Board of Selectmen September 7, 1999

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE

BOARD OF SELECTMEN

PUBLIC HEARING

MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 7, 1999

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Marty Illick

John Rosenthal

Clark Hinsdale, III

OTHERS: Alison Lockwood

Nancy P. Sabin

Ronan Belisle

Lorna Jimmerson

Joan Gates

Fred Kretch

M. Brown

A. Brown

Ed Melby

Charles Russell

Dianne Leary

Shawn Bedard

Brad Miller

Spin Richardson

Jack Clemmons

Tim Hawley

David Perrin

Catherine Hughes

Emile Cote

Wally Scott

Abbey Duke

David V. Carr

R. E. Burns

Sue Patnaude

John Patnaude

Rick Pete

Cathe Brown

Richard LeBoeuf

Kevin C. Kearns

Sylvia Sprigg

Sylvia Knight

Bob Wright

Nancy Goodrich

Sandy Mayo

Mike Yantachka

Ronald Valiquette

Beth Levitt

Diane Cote

John Hammer

Charlie Brush

Jane Peter

Bill Peter

Laurie Stavrand

Meg Smith

Steve Moore

Anne Bijur

M. Bijur

Jane Jarrad

Gregg Beldock

Wendy Schroeder

Board of Selectman -2- September 7, 1999

Chairman Illick called the meeting of the Board of Selectman to

order at 7:06 p.m. in the Charlotte Town Offices. Illick stated

this was an open meeting to listen to the public's comments on

and discuss the Article to be voted on at a Special Town

Meeting, September 21st from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Wendy Schroeder passed out maps of the Earl Burns property on

the east side of Greenbush Road the town was interested in

purchasing as well as an informational sheet outlining the plans

for the purchase. Schroeder explained the town offices, library

and fire department were in need of a septic field and the town

was interested in part of the nearby Burns property for sale,

but Burns was only interested in selling the property as a

whole. The Charlotte Land Trust agreed to look for an

investment buyer to buy the whole property at one million

dollars and for the town to buy a 55 acre portion of the

property it was interested in for $250,000.00. Schroeder said

the opportunities are in the long-range visionary and planning

stages at this time. Schroeder said the town looked at current

needs for septic and playing fields, but right now if the

Article passes, the town will only do septic. Schroeder said

the town needs 900 gallons per day of septic capacity and the

area of the Burns property the town wants to buy is estimated to

have a 14,500 gallons per day capacity. Schroeder added that

the monies to build recreational fields would be provided by

private funding.

Timothy Hawley said he was concerned about the land between

Greenbush Road and the railroad tracks beside the Burns house

where he has an easement for a well. Hawley and Schroeder

determined that the area of the easement was not in the town's

plan for septic and Schroeder took under advisement that there

may be easements on the whole Burns property the town was not

aware of.

Spin Richardson asked how much it would cost to put in a septic

system on top of the purchase of the land. Hinsdale answered

that the Selectboard has grappled with what to ask the voters

and has been advised everything from not buying the Burns land

to buying the entire property at one million dollars. The

reason the Selectboard decided to put the plan to buy part of

the Burns land on the ballot is that the board felt this plan

best met the current and future needs identified for the town.

Hinsdale said the board took notice at the last Town Meeting of

the townspeople wanting the town to look long-range at costs in

the school playing fields issue. Hindsdale advised the town is

paying to have P&P Septic pump out the town hall's septic tank

every 2 weeks and the Burns property would be less than half of

the cost of the Lavalette deal; where the town would only be

provided with septic. Hinsdale said the Burns property deal

meets the current septic and long-range septic recreational

needs of the town. Hinsdale offered the estimate of $85,000.00

for a septic system was probably high.

Schroeder said there are many options and contingencies in the

deal so far and this deal shows support of the Land Trust in

their efforts. Illick added that municipal ownership of the

property was a better way to go.

Board of Selectman -3- September 7, 1999

Sylvia Sprigg said she was concerned about the town focusing on

immediate septic needs and recreational fields and perhaps the

town should incorporate the septic needs of the community,

especially older houses in the village whose septic systems may

be failing. Sprigg offered the town should wait until the

septic and water study was complete. Illick offered that the

Town Plan has yet to be voted on and what the town is currently

voting on is a "yes" or "no" to this Article, based on the

town's need. Rosenthal added that the town is paying on an

option so that the property can't be sold to another buyer and

the deal can't wait forever.

Steve Moore said he wished more planning should have been put

into a quarter of a million dollar investment. Illick answered

that Wendy Schroeder did the leg work on this project and

Hinsdale added that the Recreation Committee has determined that

their immediate need is for a Little League and soccer fields

and that many people have reviewed this plan.

Charlie Brush said he thought that how much was being spent was

missing the point; that this would contain sprawl and let the

town control its central part, and his belief that $250,000.00

was a small amount of money in light of that and the deal was in

the best interest of the town. Brush added that the town will

never have all the answers to every possible question that may

arise. Dave Perrin applauded Brush's comments and said he

supports the purchases, seeing the land as a valuable resource

and the town should take up the discussion of use later.

Sue Patenaude asked how much the end cost of giving up the land

from the tax base, especially in terms of Act 60 and the town's

"Gold Town Status?" Hinsdale said it would cost a little less

than a cent and a half or possibly 2 cents with maintenance on

the property over 5 years.

Fred Clark asked what was included in the 1 million dollars that

the buyer is asking for the property, would the other buyer pay

the $750,000.00? Hindsdale said yes and stated that he felt

that the assessed value the town's part; $250,000.00, would

higher in actual property value. Schroeder added that the

investor might be able to get a tax credit and the town might

actually pay less in the deal.

Emile Cote asked what the town's concerns were in the Lavallette

deal that they didn't go ahead with it. Hinsdale responded that

the town has state approval on a septic area and an easement on

the west side of Greenbush Road. The board asked the town asked

for $150,000.00 that was never spent because there were problems

with the environmental impact and the town looked for a more

cost-effective solution.

Nancy Sabin said the town has wasted $30,000.00 on researching

use of the Lavalette property and asked what happened to the

$150,000.00? Schroeder said the money was never spent. Hinsdale

said the town had secured a conservation and septic easement

below market value and the town could build a septic system on

the Lavalette property anytime. The board felt that the Burns

property was a more cost-effective long-term solution to the

town's needs.

Board of Selectman -4- September 7, 1999

Jack Clemmons suggested the town look at more multi-generational

uses of land than playing fields such as a community center, a

senior or teen center. Clemmons discussed social impacts and

financial burdens that differently aged people are facing today.

Clemmons stated the Burns property gives the town the ability to

look at the best benefits for the town. Hinsdale stated

Clemmons comments were well said, and the current plans for the

property meets 2 immediate needs of the town and the town is

looking at multi-generational needs of the village, including a

senior center, however the town needs to be focussed and

specific about what is being put in front of the voters.

Alison Lockwood said the Burns property is valuable to the town

but questioned the research the town has done on the

recreational fields and stated she had a school soccer schedule

and the current fields by the town are underused. Schroeder

said the study was based on maximum usage of the school's fields

and Illick added Lockwood's statements were based on school

usage only and the recreational fields would be used for the

community as a whole.

Ronald Valiquette how the town arrived at septic need and

Hinsdale explained it was 15 gallons per employee and meetings

were additional septic.

Nancy Goodrich asked if a yes vote meant approving recreation as

well as septic use and Illick explained the warning included

recreational use. Hinsdale said the vote was on the real estate

purchase and recreational use at this time was conceptual and

exact use was not firm.

Charlie Russell asked about the cost of pumping the septic tank

and Illick replied that it was around $10,000.00 per year, but

that only included the town hall and not the library and fire

department as included in the Article's plan. Russell suggested

it would be in the town's best interest to buy the whole Burns

property.

Catherine Hughes asked if the town really needed more playing

fields and Illick replied that the issue had been studied by

dozens of people and the conclusion was this was what the town

needed. Bill Peter added that 300 kids on different teams are

involved in playing baseball, softball and T-ball.

John Hammer spoke in support of buying the Burns property and

advised that if the Article passes it doesn't mean the town will

buy the property, the Land Trust is paying $5,000.00 per month

on the option to buy the property. Hammer said he felt it was

"a deal and a half" and the town could consolidate a village and

services. Hammer said the town should give the Selectboard the

opportunity move forward on the deal and do the "nickel and

diming" later. Hammer said the playing fields would be built

for the town and all the town would have to pay for is

maintenance.

Board of Selectman -5- September 7, 1999

Ed Melby, a member of the Planning Commission, said they were in

the process of updating the town's 5 year plan, concurrent with

the Chittenden County Regional Plan. Melby stated the Regional

Plan includes controlling sprawl by putting 75% of municipal

growth in town centers and at the last Planning Commission

meeting, their board voted in favor of supporting the concept.

Sylvia Knight said she was generally in support of the Article,

although she had some problems with the recreational fields, but

thought the town should keep its options open.

Sandy Mayo said she felt a lot of information available to the

public was lacking, stating the town already spent $30,000.00 on

the Lavalette property, the A. Johnson project is still not

finished and on the Burns property, the research and agreements

are not yet in place and the town is asking for another

$250,000. Hinsdale said the alternative was to spend money that

was not budgeted on studies without putting it in front of the

voters for a consensus.

Sylvia Sprigg said the town was presenting a conceptual plan,

where if a private person wanted use of property, they would

have to provide concise information on their plan. Hinsdale

said people buy property all the time and then go to the

Planning Commission with their plans, which is the same thing

the town will have to do.

Dave Walker said he was in favor of the purchase and offered

that when the option was up someone else could buy the property.

Sharon Gates said the town should buy the whole property and

offered she felt a chance like this wouldn't present itself

again, particularly in the center of town. Hinsdale offered

even that it still wouldn't prevent the town with making a deal

with the final buyer.

Sylvia Knight said she was concerned about water sources on the

Burns property and the town being careful on keeping all

easements free and clear.

Sandy Mayo asked what would happen on the option to purchase if

the Article did not pass, and if the town would be committed to

the $5,000.00 per month for a year. Hinsdale answered if the

Article was voted down that the town could stop paying on the

option and the board felt it was in the best interest of the

town not to wait until Town Meeting in March. Illick said many

townspeople were interested in the million dollar deal.

The hearing was closed at 8:50 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:

Debby Flynn