[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6076185,"mediaKeyId","2972556-0f62fababad1feefffeda24bb976d2fa","parentId",2972556,"title","Unhoused community committee reports hotel exits, logistic strains; city discusses sheltering, tracking and porta‑potty placements","audioSeconds",2048,"startMs",1238000,"endMs",3286000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2972556-0f62fababad1feefffeda24bb976d2fa&start=1238&end=3286","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2972556-0f62fababad1feefffeda24bb976d2fa/thumbnail_1238000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6076185/Barre-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Unhoused-community-committee-reports-hotel-exits-logistic-strains-city-discusses-sheltering-tracking-and-portapotty-placements","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076185-0cc87587c54cd3da403532c3610b8622/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181609&Signature=Hm6Yj1TkoY5AoXQ33FUOaBhLKhf0aK6Zxbti7FbpsxNll~Is6h0ytgptxvdnUcev0~LrL0SEJMTfm3tSJVHpVxWPDH8YORdmJcZgRO5AfZlKEmgT4gRDxyn1Mol2JWu6cCG9lIwSuBcFtQzujUZvptU75sAisTlwWFzBcQBo4fDRIGGK1bBiL4eSpqQTU2xVehIxbzQWBX0jlpmLsJllT9tBS8b3c4sb8NoEJOSH3JFs1CDty1KdZiYvUyFFZFpbOxHmsGUSf2eLs4xH6Aes7VMsjPeCqLYeW6X8XTfpKRFQDJ3PaqjrKa8iv5-aOo2GtTnV9HLSwb7Kx~Ob8itrcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Barre City, VT","date","2025-04-09T18:14:34Z","article","Service providers and councilors at the April 8 Barre City Council meeting reported a string of recent exits from motel placements and urged better local tracking and resources to meet immediate needs.

At a council presentation by the city’s Unhoused Community Committee, outreach workers and partner agencies described recent exits in the range of several people over a few days and emphasized that those leaving the hotel program range in age and needs. Oza Bush of Good Samaritan Haven described recent exits and donated supplies arriving to support people who become unsheltered. Dan Barlow of People’s Health and Wellness Clinic warned of the health consequences of losing temporary hotel placements, saying, “One of the benefits of having people housed is that we can bring medical staff directly to them to provide care.”

Nut graf: Providers stressed limits in the existing data system for predicting imminent exits, described how the coordinated entry system records people who accept services, and asked the city to get non‑identifying aggregated data about likely exit counts so local responders can plan supplies and staffing.

What providers said and what the city can do
- Coordinated entry. Committee members said case‑level tracking exists for people who accept services; aggregated numbers for the local area can be pulled but fluctuate daily and may not show people who move outside the region. Providers described the typical eligibility framework for emergency hotel placements as an 80‑day allotment in a 12‑month rolling period unless extended by an executive order or other policy exemption.
- Immediate supports. Tess (the city’s homelessness coordinator) described an existing $6,000 council appropriation that funded staff and volunteer support for a warming center; the council agreed to continue that support through the grant funding period. Tess said the warming center has relied on volunteer labor and some unsolicited donations but would need additional planning and a sprinkler upgrade if it were to operate as a longer‑term emergency shelter.
- Sanitation and supplies. The committee reported two portable toilets in place: one near the Methodist Church and a second to be sited by Enterprise Alley near the bike path. Providers urged continued donations of propane canisters, sleeping bags, tarps and lightly used blankets; Tess and partner agencies offered drop‑off points and coordination.

Policy and capacity questions
Committee members and councilors discussed the limits of municipal authority and funding. Several councilors asked whether a designated camping site with platforms, toilets and periodic staff visits could be set up on city property or regionally in collaboration with neighboring communities; committee members said such a site would need staffing, running water and trash removal to be safe and viable.

Ending: Councilors asked staff to provide non‑identifying, aggregated exit projections when feasible and to place further homeless‑service updates on upcoming agendas. Providers said they would continue daily outreach and coordination with regional partners, including Capstone, to monitor eligibility windows and plan supports.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Barre City Council Meeting - 04/08/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Service providers told the Barre City Council on April 8 that several people recently exited motel placements and that local responders need better non‑identifying data and supplies to plan for short‑term sheltering.","taxTitle","Barre City, Washington County, Vermont","taxId",68795,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6076189,"Barre City Council approves $14.8 million FY2026 budget; places paving, Youth First Mentoring and other articles on the warning",1585,3289000,4874000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2972556-0f62fababad1feefffeda24bb976d2fa&start=3289&end=4874","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2972556-0f62fababad1feefffeda24bb976d2fa/thumbnail_3289000.jpg","/articles/6076189/Barre-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Barre-City-Council-approves-148-million-FY2026-budget-places-paving-Youth-First-Mentoring-and-other-articles-on-the-warning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076189-44bb3afd5a7f378f460a11e72bae128a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181609&Signature=JhPzXgsnsaivWrASyrthG0uxEK3I1rbDh9sPzlNW7rtmlauLDG4Sgdd-fGGyBd~0I0ZsuSyzQfhRJvsAuM-b-AnicoxisrZH88TiQbn58k~NAt0KupAVnwJaVOO4hp~Ha8dk1R~OopnnOPUIUgjVVoHH1-Q91nYu9c6ht66paWD4jZnXT9CWjKT0ghLTkX6q6NH2K67Cli9m5fKkhauuxTJ24ElHVEst9fC1T67ag5mB1zOgoWps2xb5hUPN6hjIKRIYULj8hPgBOgtpby770aioGduC6j8pcWkjjJhrbqFhs8gbLkdt21BFKqftnpWdHtkyj3WrN8DrzxB3KmaH3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Barre City Council on April 8 approved a $14,800,120 general fund budget for fiscal year 2026, authorizing up to $10,762,686 of that sum to be raised by local property taxes.

The budget vote followed a multi‑week deliberation by staff and councilors that reduced an earlier projected shortfall and restored several items, including most seasonal cemetery staff and library and partnership requests. The council also voted to put multiple articles on the municipal warning for voter consideration: an increased paving appropriation, a $15,000 voter‑approved appropriation for the Vermont Granite Museum, and a $2,000 request for Youth First Mentoring.

Why it matters: The budget as approved is essentially flat year‑over‑year on spending and aims to limit the municipal tax‑rate impact while restoring targeted services. The additional paving authorization is intended to respond to widespread public concern about deteriorating road conditions; the council agreed to increase the paving authorization on the ballot to allow more local paving work this construction season.

Council and staff outlined how the administration found budget relief through a mix of restored FEMA reimbursements, line‑by‑line reductions, and new non‑tax revenue. Finance staff told councilors that the proposed general fund represents a near‑flat expense plan compared with the prior year and projects a municipal tax‑rate increase below council targets. Don (Finance Director) summarized the numbers and presented the motion used to approve the budget.

Several councilors spoke in favor of adding money for pavement and sidewalks after residents repeatedly raised the issue. The manager said the city would work with the low bidder already selected for paving contracts to expand scope and that some work could be coordinated with neighboring municipal projects to get better pricing.

Votes at a glance:
- FY2026 general fund budget, $14,800,120 (amount to be raised by local property taxes not to exceed $10,762,686): motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote.
- Placement of voter articles on the warning: the Granite Museum ($15,000), Youth First Mentoring ($2,000) and the paving appropriation increase were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. Youth First Mentoring specifically was placed on the warning after a motion to do so passed unanimously.

Councilors noted that some proposed restorations (for example, community and economic development funding) were deliberately written as a general line item so the function could be provided by the existing business development corporation or another provider; that language remains in the budget to retain the programmatic function even if delivery changes.

Ending: The council handled related housekeeping votes the same night, including consent‑agenda approvals and city warrants. With the budget approved, voters will see the warned articles on the upcoming municipal ballot; councilors said they expect to continue discussions about capital priorities, including additional future paving funding and sidewalk projects.","The Barre City Council approved a $14,800,120 general fund budget for fiscal 2026 and voted to place several voter‑approved articles on the May warning, including a larger paving appropriation and a $2,000 Youth First Mentoring item.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6076175,"Council appoints Michelle Farnham to Development Review Board effective immediately",212,1024000,1236000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2972556-0f62fababad1feefffeda24bb976d2fa&start=1024&end=1236","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2972556-0f62fababad1feefffeda24bb976d2fa/thumbnail_1024000.jpg","/articles/6076175/Barre-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Council-appoints-Michelle-Farnham-to-Development-Review-Board-effective-immediately","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076175-f4677402dbcf66d29fcdf887042b61f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181609&Signature=H0oP03WgaTwThjLfmXSxA0sY0s7GK~VHYpHbN8lt2BvpqJSpgbpccsS4jnhZzhp0CWKrKFvoIHSRISKePl8O90geP4cEoosS8-9cu16OnsXcJYciv1QEUBR4rl5XSK6VTb~LCQ3bteq5v9lLbZXtpysVENb6UhTQ0DP5uRgD-QSQqawhCUdMkjaLduVdQX31yovv3j1LAl1MB7uh2M1~E5vxp0bm9jPGMWiZIQvc4BhpiE5mjhekDqHAqsjJQGPZ0BPh2RaMUkZllZ2707~thg4294k5IRz164k2VRnHXvmCCnDxfZMMv32xT5pND1AD8P6KzTSNZoWwYQfQecddag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Barre City Council on April 8 appointed Michelle Farnham to the Development Review Board (DRB), making her effective immediately and also placing her on the four‑year term beginning in June.

Farnham, who moved to Barre in June of the previous year, told the council she holds an undergraduate degree in environmental studies and a master’s in environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School and currently works in government relations. “I’m reading policy and statute all the time,” Farnham said, adding that she believed those skills would transfer to board service.

Why it matters: The DRB had been operating close to a quorum threshold, and Farnham’s appointment restores membership to a level that councilors said will ease scheduling and decision‑making for development reviews.

Appointment details and next steps
Councilors moved and seconded the appointment; the motion carried by voice vote. City staff clarified that Farnham would be appointed effective immediately to help the board achieve a quorum and would be reappointed, without a separate interview, to the standard four‑year term beginning in June so she would not need to return for a reappointment process in the immediate weeks ahead.

Ending: Councilors welcomed Farnham to the board and thanked her for stepping forward; she will begin participating in upcoming DRB meetings.","Michelle Farnham, a new Barre City resident with degrees in environmental studies and environmental law and policy, was appointed to the Development Review Board to help restore a quorum and serve a four‑year term beginning in June.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6076180,"Council opens public hearing on charter amendments including clerk appointment and 10% fund‑balance cap",1035,4923000,5958000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2972556-0f62fababad1feefffeda24bb976d2fa&start=4923&end=5958","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2972556-0f62fababad1feefffeda24bb976d2fa/thumbnail_4923000.jpg","/articles/6076180/Barre-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Council-opens-public-hearing-on-charter-amendments-including-clerk-appointment-and-10-fundbalance-cap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076180-0b01162b26e07dc349f76e8cbf6796b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181609&Signature=mQqpjdBvLGf3MfwbQFAUlv8lNLvWo3OVCM~tjkeIUFeCDOtxowb1fGIRIc8rjcl5stO7N3NOrTkk7KTg8DHnDwummovzryW-lfCv5nyPsdHZqDFFeGtnFWKBKiWRDwueuIzaqCrf4cNBTJ4YugPZdG~wLO6FNarT-7O~NR4bnVDLfGUwYYoGASHrSxi011ttzKFSl5oD2yzk3PbrZaaaBIL5ZpXRCG938~HSyGaAqqPuy~QlQC-ZIufK5FXJHlyGtN9xcQ~-NfGkl51IoCX65oS3LmGc0wvNRRWR~IDA5gzsey2Trt0zybgOLEz5ZhNzF5NJEWwKL8q2u3VuGCv6EQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Barre City Council on April 8 opened a required public hearing on proposed amendments to the city charter that would: allow the council to appoint and remove the city clerk (instead of electing the clerk), clarify who may sign deeds and grants on behalf of the city, and permit the city to retain up to 10% of annual expenditures in the general fund balance.

Why it matters: Changing the clerk from an elected to an appointed office and raising the maximum general‑fund balance are material charter changes that would alter accountability and fiscal policy. The first hearing drew both council discussion and public comment.

Public comment and council debate
Former city clerk Harold Oz spoke against converting the clerk to an appointed office: “I think it’s important that the position continue to be elected,” he told the council, arguing that the clerk serves as an independent official and chief election officer whose independence should be preserved. Several councilors said they would place the question on the ballot for voters to decide; one councilor expressed concern about the lack of a removal mechanism for an elected official and said language to allow removal of a narrowly defined failing officeholder could be researched for a future charter change.

On the fund‑balance change, the manager and finance director explained the practical impact of increasing the allowed unassigned general fund balance from the current 5% cap to 10%, saying the change would provide a larger reserve and reduce the need for repeated emergency transfers. A majority of councilors signaled support for the 10% figure as an easier‑to‑explain policy to voters.

Process note: The council voted to warn the charter amendments for voter consideration and will hold a second, statutorily required public hearing before the question appears on the ballot. Councilors were reminded that the second hearing will be informational only and that the warned language cannot be altered between hearings.

Ending: With the first hearing concluded, the council said it would schedule the second hearing in roughly two weeks and directed staff to publish the warned language and explanatory materials for voters.","Barre City Council held the first public hearing on proposed charter changes that would allow the council to appoint and remove the city clerk, expand persons authorized to sign real‑estate documents, and raise the allowed general‑fund balance to 10% of annual expenditures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Unhoused community committee reports hotel exits, logistic strains; city discusses sheltering, tracking and porta‑potty placements

Barre City Council approves $14.8 million FY2026 budget; places paving, Youth First Mentoring and other articles on the warning

Council appoints Michelle Farnham to Development Review Board effective immediately

Council opens public hearing on charter amendments including clerk appointment and 10% fund‑balance cap