Board of Finance approves BPD floor contract, several personnel reclassifications and downtown streetscape grant application

The Burlington Board of Finance on Monday unanimously approved a contract with Barrington Construction Inc. not to exceed $290,192.95 for an interior floor‑replacement project at the Burlington Police Department, and authorized a project contingency of $29,000 for a total authorized expenditure of $319,182.95.

The board also recommended multiple personnel reclassifications to the City Council and authorized the city to apply for a Vermont downtown transportation grant to buy benches, bike racks, a bus shelter and other street amenities.

Why it matters: The floor work addresses employee safety and accessibility inside the police building, the reclassifications adjust staffing titles and grades across the City Attorney’s Office, Clerk/Treasurer’s Office and Planning Department, and the grant would add street furniture to the Main Street corridor using previously approved TIF funds as the local match.

Police building floor project: City staff told the board that recent emergency HVAC repairs created an opportunity to address failing epoxy flooring in the police building’s administrative areas; staff proposed grinding down the epoxy, treating moisture in the concrete, applying a self‑leveler and installing durable vinyl plank flooring. The board authorized a not‑to‑exceed contract with Barrington Construction Inc. in the amount of $290,192.95 plus a $29,000 contingency, for a total authorized project expenditure of $319,182.95. The board recorded the contract award as a sole‑source purchase because Barrington was already onsite performing earlier repairs and could efficiently perform required testing and follow‑on work.

“...the epoxy flooring that’s in this building is failing miserably,” said Kim, a facilities staff member, describing safety concerns and the multi‑step work required to replace the floor. Catherine of the Treasurer’s Office told the board that Barrington has been the low bidder on several recent RFPs and described the firm as cost‑effective on prior city work.

Personnel reclassifications: The board voted on several personnel items and forwarded reclassification recommendations to the City Council: - Assistant City Attorney: The board recommended reclassifying one assistant city attorney position to the title Assistant City Attorney, Director of General Government and Transactional Services (regular full‑time exempt, grade 26). City Attorney Jessica Brown said the reclassification recognizes work already performed by the attorney named in the memo, and the proposal is budget neutral for the office. The board approved the recommendation and will return later to consider the separate question of eliminating the vacant deputy city attorney title. - Clerk/Treasurer’s Office: The board approved eliminating a vacant budget manager position and reclassifying an operations‑director grade 24 position to Financial and Budget Manager, grade 22, in the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office; the administration said the change produces a small net savings and reallocates skills for budget tasks. - Planning Department: The board approved reclassifying a planner position from grade 18 to grade 19 to acknowledge project management duties and recent staffing needs; the planning office said it will continue recruiting for the vacant principal planner position.

Downtown transportation grant: Public Works and the grants team asked the board to authorize applying for a Vermont Agency of Transportation/AACD downtown transportation grant (Great Streets/Main Street) with a $200,000 requested award and a local match of $50,000 drawn from previously approved TIF funds, for a proposed project budget of $250,000. The project would purchase 21 benches, 19 bike racks, a bus shelter, granite elevation indicators, staff time and a 10% contingency. The board authorized the application and the city will be notified of awards in April; projects must begin construction within 24 months if awarded.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: Adopted unanimously (mover: Councilor Chavers; second: Councilor Barlow). No further details provided on consent items in the transcript. - BPD flooring contract with Barrington Construction Inc.: Approved unanimously; contract not to exceed $290,192.95 plus $29,000 contingency (total $319,182.95); sole‑source justification: Barrington already onsite and had performed testing. (Mover/second not specified in transcript.) - Assistant City Attorney reclassification (recommendation to City Council): Approved unanimously (mover: Councilor Capps; second: Councilor Kane). The board split the original motion and only approved the reclassification while deferring the question of eliminating the deputy city attorney vacancy. - Clerk/Treasurer reclassification and elimination of vacant budget manager: Approved unanimously (mover: Councilor Rowland; second: Councilor Kane). Net small savings; operations director position reclassified to financial and budget manager grade 22. - Planning planner-to-senior reclassification (grade 18 to 19): Approved unanimously (mover: Councilor Barlow; second: Councilor Travers). - Downtown transportation grant application (request $200,000; local match $50,000): Authorized unanimously (mover: Councilor Travis; second: Councilor Barlow).

What’s next: The contract award and grant application are subject to the usual administrative reviews; the reclassification recommendations will appear on the City Council agenda for final approval. The Board of Finance record shows unanimous votes on all listed actions at the Feb. 10 meeting.