Charlotte Town Meeting June 28, 2000

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

TOWN MEETING

MINUTES

JUNE 28, 2000

MODERATOR: Gregg Cluff

SELECTMEN PRESENT: Chairman Robert Mack, Jr.

John Rosenthal

Clark Hinsdale, III

Charles Russell

Jim Sheldon-Dean

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Moderator Gregg Cluff called the meeting to order and welcomed

the assembly at 7:25 p.m., in the Charlotte Central School

Gymnasium. Cluff announced the outcome of the Australian ballot

vote on Article 5:

* "SHALL THE BONDS OF THE TOWN OF CHARLOTTE IN AN

AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS

($100,000) BE ISSUED FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAKING

RENOVATIONS TO THE CHARLOTTE FIRE STATION?."

Vote: 296 in favor, 102 opposed.

Moderator Cluff asked attendees to be sure to conduct their

warned business properly and respectfully. Cluff read all four

Articles to be voted on at this meeting. Cluff noted 4

non-residents who would be available to answer questions from

the audience and asked that they be allowed to speak.

Moe Harvey moved Article 1, with a second from

the floor:

* "TO ALLOW THE FOUR NON-RESIDENTS TO POSSIBLY SPEAK

IN OUR DISCUSSION."

VOTE: The motion was passed by voice vote.

ARTICLE 1

Tina Flood moved Article 1, with a second from

Nancy Sabin:

* "WILL THE TOWN VOTE TO PROHIBIT THE FUTURE SPENDING

OF TOWN FUNDS RELATING TO ANY INTEREST IN THE BURNS

PROPERTY ON GREENBUSH ROAD UNTIL A SPECIFIED AMOUNT

TO DO SO IS AUTHORIZED BY A VOTE OF THE TOWN?"

Spin Richardson said he was not the author of this petition nor

did he sign it, but he was concerned with the sentiments that

brought the authors to bring this petition and the signers to

sign it. Richardson outlined his concerns about what he saw as

a lack of openness with the public, a paternalistic attitude of

the Selectboard and his concern about tax dollars involved in

the acquisition. Richardson stated the outcome of this vote is

meaningless as Article 1 completes Article 2.

Charlotte Town Meeting -2- June 28, 2000

Clark Hinsdale moved with a second from

the floor:

* "TO CEASE DEBATE ON ARTICLE 1."

VOTE: The motion was passed by voice vote.

VOTE: Article 1 was passed by voice vote.

ARTICLE 2

Harley Allen moved Article 2, with a second from

Judith Tuttle:

* "WILL THE TOWN VOTE TO EXPEND A SUM NOT TO EXCEED

$80,000 ($50,000 FROM THE RECREATION FEE FUND AND

$30,000 FROM THE CONSERVATION FUND) TO PURCHASE 55

ACRES OF THE BURNS PROPERTY ON THE EASTERLY SIDE OF

GREENBUSH ROAD, AND A FURTHER SUM NOT TO EXCEED

$10,000 FROM THE GENERAL FUND FOR REASONABLE CLOSING

COSTS AND EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH

PURCHASE?"

Clark Hinsdale brought to the attention of the attendees the

handout the Selectboard had prepared outlining the costs

involved in the in the Burns property acquisition, noting the

board still had the power to proceed without authorization, but

in the spirit of good will put the matter before the voters.

Hinsdale went on to explain how the board had come to decide on

this land use plan over other options, that the Selectboard had

voted to go forward on this plan in open session and opted to

keep paying on the option to buy the property while quality

people brought quality ideas before the board about land use.

Paul Bruhn of the Vermont Preservation Trust outlined what his

organization and the Vermont Land Trust does. Bruhn reviewed

how he and Gil Livingston of the VLT had talked with various

people from all walks of the community and discussed their

goals, noting the differences between those goals for the town

and the Burns property were very small. Interviewees cited the

following reasons why the Burns property was important to the

town: the construction of a senior center; municipal septic;

recreation; preservation of Barber Hill; trail easements; sites

for educational facilities; future senior housing; continuation

of the viability of the Old Lantern; the possibility of

affordable housing; protecting the Route 7 corridor from sprawl

and a possible community center.

Bruhn then outlined the conditions to be met to receive the

$100,000. grant from the VLT: that the west side of Barber Hill

be conveyed to the town for educational and/or research

purposes; that non-profit recreation be addressed; that no more

than 2 new residences be built on the west side of Greenbush

Road and that there be an open planning process for the east

side of Greenbush Road.

Charlotte Town Meeting -3- June 28, 2000

Wally Smith said he was concerned about an outside organization

coming in and having to meet their stipulations. Bruhn

responded that all the VLT was interested in was that the town

have a conversation about what they want in the village and

everyone should be included, but the VLT was not interested in

dictating what would happen.

Dan Rosen asked why town residents were not provided with copies

of Agreements in place and Hinsdale explained there is currently

no signed contract and the board would not engage in a contract

unless Article 2 was approved. Hinsdale added the planning

process would have a steering committee of community volunteers

comprising all interests to the town.

Tina Flood noted the town does not have an easement for septic

across the LeBoeuf property and Mack confirmed there is no

easement in place, but had spoken with LeBoeuf earlier the same

day and LeBoeuf had told him to come back and see him when the

town approved the sale of the Burns property. Hinsdale added

there were alternate plans for septic on the Burns property if

LeBoeuf refused an easement which had already been priced out.

Allan Jordan asked what would happen with Lantern Vision, LLC if

the deal fell through and Jim Dickerson answered his group was

prepared to buy the property in March and would move forward

either way.

Jessie Bradley, the Chairman of the Recreation Committee, stated

this proposal lets the public decide what it wants to do and

asked for public support to dip into the Recreation Fund and

approve this sale.

Sylvia Sprigg noted that village planning has been done

previously and that previously created documents were being

ignored.

Sylvia Knight discussed her concern about water supply in the

area and Hinsdale responded there is a legal water easement in

place and the well is protected; these are legal documents we

(the Selectboard) will honor.

Charlie Russell suggested having 4 houses on the west side of

Greenbush Road instead of 2 to lower the financial burden on the

town. Hinsdale responded that proposal was never brought before

the Selectboard and noted the Charlotte Land Trust had tried to

obtain the 55 acres on the east side of Greenbush Road for free

for 2 years to no avail.

Marty Illick moved with a second from

Dan Rosen:

* "TO CEASE DEBATE ON ARTICLE 2."

VOTE: The motion was passed by voice vote.

Sylvia Sprigg requested a paper ballot and the necessary seven

other voters agreed.

VOTE: Article 2 was passed by Australian ballot 300

in favor, and 146 opposed.

Charlotte Town Meeting -4- June 28, 2000

ARTICLE 3

Moe Harvey moved Article 3, with a second from

Tina Flood:

* "WILL THE TOWN VOTE TO RESCIND THE APPROVAL GRANTED

BY THE VOTERS ON MARCH 4, 1997 TO BORROW $150,000

FOR THE PURPOSE OF PURCHASING SEWAGE DISPOSAL RIGHTS

ON A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED ON GREENBUSH

ROAD AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM ON

SUCH LAND?"

Valerie Graham asked why Article 3 was necessary and Hinsdale

explained the Article was to rescind the deal the town had

previously approved on the Lavalette property which was never

put out to bond.

VOTE: Article 3 was passed unanimously by voice

vote.

ARTICLE 4

Alice Lawrence moved Article 4, with a second from

Beth Merritt:

* "WILL THE TOWN VOTE TO EXPEND A SUM NOT TO EXCEED

$195,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING A

WASTEWATER DISPOSAL SYSTEM FOR THE TOWN HALL, FIRE

STATION, SENIOR CENTER AND LIBRARY ON THE BURNS

PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE EASTERLY SIDE OF GREENBUSH

ROAD?"

Tina Flood asked whether by voting for this Article if other

town buildings would be precluded from using the septic system

and Hinsdale responded, yes, unless we vote to do otherwise.

Dave Perron stated he thought the system should be used for the

whole village and Hinsdale answered the measure should be

considered in a community-wide process.

Richard Crania asked where the figure $195,000. came from and

Mack explained the town had a surplus from the last two years'

budgets and monies were approved in the budget already for

septic and that another $30,000 was budgeted from the Senior

Center for wastewater removal. Mack added the town does not

currently have bids out on the project.

Robert Eastman, the attorney for the Burns family, noted the

property has been in the planning process with option payments

being made since February, 1999, with one extension granted

until August 1, 2000, and there would be no further extensions

granted. Hinsdale noted the town had just voted to purchase the

property.

Spin Richardson discussed Richard LeBoeuf's right-of-way access

to the Burns property, noting his first obligation was to the

plans for his own property.

Charlotte Town Meeting -5- June 28, 2000

VOTE: Article 4 was passed by voice vote.

Tina Flood moved and the motion was seconded by

from the floor:

* "TO ADJOURN THE MEETING."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 P.M.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn