Board of Selectmen January 8, 2001

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

JANUARY 8, 2001

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Robert Mack, Jr.

John Rosenthal

Charles Russell

OTHERS: Nancy P. Sabin

Debbie Ramsdell

Stephen C. Brooks

Nancy Walsh

Sylvia Sprigg

Moe Harvey

Frances Foster

Ed Melby

David Miskell

Ed Stone

Paul Arthaud

Wendy Schroeder

________________________________________________________________

Chairman Mack called the meeting of the Board of Selectmen to

order at 7:12 p.m. in the Charlotte Town Offices.

SIGN WARRANTS AND BILLS

Board members signed warrants and bills.

APPROVE MINUTES

Board members discussed which minutes were in need of approval

and Russell stated we wanted the corrected minutes in the

permanent record rather than just having any corrections to the

previous minutes be made in the next meeting's minutes.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO MINUTES SO THAT AN UPDATED

VERSION GOES INTO THE PERMANENT RECORD BOOK."

Vote: All in favor.

Board members discussed the minutes of December 27, 2000 and

January 2, 2001. Russell asked to change on the third page of

the minutes of December 27, 2000, that Hinsdale didn't know

whether or not to recuse himself from the vote on the zoning at

Route 7 and East Thompson's Point Road, rather than saying he

would do so.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 27, 2000 AS

AMENDED."

Vote: All in favor.

Board of Selectmen -2- January 8, 2001

Russell asked to delete the last sentence in the first paragraph

under BUDGET WORK SESSION.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 2, 2001 AS

AMENDED."

Vote: All in favor.

NANCY WALSH - THORPE BARN PROJECT UPDATE

Nancy Walsh said she wanted to communicate with the board on

what she and the "friends of the Thorpe Barn" are doing with the

barn. Walsh said the barn had been scheduled for to be burned

to the ground, but she and the "Friends" believed restoring the

barn would be a better option as the barn has historical

significance; since it is more than 200 years old.

Walsh said the barn restoration project needs to raise

$150,000.00 in total and $44,000.00 has been raised to date and

the "Friends" are $16,000.00 short to pay Pete Dimick the

initial $60,000.00 to secure the barn's foundation, which was a

clear, immediate need. Walsh said that the "Friends" had been

looking into funding grants, but grantors wanted to see the town

showing some sign of support for the restoration. Walsh asked

the board as a small show of support to pay the electric bill

for the foundation work; estimated to run to about $900.00.

Walsh reviewed the donations from town residents and funding to

date.

There was a discussion of which town board might be most

appropriate to financially help support the project. Wendy

Schroeder noted the board was in the process of preparing the

budget for next year and it may be hard to find money in this

year's budget. Mack said he was not comfortable with the

"Friends" starting work on the barn foundation without having

all the money to complete that phase of the project. Mack said

he was willing to put the request in the Warning for Town

Meeting as a separate line item to get a sense of whether the

town residents were interested in restoring the barn, and

suggested the "Friends" get a letter of interest from Douglas

Horne. Board members discussed paying the electric bill for the

barn. Mack said the board was generally in favor of the

"Friends'" project and Rosenthal noted the money was just not

budgeted.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO APPROVE UP TO $900.00 TO PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL

FOR THE THORPE BARN."

Vote: 3 opposed.

LISTERS - LISTER APPOINTMENT

Board members and Kay Gault discussed the Lister vacancy, since

the resignation of Jackie Baker. Gault said Carol Russell was

the only candidate who expressed interest in the position.

Board of Selectmen -3- January 8, 2001

Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPOINT CAROL RUSSELL TO COMPLETE JACKIE BAKER'S

TERM UNTIL TOWN MEETING DAY."

Vote: All in favor.

CHARLOTTE LAND TRUST - BUDGET AND BURNS UPDATE

Moe Harvey introduced Frances Foster, the new Chairman of the

Charlotte Land Trust. Harvey said the Charlotte Land Trust was

about to close on all the parcels except Lot #2 on the Burns

property within the next 4-5 business days. Harvey gave out

worksheets outlining expenses and cost for the board on the

Burns property. Harvey said after the closings this week that

most of the loans involved will be paid off and the Trust will

have to refinance their debt until Lot #2 is sold, as the Trust

is now without any money and have debts, but the Trust will have

a better idea of their standing after this week, as the closings

will bring in some money from interest and tax payments made on

the Burns property. Harvey noted the Charlotte Land Trust is

asking for $10,000.00 in the next budget. Foster said the Trust

needs to do a membership drive and a capital campaign to get

back on its feet.

BUDGET WORK SESSION

Board members reviewed the budget worksheets with the changes

from the last meeting prepared by Wendy Schroeder, beginning

with the Fire and Rescue Capital budget.

Schroeder noted the Grand List is expected to grow by four

million dollars as of this year, and reviewed town income and

revenues.

Schroeder reviewed a memo from Zoning Administrator, Tom

Mansfield, dated January 5, 2001, recommending a rate schedule

for "Certificates of Compliance." Board members discussed the

road and land maintenance budgets and Schroeder reviewed the

increased funding request for the library. Board members

discussed whether to fund a Halloween party again next year, the

Recreation budget and costs of dock removal and maintenance, the

Thorpe barn and painting the town hall. Mack discussed which

budget items he saw as priority.

Schroeder and board members discussed health insurance costs for

employees and Russell and Rosenthal reviewed the results of

their meeting with town employees and stated they would meet

again.

Board members discussed the monies spent on the Senior Center

and what expenses might be reimbursed to the town when the

Stratevest Group releases the funds from Walter Irish's will.

Board members agreed to work on the budget again on Saturday,

January 13, 2001.

Board of Selectmen -4- January 8, 2001

OTHER BUSINESS

Russell read a draft memo to the board dated January 4, 2001

from the Planning Commission on their deliberation on the

petition to re-zone the Industrial District on Route 7 and East

Thompson's Point Road on December 21, 2001. Russell said he

wanted the board to reconsider or possibly reverse the vote to

omit the reference to the area in the new Town plan made at the

last meeting, as he and the other board members believe the

matter was tabled by the Planning Commission and not deliberated

on. Rosenthal said he questioned the intended impact of the

memo, as it is marked as a draft. Russell said he felt the

matter was out of the board's jurisdiction and the board should

let the voters decide the matter.

Mack said he had talked with Town Planner, Dean Block, last week

and understood the Planning Commission had not acted on the

petition and questioned what the board's legal window to take

any action would be at this point, since the board just received

the memo. Mack also noted the Planning Commission received the

petition about 15 months ago and did not act on it. Russell

suggested taking the issue out of the town plan and have the

voters decide on the issue at Town Meeting. Rosenthal said he

would call Jeff McDonald (the PC Chair), and ask him about the

matter.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO RECONSIDER THE VOTE TO DELETE ANY REFERENCE TO

COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL ZONING AT ROUTE 7 AND EAST

THOMPSON'S POINT ROAD FROM THE NEW TOWN PLAN."

Vote: 2 opposed, 1 in favor (Russell).

Wendy Schroeder noted she had been contacted by the family of a

person killed by a drunk driver who wanted to put a marker at

the site. Mack said he needed more information.

Schroeder said the Animal Control Officer had been receiving

complaints by phone of dogs barking in the middle of the night

and suggested the complainers be fined. Sylvia Sprigg suggested

the Animal Control Officer could write a letter to the Charlotte

News advising residents of proper action when they are awakened

by barking dogs.

Nancy Sabin said she had written a letter to the Charlotte News

asking for Jim Sheldon-Dean's resignation from the board, as he

is frequently out of town on business.

Schroeder gave Mack a copy of the license agreement and lease

for the trailer on the Burns property.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO AUTHORIZE MACK TO SIGN THE LICENSE AGREEMENT

WITH LANTERN VISIONS, LLC FOR PARKING SPACES."

Vote: All in favor.

Board of Selectmen -5- January 8, 2001

Schroeder reviewed lat year's Town Meeting Warning and discussed

with board members Articles for this year's. Schroeder noted

decisions on town employees salaries and health insurance had to

be made and the budget needed finalizing.

Having no further business, Chairman Mack moved:

* "TO ADJOURN."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:52 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn