Board of Selectmen August 26, 2002

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

MINUTES

AUGUST 26, 2002

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Charles Russell

Debbie Ramsdell

Ellie Russell

Jennifer Steele Cole

OTHERS: Sylvia Sprigg

Janet Foster

Nancy Sabin

John Hammer

Richard LeBoeuf

Shawn Bedard

Tricia Coleman

Peter J. Coleman

John Hammer

Hugh Lewis, Jr.

Stephen C. Brooks

Daniel Senecal-Albrecht

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

There were no adjustments made to the agenda.

APPROVE MINUTES - AUGUST 12

Ramsdell wished to clarify on page 2 that the IBM recognition

was for contributions made by IBM employees who were residents

of Charlotte and that 1 computer each was donated to the

Charlotte Children's Center and the Charlotte Senior Center. E.

Russell suggested putting Arthaud's response to Peter Coleman's

questions under "Public Discussion" in quotes, and adding the

word "what" to the first paragraph on page 5. Cole wished to

clarify that the "hellhole' referred to under the discussion of

the widening of Route 7 was by Clafin Farm Road and the black

ice referred to in the same discussion is further south of that

location, noting the minutes seem to refer to the same location.

Cole clarified that on page 7 the Holcomb house has yet to be

put on the market and on the same page that the town would like

to be reimbursed by the Spears for paving of their parking lot.

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Cole:

* "TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF AUGUST 12, 2002 AS

CORRECTED."

Vote: All in favor.

Board of Selectmen -2- August 26, 2002

PUBLIC DISCUSSION

Stephen Brooks asked if town commissions could use their own

letterheads as some commissions have different mailing

addresses. E. Russell said she thought it would be less

expensive for all town boards to use the same letterheads.

Chairman Russell offered that the board could research the

matter and see what the town attorney and the VLCT think about

the matter.

Nancy Sabin asked about a shed sitting adjacent to the town

green and in the town's right-of-way. Stephen Brooks answered

that it was sitting on Richard LeBoeuf's private property, it is

a zoning matter and complaints should be taken up with the

Zoning Administrator. Brooks noted that LeBoeuf had given him

permission to put the shed on his property and then reconsidered

the issue after receiving complaints from town residents.

Brooks added that he was open to ides of where the building

should go and suggested the Framers' Market could use the

structure.

Chairman Russell asked if the board would mind the structure

sitting behind the town hall for a short while and board members

agreed to the idea.

PAVING UPDATE - JUNIOR LEWIS, THOMPSON'S POINT TRASH REMOVAL

Road Commissioner, Hugh Lewis, Jr. said the paving company hired

this year had done a really good job and to date he has received

no complaints from town residents. Ramsdell commented that Lewis

had done a great job in working with the pavers.

Richard LeBoeuf discussed the draining problems at the McDurfee

house and Lewis said there should be no water going into that

house. LeBoeuf asked about paving by his property and Chairman

Russell suggested doing a site visit on a rainy day to review

LeBoeuf's concerns.

Chairman Russell asked Lewis how much the town had been charged

for paving at the Senior Center and Fire & Rescue parking lots.

Lewis responded he did not know as he had yet to see the bill.

Chairman Russell said he had received a call asking whether

roadside mowing would be done again this year and if so how much

it would cost the town. Lewis said he normally only mows once

per year and it would be about $2,500.00 to mow again. The

board members agreed not to request more mowing this year.

Stephen Brooks asked about an old sidewalk on Ferry Road that

was removed while the sewer system was installed and Chairman

Russell assure Brooks the historic walk would be retuned and

restored.

Stephen Brooks asked about ditching on Roscoe and Lewis Creek

Roads and Chairman Russell advised the matter would need to be

warned for discussion.

Selectboard Assistant, Dan Senecal-Albrecht said he had given

Lewis a copy of the ordinance on speed limits at the town beach.

Board of Selectmen -3- August 26, 2002

Cole discussed having Lewis smooth out the area where brush was

burned at Thompson's Point. There was a discussion about how

the work that was done at that site would be paid for and John

Hammer noted there was $965.00 left in the town's fund from the

CSWD that could be used for the clean up costs. Janet Foster

noted the area where the clean up was done looks nice.

Brooks asked Lewis about fixing boards on the Holmes Creek

bridge and Lewis said he would ask Dave Waller to fix it.

Lewis asked the board about ditching on private property at Skip

Sheldon's place that is in the town's right-of-way and water

builds up in a swale and a culvert needs replacement. Chairman

Russell suggested the board do a site visit.

NORDIC TRAIL UPDATE - DAN SENECAL-ALBRECHT

Senecal-Albrecht reviewed research on the Nordic Farm currently

owned by the Demeter Fund, noting there is an option to purchase

a trail easement on the property and reviewed the proposed

document. Chairman Russell explained the Hinsdale family was

interested in buying the property.

APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD BERNSTEIN AS LIAISON TO CCMPO FOR THE

BURLINGTON BIKEWAYS PROJECT

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Cole:

* "TO APPOINT DR. RICHARD BERNSTEIN AS LIAISON OF THE

TOWN TO THE CCMPO FOR THE BURLINGTON BIKEWAYS

PROJECT."

Vote: All in favor.

DRY HYDRANTS DISCUSSION

Senecal-Albrecht discussed out of service hydrants, noting that

7 letter were sent out by the Zoning Administrator and the Fire

Chief last year outlining the problems with the hydrants and

what was needed to bring them into compliance. Senecal-Albrecht

reviewed memos from the ZA and the Fire Chief and his

discussions on the matter with the VLCT.

Brooks suggested that the ZA sent enforcement letters since

nonfunctional hydrants pose a safety issue. E. Russell said she

would talk with the Planning Commission about the matter and

Chairman Russell said the important thing is that the matter

gets resolved.

DISCUSSION: REQUEST BY CLARK HINSDALE, JR. TO HAVE TOWN

DISCONTINUE THORNTON'S TRACE

E. Russell and Chairman Russell reviewed their site visit with

Chalk Hinsdale Jr. and Clark Hinsdale, III and reviewed

alternatives for their Large Farm operation and the town

throwing up Thornton's Trace. Chairman Russell said he had

discussed discontinuing the trail Trace with Frank Thornton.

Board of Selectmen -4- August 26, 2002

E. Russell said the board needs to research exactly where

Thornton's Trace is since right now the town doesn't have a

clear starting point of where the trail begins. E. Russell said

she had discussed rerouting the trail with the Hinsdales and

they said they would entertain the idea. Researching the trail

was assigned to Senecal-Albrecht.

E. Russell reviewed maps of the area of the trail and Chairman

Russell said the town does not want to lose the trail as an

asset and reviewed the town's options. E. Russell said the

Planning Commission is planning to meet with the Hinsdales at

their next meeting.

SELECTBOARD UPDATES

Ramsdell said she had spoke with members of Charlotte Land Trust

and they are not interested in the Holcomb house (property soon

to be on the market next to the library). Ramsdell said she had

spoken with Beth Merritt about forming a committee to look into

the town's interest in the property once it becomes for sale and

stated she believes the property is not on, but adjacent to a

wetland. Brooks suggested writing a letter to the executor of

the estate regarding the property and Cole said she would

contact the owners of the property.

Ramsdell said Richard Hong would be helping the Senior Center

membership set up the computers that the Town Hall is no longer

using.

E. Russell said she would talk with Ann DeMuth about her

timesheets submitted to the town.

Cole reviewed her meeting with the Thompson's Point Wastewater

Committee and reported the Affordable Housing Committee had met

twice. E. Russell noted the Economic Committee would meet

September 10, 2002.

Senecal-Albrecht reviewed his memo to the board on "upcoming

events and deadlines." There was a discussion applying for an

enhancement grant from the Agency of Transportation. Sylvia

Sprigg suggested the money could be used for preservation of

open land on Route 7. Chairman Russell suggested the town could

apply for money for the restoration of the Thorpe Barn and

suggested Senecal-Albrecht get in touch with Nancy Walsh for a

list of work needed to be done on the barn and Kate Lampton of

the Champlain Valley Greenbelt Alliance.

Chairman Russell asked Senecal-Albrecht to work on the town

website, which is currently out of date.

E. Russell noted the town needs to get moving on implementing

GASB-34.

Brooks asked about brushhogging on Barber Hill and Chairman

Russell said it would happen.

E. Russell said she had written a letter to the state in the

misspelling of picnicking at Mt. Philo State Park.

Board of Selectmen -5- August 26, 2002

Chairman Russell noted the town had received a bill for

landscaping for the Fire & Rescue Department.

Chairman Russell advised board members that there is a document

back from the town attorney on the Galbreath property and asked

members to review it.

Chairman Russell reviewed a letter from The Fire & Rescue

Department on a road race the Department was holding as a

fundraising project

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by

Cole:

* "TO APPOINT THE FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT'S ROAD RACE

OCTOBER 19, 2002 PENDING OBTAINING PROPER INSURANCE

AND TRAFFIC CONTROL."

Vote: All in favor.

Board members discussed their meeting schedule for the month of

September and decided they could meet on the 16th of the month

if needed and discussed the possibility of meeting on September

30th.

SIGN WARRANT AND BILLS

Board members signed warrants and bills.

Having no further business, Chairman Russell

moved:

* "TO ADJOURN."

Vote: All in favor.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn