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Montpelier 2012 / Annual Report / 8 Message from the City Manager It is an honor and privilege to present my 17th annual report to you, the citizens of Montpelier. Some of the key moments and of the year for our city government include: The May 26-27 surprise storm which tore up roads, flooded the downtown, knocked down trees and power lines and caused over $1 million in damage. This started as a heavy rain event and soon turned into the year’s biggest emergency. This pushed all aspects of our emergency services and response to their limits. The August 28 flood caused from Tropical Storm Irene. Unlike the May flood, the city, business community and residents had some lead preparation time although no one expected Vermont to bear the brunt of Irene in the way that it did. Using valuable lessons learned in May, our emergency response was ready and focused. Montpelier was extremely fortunate that we did not see the type of devastation that occurred in other neighboring communities but we still had some difficult situations to handle. The community rallied in both crisis events. Most businesses were able to re-open quickly and no one was permanently displaced from their homes. The 2011 property tax rate was over 3% LOWER than the tax rate in 2010. The projected overall 2012 rate, based on the proposed city and school budgets, will still be lower than the 2010 rate although 1.9% higher than the 2011 rate. On June 14, citizens passed a $2.75 Million bond for the District Heat project. This followed the appropriation of $7 Million from the State Legislature in May and the 2010 award of $8 Million from the Federal Department of Energy. This unique project will tie the State’s central wood fired heating plant into Montpelier’s downtown to create an affordable and renewable heating source for the future. Final agreements have been worked out with the State government. Assuming project costs fall within available funds, the heating system is targeted for an October 1, 2013 start up. The 58 Barre Street Senior Center and Housing project is underway. This has renovated the old inefficient school/office building into a modern fuel efficient building which will house a brand new Senior Center and will contain 6 units of Senior Housing on the upper floors. It is a wonderful downtown reclamation project. In March of 2011, Montpelier residents approved a charter change which converted the Treasurer position from elected to appointed. The legislature approved this change and it takes effect this year. The city is integrating the treasurer’s duties with the Finance Department and reorganizing functions within both operations. Emphasis will be on maintaining and improving customer service, accountability and transparency. The city launched several public information efforts, mostly through our web site at www.montpelier-vt.org. The city now provides web streaming and archiving of all city meetings, all documents which go to the City Council are posted on the web site for all to see, most key city documents such as contracts, public notices, check ledgers, assessing records and more. The city recently began accepting credit card payments via the web. The city’s Facebook page (City of Montpelier, VT) and Twitter account (@vtmontpelier) grew in use during the year. These means of communication were very important during Tropical Storm Irene. The city is just now implementing a new electronic notification system called Blackboard Connect for emergency situations and other times when mass notices are needed. More information about how to enroll in this system will be forthcoming soon. Effective public communications remains a very high priority. The long running Carr Lot Transit Center and Downtown Revitalization Project has moved into active phase. After three years of seeking EPA approval for hazardous waste clean up and FEMA approval for floodway mapping, the project was cleared for approvals from its funding agencies – Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This has allowed the city to move into preliminary design and property appraisal work. The next phases will be property acquisition, public review of site plans, final design, permitting and construction eyed for 2013. The City Council engaged a consulting firm named Matrix Consulting, Inc. to review city functions and costs. Matrix offered several operational recommendations and analyses of city departments. The Council and staff have gone through every single recommendation and incorporated most of them in the proposed budget. The city has, for years, purchased employee health insurance through a municipal pool operated by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns Health Trust. Due to the volatility of the health insurance market, VLCT chose to change the pool from an insurance provider to an insurance broker. This meant that the city’s present plan would not exist as of January 1, 2012. The quote to roll that plan over on our own would have increased costs by over 10%. Our city employees, for the second time in three years, formed a working group to look at alternatives and recommended a plan which only increased costs by 1%, saving the city more than $100,000. The City Council created summer sub-committees to look closely at issues of capital infrastructure and equipment needs, housing barriers, debt affordability, appropriate fund balance use and voter district apportionment. Reports, policies and
Montpelier 2012 / Annual Report / 9 recommendations were issued in all areas. The Council appointed a committee to study the possible use of tasers by the Police Department. That committee spent many long hours working on the topic and presented a comprehensive report in November. The City reached contractual agreements with the Public Works and Police employee unions. In recognition of current economic times, both unions agreed to a 0% cost of living adjustment for 2011-12. The Planning Commission has worked diligently to prepare a completely overhauled zoning ordinance which reflects the community goals articulated in the enVision Montpelier Master Plan. Goals and Priorities The City Council adopted a series of priorities for the year on April 27, 2011. This statement guides decisions, staff work, policy recommendations and budget proposals throughout the year. The following is a summary of those goals with an updated status report. Review and take action on recommendations of the Senior Services Steering Committee: The Committee presented its report and council chose to move forward. A new director and staff assistant have been hired. Construction on the new senior center is well underway with opening set for 2012.. The Senior Center Director has been tasked with follow up on the remaining issues in the steering committee report. Complete the ADA Transition Plan and implement improvements for accessibility: The building assessment reports are completed and work has been budgeted accordingly. The ADA committee is meeting regularly with completion of the transition plan as its highest priority. Funds for ADA improvements are included in the Capital plan. Make decision on Taser Use: Council appointed a committee who presented their report on November 9th. The decision was made not to move forward with the taser request. Move the Carr Lot/Transit Center Project forward: State and federal permits are in place. Land surveys have been completed, conceptual site planning and preliminary design is underway. Property appraisals are being done now which begins the land acquisition phase. Current project schedule anticipates construction starting in 2013. Complete District Energy System assessment and make final decision: City voters passed a bond vote on June 14th. City approved Memorandum of Understanding with State on June 8, 2011 and approved final contracts for heat purchase, capacity and processing of funds on January 11, 2012. Contracts have been signed, State has placed boilers out to bid and City is in preliminary design phase for distribution system. Assuming that bids fall within available funds, the project is expected to be completed in time for heat service on October 1, 2013. Adopt a funding plan for paving/upgrading streets and sidewalks, conduct an infrastructure improvement needs assessment, begin development of water and sewer infrastructure funding options: Council formed three study committees who developed a comprehensive list of infrastructure and equipment needs. Bond has been proposed to address immediate backlog. Address the water and sewer fund deficits: Sewer fund deficit was retired. Ongoing discussions with Berlin with regard to provision of water service to expand customer base. Water rate study has not yet begun. Keep lines of communication open so that the new zoning regulations align with the council’s priorities: Planning Commission is meeting regularly regarding the re-zoning effort. Some council members have been attending those meetings. Continue efforts through technology and good practices to make city government (and related information) as open and accessible to the public as possible: This has been a high priority and is constantly being evaluated for improvements. City has implemented video streaming and archiving of meetings, all meeting documents are posted electronically, city has Facebook and Twitter accounts, new Blackboard Connect system is being implemented now. All facets of communications are being reviewed. Communications position was proposed but not included in the budget. Review policy level recommendations from Matrix study, and implement as feasible and appropriate: Council met with every department to review the Matrix recommendations. Most recommendations have already been implemented or are addressed in the budget process. Adopt a policy on fund balance use and debt limits, conduct an assessment of assets and liabilities, and the city’s debt load: Council convened a subcommittee to look at these issues. Committee prepared recommended policies which were adopted by the Council on September 28th. Decide whether and when to conduct a follow up National Citizen Survey: Council decided on May 25th not to conduct the survey this year and chose not to include funds in the budget to do the survey in 2012. Work with city’s committee and board members to ensure that citizens understand the committee and board’s authority and to ensure that citizens are treated fairly and respectfully: These meetings were not held. Analyze census data and begin district reapportionment, as appropriate: Council sub-committee presented a report indicating that there may be a slight imbalance in district
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Area Agencies Social Services Centr
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Calendar Year 2011 Compensa1on Cale
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Budget Summary FY13 Montpelier 2012
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Mayor: Mary Hooper ................
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here - City of Montpelier, Vermont

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