MINUTES SUBJECT TO CORRECTION BY BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL. CHANGES, IF ANY, WILL BE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE NEXT MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL.

BURLINGTON CITY COUNCIL

 

SPECIAL WORK SESSION

CONTOIS AUDITORIUM, CITY HALL

BURLINGTON, VERMONT

MINUTES OF MEETING

March 21, 2016

                                                                                                            APPROVED

MEMBERS PRESENT:      Jane Knodell (Council President) – Central District

                                           David Hartnett – North District

                                           Joan Shannon – South District

                                           Selene Colburn, East District

                                           Sharon Foley Bushor – Ward 1

                                           Max Tracy – Ward 2

                                           Sara Giannoni - Ward 3

                                           Kurt Wright – Ward 4

                                           William “Chip” Mason – Ward 5

                                           Karen Paul – Ward 6

                                           Tom Ayres – Ward 7

                                           Adam Roof – Ward 8

 

ADMINISTRATION:          Miro Weinberger, Mayor

                                           Eileen Blackwood, City Attorney

                                           Richard Haesler, Assistant City Attorney

                                           Bob Rusten, CAO

                                           Rich Goodwin, ACAO

                                           Jennifer Kaulius, Mayor’s Office

                                           Brian Lowe, Mayor’s Office

                                           John Vickery, City Assessor

                                           Laura Wheelock, Public Works

                                           Norm Baldwin, Public Works

                                           Stephen Barraclough, BT

 

OTHERS PRESENT:          David Provost, BTAB

                                            Rachel Watson, BHS student for START

                                            Libby Branch, BHS student for START

                                            Balkisa Abdikadir, BHS student for START

                                            Halla Adam, BHS student for START

                                            Rachel Horton, BHS student for START

                                            James Schlosser, Ward 5 resident

 

 

 

 

1.0       CALL TO ORDER and AGENDA

Council President Knodell opened the work session on March 21, 2016.

            1.01 Agenda

            MOTION by Councilor Bushor, SECOND by Councilor Roof, to approve the agenda as presented.

            VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

 

2.0       EXECUTIVE SESSION

            2.01 Mechanics of Soliciting and Evaluating Bids for a BT Buyer/Partner

            MOTION by Councilor Mason, SECOND by Councilor Wright, to find that premature disclosure of proprietary information on Burlington Telecom and potential issues of negotiation with various parties would put the city at substantial disadvantage, and based on that finding to go into Executive Session to hold discussion on such matters.                 VOTING: unanimous; motion carried.

 

            Executive Session was convened.

 

3.0       DISCUSSION

            3.01 Add City Councilor to Committee

            There was discussion of adding another city councilor to the committee from the   Independent or Republican Party. The following comments were made:

·         Councilor Shannon recalled the original design of the committee was four members from the public and three city councilors with the councilors having a minority position and the committee begin lead by community leaders. The committee has worked as is.

·         Councilor Hartnett stated when it is time for a decision City Council will make the decision and be held accountable for the decision so it is fine to have another councilor on the committee.

·         Councilor Paul stated having every political party represented on the committee has not been an issue.

·         Councilor Roof volunteered to serve on the committee, noting his fascination with telecommunications and technology. The BT sale and process is important and rooted in a lot of history and the hope is to have public leaders the community has confidence in.

·         Councilor Wright said the process has worked well and adding another councilor will not make it work less well. The committee does have to be politically balanced if another councilor is added. There is representation from the south end and likely people in the new north end would like to have representation.

·         Councilor Bushor stated to add another councilor is consistent with discussions about strengthening communication between BTAB and the full City Council. The process has worked well, but this is another phase and the city has to do the best it can with the process.

 

            Council President Knodell said a resolution will be drafted and a decision made at that time.

 

4.0       ADJOURNMENT

With no further business and without objection the work session was closed.

 

RScty: MERiordan