2026-06-10 - City Council
Summary
Built from the official minutes (items 2026-221 to 2026-235). No agenda or video is on file.
- Present: Mayor Marc Gwinn and Councilors Adrienne Gil, Cary Brown, Sal Alfano, Ben Doyle, Jim Sheridan and Pelin Kohn. City Clerk John Odum was secretary. Called to order at 6:30 PM; the Mayor recited "The North Wind and the Sun."
- Agenda approved by unanimous consent; Councilor Sheridan noted a typo in the previous minutes.
- Consent agenda approved unanimously (Sheridan moved, Alfano seconded): minutes, payroll and warrants, liquor and tobacco licenses, street closure and event permits, Auto Pulse purchase, FY27 TAN.
- Resolution honoring Immigrant Heritage Month adopted unanimously (Kohn moved, Sheridan seconded).
- Lease assignment of the Montpelier Transit Center from Green Mountain Transit to Tri-Valley Transit, effective July 1, 2026, approved 5-1 (Alfano moved, Doyle seconded; Sheridan opposed).
- Public comment pilot ended as of June 10, 4-2 (Gil moved, Sheridan seconded; Brown and Doyle opposed). Alfano's motion to allow comment on any item during General Business was withdrawn.
- Homelessness update from Evelyn Prim and Matt Jelacic; no action.
- Katie Trautz discussed Montpelier Alive; no action.
- Recesses 7:40 to 7:48 PM and 8:17 to 8:30 PM. Adjourned without objection at 10:51 PM.
Public comment and general business
Item 2026-223. Stephen Whitaker spoke on multiple city problems he said reflect poorly on the city: planning and zoning, barricades and signage at the EV charger area, the City Manager's office being locked, utility pole positioning on East State Street, and the Capitol Budget program. Alan Goldman and Dave Bellini said they were pleased to be back in the Council Chambers; Mr. Goldman also spoke on public participation and procedure. Peter Kelman spoke on the transit center and the public comment process. Councilor Sheridan complimented Public Works. Whitaker spoke again on homelessness (item 2026-231).
Transit Center lease
Monica White presented. See TriValley Transit Lease for the motion and the 5-1 vote.
Public comment procedure
Comments from Mr. Goldman, Mr. Kelman, Mr. Bellini, Zack Hughes and Mr. Whitaker. See Public Comment Procedure for the 4-2 vote to end the pilot.
Homelessness
Evelyn Prim and Matt Jelacic gave an update; no action. See Homelessness Response.
Reports
Councilor Doyle added to the Housing Committee report after Councilor Brown's update, and spoke on the Federal Building and on councilors promoting city projects. Kohn spoke on the loss of Langdon Street Tavern and supported downtown businesses. Sheridan said apartments are finally opening up. Gil congratulated graduating high schoolers. The Mayor spoke on council parade plans, local ribbon cuttings and the groundbreaking for the bike path segment. The City Clerk had no report. Evelyn Prim spoke on flash flood warnings, the passing of William Hayden, the City Manager's office status, and coming web content accessibility guidelines.