers and improve wayfinding.
  • Site Analysis: Ten potential sites were identified, including Granite Museum, Ayer Auto Sales, Scampini Square, Brook Street Community Garden, Desero Machines, Spaulding High School, Rotary Park, and South Falls.
  • Prioritization: Councilor Spaulding expressed full support for prioritizing Spaulding High School (educational potential), Desero Machines (event space), and Air Street Auto.
  • Safety Concerns: Councilors expressed strong concerns regarding safety at remote sites (like Rotary Park) due to illicit activities, favoring open, well-trafficked locations (Scampini Square, Air Auto, Spaulding) during the initial implementation phase.
  • Implementation: The team suggested a 5-10 year timeline, noting that five sites could be completed in 5-7 years. Councilor Gustin suggested the River Access Task Force prioritize a specific site for immediate state funding partnership in the next flood resiliency plan iteration.

• Citywide Reappraisal:

  • Mandatory Reassessment: The City is undertaking a complete reappraisal for the April 1, 2026, valuation date due to a Coefficient of Dispersion (COD) exceeding 20% (currently ~24%), indicating inequality in the grand list.
  • Value Increases: With a Common Level Appraisal (CLA) of 67.62%, property owners expect a sticker shock with assessed values rising by an average of 50% due to market increases. However, the Mayor and staff clarified that proportional increases across all properties should result in no net change for the average homeowner's tax bill; the primary goal is equity.
  • Process: Staff will conduct interior inspections (optional for residents) and hold informational discussions in the spring prior to the grievance period. The new Assessing Clerk, Patrick Gilbert, was introduced.

• State Legislative Priorities:

  • Education: Legislators discussed Act 73 and the need for school district consolidation or forced mergers, noting the current system is broken with rising property taxes and under-resourced teachers.
  • Transportation: The Mayor proposed a mileage-based registration fee for EVs to replace lost gas tax revenue, while Representative Watson noted existing discussions around the Transportation Fund.
  • Housing: Councilor Gustin proposed a bold statewide subsidy program where the municipality borrows against future property tax increments to subsidize home construction costs. The Mayor and Legislature expressed interest in the concept but noted political challenges; alternative ideas included a property transfer tax on sellers moving out of state.
  • Flood Resiliency: Strong consensus for a regional flood mitigation commission involving upstream/downstream municipalities (Washington, Williamstown, Plainfield) to share resources and land for water capture.
  • Unhoused Services: The Council emphasized the need for continued state funding for staffing (specifically Tess's grant) to maintain emergency shelters, warning that without it, the work would cease.

• Flood Resiliency Plan (Buyouts):

  • Status: Of 67 applicants, 27 are approved. 11 have closed (City ownership achieved), and 5 demolitions are complete or nearly complete (25 Oswald, both Pike St homes, 106 Courier, 23 Vine, Scampini, 23 River).
  • Commercial: Commercial buyouts (Ayers, 15 Berlin Street, Desero) are lagging due to longer environmental assessments required by FEMA.

Key Outcomes

• Survey Approval: Approved the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Survey with instructions to simplify language (aiming for 6th-grade reading level) and clarify accessibility options.
• Legislative Strategy: The Mayor and Councillors committed to advocating for regional flood mitigation funding, state support for unhoused staffing, and bold housing subsidies in the upcoming legislative session.
• Community Engagement: Council members encouraged residents to volunteer for "Christmas for Kids" wrapping and noted the record $18,000 raised for the program.
• Next Steps: The City Manager is authorized to finalize the survey adjustments; the River Access Task Force is encouraged to submit a prioritized recommendation for immediate funding; the Reappraisal team will begin site visits and informational discussions in spring 2026.
• Adjournment: The meeting concluded without executive session.