Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Greater Barre Services Study Committee

Date: June 13, 2002; 6:35 p.m.

Place: Aldrich Meeting Room

Present: Dawna Attig, Alex McHenry, Charles Fantoni, Joan Carrigan, Glenda Nye, Wayne Pelkey, Chip Castle, Paul Simonetta, Mary Welch, Larry Johnson, Gordon Booth, Deb Martin, Mark Reaves, Carl Rogers, Peter O’Grady, Deb Sartelle

The meeting was formally called to order at 6:35pm by Alex McHenry , Vice-Chairman. Opening with introductions for the benefit of our guest, Peter O’Grady, and the following agenda:

  1. Acceptance of Minutes: 05/09/02

  2. Highway discussion

  3. Reports from the Subcommittees

  1. Other Business

  2. Round the Table
Minutes of the Meeting

1. Acceptance of Minutes

We had a quorum and move to accept the Minutes. Have a motion and a second with no discussion. There was approval with all ayes.

4 The minutes of 05/09/02 were accepted.

  1. Highway Discussion (Wayne Pelkey, Paul Simonetta, Barry Driscoll)

    2. Paul encourages us to read through the handouts. We take a little time to go through them and we read through some of the report with Wayne Pelkey. Paul indicates that some of the numbers in the pack are Barre City numbers. Open the floor up to discussion.

    Peter O’Grady. He just wanted to say that Barre Town and Barre City should do stuff together. Doesn’t think we need a written agreement. Paul said that what we haven’t addressed is 1) there is an incredible amount of cooperation and 2) what should be codified. Should we even have things in writing. Even if it is just to the level of intent. Wayne suggested that we have zone maps.

    Paul asked Peter if he thought this was a good idea. Peter did thing that this was a good idea but that it should not stop here. There was some discussion about the Barre City Garage, including discussion of selling the existing asset.

    Then the discussion went to why the municipalities split. Most of the committee thinks that we should forget about why there was a split. Glenda Nye said that if Montreal could merge successfully, then we can too. Carl Rogers brought up that Quebec was mandated to do it. However, Deb Sartelle said we should be the ones to educate the community. Paul suggested that grass roots would change minds, but there will never be 100%. But some can change.

    Charlie became concerned about water, but Peter added that water was only one piece of the puzzle. Mark asks mandate for what, to merge? That is not the mandate of this committee.

    Dawna, the recording secretary, read Article I of the ballot and Merger is there. Mark then suggested it should be merge all or nothing. Time outght to be set aside to speak to each select board. Carl’s suggestion was to focus on what differences it would make to the people of each community.

  2. Reports from the subcommittees: Police, Sewer/Water, Highways, Recreation/Special Services

Going around the table is terms of the various sub-committees and what progress they have made.

Fire/Rescue. (Mark Bernier, Dan Bellavance, Deb Sartelle)

Not ready with report.

Police. ( Alex McHenry, Larry Johnson, Mark Reeves)

Alex passed out their report.

Water/Sewer. (Charles Fantoni, Guy Isabelle, Mary Welch)

Final Draft being worked on.

Highways. (Paul Simonetta, Wayne Pelkey, Barry Driscoll)

Good discussion.

Recreation/Special Services. (Joan Corrigan, Deb Martin, Gordon Booth)

No final report yet.

Administration. ( Dawna Attig, Glenda Nye, Bill Chase)

Submitted final report.

4. Other Business

No other business.

5. Round the Table

Went around the table for comments. Thanked Peter O’Grady. There is no meeting in July.

Next meeting is August 8, 2002 at 6:30pm in the Aldrich Library Meeting Room. Meeting adjourned at 7:58 pm.