TOWN OF CHARLOTTE
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
APRIL 12, 1999
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Marty Illick
John Rosenthal
Jim Sheldon-Dean
Robert Mack, Jr.
OTHERS: Harley Allen
Eric VanVlandren
Louis Cox
Sylvia Sprigg
Stephen C. Brooks
Edward Stone
Nancy P. Sabin
Louis Laberge
Jim Donovan
Hugh Lewis, Jr.
John Hammer
Linda Radimer
Sandy Mayo
Ed Melby
Louis Laberge
Alison Lockwood
Al Moraska
Peter Rosenfeld
Jessie Bradley
Craig Russell
Richard LeBoeuf
Moe Harvey
Mary Mead
Wendy Schroeder
Stanley Lane
----------------------------------------------------------------
Chairman Illick called the meeting of the Board of Selectman to
order at 7:05 p.m. in the Charlotte Town Offices. Illick
welcomed Eric VanVlandren whom she had invited to speak on
Regional Planning. VanVlandren reviewed the concept of a draft
the Regional Planning Commission was working on for a
cooperative between towns.
EXECUTIVE SESSION - WIZN PROCEEDINGS (MEDIATION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL COURT
Sheldon Dean moved and the motion was seconded by
Rosenthal:
* "TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION."
Vote: All in favor.
Selectboard members were in Executive Session from 7:07 to 7:31
P.M.
Board of Selectman -2- April 12, 1999
Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by
Sheldon-Dean:
* "AS MANY PROPOSALS FOR ACTION HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO
THE SELECTBOARD REGARDING ACTIONS INVOLVING WIZN,
THAT ROBERT MACK, JR. BE THE CONTACT PERSON
REGARDING WIZN FOR THE SELECTBOARD AND MACK WILL IN
TURN REPORT BACK TO THE SELECTBOARD."
Vote: All in favor.
Mack moved and the motion was seconded by Sheldon-
Dean:
* "TO APPOINT CHAIRMAN ILLICK TO WORK WITH THE TOWN
ATTORNEY AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL COURT REGARDING
WIZN."
Vote: All in favor.
APPROVE MINUTES OF TOWN MEETING AND MARCH 22, 1999 SELECTBOARD
MEETING
Chairman Illick asked if the board wished to approve the minutes
of the Town Meeting and the Selectboard meeting of March 22,
1999.
The following changes were suggested by board members: in the
Town Meeting minutes on page 6 and 7 to change the names
Patricia Allen and Trisha O'Donnell to Patricia O'Donnell and
Chris Reynolds to Craig Reynolds and Hamel Engineering to Hamlin
Engineering; to change the spelling on page 12 and 13 to Jane
Michaud and to change Willis Cox to Louis Cox on page 14. In
the Selectboard minutes of March 22, 1999: on page 2 to note
that John Quinney wished to bow out of the Regional Planning
Commission and was appointed along with Linda Hamilton to the
Conservation Commission; on page 3 to change the spelling of
Fischer to Fisher and Weather to Weathers and also on page 3 to
amend the 10th paragraph to read "Illick said she had been
weighing feedback from phone calls from town residents and town
counsel in relation to reappointments; to delete "most of from
the last line of page 4 and "just restating the same idea" from
the first line of page 5 and to make the next to the last
paragraph of page 5 to read "Illick said she spoke to Jessie
Bradley regarding LCBP at the town beach. Illick asked
Schroeder to get clarification on the grant requirements." and
in the first paragraph on page 6 to make the second line read
"Illick asked Mack to look into and act on raising the tank, if
it was cost-effective in relation to the pumping fees."
Mack moved and the motion was seconded by Rosenthal:
* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE TOWN MEETING AND THE
SELECTBOARD MEETING OF THE MARCH 22, 1999 WITH THE
ABOVE CHANGES."
Vote: All in favor.
Board of Selectman -3- April 12, 1999
PUBLIC DISCUSSION
Stanley Lane asked about 911 response in relation to access
roads and addresses and Mack suggested Lane refer his questions
to the Town Clerk and Charlotte Postmaster.
BUDGET DISCUSSION
Hugh Lewis, Jr. said he doesn't want to be Second Constable as
he was appointed at the last Selectboard meeting.
Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by
Sheldon-Dean:
* "TO APPOINT DAN COLE AS SECOND CONSTABLE."
Vote: All in favor.
Lewis said that there was extra money in the budget to repair a
guard rail he thought was in need of attention on Spear Street
North by Peter Bergh's driveway.
Mack moved and the motion was seconded by
Sheldon-Dean:
* "TO SPEND $10,000. TO FIX A GUARD RAIL ON SPEAR
STREET NORTH BY THE PETER BERGH PROPERTY."
Vote: All in favor.
Sheldon-Dean addressed a project he had been working on to set
standards for road building and maintenance and have them
already in place before applying for any disaster relief, as it
would make it easier to document what was general practice for
road maintenance prior to a disaster. Wendy Schroeder offered
that the previous Road Commissioner, Jeff McDonald, would have
records of parts used and expenditures. Illick asked about road
and culvert conditions and Lewis replied that overall he thought
they were both in good shape, but a few of the culverts he felt
were too small. Sheldon-Dean asked about tree and brush removal
and Lewis said it was being done now and reviewed brush removal
on Thompson's Point to improve road visibility. Lewis asked
about curb cuts by residents driveways and Mack responded that
was to be approved and signed off by the Road Commissioner and
Louis Cox. Cox suggested formalizing that policy in the form of
a motion for the official minutes and Mack agreed.
Mack moved and the motion was seconded by
Sheldon-Dean:
* "THAT ALL CURB CUTS TO TOWN ROADS BE AT THE SOLE
DISCRETION OF THE ROAD COMMISSIONER."
Vote: All in favor.
Harley Allen and Al Moraska sat in front of the Selectboard to
review their budget. Illick noted that the Planning and Zoning
board was at 115% of their budget for legal expenses. Allen
said that in 1993 that the Selectboard became responsible for
expenses involved in court action and that expenses for court
preparation was being charged to their budget incorrectly.
Board of Selectman -4- April 12, 1999
Illick said she would discuss the charges with the Town Clerk.
Allen offered he thought the Planning and Zoning board was
better off in the long run getting legal opinions from the town
attorney instead of guessing and making legal errors. Moraska
estimated that Planning and Zoning would need another $1500.
above their legal expense budget to cover predicted expenses
until July, particularly in relation to review of the Town Plan
and that they went over budget for advertising. Allen also
noted that P&Z was above their projected revenues for the year.
Moraska said the P&Z was expecting to spend $1,500. for a
consultant for the Town Plan between now and July, 1, 1999.
Mack suggested that a planned computer purchase be postponed
until after July 1, 1999. Moraska said the P&Z office would need
another $667. to cover salaries until July 1 as Gloria Warden
and Louis Cox had needed to work overtime.
Wendy Schroeder noted a misprint in the Town Report in the P&Z
budget, which may have led to some confusion as to how much
money was budgeted.
Mack moved and the motion was seconded by
Rosenthal:
* "TO ALLOW PLANNING AND ZONING TO OVERSPEND THEIR
BUDGET BY $4,000. IN THE 1998-1999 FISCAL YEAR.."
Vote: All in favor.
Wendy Schroeder said she had started work on collecting fines
under the dog ordinance and she had attended a Thompson's Point
meeting this afternoon which she felt positive that "plans were
in motion to run a tighter ship," and she had just received 3
bids for work on the Rule bridge and she would have copies in
Selectboard mailboxes next week. Illick thanked Schroeder for
her work on the capital budget.
Jessie Bradley and Craig Reynolds reviewed the Recreation budget
status with board members. Bradley said she felt confident that
their was enough money in the budget to cover expenses and
salaries until July 1 and the only major expense would be to put
the docks in the water and that expense was covered. Mack asked
where the docks were now and Bradley responded they were at The
Dock Doctor.
Bradley said there was $3,000. in the budget that was requested
for work that was not done on a survey of town trails.
ZBA AND PC - INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS
Illick said the board would interview candidates interested in
positions on the Planning and Zoning Board and The Zoning Board
of Adjustment. Board members interviewed Edward Stone and Peter
Rosenfeld from 8:35 to 9:20 P.M. in the Selectboard office.
Illick announced after interviews that the board had one more
person to interview and all appointments were on hold. Illick
noted two letters from the Planning Commission supporting hiring
of Louis Cox as Zoning Administrator and Dean Bloch as Planner.
Board of Selectman -5- April 12, 1999
Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by
Sheldon-Dean:
* "TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION."
Vote: All in favor.
SENIOR CENTER UPDATE
Rosenthal said he had met with Dick LeBoeuf in the afternoon to
look at a partnership with the town to spearhead having a senior
center be a part of his Phase 1 of proposed senior housing.
Sylvia Sprigg asked if there was still a committee to look at a
senior center as part of Walter Irish's gift to the town.
Illick replied not at this time, but the board was interested in
a needs assessment to look at programs and activities for
seniors.
Y2K UPDATE - REPORT FROM MARY
Rosenthal presented a list to the Selectboard of individuals who
had agreed to be on a Y2K board to meet Tuesday, April 20th.
Mary Mead outlined the duties of the board; essentially to
pinpoint needs and issues that need to be addressed, including
different town departments computer records, emergency
situations and outlining responsibilities. Louis Cox said he
had attended an Emergency Response Committee meeting last week
and they had a list of items that would need to be dealt with in
terms of Y2K. Illick suggested appointing the people on the
list to the Y2K Committee and the board agreed.
RETREAT UPDATE
Chairman Illick reviewed the Selectboard planning retreat on
April 7th, saying that the main purpose was to plan agenda items
for the coming year. Illick said the board outlined the most
important topics as; land conservation, municipal septic, town
planning, the capital budget, the senior center, affordable
housing, legal, roads and transportation. Other topics
outlined, but secondary were personnel procedures, ordinances,
volunteer training and support, a stable tax rate in terms of
land conservation, regional planning, Thompson's Point issues,
recreational planning and Y2K issues. Illick offered she
thought it was a good work session.
Sandy Mayo said she thought there was too little lead-time and
notice given to the public on the retreat. Mayo said there was
no agenda and suggested that the Selectboard is sometimes a
little lax in their procedural issues, citing failing to vote to
go into Executive Session to interview candidates for positions
this evening. Illick said since the retreat was a planning
meeting for the Selectboard only, warning an agenda was not
necessary, but an agenda was however, provided. Illick said she
took note of Mayo's suggestion to be more watchful of procedures
in the future.
Board of Selectman -6- April 12, 1999
OTHER BUSINESS
Illick outlined a request from Louis Cox for background by the
board on a request by S.B. Collins for return of a performance
bond for work done in the area of Marble's Store gas tank. Cox
had prepared a summary of what had been done but had no record
of any inspections of the work by the state. Mack said it was
up to Cox whether the work had been completed or not. Moe
Harvey said the state Department of Labor & Industry determines
whether or not the work has been completed or not. Board
members agreed that Cox should ask the state whether or not the
work had been completed to their satisfaction.
There was a discussion the duties of the Zoning Administrator
and at what juncture he is performing his regular duties of
enforcement and interpretation of compliance and when he should
consult with the Selectboard on what might potentially become
legal or court action.
Moe Harvey said the Charlotte Land Trust wanted to be on the
agenda for the next meeting concerning an option to buy the Earl
Burns property on Greenbush Road.
There was a discussion on a reimbursement of a permit for a
Class 1 Occupancy that was not necessary. Mack said the
applicant should file a request for reimbursement.
Cox discussed with the board that he was aware of some
Thompson's Point lessees who are drilling wells on town property
and Illick said she would look into it. Sheldon-Dean said that
wells on town property should be noted in the town wastewater
map.
Mack outlined what work had been done on a holding tank on town
property by the town offices on Ferry Road that is taking in
water, saying in general in was a bad installation and can't be
raised and eventually another tank will have to go on top of it.
There was a discussion of what recourse might be taken with the
original installer.
Sheldon-Dean discussed a tank on Ash Road at the bottom of Spear
Street in a town right-of-way. Mack said he and Cox would look
into the matter.
Mack moved and the motion was seconded by
Sheldon-Dean:
* "TO ADJOURN THE MEETING."
Vote: All in favor.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:31 P.M.
Minutes submitted by:
Debby Flynn