2026-08-26 - City Council

Summary

Built from the official minutes (items 2026-329 to 2026-342); the minutes were accepted on 2026-09-09. No video or transcript is on file.

Called to order 6:30 PM, adjourned 9:56 PM. Mayor Marc Gwinn and all six councilors (Cary Brown, Sal Alfano, Jim Sheridan, Pelin Kohn, Ben Doyle, Paul Costello) present; City Clerk John Odum was secretary.
Responsible Employer Ordinance repeal: second-reading hearing held 7:01 to 7:09 PM; Council voted unanimously to continue the pause on implementing the ordinance until a new policy or ordinance is enacted, and unanimously to hold a third reading and keep the hearing open until the first November meeting.
Ambulance rates: Alfano moved to raise them as presented, Sheridan seconded; the minutes record no tally.
Appointments, all unanimous: Jay Voorhees and Nancy Reid to the Homelessness Committee; Sebastian Delgado as alternate on the Historic Preservation Commission.
Committee administration policy discussed; no action. Homelessness update; no action. Future agendas discussed; no action.
Consent agenda approved unanimously on Doyle's motion, seconded by Alfano.
Recess 7:54 to 8:11 PM.

Speakers: Stephen Whitaker, Peter Kelman and Kurt Motyka.
Doyle's motion for a third reading on November 11 with the hearing continued (seconded by Brown) was withdrawn by unanimous consent. Sheridan then moved to continue the pause; Doyle's clarifying amendment (by unanimous consent) changed it to "that we continue the pause on implementing the ordinance until such time as a new policy or ordinance is enacted"; Costello seconded; carried unanimously.
Doyle moved a third reading and open hearing; Sheridan seconded; Doyle amended it by unanimous consent to "the first city council meeting in November of 2026"; carried unanimously.

Discussion with Fire Chief Derek Libby and comments from Zack Hughes; Alfano moved, Sheridan seconded.

Jay Voorhees and Nancy Reid spoke. Sheridan moved Voorhees (Doyle seconded) and Reid (Alfano seconded); Doyle moved Delgado as Historic Preservation Commission alternate after hearing from the candidate (Costello seconded). All unanimous.

Update received; no action. In general comment, Dave Bellini cited Front Porch Forum posts about women being harassed by homeless persons, and Whitaker spoke on enforcement and what he called dysfunction. Responses came from the City Manager and Doyle; Brown and the Mayor later commented on the posts.

Ethan Parke said he started a petition supporting Michael Philbrick; Whitaker also favored Mr. Philbrick. The City Manager's report covered the recruitment. No action.

Whitaker raised public participation in the process, especially about growing food, in general comment.

Consent items: minutes; payroll and warrants; amendment to the Tail Water Engineering contract; Green Mount Cemetery drainage analysis proposal; DPW equipment barn temporary heating; FEMA disaster recovery and mitigation technical assistance master services agreement; environmental assessment consultant for the CDBG-DR grant; sidewalk plow purchase. Whitaker alleged a conflict of interest in the environmental review item.
Public comment also included Peter Kelman and Zack Hughes noting the death of Carolyn Ridpath.
Council reports: Sheridan praised DPW and reported a ribbon cutting; Costello cited positive feedback; Kohn wished for a sister city; Brown gave a VLCT Policy Committee update.
Clerk: coming Boards of Abatement and Civil Authority meeting and election process. City Manager: Senior Center, fire union process, Police Chief recruitment, DPW, the audit and delinquency payments. Mayor: his police ride-along, thanks to school staff and citizen committees, and the right to speak openly alongside scrutiny of claims.