Board of Selectmen May 15, 2000

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

MAY 15, 2000

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Robert Mack, Jr.

John Rosenthal

James Sheldon-Dean

Charles Russell

OTHERS: Edward Melby

Shirley W. Allen

Martha Illick

Sylvia Sprigg

Linda Hamilton

Nancy Sabin

Paul L. Craven

Linda Radimer

Al Moraska

Stephen C. Brooks

John Hammer

Dee Pierce

Didier Morat

Wallace P. Smith

David Hill

Dean Bloch

Spencer Harris

Joel Woolum

Wendy Schroeder

________________________________________________________________

Chairman Mack called the meeting of the Board of Selectmen to

order at 4:00 p.m. in the Charlotte Town Offices.

SPENCER HARRIS

Board members discussed with Spencer Harris, his acting as

interim Zoning Administrator for the next 3-5 weeks. Chairman

Mack asked Harris how many hours a week he could commit to the

town and Harris replied one 10-12 hour day a week and that he

had already reviewed the pending permits. Wendy Schroeder

reviewed the liability issues involved in the contract being

prepared, noting that Harris would be covered for liability

while performing duties for the town. Mack asked Harris to work

with Charlie Russell and for help with any interpretations to

get help from Gloria Warden and Harley Allen. Schroeder also

offered assistance.

Mack and Russell asked whether Harris could cover the work

longer than 5 weeks, or overlap with the next Zoning

Administrator and Harris replied as long as it is clear that he

only has Mondays open. Mack asked if Harris could be called at

his office if necessary and Harris responded yes, and he would

check in with Gloria Warden periodically.

Board of Selectmen -2- May 15, 2000

Rosenthal asked if it was all right with Al Moraska (Chair of

the Planning Commission) if Harris was hired and Mack responded

Moraska had already agreed to it.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO AUTHORIZE ROBERT MACK TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH

SPENCER HARRIS WITH THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN

DISCUSSED."

Vote: All in favor.

SELECTMEN'S TOWN PLAN WORKSHOP WITH DEAN BLOCH

Chairman Mack updated attendees that the town had a public

hearing December 20, 1999 to review the proposed Town Plan, and

47 Public Comments had been noted and reviewed by a subcommittee

and then all comments were responded to with any proposed

wording changes by Town Planner, Dean Bloch. Below are the

changes suggested to Bloch's proposed wording:

Under Comment #5 Sylvia Sprigg suggested changing "informative"

to "informational."

Under Comment #6 and #9, Shirley Allen suggested the wording

refer to "areas," rather than "districts."

Under Comment #9, Sylvia Sprigg and Al Moraska suggested

referring to agricultural areas or fields rather than the

"Overlay District."

Referring to Comment #11, Mack read Avery Hall's proposed

wording on the sewage allowance at Thompson's Point.

Under Comment #14, Sylvia Sprigg suggested noting the study

referred to was performed in 1984.

Under Comment #15, Sheldon-Dean suggested omitting the reference

to "sale of excavating equipment."

Under Comment #21, Bloch agreed to update the Plan on the

progress of the Senior Center.

Under Comment #22, Marty Illick asked that the title of the

study being referred to be included.

Under Comment #24, there was a discussion on affordable elderly

housing. Linda Radimer said she thought the mechanism to make

that happen was lacking. Stephen Brooks suggested having an

incentive package and Mack suggested Brooks submit the idea in

writing to the Town Planner.

Under Comment #27, there was a discussion on the "transfer of

development rights." Mack said he would prefer the transfers be

voluntary and Bloch stated there needs to be some implementation

of transfers in the zoning laws. Mack asked Bloch to work on

some language for this idea.

Board of Selectmen -3- May 15, 2000

Under Comment #31, Mack said he did not like the reference to

"hamlet" and alternative references were suggested, including

"neighborhoods.".

The board recessed from 6:35 to 7:08 for dinner.

Under Comment #37, Mack said he would like to leave the issue on

the table and asked Bloch to work on the wording on this issue

along with "transfer of development rights" in Comment #27.

Under Comment #38 Mack and Russell suggested that Bloch ask the

Charlotte Land Trust what they would like for wording in

reference to their organization.

Sheldon-Dean suggested leaving Comments 39 40 and 43 alone until

the next Public Hearing.

Sheldon-Dean suggested under Comment #41 the Plan should have a

statement on the employment base and what the town would like to

promote.

Under Comment # 43, Stephen Brooks said he thought the term

"commercial" should be defined.

There was another discussion on transfer of development rights

as referred to in Comment #46, but no specific decision or

wording recommendation was made.

Under Comment #47, Mack suggested board members "think on it."

There was a discussion of another work session for the board and

it was decided the board would meet at 5 p.m. on May 29, 2000.

SIGN WARRANTS AND BILLS

Board members signed bills and warrants.

APPOINTMENTS

Chairman Mack noted there were positions open on the

Conservation Commission and Current Chairman Linda Radimer, Dee

Pierce and David Hill were available to meet with board members

about their interest in the Commission. Mack asked Hill and

Pierce what they were interested in doing if appointed and Hill

said he was interested in conservation issues, investigation

issues and watershed. Pierce said she was interested in the

current programs and issues the Commission was working on.

Radimer stated she was interested in all of the above that Hill

and Pierce had just mentioned. Sheldon-Dean asked if candidates

had any outside experience and Hill responded he had just

finished a project on global warming for the City of Burlington.

Pierce said she had worked as an Environmental Planner and

Radimer said she has experience on the Conservation Commission.

Mack said the Selectboard would inform candidates of their

decision in a couple of days.

Board of Selectmen -4- May 15, 2000

Mack noted that Wally Smith wanted to be reappointed to the

Zoning Board of Adjustment and Smith discussed his experience on

the Commission and said he had found it interesting. Mack said

the board would get back to Smith.

Mack asked John Hammer if he wanted to be reappointed to as

Chittenden Solid Waste District Representative and Hammer

responded he would, but that someone from the town has to write

a letter to designate him, Mack asked Wendy Schroeder to write

the letter.

Schroeder said she had prepared the contract with Spencer Harris

of Vermont Contours to work as interim Zoning Administrator.

Mack read aloud the contract.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN THE PROPOSAL WITH

VERMONT CONTOURS DATED MAY 15, 2000."

Vote: All in favor.

Mack noted a letter stating Steve Morrow was interested being

appointed to either the Recreation Committee or the Conservation

Commission.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPOINT STEVE MORROW TO THE RECREATION

COMMITTEE."

Vote: All in favor.

Mack noted Larry Hamilton's position as Tree Warden was up for

reappointment.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO APPOINT LARRY HAMILTON AS TREE WARDEN."

Vote: All in favor.

Mack suggested appointing Conservation Commission positions.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPOINT RAVEN DAVIS AND LINDA RADIMER TO THE

FOUR YEAR POSITIONS ON THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION."

Vote: All in favor.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPOINT DEE PIERCE TO THE POSITION ENDING IN

2002 AND DAVID HILL TO THE POSITION ENDING IN 2001

ON THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION."

Vote: All in favor.

Mack noted on the Planning Commission that Ed Melby doesn't want

to be reappointed but Dave Brown does. Rosenthal suggested

inviting Brown for an interview.

Board of Selectmen -5- May 15, 2000

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPOINT WALLY SMITH TO THE ZONING BOARD OF

ADJUSTMENT FOR THREE YEAR TERM."

Vote: All in favor.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO APPOINT AMY MANSFIELD AND CHARLIE RUSSELL AS

FENCE VIEWERS."

Vote: All in favor.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPOINT LUCIA PLANTE AS TOWN SERVICE OFFICER."

Vote: All in favor.

There was a discussion of appointments to the MPO.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPOINT JEFF MCDONALD AS ALTERNATE TO THE MPO."

Vote: All in favor.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPOINT WENDY SCHROEDER TO THE MPO TECHNICAL

ADVISORY COMMITTEE."

Vote: All in favor.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO APPOINT HUGH LEWIS, JR. TO THE MPO TECHNICAL

ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS ALTERNATE."

Vote: All in favor.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO REAPPOINT JESSIE BRADLEY AND LYNN CLUFF TO THE

RECREATION COMMITTEE."

Vote: All in favor.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Sheldon-Dean:

* "TO REAPPOINT DALE KNOWLES AS DOG CATCHER."

Vote: All in favor.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPOINT MOE HARVEY TO BE ALTERNATE TO THE

COMMUTER RAIL STEERING COMMITTEE."

Vote: All in favor.

There was a discussion of the Deputy Constable positions and

Mack noted the town will now have to elect them. Mack noted

Elaine Ittlemen has resigned as Health Officer and said he would

call her and ask her for a recommendation for a replacement.

Sheldon-Dean suggested putting any remaining openings on

committees in the Charlotte News.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mack noted a letter from the town attorney addressing what to do

about a petition for a Special Town Meeting. Mack said the

petition needs to be answered within 15 days. Russell read from

the state statutes on what is required when a petition is

presented. Sheldon-Dean said he thought the petition was

useless, as the situation would be dealt with before the Special

Meeting could be held and since the deal hasn't been closed on

the Burns property, the town can't go to a bond for money. Mack

stated his personal opinion that the issue was frivolous. There

was a discussion on what was considered "town funds" as referred

to in the petition. Mack asked Schroeder to follow up with the

town attorney, etc., get the information the board needed to

make a decision, and the board would meet to discuss a Special

Meeting.

APPROVE MINUTES

Rosenthal noted a letter from Louis Cox outlining his proposed

changes to the minutes of April 19, 2000. Rosenthal suggested

allowing some of the changes noted in his two-page letter, with

selected quotes directly from the tape of the meeting, rather

than the summation of comments. Rosenthal read one of the

quotes listed by Cox in to Wally Smith and Smith stated he could

only recall saying one sentence of the quote and the rest he

didn't believe he said. Sheldon-Dean said the statements Cox

made in his letter are unsubstantiated and he felt that

accepting Cox's changes set a bad precedent, particularly when

Cox is now suing the town. Mack agreed he thought it set a bad

precedent. Wally Smith suggested merely accepting Cox's letter

into the public record. Rosenthal asked for one change;

"Rosenthal referred from Section 7.5" rather than "Rosenthal

read from Section 7.5" and board members agreed to that change.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 19, 2000 AS

AMENDED."

Vote: All in favor.

Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO ADJOURN."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:47 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn