City of Montpelier, Vermont

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Montpelier 2011 / Annual Report / 4Message from the City ManagerIt is an honor and privilege to present my 16th annual report toyou, the citizens of Montpelier.This was a year of recovery. The previous years had been markedby the terrible national recession, an unprecedented run ofbad weather (both winter and summer) and the difficultiessurrounding the Scott Construction over payment situation.2010 saw a much milder winter, a much nicer summer, theresolution of the Scott mess and a stabilizing economy. TheCity government worked with renewed energy to deliverservices, improve public communications and transparencyand complete many important projects.The property reappraisal work was completed and implementedrelatively smoothly. Formal grievances were down fromprevious reappraisals, all property tax information was placedon line for all to review and problems were resolved as best asthey could. The State of Vermont analysis of our work borethis out, saying that Montpelier properties were valued overallat 98.2% of their estimated market value. This coming year willsee an attempt to visit and inspect the few remaining propertieswho did not provide access in 2010. We will also be embarkingon a full reappraisal of personal property in order to assurefull equity among all taxpayers. With new software in place, ahigh inspection rate and high confidence in our current values,the city is poised to maintain our grand list effectively andequitably in the coming years. Assessor Steve Twombly andour contractors, New England Municipal Consultants, havedone a wonderful job in pulling this all together.All City Council, Planning Commission and DevelopmentReview Board meetings can now be watched on the web bothlive and after the fact. People watching archived meetings mayselect specific agenda topics and watch only that portion ofthe meeting. Additionally, all meeting materials and formalcommunications between the City Manager and City Councilare posted so that citizens may follow along with the workingsof their government. Thanks to IT staff Fred Skeels and NickDaniels for their work in getting this up and running.The biggest accomplishment of the year has been developinga project and assembling funding for the complete renovationand re-use of the 58 Barre Street building. The building willhouse a state of the art Senior Center in the first floor and a halfand will be accompanied by senior housing units on the upperfloor and a half. This partnership between the City, the HousingAuthority, the Central Vermont Community Land Trust andJA Kantor Associates has worked successfully to address someof the key priorities of the city. Community DevelopmentSpecialist Garth Genge was very instrumental.Our biggest news was the receipt of an $8 million dollar federalgrant for a district energy project. These funds were awardedfrom a total $20 million federal allocation, we were quitehonored to have been granted 40% of the funding available forthe whole country. Even with this huge grant, though, we facea stiff challenge in creating a heating system which serves thestate complex, municipal government buildings and schoolsand would be available to serve private customers. The projectparameters are that neither the city nor state can pay more thanthey are paying now (including future capital replacement andmaintenance costs) and the system can’t depend on privatecustomers to be financially viable. If successful, though, thissystem would result in a shift from oil to locally producedrenewable energy. The project would serve as a national modelfor downtowns and for city/state cooperation. With totalproject costs approaching $20 million, both City and Stateofficials are moving carefully and deliberately. If a project planis developed, it would be included in the state’s budget this year.Once the concept and funding are approved by the legislature,it will be brought to city voters for consideration at a specialelection. Planning Director Gwen Hallsmith wrote the grantand has been working tirelessly on this project and has beenably assisted by Project Manager Harold Garabedian and themembers of the City’s Energy Committee.The interim bus stop at City Hall has worked successfully. Moreimportantly, the Carr Lot project which includes a new TransitCenter (along with a bike path, landscaping improvements,public space and some parking) is moving along well. ByMarch we expect to have all final federal approvals and to be insite acquisition phase. The present project schedule anticipatesacquisition and design this year with construction in 2012. Theproject has nearly $7 million in federal money behind it andwas delayed due to first environmental review and then floodplain review. Both of those obstacles have now been cleared.The Planning Commission and City Council completedthe very extensive enVision Montpelier process. The resultwas a sweeping and innovative Master Plan which looked atcommunity priorities for not only the immediate future butfor as much as 50 to 100 years from now. The plan containedall the required land use and zoning elements but also lookedat ways to sustain the community as a whole economically,environmentally and culturally. Adoption of the Master Planhas led to the current effort of rewriting the city’s zoning andland use regulations. Neighborhood meetings are being heldthroughout the city to hear residents’ views on what is importantto them. Thanks are due to the Planning Commissioners andPlanning Department staff for many hours of meetings andwork.Last year, City employees recommended revamping the city’shealth insurance program which resulted in an annual savingsof $200,000. This year, in another effort to make continualimprovements, the City Council is seeking the services of aprofessional management consultant to review operations,
Montpelier 2011 / Annual Report / 5organizational structure and other processes to evaluate ourpractices and make recommendations. We are looking forwardto this work and expect a final report by June.The National Citizen Survey, completed in 2009, providedinsight into the preferences, priorities and concerns ofMontpelier residents. The survey results continue to guideour city officials as decisions are made. The full results of thesurvey is available on the city’s web site at www.montpeliervt.orgThe City will be performing this survey again during2011.Goals and PrioritiesIn April of 2010, the City Council outlined a series of prioritiesfor the year. This statement, which was formally adoptedon July 14, 2010 influenced decisions, staff work, policy recommendationsand budget proposals throughout the year. Aconsiderable amount of progress has been made on virtuallyall of these items. By focusing our priorities, we have been effectivewith our resources. The Goals were organized in thesame fashion as the enVision Montpelier goals so that the newMaster Plan can be used when setting these annual priorities infuture years.HUMAN AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING: Maintain andenhance the quality of life in Montpelier for the present andfuture generations by improving Montpelier’s downtown,neighborhoods, and public services for businesses, residents,and visitors.1. Determine future direction of the Senior Center andSenior Services – local or regional, what is the scope ofservices offered? Present location or new facility? Howare user fees structured?2. Perform fiduciary duty and review role of the City Councilwith regard to the Recreation Department, their facilitiesand program management.3. Maintain cost-effective and high quality public servicesby answering fire and police calls, maintaining roads andsidewalks, providing clean water and functioning sewers,providing housing and other community facilities, andsupporting local businesses.4. Support the creative initiatives in the community thatprovide cultural and artistic opportunities for residentsand visitors.5. Complete the Americans with Disabilities Act TransitionPlan and implement improvements for accessibility.EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, SERVICES ANDBUILT ENVIRONMENT: Maintain and enhance the City’sInfrastructure and Services.1. Decide how to proceed on Carr Lot Transit Centerproject.2. Adopt a capital plan net of debt service that protects,preserves and invests in the City.3. Continue efforts to improve pedestrian and bike access,create bike paths, and maintain sidewalks and bridges.4. Work with State to assure a safe railroad system whichdoes not harm existing businesses, residents or disruptmunicipal projects.5. Evaluate alternatives for street lighting expenses.6. Continue to support the city workforce and provideexcellent services.7. Decide the future of City buildings – 58 Barre St, Rec.Center, Main St. School.GOOD GOVERNANCE: Engage citizens in decisionmakingto insure that the city continues to provide qualityinfrastructure and services that are cost-effective, fiscallyprudent, and sustainable.1. Investigate Shared Services, Planning and Regionalizationwith neighboring communities.2. Continue efforts through technology and good practicesto make city government (and related information) asopen and accessible to the public as possible.3. Complete the reappraisal and appeal process so that theproperty tax system is based on fair and equitable values.4. Decide whether to propose alternate revenue sources suchas local options taxes.5. Complete the enVision Montpelier process to establishlong-term goals, targets, and strategies to make Montpelieran economically successful and sustainable state capital.Adopt a new Master Plan.6. Engage outside consultant to assist the City Manager in anoperations review.7. Conduct a follow up National Citizen Survey in 2011.8. Review the entire Committee structure within Citygovernment.9. Address the water fund deficit including reconsiderationof merger with Berlin Fire District #1, securing agreementswith large customers, reviewing the rate structure andopening discussions with Berlin about a shared watersystem.
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Dr. Jim CulverOral & Maxillofacial
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Mayor: Mary Hooper ................
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City of Montpelier, Vermont

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