Board of Selectmen May 29, 2000

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

MAY 29, 2000

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Robert Mack, Jr.

John Rosenthal

Charles Russell

Clark Hinsdale, III

OTHERS: Larry Hamilton

Linda Hamilton

Peter Coleman

Nancy Sabin

Sandy Mayo

Stephen C. Brooks

Mary Beth Freeman

Sylvia Sprigg

Wendy Schroeder

Dean Bloch

________________________________________________________________

Chairman Mack called the meeting of the Board of Selectmen to

order at 5:00 p.m. in the Charlotte Town Offices.

TOWN PLAN WORK SESSION

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO APPROVE THE SPENDING OF $2,000.00 FOR THE

VILLAGE MASTER PLAN CONSULTANTS."

Vote: All in favor.

Linda Hamilton, on behalf of the Constitution Commission,

reviewed maps prepared by Regional Planning for the Commission

on wildlife habitats. There was discussion on the quality of

the maps and it was noted that town residents could obtain a

better map from the Town Offices.

Mack and board members discussed with Bloch a schedule for work

sessions on the Town Plan.

There was a discussion of housing lot sizes to be allowed in

Agricultural and Conservation areas. Mack noted that 20% of

town lands is in some sort of a conservation program; .i.e, open

space agreements, conservation easements, etc.

Nancy Sabin noted her concern with how lot size requirements

would affect property values. Mack stated his reasons why he

did not think the matter was an issue.

There was a discussion on transferable development rights. Mack

spoke generally in favor of the idea and Nancy Sabin spoke

against it.

Board of Selectmen -2- May 29, 2000

Mack suggested to Town Planner, Dean Bloch,that he look into

desirable parcels for conservation purposes for the town.

There was a discussion of industrial zoning areas in the town.

Sandy Mayo said she was in favor of some good industry to

support the tax base and Mack stated he thought the town would

be better off to support home based businesses instead and would

prefer to delete the references for proposed industrial zoning

in town.

APPROVE MINUTES

Chairman Mack noted there were previous meeting minutes to be

approved.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Hinsdale:

* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 26, 2000."

Vote: 3 in favor, 1 abstained (Rosenthal, as he was

absent).

Rosenthal noted in the minutes of May 15, 2000, to substitute

Steve Moore in place of Morrow in the appointments.

Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 15, 2000."

Vote: 3 in favor, 1 abstained (Hinsdale, as he was

absent).

WENDY SCHROEDER

Schroeder advised that 4 interviews for the Zoning Administrator

position would be conducted in half-hour intervals the next

evening, she was working on a proposal for an engineering study

on the Burns property and the Thompson's Point sewer ordinance

is under review and public hearings would be coming up.

Mack said he wanted to put the state's share of $5,400.00 of

work on a bridge on the next meeting agenda.

CHITTENDEN SOLID WASTE, TOM MOREAU

Jim Ticehurst said he was attending the meeting in place of Tom

Moreau and proceeded to review the highlights of the CSWD

budget. Ticehurst noted the largest increase in this year's

budget was health insurance for employees and employees would be

contributing one percent of their salaries toward health

insurance.

Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO APPROVE THE BUDGET OF CHITTENDEN SOLID WASTE

DISTRICT FOR 2001."

Vote: All in favor.

Board of Selectmen -3- May 29, 2000

SPEED LIMIT (VILLAGE)

Rosenthal stated he had made measurements and sent information

off to town attorney, Stitzel's, office regarding speed limits

in the village and where speed related signs should be placed.

Mack said he would see if the item would fit on the agenda for

June 12, 2000.

JR. LEWIS - PAVING GRANT, BRIDGE GRANTS

Mack noted grants from the state to the town in the amounts of

$38,000.00 for paving and $5,400.00 for covered bridges.

Lewis noted a grant from the state for a new deck on the Holmes

bridge and that he was putting shale down on One Mile and Guinea

Roads.

TOWN MEETING - JUNE 28, 2000

Russell read the warning or June 28, 2000. Hinsdale noted he

had spoken with Jessie Bradley of the Recreation Committee and

asked Gil Livingston of the Vermont Land Trust about attending

the Town Meeting for informational purposes.

PLANNING & ZONING FEES

Mack read a report prepared by Harley Allen, Dean Bloch, Louis

Cox and Gloria Warden citing town fees versus income on Planning

and Zoning fees.

Hinsdale stated his thoughts on the report were that on the

first five years stated in the report the town was doing well,

but in the last five years, the town has not kept up with

expenses incurred with the fees. Hinsdale said he was thinking

about a minimum fee and that in some cases, the current minimum

fee of $100.00 doesn't cover the time necessary to research a

case. Wendy Schroeder noted that only 13 new houses were built

this year, but many more septic systems were requested. There

were discussions as to how to recoup fees and Hinsdale suggested

the board keep working on the matter and the town look at what

other towns are doing and what percentages of revenues they

generate from fees. Russell stated he though the issue

surrounded what was fair more than perceived office efficiency.

FUTURE SELECTBOARD MEETINGS - JULY AND AUGUST

Board members discussed meeting on July 10, and August 14, 2000,

as well as August 28.

Shirley Bean advised board members of a meeting of the Senior

Center Committee with the Planning Commission on Thursday night,

and advised the board a Binding Letter of Intent would need to

be penned to the Stratavest Group. Wendy Schroeder offered she

would find out when the letter would need to be signed by board

members.

Board of Selectmen -4- May 29, 2000

Board members discussed warning a meeting of the Selectboard at

7 p.m. on June 27, 2000, that there be no meeting on the 26th of

June and the next meeting would be June 12, 2000 at 6:00 p.m.

SIGN WARRANTS AND BILLS

Chairman Mack noted a bill from Phillips Engineering on the

Gaboury site.

Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "TO PAY THE BILL FROM PHILLIPS ENGINEERING."

Vote: All in favor.

Mack noted an invoice from the legal firm of Hill, Unsworth,

Barra & Bowles for professional services in the amount of

$285.00, and advised this firm is currently representing Louis

Cox, who is suing the town. Hinsdale stated the town did not

authorize or request these services. Russell said he wanted to

know more about what these charges were for.

Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by

Hinsdale:

* "TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS A LEGAL

ISSUE."

Vote: All in favor.

Executive Session ran from 8:12 to 8:15 p.m.

After returning from Executive Session, Chairman Mack stated the

board would look into the invoice and put it on the agenda for

the next meeting.

Mack recused himself from the board.

Hinsdale moved and the motion was seconded by

Russell:

* "TO ELECT JOHN ROSENTHAL AS ACTING CHAIR IN THE

ABSENCE OF CHAIRMAN MACK."

Vote: All in favor.

Board members reviewed the 5-year Agricultural lease on

Charlotte (Demeter) Park. Russell reviewed the maintenance

lease already negotiated for the park with Jim Sestokas and the

additional services the Mack family was willing to do. Mack

agreed to fix the drainage on a trail in Charlotte Park at a

cost of $700.00 in materials and agreed to all other

compensation to be taken in trade. Hinsdale said he wanted the

Charlotte Park Oversight Committee to look at specific dollar

values before firming up a contract.

Board of Selectmen -5- May 29, 2000

Hinsdale moved and the motion was seconded by

Rosenthal:

* "APPROVAL OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE LEASE FOR 5 YEARS TO

THE MACK FARM SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE OF CHARLOTTE PARK AND WILDLIFE

COMMISSION SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE

SELECTBOARD."

Vote: All in favor.

Sandy Mayo stated she felt it was irresponsible of Selectboard

members to support Jim Sheldon-Dean in his recent candidacy when

he has accepted a job in New York and won't be available for

meetings.

Hinsdale and Rosenthal indicated they had/have no personal

insights of Sheldon-Dean's intention(s).

Rosenthal moved, since there was no further

business:

* "TO ADJOURN."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:38 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn