2026-06-24 - City Council
Summary
Built from the official minutes (items 2026-236 to 2026-250); the minutes link the meeting packet.
- Present: Mayor Marc Gwinn and Councilors Cary Brown, Sal Alfano, Jim Sheridan, Pelin Kohn, Adrienne Gil and Ben Doyle. City Clerk John Odum was secretary. Opened at 6:30 PM; adjourned by unanimous consent at about 10:30 PM; recess at 9:04 PM.
- All agenda items opened to public comment, not only the two listed, on Kohn's motion (Gil seconded), unanimous.
- Consent agenda approved unanimously (Brown moved, Alfano seconded): minutes, payroll and warrants, liquor and tobacco licenses, Lower State Street trenchless contract, FY27 curbing contract, Dog River Road ballfield regrading project, Parks UTV purchase.
- Amy Pitton recognized on her retirement; no action.
- Berlin Street closure for the sewer replacement authorized unanimously, starting Monday, June 29.
- White & Burke contract amendment for Country Club Road, not to exceed $130,000, passed 4-1-1 (Sheridan opposed, Kohn abstaining).
- CVRPC appointments after executive session: Aaron Kasicki and Mike Miller (alternate), 5-0 with Gil recused.
- Homelessness update from the City Manager with seven public commenters; no action.
- Fresh Eyes Report postponed without objection.
- Reports: City Manager covered the grand list, staffing changes and interim Police Chief appointment, executive search services, the fire union contract, the public comment process and infrastructure project review. The Clerk reported on the upcoming Board of Civil Authority meeting.
Public comment
Item 2026-238. Dave Bellini spoke on the Barre Street bike path segment, Turret House and public records requests. Stephen Whitaker spoke on public comment procedures, public records responses, the North Branch access knoll, East State Street notices and survey, and alleged Open Meeting Law violations. Carlton Anderson spoke on the bike path, Zack Hughes on public behavior procedures, and Harold McGrath on homelessness, open container violations, council concerns, meeting procedures and the Police Chief's departure. See Public Comment Procedure, East State Street Right-of-way, Open Meeting Law Allegations and Police Chief Search.
Berlin Street closure
Zack Blodgett and others presented. Doyle moved, Alfano seconded with an accepted amendment setting the June 29 start. See Berlin Street Sewer Closure.
Homelessness
City Manager Kelly McNicholas-Kury updated the Council. Commenters were Mr. Whitaker, Nancy Smith, Mr. Hughes, Peter Kelman, Carlton Anderson, Dawn Little and Mary Messier. See Homelessness Response.
Country Club Road contract amendment
Doyle moved, Alfano seconded; 4-1-1. See Country Club Road Project.
CVRPC appointments
Taken before the contract item on Kohn's motion (Gil seconded). Executive session under 1 VSA 313(a)(3) on Brown's motion, back in open session at 10:01 PM. See CVRPC Appointments.
Fresh Eyes Report
Postponed without objection. See City Manager Fresh Eyes Report.
Council and Mayor reports
Sheridan and Kohn gave brief reports; Kohn thanked the public for attending and encouraged civility, noting that everyone is neighbors. The Mayor reported on constituent meetings and encouraged civility while acknowledging that strong disagreements are inevitable.