City of Montpelier, Vermont

Montpelier 2011 / Annual Report / 8It’s my professional opinion that this property tax proposalcan only be significantly reduced by re-visiting policy choicesin areas like the capital plan, the equipment plan, more useof fund balance, direct services or programs or even moreaggressively pursuing fee increases or alternate tax/revenuesources. I remain concerned that the city government will notbe able to meet the accumulated expectations of high servicesby the public and policy making boards.This budget is a team effort from start to finish. The DepartmentHeads embraced our budget goals and worked diligently tomeet them. I would like to particularly recognize the effortsof Finance Director Sandy Gallup. I thank the City Councilfor reviewing every line in the budget and making manyhelpful adjustments during several meetings in December andJanuary.Appreciation:Thanks are due to the dedicated individuals who deliver localgovernment services to Montpelier residents 24 hours per day,seven days per week, 365 days per year. City employees workunder difficult circumstances and dangerous situations so thatresidents may have clean water, effective sewage disposal, safeand clear roads, quick and effective fire and ambulance response,responsive and preventive police work, comprehensiveplanning and review of local development, wonderful parks/facilities and proper administration of citizen’s needs. They arehighly trained and certified in specialized fields. The CitizenSurvey showed that residents have positive impressionsof and interactions with our employees. I am proud of allof Montpelier’s staff and know that they are hard working,dedicated and incredibly capable.Montpelier is fortunate to have a strong team of DepartmentHeads. These individuals’ experience, education, talent anddedication keep our operations among the very best in thestate. Parks Director Geoff Beyer, Community Justice CenterDirector Yvonne Byrd, Police Chief Anthony Facos, FinanceDirector Sandra Gallup, Planning & Development DirectorGwendolyn Hallsmith, Cemetery Superintendent PatrickHealy, City Clerk/Treasurer Charlotte Hoyt, Public WorksDirector Todd Law, Fire Chief Gesualdo Schneider andAssessor Stephen Twombly work as a highly efficient teamwhile also managing their respective areas of responsibility.Assistant City Manager Beverlee Pembroke Hill is often seenout in the community, at the legislature and in the middle ofany number of meetings. In the last two years she has addedoversight of the Senior Center and 58 Barre Street to herresponsibilities – along with her long time role as DelinquentTax Collector. The City has benefited enormously from herdedicated service and enthusiastic attitude.Wastewater Treatment Plant Chief Operator Ron Mercierretired in December of 2010 after serving the city well for 29years. We congratulate him on a successful career, thank him forhis hard work in bringing our plant to its modern functionalityand wish him the best in his retirement.Some other individuals left City employment to pursue differentemployment and personal opportunities. We said good bye toPolice officers Jonathan Boucher and James Pontbriand, DPWemployees Edward Guy and Jesse Hathaway, Street SupervisorMichael Garand, Custodian Stephen McGrath and Clerk/Typist Donna Collette. We sincerely thank these people fortheir service and contribution to the city and wish them well intheir new endeavors.We greeted new employees in 2010 and appreciate the talentsthat they bring to us. These people include Police OfficerJacqueline Adams, DPW employees Jeremy Lewis and VitoNaikus, Accountant Ruth Dockter, Custodian Burtis Baker,Dispatcher Catherine Purcell-White and Re-Entry CoordinatorAlfred Mills. We look forward to having them be part of ourorganization working on the public’s behalf.We greatly appreciated the efforts of Americorps participantsKristin Feierabend and Erin Schlitts who provided tremendoussupport for the enVision Montpelier project. They bothcompleted their Americorps service and moved on to greenerpastures. We have welcomed new Americorps participantsTaylor Newton and Isaac Lawrence who have jumped right into work on the re-zoning process.Montpelier is fortunate to have many experienced employeeswho have spent distinguished careers with the city. Howeverwe expect to be seeing retirements in the near future which willliterally change the face of city government as many have cometo know it. I’d like to recognize individuals with 25 or moreyears of experience with the City of Montpelier. These peoplerepresent 19.1% of our total workforce!Gerald Smith, Public Works DepartmentCharlotte Hoyt, City Clerk/TreasurerSandra Pitonyak, City Manager’s OfficeDouglas Hull, Public Works DepartmentSheila Pembroke, Fire DepartmentSharon Blatchford, Finance DepartmentDean Utton, Public Works DepartmentMark Moody, Police DepartmentGeorge Richardson, Public Works DepartmentJane Aldrighetti, Assessor/City Manager’s OfficeMichael Papineau, Public Works Department41 years39 years37 years34 years33 years32 years32 years31 years31 years31 years31 years