Board of Selectmen January 21, 2002

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

JANUARY 21, 2002

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Robert Mack, Jr.

James Sheldon-Dean

Charles Russell

Debbie Ramsdell

Paul Arthaud

OTHERS: Lorna Jimerson

Joe Segale

Rayne Herzog

Stephen C. Brooks

John Rosenthal

Nancy Sabin

Eleanor Russell

Mary Beth Freeman

Sylvia Sprigg

Hugh Lewis, Jr.

Clark Hinsdale, III

Wendy Schroeder

________________________________________________________________

Chairman Mack called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. in the

Charlotte Town Offices. Arthaud said he would like to make 2

additions to the agenda: a discussion on a proposal to add an

Earth Charter to the Town Meeting Warning and to discuss the

Auditor's Report. Ramsdell asked if board members had reviewed

her draft of the Selectboard Report yet. Lorna Jimerson asked

if she could be on the agenda earlier than scheduled.

APPROVE MINUTES

Russell asked in the minutes of January 7, 2002 on page 2 in the

fourth paragraph to delete the sentence referring to a historic

district and in the discussion by Illick about a 100 ft. setback

to clarify that is in the conservation district. Russell also

asked that the references to a side rail be changed to "new

siding" and to clarify the railroad never had a permit for

extending the siding. Russell asked that in the last paragraph

on page 3 to read that the use of water by industry can

adversely affect residential use of water and change the wording

from "leave a dry hydrant" to "leave a fire pond dry."

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Arthaud:

* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 7, 2002 AS

AMENDED."

Vote: All in favor.

Board of Selectmen -2- January 21, 2002

In the minutes of December 17, 2001, Ramsdell noted the

typographical error of the use of "for" instead of "Four" and

CCRPC instead of CCRPS. Ramsdell asked that it be clarified

that the use of "instant run-off voting" is only used in the

absence of a majority vote for any one candidate and it keeps

the decision in the voters purview instead of the town's.

Ramsdell asked that "INSTANT RUN-OFF VOTING" be added to the

motion on that issue.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Arthaud:

* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 17, 2001 AS

AMENDED."

Vote: All in favor.

Chairman Mack suggested signing of the bills and warrants be put

of until later in the agenda.

SHELBURNE ATHLETIC CLUB - RAYNE HERZOG - MARATHON

Rayne Herzog, on behalf of Shelburne Athletic Club, gave copies

of a race fact sheet and then discussed it with board members.

Herzog explained it involved a half marathon and discussed the

event would be well organized and the areas involved would be

left clean. Herzog said his organization expected 300 to 500

racers and discussed parking. Mack asked if the Club had

organized races before and would be willing to sign a hold

harmless and Herzog answered yes to both.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Arthaud:

* "TO APPROVE THE SHELBURNE ATHLETIC CLUB'S CHARLOTTE

COVERED BRIDGES HALF MARATHON, MAY 11, 2002."

Vote: All in favor.

Arthaud suggested to Herzog that he talk to Larry Lavalette

about parking space at the Flea Market.

LORNA JIMERSON - QUONSET HUT PAINTING REQUEST

Charlotte Central School Director, Lorna Jimerson said she had

some money in the budget to sandblast and repaint the Quonset.

Jimerson wondered who owned the building and Mack responded he

was sure the town had sold it to the school for a dollar years

ago. Arthaud asked what the building was used for and Jimerson

answered it is used for storage of stage supplies and furniture

and added it was in poor repair, leaked and had birds living in

it. Jimerson said the structure serves its purpose for now, but

should someday be replaced. Wendy Schroeder asked if anyone was

interested in doing the painting or if the costs had been looked

into the cost of replacing the structure rather than repairing

it. Jimerson said not yet. Mack suggested discussing the

matter at a later date.

Board of Selectmen -3- January 21, 2002

JOE SEGALE - MPO - LONG RANGE TRANSPORTATION PLAN

Principal of Transportation for the Chittenden County Municipal

Planning Organization, Joe Segale gave handouts to the board

members on the first draft of the Long Range Transportation

Plan. Segale outlined the responsibilities of the CCMPO and the

general intention that local people can have a say in the use of

federal transportation funds. Segale said the CCMPO is required

by federal law to do a long range plan and update it every five

years and the current plan includes service by CCTA to all of

the county and increased ridership. Segale discussed new growth

center projections, a freight study and backlogged projects.

Segale said he would be back in the fall with the final

document.

ROAD COMMISSIONER BUDGET

Chairman Mack told Road Commissioner, Hugh Lewis, Jr. the

current figure in the board has in the proposed budget for road

is $685,000.00. Russell asked how much the town would be

getting from the state in grants and Lewis responded he didn't

have the forms to apply for culverts and paving grants and

wouldn't until next month, but added he didn't expect much money

from the state this year. Mack noted there was more money for

bridges in the new budget and Lewis noted some of the work he

and his crew could do and that some of the work needed to be

contracted out. Mack asked Lewis to get an estimate for the

work need to be done on bridges. Lewis said he would like to

pave Spear Street and Thompson's Point and Lake Roads are in

need of repair.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION

There was no Public Discussion.

CLARK HINSDALE III - CAROL AUBE

Clark Hinsdale, III said he had been working with Amanda

Lafferty from the town attorney's office as well as Zoning

Administrator Tom Mansfield and Town Planner, Dean Bloch on an

open space agreement with 5 acres set aside for extra density on

a property of 50 acres he has a contract to purchase and

subdivide along Route 7. Hinsdale showed board members a map of

the area, outlining his proposal. Hinsdale noted there is

another party interested in the property and the land is

currently involved in a court case, so the purchase date is

unknown.

Russell asked if a septic permit was approved at the site and

Hinsdale responded that it was, in 1985. Hinsdale said he would

need a subdivision modification permit and Mansfield and Bloch

had suggested he go before the Planning Commission and The

Zoning Board of Adjustment in a joint meeting. Russell asked if

Hinsdale was modifying 2 PDRs and Hinsdale answered yes.

Board of Selectmen -4- January 21, 2002

There was a discussion of the Aube-Hinsdale case and whether

this proposal would solve the issue, and if so, if it would

solve the issue in a time frame the interested parties would be

agreeable to. Mack said the board would take the matter under

advisement.

CHARLOTTE SENIOR CENTER COORDINATOR JOB DESCRIPTION

Wendy Schroeder noted she had received a draft letter from the

Senior Center Committee and that she had made some changes to it

to be in compliance with the town's other employee job

descriptions.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO APPROVE THE CHARLOTTE SENIOR CENTER COORDINATOR

JOB DESCRIPTION."

Vote: All in favor.

Schroeder said the new Senior Center Coordinator wanted to know

if she would be reimbursed for mileage and was thinking of going

to a training in Berlin. Mack said the board doesn't have

enough information at this time to make a decision.

REQUEST TRAFFIC CONTROL 2/3/02 (SENIOR CENTER OPENING)

COWBOY 2-4

Schroeder advised board members the Senior Center Committee was

think of having extra parking for their grand opening at the

town hall and one of the local churches and wondered if they

would need traffic control. Mack suggested the Senior Center

Committee work it out or if they couldn't that they could come

to the board at next week's meeting.

REVIEW DRAFT LETTER RE: TRANSMISSION TOWER ON SPEAR STREET

Mack noted that Zoning Administrator, Tom Mansfield had sent a

copy of his draft letter on the transmission tower on Spear

Street for the boards review.

RUSSELL & CYNEWSKI LETTERS

Russell said he was recusing himself from discussion on this

agenda item as one of the letter writers is his daughter.

Chairman Mack explained to board members and attendees that 2

ten year-olds had written letters to the board; on what happens

to stray dogs in town and another on a miniature golf course in

town. Mack said he would respond to the letters himself.

Board of Selectmen -5- January 21, 2002

SIGN RENEWAL FOR FIRE STATION NOTE

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO APPROVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT NOTE FOR THE

FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF

$80,000.00."

Vote: All in favor.

APPROVE ADDITION OF NEW ROAD - "ROBIN LANE"

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO AMEND THE STREET NAMING ORDINANCE TO INCLUDE

ROBIN LANE."

Vote: All in favor.

TOWN MEETING WARNING

Arthaud said he had received correspondence from Eleanor Keeler,

asking that an "Earth Charter" be put on the Town Meeting agenda

as an advisory motion. Mack suggested that Keeler's group work

on crafting the language for the motion.

Russell discussed his conversation with the town attorney on

what could be voted on by Australian ballot.

Board members discussed the order of the Articles to be on the

Warning and the Article concerning the Constable position.

Arthaud moved and the motion was seconded by

Ramsdell:

* "TO APPROVE BILL YACAVONI'S AUDITOR REPORT FOR

FISCAL YEAR 2001-2001."

Vote: All in favor.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Arthaud:

* "TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE

WENDY SCHROEDER'S SALARY."

Vote: All in favor.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Arthaud:

* "TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION."

Vote: All in favor.

Chairman Mack reported the board took no action in Executive

Session. Executive Session ran from 9:07 to 9:17 p.m.

Board of Selectmen -6- January 21, 2002

SIGN WARRANTS AND BILLS

Board members signed warrants and bills.

Having no further business, Chairman Mack

moved:

* "TO ADJOURN."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn