Board of Selectmen April 10, 2000

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

APRIL 10, 2000

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Robert Mack, Jr.

John Rosenthal

James Sheldon-Dean

Clark Hinsdale, III

Charles Russell

OTHERS: Hugh Lewis, Sr.

Stephen C. Brooks

Nancy Sabin

Sandy Mayo

Moe Harvey

Mary Mead

David Miskell

Louis Cox

Peter J. Coleman

Hugh Lewis, Jr.

Spin Richardson

Didier Morat

Rick Pollack

Christopher W. Davis

Charlie Proutt

Joel Wollum

Wendy Schroeder

________________________________________________________________

Chairman Mack called the meeting of the Board of Selectmen to

order at 7:00 p.m. in the Charlotte Town Offices.

APPROVE MINUTES - ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA

Chairman Mack asked board members if they wished to approve the

minutes of March 28, 2000. Russell suggested on page 5, in the

second paragraph that "involved road" be substituted for

"surrounded road" and Sheldon-Dean corrected "site distance"

with "sight distance" in the same paragraph. Sheldon-Dean noted

it was he and not Russell who had suggested an Executive

Session.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

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

AMENDED."

Vote: All in favor.

Mack asked board members to review the Town Meeting minutes for

approval at the next meeting. Mack suggested the board deal

with the Town Constable issues later than scheduled on the

agenda. Mack said the board would discuss speed limits in the

village in place of the Burns update at 7:45 p.m. as there was

little to report on the Burns issue.

Board of Selectmen -2- April 10, 2000

SIGN BILLS & WARRANTS

Board members reviewed and signed bills. Mack noted a letter

from Better Back Roads which he asked Town Clerk, Mary Mead, to

put in the Road Commissioner's mailbox.

LOUIS COX, ZONING ADMINISTRATOR - HUTCHINS, ACT 250, HINSDALE

Mack asked Louis Cox if there had been any response from Carol

Hinsdale to the letter sent on behalf of the town by Town

Attorney, Stitzel's office and Cox responded no.

Cox said in the Hutchins case that a notice has been issued that

Hutchins needs an Act 250 permit and Cox read the notice.

HORSFORD LETTER - THOMPSON'S POINT

Wendy Schroeder reviewed a letter from Lydia Hibbard on behalf

of Barbara Horsford concerning two lots Ms. Horsford leases at

Thompson's Point. One of the lots has a building and sewer

connection and the Horsfords would like build on the second lot

and use the sewer connection from the Bennett's camp, which was

removed. Schroeder said the issue is who gets sewer capacity at

Thompson's Point, which is limited. Mack asked how many lots

are undeveloped at Thompson's Point and Schroeder responded many

and Moe Harvey reminded the board that Lane's Lane has no septic

capacity yet, as was planned. Mack noted the Town Plan has no

more development at Thompson's Point.

Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPROVE THE REQUEST OF LYDIA HIBBARD TO ALLOW

THE USE OF THE BENNETT SEPTIC FOR BARBARA HORSFORD."

Vote: 4 opposed, 1 abstained (Hinsdale as he is

related to one of the parties).

MOE HARVEY, WENDY SCHROEDER - TOWN CONSTABLE

Schroeder reviewed information obtained from a recent conference

for town law enforcement officers that Town Constables can be

collectively elected or appointed, but not a combination of

both, as has been the town's practice. Schroeder stated the

problem relates to the town's liability should the Constable(s)

practice law enforcement; search and seizures, etc. Town

Constable, Hugh Lewis Sr., stated he was not currently

practicing law enforcement and was only interested in one more

term. Mack suggested the board should consider putting the

issue on the next Town Warning.

Board of Selectmen -3- April 10, 2000

BURNS LAND

Chairman Mack discussed an upcoming meeting on Wednesday, April

12, 2000 to formalize the deal on the Burns property. There was

a discussion on whether the meeting would include an Executive

Session and Mack said he would confer with the town attorney on

the matter.

Spin Richardson said he had yet to be contacted by Paul Bruhn

and Gil Livingston on their negotiations with the parties to the

deal and Joel Wollum said he thought the meeting should be open

to the public.

There was a discussion on the Senior Center which would be sited

near the Burns property and the July 1, 2000 deadline for

permits and septic.

SPEED LIMITS

Rosenthal read the recommendations of the most recent traffic

study performed by Chittenden County Regional Planning for Ferry

and Greenbush Roads (the village). Rosenthal stated that CCRR

had not designated where the village was when it made its

recommendations. Rosenthal suggested "Reduced Speed Ahead"

signs for motorists to know they are coming into the village.

Charlie Proutt added that Demeter Park was not opened when the

last study was done and it is now a "destination," and five

houses had been built in the area since then.

Sheldon-Dean wondered whether another traffic study should be

done and Mack stated he thought the issue had be studied enough.

Sandy Mayo stated that a number of dogs had been killed near the

village and the current speed limit was in her opinion too high.

Sheldon-Dean suggested putting together an ordinance and

Rosenthal said he would discuss the matter with the town

attorney.

FIRE & RESCUE - BUILDING RENOVATION UPDATE

Chris Davis and Rick Pollack of the Fire and Rescue department

reviewed the redesign of the new firehouse. Davis noted the

design had to be scaled down to stay within the $450,000.00

budgeted. Davis discussed the sharing of driveways with the

proposed senior center and Peter Coleman added that both

projects were on a short time line. Mack encouraged the

Fire/Rescue Dept. and Senior Center committee to work together.

Pollack stated the Fire/Rescue dept. was looking to start

construction in mid-May.

Rosenthal asked for a recess and board members agreed. The

board recessed from 8:55 to 9:03 p.m.

Board of Selectmen -4- April 10, 2000

LAND MAINTENANCE

Russell said he had spoken with Jim Setokas of Picture Perfect

Landscaping who had provided a bid of $565.00 for Demeter Park

land maintenance and $10,270.00 for landscaping and mowing on

the rest of the town properties. Mack asked if clay for the

ball fields was included and Russell responded no.

Nancy Sabin asked why this work wasn't being put out to bid and

Mack responded that Jim Setokas had done good work for the town

before.

Mack moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "WE APPROVE THE TWO PROPOSALS FOR LAND MAINTENANCE

SUBMITTED BY JIM SETOKAS FOR CHARLOTTE PARK

MAINTENANCE AND MAINTENANCE AROUND TOWN."

Vote: All in favor.

TOWN PLAN

Board members discussed meeting with Dean Bloch on getting the

new Town Plan through the approval process.

Rosenthal suggested firming up the schedule for Selectboard

meetings and the following dates were agreed upon:

April 17, 2000

May 1 & 29, 2000

June 12 & 26, 2000

July 10, 2000

August 10 & 24 2000.

SIGN LIQUOR LICENSE FOR MARBLE'S STORE

Hinsdale moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO GO FROM THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN TO THE LIQUOR

CONTROL BOARD."

Vote: All in favor.

Board members signed a liquor license for Charlotte Country

Store.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO ADJOURN AS THE LIQUOR CONTROL BOARD AND

RECONVENE AS THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN."

Vote: All in favor.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mack noted a letter from Peter Coleman of the Senior Center

Committee asking for Planning & Zoning fees for the Center to be

waived.

Board of Selectmen -5- April 10, 2000

Hinsdale moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO WAIVE THE PLANNING AND ZONING FEES FOR THE

WALTER IRISH SENIOR CENTER."

Vote: All in favor.

Mack noted a letter from Al Moraska on Dean Bloch's personnel

review by the Planning Commission.

Stephen Brooks said he wished to bring to the board's attention

a letter he received last August from Al Moraska regarding the

Planning Commission being to involved with the Town Plan to

respond to a petition on rezoning. Hinsdale stated the Planning

Commission would have to conduct a study in answer to the

petition. Mack asked Rosenthal to look into the matter and

Rosenthal agreed.

Hinsdale moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO ADJOURN."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn