2026-09-23 - City Council
Summary
Built from the official minutes (items 2026-366 to 2026-379). No video or transcript is attached, so there is no timing. Approval of these minutes is not confirmed in later minutes.
- Regular meeting called to order at 6:30 PM, adjourned at 8:09 PM. Present: Mayor Marc Gwinn and Councilors Ben Doyle, Pelin Kohn, Jim Sheridan, Sal Alfano and Cary Brown; Paul Costello is not listed as present. City Clerk John Odum served as secretary.
- Agenda approved by unanimous consent with item h (street closure and event permit applications) added to the consent agenda.
- Building Code Ordinance: second reading and public hearing (opened and closed at 6:42, no public comment); passed unanimously on Councilor Sheridan's motion, seconded by Councilor Brown.
- Open Burning Ordinance Amendment: second reading; hearing opened 6:47 and closed 6:51 after Alan Goldman spoke; approved unanimously (Sheridan, Brown).
- Green Mountain Home Repair Loan: public hearing 6:58 to 7:00; no vote recorded.
- Advisory Committee Appointments: Robert McCullough and Eric Gilbertson to the Historic Preservation Committee (Doyle, Sheridan; unanimous); Wayne Miller and James Young to the Conservation Commission (Sheridan, Kohn; unanimous).
- TriValley Transit Lease: update from the City Manager; no action.
- Consent agenda approved unanimously (Sheridan, Brown): payroll and warrants, minutes, liquor and tobacco licenses, riverbank stabilization contract, MRGP contract, Local Hazard Mitigation Plan task force appointment, fire chief's truck purchase, street closure and event permit applications.
- A proclamation commending the Montpelier Community Market was read; Rick DeAngelis spoke and introduced Eva Schectman and Carol Vassar.
Building Code Ordinance
- Fire Chief Derek Libby and Mike Miller answered questions. Motion: pass the second hearing and approve the ordinance; carried unanimously.
Open Burning Ordinance Amendment
- Chief Libby and Mr. Miller stayed at the table. One public speaker (Alan Goldman). Approved unanimously.
Green Mountain Home Repair Loan
- Cheryl Moyer spoke. Stephen Whitaker spoke about the process. Hearing closed at 7:00 PM.
Advisory Committee Appointments
- Eric Gilbertson spoke before the votes. All four appointments passed unanimously.
Police Chief Search
- During general business, Ethan Parke spoke on a petition supporting Michael Philbrick to be the next Police Chief.
Homelessness Response
- Zack Hughes raised concerns about rhetoric on mental health institutionalization in the homelessness context and invited the business community to the Homelessness Committee meetings.
- The City Manager touched on the homeless locker discussion and the 148 State Street discussion status.
Other business
- General business: Stephen Whitaker spoke on the process for adding a late agenda item, Feast Farm soil concerns, disc golf platforms he said were installed inappropriately or illegally, sidewalk obstructions, assembly rights, Mr. DeAngelis's comments and the status of the growth center. Dave Bellini spoke on the mayor's constituent gathering events and suggested the City Manager hold similar events; Councilor Sheridan's event was noted.
- Future agendas, meetings and processes discussed; no action.
- Reports: Councilor Kohn set up a Google doc to track constituent communications; Councilor Sheridan spoke on the Montpelier Community Center opening event; Councilor Doyle updated the Council on the former Post Office building; the City Clerk described preparations for the possibility of armed federal agents at the polls; the mayor noted the successful Porchfest and thanked Just Basics.