Council Minutes

January 25, 2010

 

 

 

A duly warned meting of the Newport City Council was held on Monday, January 25, 2010 in the Gym in the Newport Municipal Building.  Present were Mayor Paul Monette, Council President John Wilson, Aldermen Denis Chenette and Tim Delabruere, City Manager John Ward Jr., City Clerk/Treasurer James D. Johnson, members of the Press and Public.  Alderman Baraw was absent.

 

 

 

Mayor Monette called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

 

 

Public Hearing on Water Issue (informational handouts attached)

 

Mayor Monette opened the public hearing.  There were questions and comments from the public on the issues of water meters and rates.  The following person spoke during the hearing.  Tom Barone, Diane Chaput, Page Worthen, Ed Newton, John Anderson, Richard Cartee, Brian McNeal, Olivia Beleau, Doug Spates, Ellie Ingram, Kelley Menier, Janice Ploof, Gerry Coulomb, Gordon Fisky, Ellen Woffel, Henry Lunna, Bill Ingles.  This hearing is on tape and filed in the clerk’s office.

 

 

 

Approval of Minutes

 

Mr. Chenette moved to approve the minutes of January 18, 2010.  Seconded by Mr. Delabruere, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Approval of Warning for 92nd Annual City Meeting

 

Mr. Delabruere moved to approve the warning for the Annual City Meeting on March 2, 2010.  Seconded by Mr. Chenette, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

New Business

 

Mr. Chenette noted a tree down in Gardner Park.

 

 

 

 

Old Business

 

None

 

 

Executive Session for Possible Legal Matter

 

Mr. Chenette moved to enter executive session for a possible legal matter.  Seconded by Mr. Wilson, motion carried unanimously.

 

In open session Mr. Wilson moved to authorize the City Manager to contact Bill Piper regarding legal advice for water/sewer issues.  Seconded by Mr. Chenette, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Adjournment

 

Mr. Chenette moved to adjourn at 9:12 P.M.  Seconded by Mr. Wilson, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Attested______________________This______Day of _________________2010

 

 

 

 

_______________________________________Mayor

 

 

 

   



 

Council Minutes

January 18, 2010

 

 

 

A duly warned meeting of the Newport City Council was held on Monday, January 18, 2010 in the council room in the Newport Municipal Building.  Present were Mayor Paul Monette, Council President John Wilson, Aldermen Richard Baraw, Denis Chenette, Tim Delaburere, City Manager John Ward Jr., City Clerk/Treasurer James D. Johnson, Trish Sears, Jamie Leclair, Donald (Pedro) Grondin, Phil Laramie, Ed Newton, Randall Blaise, Lynn Flint, Duncan Kilmartin, members of the Press and Public.

 

 

Mayor Monette called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

 

 

Approval of Minutes

 

Mr. Wilson moved to accept the minutes of January 4, 2010.  Seconded by Mr. Chenette, motion carried unanimously

 

New Business (attached)

 

Mayor Monette read a letter of resignation from Fire Chief from David Parenteau.  Mr. Delaburere moved to accept the resignation.  Seconded by Mr. Wilson, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Mayor Monette read a letter from the Fire Department recommending that 1st Asst. Chief Jamie Leclair be appointed Chief, 2nd Asst Chief Philip Laramie be appointed 1st Asst. Chief and that Captain Donald Grondin be appointed 2nd Asst. Chief.  Mr. Wilson moved to accept the recommendation of the Fire Dept. for Chief, 1st Asst. Chief and 2nd Asst. Chief.  Seconded by Mr. Delabruere, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Discussion on Infrastructure for Wildflower Way (attached)

 

Wildflower Way residents were present to discuss the possibility of the City taking over the road and pump station.  The council had a quote from Tom Bernier and Dave Parenteau of $46,761 for bringing the road up to spec and $26,200 for upgrading the pump station.  Mr. Blaise presented his own quote from E.J. Prescott for the same pump station at a considerably lower price.  Mr. Blaise felt that in his words the City was blowing smoke in regards to the estimates.  They want the City to take over the road so it can be plowed and maintained.  They don’t care if road is brought up to specs or not.  They pay taxes and don’t fell they are getting their moneys worth.  The council noted that they have a policy that in any new development the road must be up to specs.  Mr. Blaise noted that Wildflower Way was there long before the policy was put into effect.  Mr. Ward will find out how many roads and pump stations there are in the same situation that were there before the road policy went into effect.  Mr. Kilmartin noted that before state aid the City was plowing and maintaining private roads.

 

 

Report from NCRC on Downtown (attached)

 

Trish Sears reported on the Newport City Renaissance Corp. and touched on assets and incentives the City has to attract business and touched on broken windows and vandalism on Main St.  Trish noted that Todd Scott, Paul Dreher and herself would be presenting a program at the National Main St. Conference in May in Oklahoma City.  She left a report for the council to review.  Mr. Ward asked that NCRC move ahead with the reprinting of the RUDAT book as the City has an outstanding check since May 2009 for the printing.

 

 

Request to approve Boat rental Agreement with Clyde River Recreation LLC (attached)

 

Mr. Wilson moved to approve the agreement with Clyde River Recreation and get it to the City Attorney for final approval.  Seconded by Mr. Chenette, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Discussion on water/Sewer Issue for Public Hearing

 

The council discussed the water/sewer issue and the information they will present at the hearing.

 

 

Review current Income/Expense Statements thru December 09

 

The council reviewed the current budget status.

 

 

Determine Attendance at Local Government Day in the Legislature

 

Mayor Monette and Mr. Delabruere will be attending.

 

 

New Business

 

Mr. Johnson stated that the last day to post the warning for the Annual Meeting is January 31st.  He will try to have it ready for the meeting on January 25th.  If not a special council meeting will have to be called later in the week.

 

 

Old Business

 

Mayor Monette reminded the council to turn in their City Manager evaluations.

 

 

Mr. Delabruere stated he had been asked about parking for the bike path.  Mayor Monette stated there would be parking at Gardner Park and Prouty Beach and the High School on weekends.  Mr. Ward stated that if people are concerned about parking for the section of path in Derby they should contact the Town of Derby.  Mr. Kilmartin stated he had met with Claudio Fort and Dr. Mosley from the hospital and they are concerned that there were no plans for parking for the bike path.  They are willing to work with the City on the parking issue.  They believe there will be an increase in pedestrian traffic in the Bluff Road and Prouty Dr. Areas causing a safety problem because of the narrowness of Bluff Road and the vehicular traffic at the hospital.  Mr. Kilmartin also fells the bike path will open other areas of the City to persons who may have intentions other normal use of the bike path.  Mr. Kilmartin also predicted safety issues and that the City will need a proactive police force.

 

 

Next Meeting Date

 

January 25, 2010

 

 

Executive Session – State Boardwalk Purchase Negotiations

 

Mr. Chenette moved to enter executive session for boardwalk purchase negotiations.  Seconded by Mr. Baraw, motion carried unanimously.

 

No action was taken in open session.

 

 

Mr. Chenette moved to enter executive session for personnel issue.  Seconded by Mr. Wilson, motion carried unanimously.

 

No action taken in open session.

 

 

Adjournment

 

Mr. Chenette moved to adjourn at 10:45 P.M.  Seconded by Mr. Delabruere, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

 

Attested_________________________This____Dat of_________________2010

 

 

 

_________________________________Mayor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Council Minutes

January 4, 2010

 

 

A duly warned meeting of the Newport City council was held on Monday, January 4, 2010 in the council room on the Newport Municipal Building.  Present were Mayor Paul Monette, Council President John Wilson, Aldermen Denis Chenette, Richard Baraw and Tim Delabruere,  City Manager John Ward Jr., City Clerk/Treasurer James D. Johnson, Trish Sears members of the Press and Public.

 

 

Mayor Monette called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M.

 

 

Approval of Minutes

 

Mr. Wilson moved to approve the minutes of December 21, 2009.  Seconded by Mr. Baraw, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Consider FY 10-11 Budget Modifications (attached)

 

Mr. Ward discovered a mistake in the Police Department expense budget of $78,508.  He suggested that to make up that amount the Highland Ave Fund could be reduced from $300,000 to $220,000.  He asked if the council had any other suggestions.  It was suggested that $40,000 could be taken from Main St lights by staying with the new brighter conventional lights instead of LED lights.  It was noted that LED lights may not burn hot enough to melt ice and snow. That it would mean replacing 22 new brighter lights that have been purchased within the last two years and that the purchase price of LED lights is considerably more.  Mr. Delabruere noted that replacement/repair cost of LED is much more than conventional lights and they burn out easily if there is static or any variation in voltage.  The council felt that at this time the savings did not warrant the cost of switching to LED lights now.  They decided to reduce Main St lights to $15,300 for the purchase of ten of the new brighter heads and move $40,000 back to the Highland Ave. Fund.

 

 

Consider Bids on 2010 Dump Truck Cab & Chassis (attached)

 

Mr. Delabruere moved to accept the bid from Charliebois in the amount of $66,724.  Seconded by Mr. Wilson, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

 

Vermont Assoc. of Chiefs of Police Luncheon on January 12, 2010at Capital plaza Hotel

 

 

No one on the council would be attending

 

 

Discussion of LED Lights for Main St.

 

Discussed under item 3

 

 

Consider Accounting Services Contract with Northeast Learning Services, Inc.

 

This contract is for grant management services in the amount of $6,000.  Mr. Baraw moved to approve the contract with Northeast Learning Services, Inc. for grant management services for an amount not to exceed $6,000.  Seconded by Mr. Delabruere, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

New Business

 

Mayor Monette stated that the Chamber would like to repair and maintain the kiosk near the chamber booth on the causeway.  Mr. Chenette moved to allow the Chamber of Commerce to repair and maintain the sign.  Seconded by Mr. Wilson, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Mayor Monette noted that Mr. Ward would be on vacation from Feburary 10-14 to attend a conference.

 

 

Mr. Ward asked authorization for himself or the Mayor to sign a contract with Pike Ind. for paving the Lake Road.  The amount of the contract would be $385,689.

Mr. Baraw moved to allow the Mayor or city Manager to sign the contract with Pike Ind. For paving the Lake road.  Seconded by Mr. Chenette, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

Mayor Monette reminded council members to work on the City Managers evaluation and get them to him so he can have them ready the Monday before Town Meeting.

 

 

Trish Sears distributed Economic Base Line Reports from the Newport Renaissance Corp. to each council member.

 

 

Mayor Monette thanked the road crew for doing a good job during last week ends storm.

 

 

Old Business

 

Mr. Wilson asked when the public hearing regarding the rate structure and water meters was going to be held.  The council had stated it would be in January.  Mayor Monette and Mr. Ward will meet tomorrow to decide how to most effectively present the info.  The council set the date for the hearing for January 25th at 7:00 P.M.  Mr. Ward stated that the hearing should be heavily advertised so all City property owners have a chance to attend.

 

 

Mayor Monette asked about Wildflower Way.  Mr. Ward stated that Mr. Bernier is still working getting info on upgrading the pump station and bring the road up to spec’s.

 

 

Mr. Delabruere asked what the structure was at Gardner Park.  Mayor Monette stated it was a mini Ice Castle.  Mr. Ward noted that nothing was being constructed they are just pumping water.

 

 

Mr. Chenette asked about the new garage at Gardner Park.  Mr. Ward stated that Mark Stewart is working on submitting drawings that they hope will be sufficient.  Mr. Ward is going to try to get the $500 fine back.

 

 

Next Meeting Date

 

January 18, 2010

 

 

Adjournment

 

Mr. Baraw moved to adjourn at 7:58 P.M.  Seconded by Mr. Wilson, motion carried unanimously.

 

 

 

______________________________________________Mayor

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attested______________________This_______Day of_______________2010