2026-05-13 - City Council
Summary
Built from the official minutes. Called to order 6:32 p.m.; adjourned 10:58 p.m. Approval of these minutes is not verified.
- Present: Mayor Marc Gwinn and Councilors Adrienne Gil, Pelin Kohn, Sal Alfano, Cary Brown and Jim Sheridan (virtual). Councilor Ben Doyle and City Clerk John Odum excused; Deputy City Clerk Sara McMillon was secretary.
- Councilor Gil moved to add an urgent agenda item on revisiting the encampment policy, including the downtown. The Mayor ruled it needed unanimous approval; it failed 4-1 (Alfano, Gil, Kohn, Sheridan in favor; Brown against). Councilors agreed homelessness should be a standing item on every regular agenda. Agenda then approved 5-0.
- Consent agenda approved 5-0 (minutes of April 22 and the April 29 special meeting; payroll and warrants; liquor and tobacco licenses; WRRF air blower rebuild; two Big Belly trash receptacle stations; Berlin Street sewer replacement contract with Cutting Edge Excavation; 2026 Transportation Alternatives/Municipal Highway and Stormwater grant agreement).
- National Police Week (May 10-16) and National Public Works Week resolutions each adopted 5-0.
- River Hazard Area amendment second reading: public hearing 7:25-7:32 p.m.; amendment approved 5-0.
- Development Review Board: Kevin O'Connell reappointed 5-0; Bryan Jones reappointed 4-1 (Sheridan opposed).
- 2026 Montpelier Action Plan for Local Emergency adopted 5-0 with a Berlin shelter photograph to be added later.
- Water and sewer rates approved 4-1 (4.3% increase; Kohn opposed).
- Infrastructure update and a City Manager onboarding presentation (no votes).
Homelessness
See Homelessness Response and City Hall Basement Shelter. Stephen Whitaker addressed the Council on the downtown area, and Zachary Hughes, chair of the homelessness committee, reported on its efforts. Councilor Brown said the Council should be specific about its expectations of the committee and wants more frequent reports; picnic table placement input was requested. Councilor Gil said she wants best-practice information on encampment policies. City Manager Kury said she wants to keep discussing how to address homelessness, is preparing an analysis of using City Hall more extensively for sheltering, and that referrals to the regional situation table have led to people finding housing and services.
River Hazard Area regulations
See River Hazard Regulation Interim Amendment. Planning Director Mike Miller reviewed the major changes. Stephen Whitaker spoke in favor of allowing affordable housing units on the first floor in River Hazard Areas. Mr. Miller said residential use on the first floor is allowed but must meet current code, which could require flood proofing or elevation; short-term housing is permitted. Councilor Brown moved, Councilor Alfano seconded; carried 5-0.
Development Review Board
See Development Review Board Reappointments. Kevin O'Connell and zoning administrator Meredith Crandall (for Bryan Jones) appeared.
Emergency plan
See Local Emergency Management Plan Readoption. Fire Chief Derek Libby presented; Alfano moved, Kohn seconded.
Water and sewer rates
See Water Sewer Rate Setting. Kurt Motyka and Heather Graves presented; the rate is the Consumer Price Index plus one percent. Alfano moved, Brown seconded; Alfano, Brown, Gil and Sheridan in favor, Kohn opposed. Recess 8:49-9:00 p.m.
Infrastructure update
Mr. Motyka and Deputy Public Works Director Zach Blodgett presented on infrastructure improvement projects and answered questions. Related: Berlin Street Sewer Closure (the sewer replacement contract was on the consent agenda).
City Manager onboarding
See City Manager Performance Management Plan. Councilor Gil presented a process for onboarding and evaluating the new City Manager that could apply to other staff, and received Council input.
Public comment and other business
General business speakers: Stephen Whitaker (downtown), Zachary Hughes (homelessness committee), Dave Bellini (road conditions and state government relations), Alan Goldman, a property owner (reduced opportunities for public comment at regular meetings; see Public Comment Procedure), and Jameson Rise, a downtown employee (benefits of outdoor events). Mr. Whitaker spoke again under other business. Councilor Kohn noted Mental Health Awareness Month.
Council, Clerk, Manager and Mayor reports
- Sheridan: the Community Fund has distributed its funds (see Community Fund Grant Awards); asked about city property originally planned for a water tower.
- Gil: an artistic installation idea is not feasible; she will work with its originator and the arts committee.
- Kohn: reported on the youth committee after talking with high school students; fuller report at the next regular meeting.
- Alfano: wants to discuss committee structures and reporting requirements.
- Brown: spoke in favor of a revised legislative agenda.
- City Manager Kury: public records request counts; interviews under way for the senior center director; the assistant city manager position to be advertised within a week; asked for advance notice of agenda items.
- Mayor Gwinn encouraged emergency management training. Deputy Clerk McMillon had no report.