Board of Selectmen January 28, 2002

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

JANUARY 28, 2002

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Robert Mack, Jr.

James Sheldon-Dean

Charles Russell

Debbie Ramsdell

Paul Arthaud

OTHERS: Richard F. Weed

Hugh Lewis, Sr.

Cathe Brown

Kevin C. Kearns

Lydia Clemmons

Jack Clemmons

Jeff McDonald

Sylvia Sprigg

Ellie Russell

Stephen C. Brooks

John Hammer

Helen Toor

Mary Thibault

Joe Papa

Hugh Lewis, Jr.

John Rosenthal

Nancy Sabin

Al Moraska

Shirley Allen

Harley Allen

Mary Beth Freeman

Steve Elsbree

F. G. Lippert

Nona Lippert

Jennifer Owen Adsit

Martha Perkins

Wendy Schroeder

________________________________________________________________

Chairman Mack called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. in the

Charlotte Town Offices. Mack noted the first agenda item was

signing bills and warrants.

SIGN WARRANTS AND BILLS

Board members signed warrants and bills.

Arthaud moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPROVE THE CHECK WARRANT DATED JANUARY 28, 2002

IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,877.51."

Vote: All in favor.

Board of Selectmen -2- January 28, 2002

Arthaud moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPROVE THE CHECK WARRANT DATED JANUARY 28, 2002

IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,422.33."

Vote: All in favor.

APPROVE MINUTES

Ramsdell noted that in the minutes of January 14, the motion to

adjourn as the board of health was not noted in the minutes, the

Senior Center was scheduled to open in 202, not 2001 and on page

5 to change the word "expending" to "expanding." Arthaud noted

on page 3 in the second to last paragraph the misspelling of

"state" and the reference to Health Office should be "Officer."

Arthaud also noted in the second to last paragraph on page 6

that "question" should be "questioned." Arthaud noted that he

had asked Hazel Prindle to fill out a grant application for

cemetery repairs and she had agreed to do so and in the

discussion on the Little League fields that an asphalt rise had

been reviewed.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Arthaud:

* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JANUARY 14, 2002 AS

AMENDED."

Vote: All in favor.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION

Chairman of the Planning Commission, Jeff McDonald noted that

the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission had just lost

its Director and suggested the Commission could use input from

the town on what suggested that an interim director might be a

good idea.

Sylvia Sprigg noted there was an application pending for a tower

on John Crabbe's silo and asked to have an agenda item on this

issue for the next meeting.

Ramsdell noted there were 100-200 people expected to attend the

Grand Opening of the Senior Center on Saturday.

TOWN PLAN HEARING

Chairman Mack opened the hearing on the new Town Plan at 7:30

p.m., noting that only minor changes can be made to the Plan at

this point in the process.

Arthaud asked that on page 61, Section 4.6.3, that it should

read that "the town has paid EMTs," rather than "has one." and

in the fourth paragraph on page 62 to note that the Rescue

service answered 260 calls in 2001. Arthaud asked that on page

79, Section 5.1.3.1 under Village Areas that what is in

parentheses be omitted.

Board of Selectmen -3- January 28, 2002

Martha Perkins suggested that recent changes made to the plan be

reviewed and Town Planner, Dean Bloch reviewed the changes, most

of which he said evolved from comments made at the last hearing

and from 4 written submissions received since that hearing,

January 7, 2002.

Nancy Sabin asked whether TDRs were included in the Plan and

Bloch answered that there is nothing specific in the plan and no

schedule to include them and no rules written for them. Sabin

asked who will do the studies mentioned in the Plan and how they

would be paid for. Mack said the Planning Commission would be

busy.

Jack Clemmons said there were no railroads shown on the town

maps in the Town Plan and on page 120, under Public

Transportation there is no mention of a railroad. Mack asked

Dean to include railroads in the Plan in the earliest version

possible.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO SEND THE TOWN PLAN TO THE VOTERS ON MARCH 5, 202

WITH THE NOTED CHANGES MADE THIS EVENING."

Vote: All in favor.

Chairman Mack closed the Public Hearing at 7:55 p.m. and the

board took a five minute break.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS BY-LAWS HEARING

Chairman Mack opened the hearing on the Telecommunications

By-laws at 8:00 p.m.

Arthaud said he had no comments, but had recently educated

himself on telecommunications issues and discussed by-laws

needing to be updated in the future. Arthaud said that many

parties were happy with the By-laws.

Harley Allen discussed the 300 ft. setback requirement for

repeaters has been changed to 1,500 ft., leaving few places

where repeaters could be located in town. Allen gave a handout

to board members on the issue. Shirley Allen asked if the

setback requirement could be changed at this point and Mack

answered probably not.

Steve Elsbree, who works for a local phone company, said

research has shown that most phone companies will abide by the

1,500 ft. restriction and added that there currently are no

repeaters in Charlotte, just a base site. Elsbee noted that

most sites where there is 1,500 ft away from residences in town

are in low-lying areas, which would be less suitable for

repeaters.

Bloch noted the 300 ft. restriction was taken out by the

Planning Commission.

Martha Perkins asked if towers would be outdated in a few years

and Mary Beth Freeman noted that the alternatives were

expensive.

Board of Selectmen -4- January 28, 2002

Stephen Brooks asked if a variance could be attained to offset

the setback requirement and Harley Allen said yes, if they met

the specifications for a variance, but that would be difficult.

Mary Beth Freeman noted that the new technology is digital,

which has not had much testing to date, but the new technology

doesn't use repeaters.

Harley Allen said he knew of there applications "in the works"

for repeaters. Arthaud noted an application that had recently

been filed for a new repeater.

Stephen rooks said the town's broad responsibility to have

reasonable coverage for Fire and Rescue, which already exists.

Martha Perkins said the Planning Commission is responsible for

the safety of the townspeople.

There was a discussion of the definition of repeaters versus low

power antennas.

Chairman Mack asked if there were any locations needing

telecommunications coverage and Steve Elsbee replied there are 5

of the 6 communications carriers in Vermont that don't have full

coverage.

Sylvia Sprigg suggested that towers could be located other than

in town and Arthaud added the town has just one and the coverage

that is required.

Harley Allen said that trade could not be restricted.

Al Moraska said the 1,500 ft. limit has been in the town's

by-laws for years and the town has an obligation to protect the

citizens and their health and safety.

Mack asked if the 1,500 ft. limit is the same as other towns in

the area and Freeman responded the VLCT suggested 1,000 ft., but

1500 ft. was chosen for health reasons outlined in research

provided to the town by AT&T.

Harley Allen said in his opinion the setback should be

"determined by power output as when frequency goes up heating

goes out."

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Arthaud:

* "TO APPROVE THE ZONING BY-LAWS FOR

TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWERS TO BE PUT BEFORE THE

VOTERS FOR A VOTE."

Vote: All in favor.

The hearing was closed by Chairman Mack at 8:37 p.m.

TOWN MEETING WARNING

Board members discussed the Articles of Warning for the Town

Meeting, March 5, 2002.

Board of Selectmen -5- January 28, 2002

There was a discussion of incorporating Articles 2 and 10, as

both deal with the paying of taxes, but the board decided to

leave them as is because one Article is binding and the other

non-binding.

Board members discussed Article 6 and recent decisions by the

Recreation Committee to use the $3,000.00 to be expended in the

Article for a recreation path rather than the skating rink.

Wendy Schroeder reviewed a letter from the town attorney

advising that the use of salt on the road is a maintenance issue

and the Selectboard can direct the Road Commissioner to use more

or less salt on roads. Mack said he would like to see the

matter voted on and Sheldon-Dean the matter is in the

Selectboard's authority to decide, but the townspeople should be

heard on this. Board members decided to have them motion read

"Will the town vote on an advisory basis to recommend that the

Selectboard direct the Road Commissioner to use his discretion

to put more salt on the roads."

Board members reviewed Article 8, expending $10,000.00 for the

Little League fields. Mack noted the sum could be changed form

the floor.

Board members discussed Article 9, expending monies to pave the

Senior Center and Fire & Rescue parking lots. There was a

discussion of how to make it clear to the voters that the town

had some monies unspent on the sewer project that would be

available for the paving.

The Board Left Article 10 as is.

Board Members discussed Article 11, allowing for an "Earth

Charter" to guide decisions on issues. Schroeder wondered who

would do a presentation on this issue.

Board members made no changes to Article 12, allowing for

"Instant Run-Off Elections" in the event no candidate has a

clear majority.

Board members discussed Article 13, on "genetically engineered

food and seeds." Board members discussed their concerns about

the implications of the Article. The board decided to leave it

on.

The board reviewed which Articles would be voted by Australian

ballot.

LETTER TO TRAFFIC COMMITTEE FOR ROUTE 7 SPEED

Schroeder reviewed her progress on the trail crossing Route 7,

saying she received a letter from an archaeology consultant and

there are no more issues with the project going forward and now

wetlands are the only issue.

Schroeder said she had provided board members a copy of the

draft of her letter to the Traffic Committee concerning the

speed on Route 7.

Board of Selectmen -6- January 28, 2002

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO RECOMMEND FORWARDING OF THE LETTER TO THE

SECRETARY OF THE TRAFFIC COMMITTEE, DEPARTMENT OF

PUBLIC SAFETY FOR REDUCTION OF THE SPEED ON ROUTE

7."

Vote: All in favor.

Schroeder said her work on the beach speed limit is ready for

the board, but not on the agenda and Mack agreed to put it on

the next meeting agenda.

Schroeder reported to the board that the town sold the Quonset

hut to the school for $10.00 along with some other properties on

July 7, 1967.

Russell and Road Commissioner, Hugh Lewis, Jr. discussed the new

stop sign at the intersection of Ferry and Greenbush Roads.

Arthaud discussed the traffic light with Lewis at the same

intersection.

BUDGET

Chairman Mack noted that $10,000.00 needed to be added to the

Road budget to bring that budget to $165,000.00.

Arthaud moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPROVE THE BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF

$1,611,233.00."

Vote: All in favor.

REINSTATEMENT CLARIFICATION - JESSIE BRADLEY - RECREATION

COMMITTEE

Board members discussed reinstating Jessie Bradley to fill the

open position on the Recreation Committee.

Ramsdell moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO REAPPOINT JESSIE BRADLEY TO THE RECREATION TO

FILL THE VACANCY."

Vote: All in favor.

Having no further business, Chairman Mack

moved:

* "TO ADJOURN."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:52 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn