Board of Selectmen June 10, 2002

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

JUNE 10, 2002

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Charles Russell

Paul Arthaud

Debbie Ramsdell

Ellie Russell

Jennifer Steele Cole

OTHERS: Stephen C. Brooks

Nancy P. Sabin

Lane Morrison

Rick Tenney

Norman Pellett

Jeff Berkowitz

Lynn Nurczynski

Bonnie Bly

Frank Weidman

Lisa Rattner

Bill Rattner

Jack Clemmons

Alison Lockwood

Sam Spear

Eddie Krasnow

Michael J. Hinsdale

Lou Bresee

Richard LeBoeuf

Barbara Craig

Kerry McManus

Sylvia Sprigg

Roger Teese

Sonja Ullrich

Robert Ullrich

Spin Richardson

Peter Coleman

Patricia Coleman

Jim Donovan

Jack Galt

Clark W. Hinsdale, Jr.

Sylvia Knight

Hugh Lewis, Jr.

Carrie Spear

Gordon Troy

Jane Ann Kantor

Steve Kantor

Dave Garbose

David Mechanic

Jeff Cohn

Richard L. Weed

John Calcagni

Nancy Calcagni

Chris Cichoski Kelly

Nona Lippert

Bill Leckerling

Paula Joslin

Peter Joslin

Jen McAdam

Board of Selectmen -2- June 10, 2002

Paul McAdam

Michael LaClair, Jr.

Phyllis Huskey

David Ziegelman

Bill Byrne

Michael LaClair

Frank Tenney

Edd Merritt

Beth Merritt

Frances Foster

Robert Mack, Jr.

Clark Hinsdale, III

Karen Higbee

Dr. Fred Mushkat

J.P. Bettencourt

Mike Titus

Hazel Prindle

Dee Pierce

Charlie Proutt

Jim LaBerge

Steve Mack

Al Moraska

Note: These are unapproved minutes only. For corrections and

approval of minutes, look to future meeting minutes.

________________________________________________________________

Chairman Russell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the

Charlotte Town Offices.

ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA

Arthaud asked that the update on the Recreation Path be moved to

the 8:30 slot on the agenda, as he wanted Clark Hinsdale, III to

review the plans with him.

APPROVE MINUTES OF MAY 27TH MEETING

E. Russell said under "Other Discussion" on page 3, the

$180,000.00 of would be over expenses. Ramsdell wished to

correct the spelling of "Pizzagalli" and noted the motion on the

Senior Center was moved by another person. Cole noted that the

Planning Commission will be looking into the bicycle signs.

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Ramsdell:

* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 27, 2002."

Vote: 4 in favor, 1 abstained (Arthaud, as he was

not present for that meeting).

PUBLIC DISCUSSION

Lane Morrison said he lives on Lake Road and was asking that it

not be paved as he believed paving the road would increase the

speed of drivers using the road. Arthaud said he also lives on

that road and it is not yet slated for paving.

Board of Selectmen -3- June 10, 2002

Steve Mack asked why the contract for lawn mowing on town

property was not put out to bid. Chairman Russell that the

board had made a decision and the board has not gone out to bid

on the contract in 5 years. E. Russell said the contract would

go out to bid in November. Arthaud added that it's a closed

bidding process and Jim Sestokas won the bid that was published

in the Town Plan.

Stephen Brooks thanked the board for adding "adjustments to the

agenda" to the agenda.

APPOINT AUDITOR AND HEALTH OFFICER

Arthaud moved and the motion was seconded by

Ramsdell:

* "TO APPOINT NANCY SABIN AS AUDITOR."

Vote: All in favor.

E. Russell said she felt Dr. Mushkat had good pertinent

experience for the position of Health Officer, noting he was

willing to train EMTs and provide emergency training for the

town.

Arthaud noted Dr. Mushkat is working 6 months a year in Kentucky

and would be only available by pager or phone and he would

prefer Rick Tenney instead.

Cole said it would be nice to have someone with a medical

background in the position. Rick Tenney said Health Officers

are rarely medical people anymore.

Alison Lockwood said she would like to hear the duties of the

Health Officer. Chairman Russell said this had been reviewed in

previous meetings and the board was on a tight schedule this

evening, and noted previous Health Officers had dealt with

communications tower issues. E. Russell discussed the Emergency

Plan a Health Officer makes for the town. Lockwood said she

would prefer to have a physician in the position.

Chairman Russell asked Dr. Mushkat, since he was in the

audience, to address the issue of availability. Mushkat said he

is a Vermont resident and is currently under contract until

April 30, 2004 to work 14 days a month in Kentucky.

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Ramsdell:

* "TO APPOINT DR. MUSHKAT AS HEALTH OFFICER."

Vote: 3 in favor, 2 opposed (Arthaud, Cole).

LOU BRESEE - LAKE CHAMPLAIN BIKEWAY SIGNAGE

Lou Bresee addressed the board and attendees on behalf of

Champlain Bikeways, an non-profit organization that promotes

biking in the Champlain Valley. Bresee said his organization

has a grant from the state for signs and showed the signs to the

board and attendees. Bresee said he was looking for approval

from the board to post the signs along roads and intersections

Board of Selectmen -4- June 10, 2002

in town directing areas of bike travel and suggested some signs

could be placed on street sign posts.

Spin Richardson said he was concerned about the number of signs

in town and that roadways are getting "cluttered," and wondered

who would maintain the signs.

Peter Coleman said he was in upstate New York the previous day

and showed the board a photo one of Champlain Bikeways signs.

Nona Lippert said she was concerned about sanitation conditions

with bikers in town and no public toilets available.

Bresee said he did not know how many people will come on a given

path, but his organization does provide grants to towns for

facilities.

Nancy Sabin said she liked the smaller of the signs that Bresee

had displayed.

Eddie Krasnow asked if the bike route was on maps and Bresee

answered yes.

E. Russell asked about the traffic calming effect of vehicles

sharing the road with bikers and Bresee responded he did not

know.

Al Moraska discussed missing signs along roadways, saying it is

"frustrating."

Arthaud said safety is a big issue and asked if bike paths

wouldn't be a safer alternative. Bresee answered his

organization tries to stay current with town paths and have

provided towns with technical expertise and noted that missing

signs are a safety issue and his organization will keep a supply

of signs to replace missing ones when necessary.

Cole asked about the sign Bresee had shown that was used in

Burlington and Bresee responded it is mostly green and

consequently is sometimes hidden by trees.

Ramsdell said she supports bicycling, but prefers that maps be

used for routes rather than signs.

Frank Tenney, a school bus driver, said he was concerned with

safety issues.

Arthaud noted the town is constructing a bike path and Phase I

has 50 signs and he thought the town was well into having a

great number of signs.

Chairman Russell asked how many people would benefit from these

signs and Bresee answered he did not know, but thought most of

the people would be from out-of-state.

Spin Richardson asked if the town would have to pay for the

signs and Bresee answered the state would pay only for the

larger version of the signs.

Board of Selectmen -5- June 10, 2002

Alison Lockwood said people will ride bikes in town whether or

not there are signs posted and suggested bikers use maps

instead.

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Ramsdell:

* "DRAFT A LETTER TO CHAMPLAIN BIKEWAYS AGREEING TO 8

"LITTLE" SIGNS."

Vote: 1 in favor (Arthaud), 4 opposed.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE - J.P. BETTENCOURT

John Paul Bettencourt said he had recently been appointed

Emergency Management Coordinator by the board. Bettencourt said

he works for the state in Emergency Management. Bettencourt

reviewed the town's Emergency Management Ordinance and noted the

town is require to have an Emergency Response Plan.

E. Russell noted the board had just received copies of the Plan

and they would need to read it before they could approve it.

Bettencourt said the Plan gives him and the Selectboard the

authority to deputize citizens and request assistance from other

towns.

Chairman Russell asked Bettencourt if he would be the Emergency

Medical Coordinator and Bettencourt answered no, that person

would be appointed.

Alison Lockwood said that since the events of September 11,

2001, she has taken an interest in what in public policy

restricts personal rights and suggested in reviewing the Plan

the board be sensitive to this issue. E. Russell suggested

Lockwood read the Plan and let the board know her concerns.

Stephen Brooks asked what an Emergency Response Plan was and

Bettencourt responded it deals with disasters and attacks only.

Arthaud said he and Bettencourt had discussed doing a mock

emergency drill and asked Bettencourt where that was in the

planning stage. Bettencourt answered that hopefully it will

happen before the snow flies. Arthaud noted the Emergency

Response Plan would be for events on a much more broad scale

than what would normally be handled by the Fire & Rescue

Department.

CAPITAL ASSETS POLICY - ELLIE RUSSELL

E. Russell said having a capital assets policy defining capital

assets is required.

Ramsdell moved and the motion was seconded by

Cole:

* "TO ACCEPT THE DEFINITIONS OF CAPITAL ASSETS AND

INFRASTRUCTURE."

Chairman Russell reviewed the definitions.

Board of Selectmen -6- June 10, 2002

Arthaud said he thought the roads would be depreciated faster

than they should be and E. Russell said the state definitions

were used; the length of a road life is 25 years. Spin

Richardson said if the length of time is less than 5 years, it

should be expensed and not capitalized. Arthaud said if the

road costs more than $5,000.00 or more it should be considered a

capital asset. E. Russell said the depreciation rate was

Auditor Yacavoni's recommendation, too.

Ramsdell and Cole withdrew their motion.

ROAD COMMISSIONER UPDATE - HUGH LEWIS, JR.

Road Commissioner, Hugh Lewis, Jr. said he would like to see at

least part of One Mile Road paved; the first 1,000 feet from Mt.

Philo Road. Lewis noted the town had been building up the road

in preparation for paving.

Clark Hinsdale, Jr. said he was against any paving on the road.

Lockwood asked why the road is so rough and Lewis responded

vehicle acceleration and deceleration makes the road get

"washboardy."

Nancy Calcagni said that road washboarding is a problem, the

road is dusty and gets a lot of traffic and she was in support

of paving it.

Sylvia Knight read a statement from the Charlotte Conservation

Commission asking for support for maintenance of dirt roads,

which were part of the town's rural character. Knight asked for

consideration of the issues of vehicle speed and safety and

asked for a thorough public discussion before making any

decisions in the matter.

Roger Teese said he lives on Guinea Road and was in favor of

paving. Lewis said the matter is up to the voters.

Chairman Russell said the matter was not going to be decided on

this evening.

Karen Higbee said she lived of One Mile Road for ten years and

the road is a thoroughfare; it's filthy, dangerous, has heavy

traffic and she was in favor of paving.

Arthaud said that Ruth Uphold asked him what happened to a bike

path marker and Lewis responded it is scheduled to be put back.

LARGE FARM PERMIT (GUINEA ROAD) - CLARK HINSDALE, III

Clark Hinsdale, III gave the board an outline of the proposal

for a Large Farm Permit regarding his father's farm, noting a

hearing on the matter to be held on June 18, 2002 at the Grange

Hall. Hinsdale noted the farm is 1,500 acres of land on Guinea

Road and near One Mile Road, managed by Mike LaClair.

Board of Selectmen -7- June 10, 2002

Hinsdale reviewed the Large Farm law is new and part of the

federal Clean Water Act and any farm over 600 cows triggers the

review. Hinsdale said the permit process looks at protecting

the environment from pollution and the ability of the land to

absorb the manure from the animals on the farm, protection of

water resources, traffic issues and the impact of insects and

pests.

Hinsdale said there was no change in the land base and the

current farm uses 6 buildings in and around Charlotte and

described the amount of work involved in moving feed and manure

around town in that many locations on a regular basis. Hinsdale

noted the end result would be less wear and tear on trucks and

less traveling of farm vehicles on public roads.

Hinsdale said the plan is phased and in Phase I, a 616 head

milking barn would be constructed which would be identical to

the Blue Spruce Farm barn in Bridport. Hinsdale added a new 500

x 120 foot manure pit will be built toward the Bingham Brook

Road side of the property and toward the lower side of the barn.

Paula Joslin asked about water usage for the cattle. Clark

Hinsdale, Jr. said the operation would require 60,000 gallons

per day. Jack Galt asked what the water supply for the barn is

and Hinsdale (III) answered that a well has been drilled 1700

feet from the barn.

Clark Hinsdale, III said the application was prepared to

disclose the maximum build out of the farm operation and he

wanted to inform the townspeople of their intentions and said

they were welcome to attend the hearing on the 18th, but noted

he was unsure whether the Commissioner of Agriculture would be

taking testimony from them or not. Hinsdale discussed the

general phasing out process of the current barns in his father's

farm, noting the change probably should have been made 5 years

prior.

Peter Joslin asked why the Hinsdales wanted such a huge farm and

Hinsdale (III) responded that they didn't, but farming has

changed and so has what you have to do to make a living on one,

and that they would be happy if they could continue to make a

living that way. Mike LaClair added that having more cows in

one location would reduce the costs of the operation and when

they are at full operation, the milk truck will come to the farm

just once per day.

Hazel Prindle asked about using methane as a power source and

Hinsdale (III) responded that a windmill would be more

profitable.

Gordon Troy thanked the Hinsdales for coming to this meeting and

the last Planning Commission meeting, and noted the process for

the Hinsdales' Large Farm Permit does not require local

permitting, and asked if he could look at the site plan,

aesthetic issues and plantings for the site. Hinsdale (III)

said he would be willing to work with the Planning Commission

about their concerns and added that his family wanted the

townspeople to feel good about the operation.

Board of Selectmen -8- June 10, 2002

Dee Pierce asked if the Hinsdales had a site plan and Hinsdale

(III) said he would make the site plan available for review on

the Town Hall wall.

John Calcagni asked how many cows the operation would have and

Hinsdale (Jr.) responded 2,500 was the eventual goal.

Roger Teese said he was concerned about odor from a large manure

pit and Hinsdale (Jr.) responded it would be the same style as

the current pit and the pit really only smells bad when it is

stirred.

Spin Richardson asked whether farm employees were housed by the

Hinsdales and Hinsdale (Jr.) said yes.

Jeff Cohn asked about the impact of the farm's water use on home

wells in the area. Hinsdale (III) responded they had consulted

with Craig Heindel, who mapped the aquifers in the area and

believes there is ample water with the current well.

Jim Donovan asked about site plan modifications after the

Hinsdales have their permit and Hinsdale (III) said in terms of

traffic flow and outdoor lights, etc., we can work those issues

out with the town. Karen Higbee asked about noise and light

pollution from the farm and Hinsdale (Jr.) said it was the same

equipment the farm was using now and most of the noise comes

from fans.

Alison Lockwood said she agreed with the Hinsdales on the

pressures faced by farmers, but building a "factory farm" was

not with the town's rural character and the Town Plan, and she

was concerned about the environmental factors of that much

manure and water usage. Hinsdale (Jr.) said it would not be a

factory farm; which is when all the feed is brought on site and

then the manure is trucked out, and noted the farm grows almost

all of its feed. Hinsdale (III) added that when all phases of

the farm are built, it would be the 30th or 40th largest farm in

the state.

Sylvia Knight asked what would be used to control flies on the

farm and LaClair reviewed the product they currently use and

added that keeping air flow through the barn and cleaning up

manure takes care of most of the fly problems.

Jane Ann Kantor asked how dead animals are disposed of and

LaClair answered he has a composting site and explained the

process.

Stephen Brooks recommended the Hinsdales give a tour of the site

to the townspeople and Hinsdale (Jr.) agreed to meet residents

for a tour at 5 p.m on June 12, 2002 at the intersection of

Bingham Brood and Guinea Roads.

Jack Clemmons asked about power concerns and Hinsdale (Jr.) said

there would be buried power lines to the barn.

Sylvia Sprigg asked if there was a conservation plan for the

site and Hinsdale (Jr.) said he conserves his land by farming on

it and keeping the farm profitable will keep the land open.

Board of Selectmen -9- June 10, 2002

Hinsdale (III) outlined that there are 3 parties to a large farm

application: the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental

Protection Agency, the farmer and the town. Hinsdale said the

town can articulate a position on the application if it wishes.

Bill Leckerling said the townspeople should review hearings from

2 developments by the Hinsdales in terms of what was said in the

hearings and what happened after that.

Lockwood asked what chemicals and bio-engineered products were

used on the farm and LaClair said a herbicide is used in growing

corn and no bio-engineered products were used to his knowledge.

The board took a 5 minute break at 10:28 p.m.

RECREATION PATH UPDATE

Arthaud reviewed the plans for Phase I of the Recreation Path

(from Mt. Philo to Route 7) has been designed and paid for and

is ready for construction and what was considered the last

hurdle; the wetlands, is no longer an issue.

Arthaud said that Clark and Suzanne Hinsdale had donated land

for the path as well as a construction easement and with the

money paid to Dufresne-Henry for planning the town is over its

matching grant requirement with the state. Clark Hinsdale, III

and Arthaud reviewed a map of the plans and Arthaud noted the

town would need to push the issue with the state to get

construction going on the path.

SELECTBOARD ASSISTANT INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

E. Russell said the board needed to decide who and when to

interview for the position of Selectboard Assistant, noting

there had been 6 applicants to date and one had since withdrawn

from the selection process. E. Russell said she wanted to

interview Jennifer Dundee, Tom Mansfield and Susan Levy.

Chairman Russell suggested doing the interviews on June 24, 2002

at 6 p.m. Board Members decided Chairman Russell would call the

interviewees to see if they are still available.

APPROVAL OF 3 SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Board members discussed people who had expressed interest in

being on 3 committees: Affordable Housing, Business and

Economics and the West Village Planning Committee. The board

decided to keep submitting names to the list.

E. Russell suggested given the late hour that the agenda items

be tabled until the following Monday.

Board of Selectmen -10- June 10, 2002

Having no further business, Chairman Russell

moved:

* "TO ADJOURN."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:13 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn