2026-11-09 - Board of Finance

Well, with that and we have quorum, I will call to order the City of Burlington's Board of Finance meeting on Monday, November 9th, 2026. It is 5:02 p.m. and our first item is the agenda. Is there a

motion on the agenda? >> I would move the approval of the agenda as posted. >> Thank you, Councilor Bergman. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Councilor Barlow. Any discussion on the agenda before we

vote? Seeing none, all in favor indicate by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Any opposed nay? Motion carries unanimously. On to our next item. Uh our next item is public forum. It is the practice of the Board

of Finance to first go to members of the public in the room ready to address us for a public forum and then online. I am seeing presenters for another agenda item, but no one here for the public in

the room, so we'll go online. And actually former City Councilor Sharon Bushor. Good evening, Sharon. >> Um good evening, Mayor um and Board of Finance. I have I've been quiet for some meetings, so

now I'm not quiet tonight, so I have a few comments to make. Um and most of them are very supportive. One has to do with um on your deliberative agenda, the Safe Streets for All, which I certainly

support the integration of the the signalization and I'm hoping that it will allow um remove some of the stop and start and frustration that currently happens in that corridor. But what what I didn't

understand was um there are timelines, but as far as when the work will begin, it says 2027, but I wondered if there was any inkling as to when, like March, April, or you know, I I just wanted to know

if there was a little more detail regarding that. And also the big question is how disruptive is that going to be? Um it would be really good, not but at some point to give the community an idea of of

how this is going to um take place and how disruptive. So that's number one. Number two is um actually earlier on your agenda, the first item is the town meeting, you know, um channel 17 Burlington

FY28 budget which I don't know um I'm not sure what the increase is as far as from last year. But I just want and I know that the budget is what it is. It's very tight. But the value of the hybrid

method, I believe allows more people to participate. And first of all, you get facts. You get the facts for what's going on and you also can engage at an earlier moment in time before something is

printed out or reported and then everyone's in an uproar. I think the money that's being asked for is has great value and so I just want to speak in support of that. And the last item actually is on

your consent and it's the Winooski Valley Park District. Now you know, I go way back when Jennifer Ely was the person that I interacted with and I know Nick Warner has been there forever and it's

really I it's it's such a great entity. But in the report and and I think this is germane because they are asking for additional dollars which are which have great value. But they talk about um their

audit and they say the last audit was done in 2016 but because of COVID etc. um it it's supposed to be done every five years. It was disruptive. But they also make a statement that there is an annual

review done by the auditor. That's not an audit but a review. Um and then they report that the last of the findings the last findings were from 2021. So, I'm I'm a little concerned about who is

watching this and what is the plan or is that just missing information? Um, when will they have an audit? And I think there's great value in knowing that things are in order and there aren't things

you need to pay attention to. It all spins around the budget and how you spend your money and and what they're requesting. And so I don't think this is um I think this is germane to the item. And I

understand it's on consent and you might choose not to do anything with this, but I still think the question should be answered at some point. And I believe there might be a typo in what they reported

out because they talk about picnic shelter rates. They say a half day for a large group is $120 um and then for a full day it's 125. That doesn't totally make sense. They talk about small groups and

there's like it's like double the amount for a full day. So anyways, I don't know if that's accurate or not, but those are my comments and thank you for listening to me. Appreciate it. >> Thank you,

Sharon. Is there anyone else here to present uh to uh sorry, to speak to public forum? I see uh Karin, who I assume is Karin Sita. So Karin, you have the floor. You might need to unmute yourself. I've

given you permission to talk. Karin Sita, you have the floor for public forum. >> Great. So a couple of things I'm a little distraught because I found out that Dr. Lewis First has retired, the iconic

Lewis First. >> don't understand why. And people who have connection to UVM better figure out this is the kingdom of heaven because he has raised a whole generation of Vermonters or young Vermonters.

So how sad, how tragic. Oh my gosh, we're allowed to be distraught. So I hope that the city is honored going to plan to do something to honor the great Lewis first, first with kids, aka the kids who

had to come home while their mothers were cooking were watching that before their parents cute behind told us the news. So we just have to make sure that we honor this wonderful man. The University of

Vermont made a Weinberger, Dr. Weinberger has a PhD. I don't I it's a female this time, but Dr. Weinberger We just have to figure that out. Also, I'm really upset regarding the fact that we have taken

the 12 o'clock bus from Montpelier to from Burlington and I'm very confused because I'm pretty sure there was a mayor of Burlington also a mayor of Winooski and a bunch of other people were talking

about how Vermont needs to be a efficient. People need to be able to get to places and now they took away the new bus which brings people from the Queen City to the other city. And you know, for girls

like me who go to New York, for girls like me who go to Montpelier, this is just so ridiculously upsetting. You know, I could really mean think cuz everybody me and the mayor beef, but I'm just going

to stick to the facts because all of my enemies come with Bible lawyers, not Jessica Brown. So I don't consider this an enemy of territory. So anyways, I just feel like we need to figure out how to

financially solve that problem because obviously there's a lot going on in our that state with a new the governor Well, I don't say new governor because you know the tsunami did not affect us because

praying kind of girl. Oh, that's their step or good thing I'm going to look at this summer. Anyways, so yes, our the tsunami did not hit us because Senator Brock is still in play, Senator Beck is

still in play and obviously Phil Scott is going to be in play because they are people who fast and pray that the crazies don't take over. And you know, I'm never seeing the righteous forsaken. Um and

I'm saying this all now because I was going to go to city council, but one of my boot things like he wants some hot chocolate. My main boot thing actually, he wants some hot chocolate. So I don't know

if I'm going to make the city council. So I just want to put these main concerns that I have. You know, unlike popular opinion, I'm not for the drama. Um even though I look cute when I I decided all

the main problems going on in Burlington because I don't really serious about this hot girl life. I've been about it familiar, you know, with you guys a lot. Smart girls, hot girls, focused girls, um

go-getters, young Vermonters plaguing our city. So those are the main two things, especially the bus situation because you know, we know that sometimes public hearings are in the afternoon and

actually being in the legislature as our mayor, you know that they act happier after they're fed by that cafeteria. So it's best for us to figure out how Vermonters in the city, especially Greyhound

is over there. I mean the financial decisions you guys I'm not even a money girl like that. Well I am, but I'm not. But you guys, you know, come on, math is simple. I used to tutor >> Recording

minutes. So if you can wrap up your final thought. >> record with my own eyes, so I fear nothing. But we'll keep it about the focus of the city and >> Thank you Karin. Karin. Karin. >> That's me. I

don't know going on here. >> Great. Thank you Sarah. We'll come back to you Sarah. Is anyone else here to address the Board of Finance? Seeing no one else online, I will close the board of the public

forum and we'll go on to the consent agenda. Is there a motion on the consent agenda? Counselor Burkhart. >> I'd like to make a motion, but I I don't want to pull it off the agenda, but I see that we

have scheduled something for Martin Luther King Day on the 18th. I just want us to be clear of that when I went through that and just with us putting some eyes on that then perhaps I would move to to

adopt the consent agenda knowing that that may get amended later. >> I appreciate that note, Counselor Burkhart, for fortifying and of course we try to dovetail with council, so we'll take that under

advisement and figure that piece out. And with that I will take that as a motion Excuse me, on the consent agenda. Is there a second on the consent agenda? Counselor Barlow, thank you. Any further

discussion on the consent agenda? Counselor >> Yeah. Two things. One is that I I don't think that I had January 18 Council the regular council meetings. I think that that's been flagged by the city by

the the city clerk with respect to like the the calendar for first public hearing that were necessary. I think I think we should go back and take a look at that. If if we can hold it on the 19th that

would make more sense if this if the calendar of these chargings is such that it is what it is. Yes, that that was not on the calendar that I put together, so >> I I no criticism at all, just a flag

that we should not hold that as a but we find something else. >> Yeah. I don't think we're setting it in stone. >> Yeah, no I I I I got I I I got that I I I got that. I just want to flag it so that

life doesn't walk away with us. >> Okay. Just the only other thing that I would mention not to debate it at all with respect to Muskee Valley Parks District, I just want to flag for folks that before

the regular council meeting that Counselor Litwin had asked that this item be pulled off of the consent agenda which is now on our deliberative agenda. Um, Councilor Lithgow's point, which I tend to

agree with, um, is that it would be desirable for us to have a presentation from the Winooski Valley Parks District with respect to their uh budget ask of um the city. I think that there's a number of

other entities that make similar budget asks that come forward to provide these presentations like you're here a moment from Town Meeting TV for example. Um, and I I think that there could be some

benefit to our hearing a more detailed presentation from them. So whereas I am supportive of it remaining on consent this evening, I I do believe that Councilor Lithgow will be asking to postpone this

item before the regular council meeting uh to our meeting on the 23rd uh and that there's been some communications with the folks at the Winooski Valley Parks District about them being available to

come in to give a brief presentation at our meeting on on that date uh which could be an opportunity to answer some of the questions that were raised in public forum as well. So it's just a a note on

how this works with the same item before the regular this evening. >> Thank you, Councilor Travers. And I'll just say on that item um I do appreciate CEO Shad who's uh team has been really leading us

towards a more transparent budgeting process and the and the real um effort behind even posting this for informational purposes is a extension of our continued work to make sure that everybody knows

the community partners for which traditionally get funded by the city and that there's more transparency and understanding of that even as we get into the budget. So it all points us in this in the

same direction which I appreciate um and I also appreciate the partners who are here today that will be kicking us off um for budget season that seems like it never ends. It's totally fine. So thank

you Katherine for taking the lead on that and for making sure our councilors and the public um know about the Winooski Valley Park District and we look forward to that work session. Any other

discussion on the consent agenda? Seeing none, all in favor indicate by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Any opposed nay? Motion carries unanimously. We're on to our deliberative agenda and our first item are

some critical community partners. So item 4.1 is the Town Meeting TV fiscal year 2026 update and the fiscal year 2027 Burlington's fiscal year 2028 budget request. I don't know if there's an extra

fiscal year in here. We talk about three fiscal years almost all the time at the same time. Um but I'll let you both introduce yourselves. Thank you for being here. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mara. Uh

my name is Jordan Mitchell. I'm the operations director at Town Meeting TV. >> And we're here to give an update of uh our past fiscal year as well as uh past budget request for your upcoming fiscal

year uh fiscal year 2028. Uh really just talk about how funds were used last year um and request budget just a discussion um as we are I guess kicking off your budget season. Um so as you may be

aware, the Center for Media and Democracy houses Town Meeting TV, cable channel, CCTV archives, and CCTV production Uh the cable station serves seven municipalities throughout Chittenden County and

services and coverage are allocated based on cable subscribers through what we refer to in your packet as Town Meeting TV provides gavel-to-gavel coverage of municipal meetings and other community

events as well as media tools, internships, studio space uh for the community to create their own programming. Last fiscal year uh record number of programs for us, 1,712 programs uh from October to

end of September. 370 of those were uh municipal coverage. For Burlington, um our contract stipulates production of six meetings a month and at least one general program per month um and then there's

an additional uh contract at CCTV Productions for an additional um of about 52 meetings if I recall. Um and last year right there, 197 meetings and other events had a breakdown of those about 200

meetings So, we're definitely in in the outside of our regular meeting coverage we covered 103 general programs things such as the community home safety updates, the bike park at Leddy Leddy Park

grand opening, Church Street tree lighting We also collaborate with the mayor's office to produce a monthly live show called the Relative Mayor's Show where the mayor shares updates about what's

happening in the city and involved in the local government. And that just kind of scratches the surface. Of course, there may be areas that we aren't covering. So, if you are and you don't see us

there and you'd like to, you can either contact us through me or through Kevin Lumpkin who is your Burlington trustee kind of good here tonight because of work, but he is readily available and I

believe many of you met him last year. And as you get as Burlington does, municipalities may opt to purchase additional meeting coverage Anything you want to add All righty. So, funding. Town Meeting

TV is funded in large part by the cable subscribers of Burlington Telecom and Comcast. Municipal contributions as we're requesting tonight help meet the increased demand for services decline in cable

revenue. This year, we're requesting a 5% increase for Burlington a total of $109,967 which breaks down into three amounts about 32,000 for Town Meeting TV operations, about 31 and 1/2 for the NPA,

the seven NPA meetings and then about 46,000 to CCTV productions for additional meetings. We continue, we hope to diversify our revenue sources outside of cable and municipal contributions. Town

Meeting TV is a member of MAN or the Access Network which is the 23 public access centers across Vermont. This past session, VAN received 1.89 million in base funding through a grant through the

Secretary of State's office which has been increasing over the last two years and we're working with VAN and the Secretary of State to increase that to 2.5 by Y 2028. We're also expanding our fee for

service for our CCT connections so folks can hire us to cover conferences and other events that may fall outside of you know a general Lastly to kind of close my piece, we can't do this work without

our field producers and upstairs in the auditorium this evening we have Steve D and other nights we also have MJ so I want to thank our staff for the expertise and energy they bring to help grease the

wheels of democracy as we say and we can keep these meetings recorded and accessible for the public to be able to to see them watch both now and and So thank you. Thank you very much. >> Yeah, I just

want to Thanks. Thanks. A special thanks to Jordan who keeps this team running incredibly efficiently and kindness and serves the community in an amazing way. I think you get a big bang for your buck

as they say with the services in part because of that diversified funding. You will we will be coming to you later this year as well with something that's a little more wonky so just like parentheses

around this. This is unrelated to the budget request except for the fact that we are working to effectually basically a merger of what we know as the Chickasaw County Government Access Trust and CCT

so there's a nonprofit organization CCTB and there's a trust that takes in cable money and access the access management organization. We have been for 30 plus years running two separate organizations

with two separate yearly audits, two separate sets of books, and two The process was underway in February of 2020. We were scheduled to go to the municipalities to ask for approval. And then that was

not a priority in February of 2020. And then we had gone through leadership succession as well as onboarding an organization helping it to offboard. So we are ready to do that. We have spoken to the

Attorney General's office cuz believe it or not, this is a legal matter and it's very complicated and we will be coming to you because you have probably the most robust legal team of all our municipal

members. We will be which I probably shouldn't say but we will be looking at you probably first to review our request dissolving the trust and turning over all assets to CCTV to continue that work. It

will not it will not mean a reduction in the services that we're doing and we'll find a way for the school networks to remain on the CCTV board and manage those same public dollars. But just that's a

heads up for you to be thinking about. We're expecting it to effectuate about a $20,000 a year savings on going with the audit and the change in management. So that's a thing for you to be paying

attention to because as Jordan said, you know well, I think you may not have mentioned but in this last quarter alone, Comcast revenue went down 10%. So that really, you know, stable funding that is

cable subscribers is plummeting and has been plummeting. It's 30% over the course of at least 10 years. And we are not only going to be going to the legislature for the Thank you so much. So we'll

open up for questions or comments from the board. >> So I want to thank you for flagging the declining cable revenues and the legislative efforts, you know, the streaming services, Paramount and

Netflix are making a gazillion gazillion dollars and the extraction that or these corporations are making has a real impact as we can see. I as a customer of Burlington Telecom was so, you know,

basically told by Burlington Telecom they're going to get rid of of cable, right? It's just part of their business plans viable Also I thank you for coming here and I can't offer any more than mine

and in the collective sense support, but I think that all municipalities have have in a robust funding source that allows our democracy to get out there and for counselor was stating and so I look

forward to us being part of that process because otherwise you'd be coming back here looking for more and more you know from a stretched municipality while rich people get richer and richer and richer

in an obscene way so thank you for Thank you counselor Other comments or questions from the board Counselor I just like to say I agree with be interested in our exploring how we can get creative

around additional revenue sources for town meeting TV I'm sure other public access stations around the country met similar challenges to the extent they've been funded by similar public utilities

agreement like we have in place here but I'm just curious I don't know you all are are familiar with what any other municipalities or states have done here we don't need to necessarily have the

discussion this evening but looking towards future years I'd be curious about having a discussion about what other communities have done I don't know what's in the back of my head right now is like we

have an amusements tax here in Burlington for example that at one point in time used to be charged on carnivals arcades and the like right well now people are getting their amusement on Netflix and

Hulu and Disney Plus and Paramount Plus and so on right like is there is there room for us to consider the use of some sort of amusements tax like using a tool we already have in place to flex whether

or not there's additional revenue sources for for both town meeting TV as well as other initiatives that we're taking so not necessarily right now right but maybe something we could talk about moving

forward but thanks for everything you do >> And we are part of CCTV town meeting TV is part of 24 different access centers the state of and then thousands and you know the Alliance for Community Media

and this is of course federal rules that regulate cable and states do that on an individual basis. And so what I think is amazing about it is it is an example of where you take political will for the

last 40 years that have applied this idea of making sure that the public rights of way are protected and that the use of those rights of way are sh funnelled back into communities. And so that is the

lesson around cable and of course as Dean mentioned if you go to Xfinity's website today cable's not mentioned at all because it's you know we are shifting the technology is changing and much like gas

tax can't as we increase electric vehicles can't pay and we have to find alternative funding mechanisms. We need to find alternative funding mechanisms for what has become a lifeline for such a

service. With you there and thank you. >> Mr. Chad. Councillor Barlow. >> And I'm I'm super supportive of everything you do Tommy and I think it's a reliable resource I think it's awful what happened

to the free press you know for instance for you know local media so I appreciate everything you still do there. You know a lot of a lot of this is driven like like cable this is like it's fun it's

it's being driven by technology changes and how people access information right and so you know I don't know how like a YouTube TV which is whatever we jumps to when they leave cable they you know

they have local stations but I don't know whether that's mandated or that's marketing or what that is but I'm thinking about that I'm thinking about Tommy TV had its own app or something that people

would have to pay for, subscribe to, whatever. There may be other models that you looked at to make sure that you're financially healthy and thriving and But that's beyond the scope of this

discussion. >> Yeah. As long as people don't have paywalls for Are there any other comments on the board? Council Berman, second pass. >> I just I I just want to say that um creative lawyering around

the gross receipts, the franchise fee and the entertainment tax if you combine them both. I think it is creative and it does not deal with satellites because this is really about the use of our

streets as well as ex exhibitions got um in uh you know that are being held and but movies are part of that but you know there's a physical nature to it and within the city and so that I know that

I've had conversations with Catherine about the franchise fee if us working through that but I knew that would be I was not a fan of us eliminating the amusement tax and tax and I would be very happy

to figure out a way to re-energize that. >> There's one small thing and I I I know you're busy tonight. Um there is the potential that we'll see in um in the federal Congress now uh broadband act um

that is you know in theory supporting of um making sure broadband is you know out into every corner. Um one of the things around that has to do with the elimination of the right of municipal home

members to um what's the word? Enact franchise fees and I do think is something to pay attention to. Um, especially now um, you know, Democrats are going to want to act in Congress um, as they now

have majority. Um, and we just want to make sure that this writer does make it on to a bill um, that in the effort of promoting broadband we eliminate the ability of municipalities to enact franchise

fees because it's one of a few ways that we have to recoup costs. So um, we will keep you posted if that comes up. Something that was quite to us just today I learned about it. So that's another Your

voice could be heard to our delegation making a priority certainly we want to track that for our voice to the city of Burlington. Um, and I'll just say as we close out on this item um, a uh, just a

quick reminder the city of Burlington is large enough where we do advocacy in the State House so it might be an an easy for us to uh, have some solidarity down there because I think one of the

reminders of course is trying to steward our limited resources here in the city is how to make sure that we sort of uh, on a on a statewide level really helps you all bolster the need and benefit so

many municipalities um, much smaller than Burlington in most cases. And the other thing I will just mention is Burlington is a member of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns um, and I'm a board

member and I'd be happy to have a conversation around trying to really uh, steward this for a much larger city part of this larger network how they can also be a player. And everyone is building a

legislative agenda so they should probably follow up sooner rather than later. We could on behalf of the city of Burlington could be helpful there. >> Okay. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. So

with no other uh, questions this is just informational sit in chair. >> Thanks. >> and Megan thank you very much for being here. And we'll move on to our next item. Our next item is with Department of

Public Works item 4.2 the authorization established the SS4A Main Street Signals Project Budget. Jacob Spencer. >> This is sit chair and act agenda item. >> All right. >> So uh >> 4A. >> Yeah. Safe

Streets for all. So with me is senior engineer and planner Philip Peterson. I just want to say that we're seeking your authorization to set up a project budget here. You've already accepted the grant.

This not only will just make Main Street safer for all modes, but will also set us up well for the detour for the Winooski Bridge that's coming as part of that work. I'll turn it over to Philip to

share the details. Looking forward to answering your questions. >> Great. Good evening members of the Board of Finance. I'm Philip Peterson with Public Works. Thanks for allowing us to present

tonight. So tonight we are requesting authorization to establish the project budget as Chapin described for our Safe Streets for all Main Street Signal Upgrades project following our success

successful execution of the federal grant. The total project budget is 1. 4 million dollars about with 1.1 million coming from federal funds and 294,000 dollars from a local match. Local match is

covered by 120,000 dollars in traffic impact fees that it's already been budgeted and then 174,000 in in-kind labor. Setting up this budget now allows us to move forward with approximately 600,000

dollars in equipment procurement this fiscal year. Traffic will be moved forward with that once we get authorization from City Council. So as Chapin described, Main Street is a high priority crash

corridor. This project upgrades nine intersections between Willard Street and Staples Plaza with advanced Econolite Cobalt controllers, Milestone vision systems and new cabinets. This infrastructure

lets us test coordinated multimodal signal systems, gather some performance data. This is a demonstration project, a demonstration grant. It's not an implementation grant. However, we do get to keep

the equipment once the we're all done. So we're going gather performance data through 2029 and this obviously helps us manage detour traffic during the upcoming Winooski Bridge construction. Phase one

design and METCD compliance are complete and NEPA is cleared. Construction will start in next year. Once we do get authorization, like I said, the traffic team will start procuring equipment.

Respectfully ask you to authorize establishing the project budget and approve the necessary budget amendments subject to city attorney review. Happy to take any questions. >> Questions or comments

from the board? >> Just we did receive one question in public forum from our 13th councilor Just asking if you could provide any additional guidance on what potential disruptions to traffic flow may

be as this stood up. Do we anticipate that there would be any disruptions to traffic flow and and what what would that look like? What would the timeline and calendar be for something like that? >>

Phil, you want to tackle that one? >> So in terms of the Main Street signal upgrades or Winooski Bridge? >> Main Street signal. >> As as you're installing the signals, I mean, I'm assuming you're

going to have to turn the signals off at some point in time like is that is that a one day kind of thing? Is it a nine day kind of thing with nine different intersections? Like what does the calendar

look like in terms of potential impacts to traffic flow for folks coming in and out of town using that corridor? >> Yeah, that's a great question. You know, I think while Main Street will experience

standard construction staging when equipment is installed, I think it's important to note this isn't a major construction project. What we're talking about is adding controllers and cabinets and and

also cameras. So there there would be minimal amount of construction impacts given that we're we're not going to be doing any boring or or excavation. None none of that kind of construction is going

to be happening, so it would be work that I'm sure that the traffic team would and I'm I'm speaking for them right now, but I would be willing to bet that they would do a decent amount of night work

if they were going to put in controllers and cameras. Um and I would anticipate construction impacts being fairly minimal. >> We will confirm with the traffic team and follow up with you, but we

expect it to be minimal. >> Yes. >> Councilor Burdick. >> So um I have asked and other people have asked around left hand turning lanes on Willard and Main and have been told that the uh the

equipment, the lights are like they're too old, they can't make that happen. So I'm wondering if this upgrade will allow us to do that and it you know like like immediately. It's it it really is it's

it's crazy that we don't have a left hand turn lane on Willard going up Main Street into above Main Street. >> Yes, absolutely. Under the Safe Streets yeah this upgrade that would allow us to have

brand new signal cabinets, brand new controllers, brand new detection system. All those intersections will be smartened up um and so that would provide us with with what it is that we would need to to

be able to do that. >> That's wonderful. Whenever we're ready to make a motion to allow that to happen, I'd be very happy to do that. >> Let's see where we are. Councilor Burdick a second. Any other

>> I'm just saying. >> I know. Any other questions or comments from the board? Councilor Barolo. >> I understand this is is this is essentially a pilot or >> Demonstration project. >> Demonstration

project. And so >> do this to keep the equipment. >> So if the demonstration was deemed to be successful, would we then to do this in other places in the city areas or something unique to the Main

Street Like I know the memo talked about how it's a Right. It's a public travel corridor. >> We applied for this grant at a time uh where the demonstration opportunities were more numerous and

lucrative than the implementation uh grants. So we struck while the iron was hot and went for a demonstration grant. As long as this works, which we fully expected to and we've been implementing this

equipment at signals across the city already, that we are prepared to find new grants that help upgrade our signals cuz too many of our 75 signalized intersections do not have the equipment to fill it

just talk to them. It limits our ability to do left turn phasing. Shore Road and North Avenue is another >> South here might be >> Yes, popular request. So yes, we are ready to expand. >> Okay, thank

you. >> Funding permitting. >> So with that, because this is a grant our phrasing was before anyway, sit share and actors where sorry. I can't keep my joke going. Um so is there a motion on this item?

>> I I I move that I'd like at the end of this just to Chair and ask for the start date, you know, like what the estimated start date is. But let me make that motion to approve as as requested. >>

Thank you Councilor Burkin. Is there a second? Second by Councilor Travers. >> I mean just as there is a date we will be ordering equipment as soon as you all support this. Uh we will be installing

likely spring of 2027. >> Yeah, it's difficult that there could be some hold and wait times depending on the availability of some of this equipment. So yeah, that I I don't want to nail traffic down

to a date. >> Yeah, no that Thank you. >> Chair, I just raise one other point just briefly. I think I've raised this before when we've been discussing similar issues uh which is that and I'm no

traffic engineer, but I would hope there may be some opportunities for us to talk to our counterparts in South Burlington as well around how to um integrate this work of course with their signals. I

mean it's only as good as getting to East Avenue and then >> Yeah. >> if it's not well timed with the signals once you cross into South Burlington then >> Yeah. >> won't be that helpful for folks

heading down Oak Street. >> Yes, we had a meeting with Erica Quailan with South Burlington probably about two months ago to talk about their equipment and and to do that very thing. >> Great. Thank

you. >> Thanks. With that we have a motion on the floor and unless there's further discussion I'm going to call the question. So all in favor indicate by saying aye. >> Aye. >> Aye. >> Any opposed

nay? Motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much. >> you Debbie. >> Thank you Phil. Moving on to our last item on the deliberative agenda item 4.3 their water resources team authorization to

execute the contracts with on call water resources excavation contractors. Welcome. >> Great. Chief Spencer online we may have Megan Moyer and Monica Engles Public Works Water Resources Engineer and I

myself just want to say that this on call contract opportunity is essential to us responding in the middle of the night on weekends without having to bother other people in the administration. So look

forward to your favorable review here. Megan and Monica take away. >> Yes and I wanted to thank Monica for being there. I'm not able to be there right now because of some kid care. As as Chief Engles

mentioned you know this is part of a portfolio of tools in our toolbox about how we get work done in water resources. We we use this tool when city crews are not able either due to equipment

limitations. Sometimes the work is too deep, too complicated or staffing limitations because our street maintenance division which does a lot of our construction has to maintain and do many many other

things. They're not always able to do our work as well. But as Chief Engles said emergencies happen. We still have to get work done. And so, this um mechanism that we put in place and we've been using

since 2019 um has been very successful. It allows us to quickly proceed with work and have all of our paperwork in order because we've already signed it. Um in the case of emergency work uh we sort of

activate the contractors um just through an email where we document the scope of work. If it's something a little more planned, then we are able to draw up a more formal sort of pre uh work assignment

agreement um that enables us to detail everything, attach plans, and so on and so forth. Uh we did put out an RFP Q to make sure we were getting fresh procurements um and we received complete proposal

packages from three contractors. These are the three contractors that we've previously worked with, BP Wastewater, SDI, and ECI. Um and we are coming to you with a request for a multi-year contract

through 2031 um that would enable us to spend up to uh $500,000 per contractor. Um that's not guaranteed. It's It's entirely based on how much work, individual work we um we activate with them uh

through the work assignment agreements. In in general, SDI and ECI are usually the ones doing larger amounts of work for us um with BP Wastewater doing smaller amounts of work, individual service

lines, uh other smaller jobs. Um Monica, I don't know if there's anything else you want to add. Otherwise, uh again, thank you for preparing the memo and and navigating the process to make sure that

we have this tool in place. >> Then you pretty much hit everything. Um yeah, we're just giving an increase. The current contracts are three years. The one we're proposing is five years like Megan

said. Um and then we're asking for a higher limiting amount because there's more time on these contracts. >> Happy to answer questions. >> Questions from the board? Comments? Does anyone to drop join

the on call team? Okay. All right. Well, Monica, Megan, Chapin, thank you very much. And we will see if there's a motion on recommended action. >> I move the approval of the requested action. >> Thank

you, Councilor Birkman. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Councilor Barlo. Any further discussion before we vote? Hearing none, all in favor indicate by saying aye. >> Aye. >> The opposed

nay? Motion carries unanimously. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for your support. >> And with no further items on our agenda, I will adjourn the Board of Finance at 5:47 p.m.