Regular Meeting
Date: Tuesday October 13, 2020 (10/13/20)
Documents & Links:
Additional Documents:
Second Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Kdgg_fszo4
Chat:
17:32:36 From 1234 : Jim Larrow is here
17:42:35 From Cheryl Brinkman Peter Garon : Members do not have to abstain even if they weren’t there.
17:42:38 From Brent Rakowski : after review of the video you can be eligible to vote
17:46:52 From Mark Koenig : What happened to agenda item re Citizen Comment? I realize that some people used the Visitor to make comments, but that was out of order.
17:47:16 From Michelle Age Well VT : They asked for citizen comment and 2 people spoke
17:48:23 From Michelle Age Well VT : OH right - it was visitors. Sorry
17:48:29 From Mark Koenig : She asked if there were any visitors which was item 2. Then warrants and minutes. Then was supposed to be citizen comments per the agenda.
17:58:36 From Sue Rakowski : why is this on tonight’s agenda if you’re waiting until after oct 20?
18:00:39 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : the expense from BGC for the meals?
18:01:27 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : the former director?
18:06:20 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : JFC that was sheisty
18:08:37 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : Public offer to anyone who wants to see Armory Lane Senior Housing financials
18:08:54 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : I've made the offer to Daniel and David
18:09:24 From Michelle Sullivan Eastman : JFC - REALLY???????????????????????
18:09:46 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : lol
18:11:40 From Martha : I don't know that stands for either? Just for clarification?
18:12:46 From Michelle Sullivan Eastman : Totally TOTALLY inappropriate
18:13:44 From Cheryl Brinkman Peter Garon : This is a discussion, not needing a motion first.
18:13:52 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : is this an apples to apples comparison?
18:14:39 From Mark Koenig : Given that David Austin has made numerous accusations of corruption in Vergennes, including specific claims on the sidewalk and housing projects, shouldn't a determination regarding those accusations be made or a formal investigation undertaken before actions are taken? I am quite concerned that such charges have been levied but no concern seems to be coming from city hall or the council.
18:15:13 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : Thanks Mark
18:17:08 From Adam Lougee Director Acrpc Vt : Hi all:
18:20:54 From Adam Lougee Director Acrpc Vt : I was here for the discussion of the sidewalk. it is a good project and I look forward to joining you next meeting to determine the best way to build the sidewalk. In the grant, the sidewalk construction will go out to bid and must be awarded to the lowest bidder. The bid will determine the actual cost and therefore the City's match obligation. The estimates will not dictate the cost, the low bid construction will.
18:21:54 From Andrea C : how will people be chosen for the group?
18:22:04 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : I hope everyone caught Adam's analysis of the sidewalk project, which provides another perspective to the City Manager's: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oq34MeLkCcBJSRhEsQUOv7IKuh-LgbIM/view?usp=sharing
18:22:54 From Stacy Raphael : Thanks, Adam. Very helpful information.
18:22:57 From Nial Rele : Thanks, Alicia
18:23:24 From Stacy Raphael : Yes, thank you, Alicia.
18:26:43 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : the exploratory committee was appointed by the then mayor.....should our present mayor appoint
18:27:36 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : Hi Everyone, just want to apologize for my earlier comment. My contact info is 349-0713 if anyone wants to have a conversation about affordable housing development.
18:32:44 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : Question: at a Vergennes City Council meeting WHO can respond/participate in said meeting? If you are NOT a taxpayer/resident of Vergennes can you be recognized in a city meeting?
18:33:14 From Cheryl Brinkman Peter Garon : yes
18:36:41 From Mark Koenig : Should you need to identify whether you are actually living in or specifically connected to Vergennes and not just someone in general who is interested in the ongoing issues of the city?
18:36:43 From Nial Rele : Who are the consultants you reached out to, City Manager Hofman?
18:36:49 From Jon Kidde : Question: Is there funding allocated for the Equity RFP? Or is that a decision that the Council still needs to make?
18:39:45 From Alicia Grangent : Funding was also discussed and the city has no budget for this.. Great question.
18:42:06 From Darren Donovan : a rooster committee!
18:42:40 From Darren Donovan : yay Jill!
18:43:19 From Didier Murat : I love my neighbor’s rooster!
18:43:36 From Mike Greenwood : Likewise!
18:43:41 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : Roosters want to be in our city!! let's embrace them! And chickens and pigs!! k.Rossier
18:44:07 From Darren Donovan : I make a motion the city manager is replaced by a rooster.
18:44:35 From Darren Donovan : cluck
18:49:05 From Laurie Hawley : Dogs are unpredictable! I have experienced many “it’s friendly”and Not!
18:50:23 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : The lease law is fine..but there is no enforcement of dogs pooping all over the sideways...hello....New Haven RD sidewalks...
18:50:23 From Brent Rakowski : Thank you council members!
18:50:35 From Brent Rakowski : Welcome Amy and welcome back Jason!
18:51:12 From timothy cook : Amy Yeun on the DRB is a win for the city!
18:52:34 From Mark Koenig : Doing essential work is not the same as being an essential worker.
18:53:23 From timothy cook : This is Tim's wife Kate writing in on his account. As a RN I would discourage you from returning to in person meetings at this time. We are still in the midst of a pandemic. Numbers of Covid cases continue to rise in surrounding states and Vt. as we would expect moving into the fall and winter months.
18:54:04 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : kate….I agree!...k rossier
18:56:41 From Martha : Set the zoom up with the council as panelists
18:57:07 From Stacy Raphael : Please do review Zoom format/setting, regardless. We can be running these much more professionally if council/CM sets the call up differently. See Jory Raphael’s email recommendations sent to all council members on 10/7.
18:57:40 From Nial Rele : I agree with Martha
19:00:04 From Stacy Raphael : YES, thank you, Dickie!
19:02:36 From Chris Spencer : This is a very important issue. Thanks for giving it time Dickie! Please make remote engagement for these council meetings a permanent fixture.
19:06:02 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : we FROZE at our rec committee meeting at the pool!! yes, Lynn!!1
19:09:17 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : what is the city paying for the employee that ops out
19:10:13 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : When I was a teacher I got $500 to opt out of my insurance
19:10:49 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : That's very generous
19:11:05 From Sue Rakowski : yes the school districts usually offer $1000-2000, spread throughout the year
19:11:46 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : that amount is VERY VERY generous to offer
19:12:27 From Stacy Raphael : $2/hour is $4160 payout based on 40 hour work weeks, 52 week per year
19:13:50 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : ACCT offers a fixed stipend benchmarked to covering about 90% of the individual premium on the BCBS gold plan, but employees can choose any BCBS or MVP plan, so the stipend covers 100% of the premium for some plans. $2k to opt out entirely.
19:14:12 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : our teachers do not get 100%...no one gets 100% except police and city....it's time to revisit.... krossier
19:14:41 From Mark Koenig : 80/20 for new employees. Anyone hired before 1/20 still covered 100%. No reason why someone who is fully covered would willingly take a gold or silver plan. All police at 80/20 under new union contract.
19:15:10 From Stacy Raphael : nobody gets 100% anymore, that’s right. cost of health insurance is just too high
19:17:11 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : Im sorry.....but health care has ALWAYS gone up EVERY year!
19:19:52 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : so anyone hired before 1/20 that has 100% coverage......they would probably not agree to $1000 buyout.....or would they? krossier
19:22:06 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : Depends on their alternatives. If their spouse has an 80/20 plan they could get on, then they probably would need closer to $2k-$3k to offset their additional premium cost, and that's if their spouse's company extends the 80/20 coverage and doesn't charge 100% of the premium to the spouse.
19:24:44 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : We did this at ACCT I want to say in 2017. We switched to a stipend from covering 100% of the BCBS premium plan. We were able to offset some of the hit to employees with annual increases. Some people took the buyout. We went from spending $150k annually as an organization, to spending $80k as an employer with employees contributing $20k, which to me says that the 100% coverage we were offering was pretty inefficient. I'm not saying it was easy or something we wanted to do, but people understood the budget issues.
19:26:47 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : Is the healthcare coverage 100% for the city employees single payer or 100% for 2 person/family.?
Chat:
17:32:36 From 1234 : Jim Larrow is here
17:42:35 From Cheryl Brinkman Peter Garon : Members do not have to abstain even if they weren’t there.
17:42:38 From Brent Rakowski : after review of the video you can be eligible to vote
17:46:52 From Mark Koenig : What happened to agenda item re Citizen Comment? I realize that some people used the Visitor to make comments, but that was out of order.
17:47:16 From Michelle Age Well VT : They asked for citizen comment and 2 people spoke
17:48:23 From Michelle Age Well VT : OH right - it was visitors. Sorry
17:48:29 From Mark Koenig : She asked if there were any visitors which was item 2. Then warrants and minutes. Then was supposed to be citizen comments per the agenda.
17:58:36 From Sue Rakowski : why is this on tonight’s agenda if you’re waiting until after oct 20?
18:00:39 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : the expense from BGC for the meals?
18:01:27 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : the former director?
18:06:20 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : JFC that was sheisty
18:08:37 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : Public offer to anyone who wants to see Armory Lane Senior Housing financials
18:08:54 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : I've made the offer to Daniel and David
18:09:24 From Michelle Sullivan Eastman : JFC - REALLY???????????????????????
18:09:46 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : lol
18:11:40 From Martha : I don't know that stands for either? Just for clarification?
18:12:46 From Michelle Sullivan Eastman : Totally TOTALLY inappropriate
18:13:44 From Cheryl Brinkman Peter Garon : This is a discussion, not needing a motion first.
18:13:52 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : is this an apples to apples comparison?
18:14:39 From Mark Koenig : Given that David Austin has made numerous accusations of corruption in Vergennes, including specific claims on the sidewalk and housing projects, shouldn't a determination regarding those accusations be made or a formal investigation undertaken before actions are taken? I am quite concerned that such charges have been levied but no concern seems to be coming from city hall or the council.
18:15:13 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : Thanks Mark
18:17:08 From Adam Lougee Director Acrpc Vt : Hi all:
18:20:54 From Adam Lougee Director Acrpc Vt : I was here for the discussion of the sidewalk. it is a good project and I look forward to joining you next meeting to determine the best way to build the sidewalk. In the grant, the sidewalk construction will go out to bid and must be awarded to the lowest bidder. The bid will determine the actual cost and therefore the City's match obligation. The estimates will not dictate the cost, the low bid construction will.
18:21:54 From Andrea C : how will people be chosen for the group?
18:22:04 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : I hope everyone caught Adam's analysis of the sidewalk project, which provides another perspective to the City Manager's: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oq34MeLkCcBJSRhEsQUOv7IKuh-LgbIM/view?usp=sharing
18:22:54 From Stacy Raphael : Thanks, Adam. Very helpful information.
18:22:57 From Nial Rele : Thanks, Alicia
18:23:24 From Stacy Raphael : Yes, thank you, Alicia.
18:26:43 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : the exploratory committee was appointed by the then mayor.....should our present mayor appoint
18:27:36 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : Hi Everyone, just want to apologize for my earlier comment. My contact info is 349-0713 if anyone wants to have a conversation about affordable housing development.
18:32:44 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : Question: at a Vergennes City Council meeting WHO can respond/participate in said meeting? If you are NOT a taxpayer/resident of Vergennes can you be recognized in a city meeting?
18:33:14 From Cheryl Brinkman Peter Garon : yes
18:36:41 From Mark Koenig : Should you need to identify whether you are actually living in or specifically connected to Vergennes and not just someone in general who is interested in the ongoing issues of the city?
18:36:43 From Nial Rele : Who are the consultants you reached out to, City Manager Hofman?
18:36:49 From Jon Kidde : Question: Is there funding allocated for the Equity RFP? Or is that a decision that the Council still needs to make?
18:39:45 From Alicia Grangent : Funding was also discussed and the city has no budget for this.. Great question.
18:42:06 From Darren Donovan : a rooster committee!
18:42:40 From Darren Donovan : yay Jill!
18:43:19 From Didier Murat : I love my neighbor’s rooster!
18:43:36 From Mike Greenwood : Likewise!
18:43:41 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : Roosters want to be in our city!! let's embrace them! And chickens and pigs!! k.Rossier
18:44:07 From Darren Donovan : I make a motion the city manager is replaced by a rooster.
18:44:35 From Darren Donovan : cluck
18:49:05 From Laurie Hawley : Dogs are unpredictable! I have experienced many “it’s friendly”and Not!
18:50:23 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : The lease law is fine..but there is no enforcement of dogs pooping all over the sideways...hello....New Haven RD sidewalks...
18:50:23 From Brent Rakowski : Thank you council members!
18:50:35 From Brent Rakowski : Welcome Amy and welcome back Jason!
18:51:12 From timothy cook : Amy Yeun on the DRB is a win for the city!
18:52:34 From Mark Koenig : Doing essential work is not the same as being an essential worker.
18:53:23 From timothy cook : This is Tim's wife Kate writing in on his account. As a RN I would discourage you from returning to in person meetings at this time. We are still in the midst of a pandemic. Numbers of Covid cases continue to rise in surrounding states and Vt. as we would expect moving into the fall and winter months.
18:54:04 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : kate….I agree!...k rossier
18:56:41 From Martha : Set the zoom up with the council as panelists
18:57:07 From Stacy Raphael : Please do review Zoom format/setting, regardless. We can be running these much more professionally if council/CM sets the call up differently. See Jory Raphael’s email recommendations sent to all council members on 10/7.
18:57:40 From Nial Rele : I agree with Martha
19:00:04 From Stacy Raphael : YES, thank you, Dickie!
19:02:36 From Chris Spencer : This is a very important issue. Thanks for giving it time Dickie! Please make remote engagement for these council meetings a permanent fixture.
19:06:02 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : we FROZE at our rec committee meeting at the pool!! yes, Lynn!!1
19:09:17 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : what is the city paying for the employee that ops out
19:10:13 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : When I was a teacher I got $500 to opt out of my insurance
19:10:49 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : That's very generous
19:11:05 From Sue Rakowski : yes the school districts usually offer $1000-2000, spread throughout the year
19:11:46 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : that amount is VERY VERY generous to offer
19:12:27 From Stacy Raphael : $2/hour is $4160 payout based on 40 hour work weeks, 52 week per year
19:13:50 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : ACCT offers a fixed stipend benchmarked to covering about 90% of the individual premium on the BCBS gold plan, but employees can choose any BCBS or MVP plan, so the stipend covers 100% of the premium for some plans. $2k to opt out entirely.
19:14:12 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : our teachers do not get 100%...no one gets 100% except police and city....it's time to revisit.... krossier
19:14:41 From Mark Koenig : 80/20 for new employees. Anyone hired before 1/20 still covered 100%. No reason why someone who is fully covered would willingly take a gold or silver plan. All police at 80/20 under new union contract.
19:15:10 From Stacy Raphael : nobody gets 100% anymore, that’s right. cost of health insurance is just too high
19:17:11 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : Im sorry.....but health care has ALWAYS gone up EVERY year!
19:19:52 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : so anyone hired before 1/20 that has 100% coverage......they would probably not agree to $1000 buyout.....or would they? krossier
19:22:06 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : Depends on their alternatives. If their spouse has an 80/20 plan they could get on, then they probably would need closer to $2k-$3k to offset their additional premium cost, and that's if their spouse's company extends the 80/20 coverage and doesn't charge 100% of the premium to the spouse.
19:24:44 From Elise Shanbacker (she/her) : We did this at ACCT I want to say in 2017. We switched to a stipend from covering 100% of the BCBS premium plan. We were able to offset some of the hit to employees with annual increases. Some people took the buyout. We went from spending $150k annually as an organization, to spending $80k as an employer with employees contributing $20k, which to me says that the 100% coverage we were offering was pretty inefficient. I'm not saying it was easy or something we wanted to do, but people understood the budget issues.
19:26:47 From Karen Wisell&Kathy Rossier : Is the healthcare coverage 100% for the city employees single payer or 100% for 2 person/family.?