[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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",6191758,"mediaKeyId","4429813-5982e75b2ea6d5c21895cafec87d8377","parentId",4429813,"title","Developer group reports progress raising funds to buy JJ Newbury building; negotiation extended to September","audioSeconds",172,"startMs",236000,"endMs",408000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4429813-5982e75b2ea6d5c21895cafec87d8377&start=236&end=408","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4429813-5982e75b2ea6d5c21895cafec87d8377/thumbnail_236000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6191758/Barre-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Developer-group-reports-progress-raising-funds-to-buy-JJ-Newbury-building-negotiation-extended-to-September","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191758-24d51147190ad18266ef505aa5c51de4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773613191&Signature=QH7KALZ2kpXvRrSXytedRTWnp0p~MiGhAQtW-IkVEii7l~Ihpm14eUmvFIvSW1Eadc8oReZeip3TS19o3OiF3Gpes13POXLgIY3dywfR0VEEkvt~yMtS5tokT40URO8KU1dA-GmVfjbCxGVd59TIAbuzYqCpMCct-AgHRJeJBz5-nbRpUpHJNxQ9EWu50IA69UoX3yWfWw7JzhdKhUsLZ~BxyOHl6HJRVsnZwlBlAdAw7qaIENwqiEltgSeV5CwpZmGucvIaoVyJLjkYx3R6YEr-ZRTOkLYESLrRIqE4TQP3McwrnYPFfsuoCiH6sm--5PgltrZBqQPXHvE3g-rjmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Barre City, VT","date","2025-06-18T15:23:29Z","article","A local redevelopment group updated the council on an effort to buy the JJ Newbury building in downtown Barre, saying the owners accepted a reduced sale price and that fundraising is underway with a 90‑day option window.

Steve McKenzie, identified at the meeting as a representative of the redevelopment effort, told the council the group had negotiated from an initial price around $1,000,000 and an earlier requirement to raise additional post‑closing funds. The owners accepted a compromise sale price of $800,000 and shortened the group’s fundraising obligations: the new total obligation was reported as $850,000, with $50,000 set aside for post‑closing costs. McKenzie said the group currently had about $725,000 in cash and pledges, leaving roughly $125,000 to raise within the 90‑day option period that expires Sept. 8.

McKenzie asked the council for awareness and said the group thought the balance was “doable.” He said the group would continue private fundraising and reach out to potential donors. Councilors thanked him for the update; no formal city action or financial commitment was requested.

What happens next: the redevelopment group will continue private fundraising and may return to council if it seeks city assistance or formal support.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Barre City Council Meeting - 06/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Barre Redevelopment (visitor report) told council its purchase option on the JJ Newbury building was extended after a reduced sale price was accepted; the group reported $725,000 in cash or pledges toward an $800,000 sales price and has 90 days to complete fundraising.","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},6191762,"Heart of Barre art project to be installed in Aldrich Library after statehouse showing; artists donate work to city",180,3696000,3876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4429813-5982e75b2ea6d5c21895cafec87d8377&start=3696&end=3876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4429813-5982e75b2ea6d5c21895cafec87d8377/thumbnail_3696000.jpg","/articles/6191762/Barre-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Heart-of-Barre-art-project-to-be-installed-in-Aldrich-Library-after-statehouse-showing-artists-donate-work-to-city","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191762-625de892e502180d5920ee539a7840c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773613191&Signature=eDf0Lxo3ZnIlNyqtLyqCpIVqRNItbEz0vKygmFRHHt0mbrnizFtqr417k7k5wpzeQWnHDHpvDj36-xbxMzknpyDWxX4H7GAzs9PbOOPJjlrGV7Vdwcp9REjhV0Msm3y0lPsgNZL3Rri64FizFij25qP9SL9C7y6XvY70isJov6f8r~xkrcs-8uB0xKqtADJuv4mBSivq1cKbTlj5twvTfi7OG-4Q-31kwitulBbAhchYG-B1-CVVVEf07VYK9FuwwMN-RqhdOcHIt8RZyRFkrgJx2omTmnqnUTUdqWN0zRTDmHxUY4F9d93Nn4rv3jm87tBf9-R7joDHwoQMuO9bDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two local artists presented “Heart of Barre,” a two‑panel, community art installation documenting personal stories from the 2023 and 2024 floods and created from 20 canvases that form larger 80x80 works. The project will be publicly unveiled during the Heritage Festival on July 24, will be exhibited in the Statehouse for five months beginning in September, and is intended for permanent installation at the Aldrich Public Library in February 2026.

Artist Deirdre (last name not stated) and collaborator Shauna Trader described the project as a collection of portraits, oral histories and poetry designed to highlight neighbors’ experiences of flood, recovery and community care. The installation includes audio QR codes linking viewers to recorded interviews; the artists said they intend to add supporting poetry and a companion volume whose proceeds will benefit local organizations (artists said the entire project will be gifted to the city and the library, and the city paid nothing for the work).

The artists said the project grew over two years and will include a ribbon‑cutting and a public reception; they said Ace Hardware and a private patron helped underwrite portions of the work. The artists also noted the project will be included in a documentary segment and that an artists’ reception at the Statehouse is scheduled for October 3. Council members and several residents praised the work and encouraged residents to attend the public opening.

What happens next: artists will coordinate logistics with city staff and the library for the July ribbon‑cutting and the February 2026 installation; the Statehouse display will run September through January.","Local artists presented an 80x80 \"Heart of Barre\" art installation documenting flood stories; the city will host a ribbon‑cutting during Heritage Festival and the piece will travel to the Statehouse before permanent installation in Aldrich Public Library.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6191767,"Barre City adopts updated flood‑resiliency plan with new projects and prioritization rubric",0,13320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4429813-5982e75b2ea6d5c21895cafec87d8377&start=13320&end=13320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4429813-5982e75b2ea6d5c21895cafec87d8377/thumbnail_13320000.jpg","/articles/6191767/Barre-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Barre-City-adopts-updated-floodresiliency-plan-with-new-projects-and-prioritization-rubric","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191767-d6e1db940244b17e38eacc26ae0aface/orig.mp4?Expires=1773613191&Signature=eA-6DolcYnLvVaUpuGAdI9X7c61bqMV9-CQqlt7d5yRDCYDBuXt3LHf1H2638HbK6PSZGe7EGwP2Pe0KpUEJWa8ETqmtHKachNuGtTLn6gXqP3y7MY7VuzqP5QwHcwO9WF0uKBsEmOuqmBymlpw-zGvnibKufVkrugohw2TyqhiWShD1pNsnic7wRcS4tlmfO0DId~Kzw02CI3IKrFG-zLeIfD0SqhguzewwhbBM1jOBUhNfE7~5ALaeeR2hotoo1EU0c8jZ5Ep15ysIJfJDm8rC-RBKu2nQz31elVdZNvL79-GoxNDwNE135a28zXa7RbBi0p4atsf44g9XrX83bA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Barre City Council voted to adopt an updated flood‑resiliency plan that adds new projects, moves several earlier items to completed status and introduces a prioritization rubric to guide which projects the city pursues first.

The council adopted the update on a vote during the meeting after Councilor Guston presented substantive changes since the plan’s November 2024 adoption. The update moves five projects to “complete,” revises and combines several others, and adds new initiatives the city will study or pursue, including: strategic riverbed maintenance, emergency access improvements to the Public Safety Building, solutions for Cottage/Courier Park and Potash Brook flooding, a north‑end master plan, green infrastructure and traffic calming, installation of a river gauge on the Stevens Branch with an accompanying camera, and floodplain restoration work at Spaulding High School.

Councilor Guston said staff will expand descriptions for newly listed future projects so the city has scopes, named roles, and next steps. She noted the railroad trestle removal event and celebrations as a milestone, and told council the plan now explicitly commits the city to ensuring staff capacity as it pursues grants and projects.

The most substantial change of the update is a three‑factor prioritization rubric that scores each project on funding availability, urgency, and public feedback. Funding and urgency are scored on a 1–5 scale (1 = funding in hand or highest urgency; 5 = no clear funding or low urgency). Guston said the public‑feedback element will be populated by a public survey; staff and council discussed survey design (ranked list versus a simpler 1–5 importance scale) and agreed to pilot an outreach tool and circulate it to council for comment before public release.

Councilors discussed cost, ordering and timing for several proposals. Councilor Guston said a Stevens Branch river gauge (and camera) is a priority; staff estimated a gauge’s capital cost in the tens of thousands of dollars and annual maintenance in the low five digits. Councilors also asked staff to add consideration of an audible alert system and online camera feed for river gauges as ways to improve emergency communication.

The motion to adopt the updated plan passed. Staff will circulate the final adopted document with the new rubric and begin targeted public outreach on prioritization and grant strategies before the fall grant cycle.","The council adopted an updated flood‑resiliency plan that moves several projects to completion, adds new future projects — including river gauges, debris catchers and stormwater repairs — and adopts a prioritization rubric to guide funding and scheduling.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6191772,"Barre City Council advances public-conduct ordinance to second reading after extended debate on enforcement and appeals",953,3600000,4553000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4429813-5982e75b2ea6d5c21895cafec87d8377&start=3600&end=4553","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4429813-5982e75b2ea6d5c21895cafec87d8377/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6191772/Barre-City/Washington-County/Vermont/Barre-City-Council-advances-public-conduct-ordinance-to-second-reading-after-extended-debate-on-enforcement-and-appeals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191772-bd53cccdc75a9ac8a32716340c39b5a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773613191&Signature=MVrNzEnUGkRDpPe7Th0aWw1mfNM0AMiBkKsZTs49ESRPlEvJ75mLAWIHElscocMs0lKBAzV9iiFu07CWye1IPot1Yl8e0L86r5JHlZRIlyKq98ydVuPtHsGDXj1cdvnTNtEQJOtBNK7N0SDbZ~VFO16WGBX24fX-bYCYXDWS7o6BWNX8JCRfxbZT~G9We10ykuqWIwJYUv3Vss1vAG4aIBoDXoHvSZydgDGkPYf5~OMnDFgGz4hsvdhwaGscw4jMVVqHat-CEcsJlvkA6tWDKcjW4dnXTjm3aSriv3IIYCOz5F4EUUPUGmEKIu2Pn7lvALjePQXu4uVb7fVpluBVyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Barre City Council voted Monday night to send a revised public-conduct ordinance and an accompanying notice-of-trespass policy to a second reading after detailed debate about enforcement, appeals and community supports.

Councilors and members of the public spent most of the meeting discussing a draft ordinance and a separate policy that would authorize city-designated officials and sworn officers to issue notices against trespass on specific city property for criminal or unreasonably disruptive conduct. City staff said they removed proposed new fines from the ordinance and narrowed its scope during revisions.

City Manager (unnamed) told the council the ordinance is intended for “dangerous, illegal or unreasonably disruptive” behavior and to preserve “livability” while recognizing constitutionally protected activity. Police Chief Vale described the intended use as a civil tool to trespass individuals from specific city locations after verbal warnings for repeated or serious misconduct; criminal charges still apply where a criminal statute is violated. The manager said notices would be location-specific (for example, City Hall Park) rather than citywide and that the policy would require a verbal warning except where a serious allegation (arson, assault, harassment) was involved.

Supporters, including downtown business owners and some residents, urged passage to protect customers and families from aggressive panhandling, vandalism, public urination and open-drug activity. Opponents and civil‑liberties advocates pressed for stronger procedural safeguards. Councilors and community members repeatedly asked for clarity about who decides whether behavior is “unreasonably disruptive,” how appeals will work, and whether the process could have a disparate impact on unhoused or other marginalized residents.

Council discussion led to multiple revisions the manager said could be finalized in policy (not in the ordinance) before second reading. Among ideas discussed at council request were: recording appeal hearings, permitting an advocate or representative to attend an appeal, providing an option for restorative justice or community service as a follow-up, and narrowing or clarifying terms such as “manner inconsistent with intended use” (for city property). The manager and chief said they would work with the city attorney and community stakeholders to refine the policy language and appeal procedures, and staff agreed to double-check code citations referenced in the draft.

The motion to move the ordinance to second reading passed; the council will take up the ordinance again with the refined policy at the next meeting. Councilors noted the ordinance is only one element of a broader strategy that includes increased directed patrols, portable restrooms, trash pickup, security cameras and outreach to social-service providers.

What happens next: the ordinance returns for a second reading at the council’s next meeting; staff said they will circulate a revised policy that incorporates council requests on appeal process transparency, recording, and options such as restorative justice before then.","After hours of public comment and council discussion, the Barre City Council voted to move a revised public-conduct ordinance and an associated notice-of-trespass policy to a second reading, following changes that removed new fines and established an administrative appeals process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Developer group reports progress raising funds to buy JJ Newbury building; negotiation extended to September

Heart of Barre art project to be installed in Aldrich Library after statehouse showing; artists donate work to city

Barre City adopts updated flood‑resiliency plan with new projects and prioritization rubric

Barre City Council advances public-conduct ordinance to second reading after extended debate on enforcement and appeals