Board of Selectmen October 18, 1999
TOWN OF CHARLOTTE
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
OCTOBER 18, 1999
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Marty Illick
John Rosenthal
James Sheldon-Dean
Clark Hinsdale, III
Robert Mack, Jr.
OTHERS: Gerald Tarrant
Mary Beth Freeman
Liam Murphy
John Cain
Tom Heilmann
Brian Sullivan
Joe McLean
Nancy P. Sabin
Sandy Mayo
Stephen C. Brooks
Hugh Lewis, Sr.
Bob Heilferty
Hugh Lewis, Jr.
David Miskell
Richard LeBoeuf
Shirley LeBoeuf
Sylvia Sprigg
Rolf Sennhenn
Holly Fournier
Louis Cox
Wendy Schroeder
________________________________________________________________
Chairman Illick called the meeting of the Board of Selectmen to
order at 6:20 p.m. in the Charlotte Town Offices. Illick noted
the Executive Session listed first on the agenda.
Mack moved and the motion was seconded by
Rosenthal:
* "TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS A LEGAL
SETTLEMENT WITH WIZN."
Vote: All in favor.
Parties present in the Executive Session were all 5 Selectboard
members and Gerald Tarrant, Mary Beth Free Man, Liam Murphy,
John Cain, Tom Heilmann, Brian Sullivan, Joe McLean and Holly
Fournier. Executive Session began at 6:20p.m. and ended at 7:20
p.m.
Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by
Mack:
* "TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION."
Vote: All in favor.
Board of Selectman -2- October 18, 1999
ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
Chairman Illick asked if the board members had any adjustments
to the agenda and suggested approving minutes later on as the
board was behind schedule on its agenda. Rosenthal said he
thought the board should Have an Executive Session at the end of
the meeting to review the issues discussed at the previous
Session and Illick said she wanted to do an update on issues
with Charlotte Park.
PUBLIC DISCUSSION
There was no public discussion.
PUBLIC ROADS - HUGH LEWIS, JR.
Lewis discussed a request by George Lavalette to put in some
lilacs by the roadside by where his lawn was driven on. Illick
asked if the site was in the right-of-way and Lewis responded
yes. Mack asked about a monetary figure for the tree and Lewis
responded it hadn't been discussed yet. Mack said he thought
that 6-8 lilacs would be sufficient.
Lewis and board members discussed the Dickerson property, where
a culvert had been installed to complete a circular driveway.
Lewis said he hadn't approved the culvert and Mack said he had
directed Dickerson to discuss his plans with Lewis before doing
anything. Mack suggested Dickerson come in before the board to
ask permission for the culvert and Illick said she would pen a
letter to Dickerson on the matter.
Lewis said he had installed a gate by the sand pile at the town
garage.
Lewis asked about having parking lot lines painted on municipal
property and mack suggested taking up the matter in the spring.
Mack asked about the amount of damage to the town from Hurricane
Floyd and Lewis said he did not have an exact dollar figure
available, but could at the next meeting, but generally offered
clean-up took about a week.
Nancy Sabin discussed a drop-off at the edge of the municipal
parking lot that needed to be addressed and Lewis said he would
look into having crushed stone put in to fill the gap.
BURNS LAND PROJECT A& SENIOR CENTER - AGREEMENT WITH "THE
ASSOCIATES", NEXT STEP
Chairman Illick said she had received a letter from Spin
Richardson after the agenda had been formalized, that said
Richardson would not be available for this meeting and Illick
read said letter. Hinsdale said he had met with "the Associates
and confirmed in writing what the board had understood from the
meeting October 11, 1999. Board members agreed to set the item
on the agenda for November 8, 1999.
Board of Selectman -3- October 18, 1999
David Miskell asked who the Selectboard representative to "the
Associates" was and Rosenthal said he assume they would ask
someone. Illick said she assumed there would be one party from
each side and offered she would be happy with any board member.
Art Ridge discussed the proposal he had drawn up for the senior
center and said he had met with the Steering Committee for the
Senior Center, but found the committee somewhat indifferent to
his ideas. Ridge stated he felt that offering multiple
proposals to the trustees of Irish's will would only enhance the
town's chances of satisfying the directions of Walter Irish's
will. Nancy Sabin noted the Steering Committee had been duly
sanctioned by the Selectboard to move ahead to investigate the
feasibility of the senior center and offer proposals for the
center and suggested that Ridge attend the next meeting on
Thursday at the Grange.
Bob Heilferty said he was concerned about lead-time to take
advantage of the money bequeathed in Walter Irish's will was
slipping away and his concern that no specific piece of land had
been identified for the center to date.
Nancy Sabin brought before the board a petition with 119
signatures supporting putting one cent on a dollar on the tax
rate for the Senior Center.
Sandy Mayo stated her understanding that a letter of proposal
was what was needed to be in place by July 1, 2000 and offered
she thought it was good for the town to be thoughtful and take
its time in deciding how to proceed. Illick offered the senior
center would be on the agenda in the next two months for
discussion.
CHARLOTTE PARK - UPDATE
Chairman Illick said she had written a letter published in the
Charlotte News on Charlotte Park, overviewing park policy and
advising that no dogs were allowed in the park. Illick said
about 50% of park visitors were accompanied by dogs and Hugh
Lewis, Sr., the Constable said he had yet to catch anyone with a
dog to date. Illick offered a "no dogs" sign would be posted in
the next two days. Illick asked if Hugh Lewis, Sr. has
discussed gate closings with Moe Harvey and Lewis replied not to
date. Illick noted the gate needed to be opened and closed
daily and suggested to Lewis he advise her of the usual and
customary for gate closings and openings.
Sylvia Sprigg said she sees cars parked in non-designated areas
frequently and asked Illick what she would like her to do about
it. Illick suggested leaving a note on the windshield as signs
for no parking were scheduled to be erected soon.
Lewis asked about getting a new badge, as his was worn and Mack
said the town would pay for it and to call the Town Clerk to
handle the matter.
Board of Selectman -4- October 18, 1999
THOMPSON'S POINT - GOALS & OBJECTIVES FOR THOMPSON'S POINT LAND
(REQUEST FROM TREE WARDEN)
Chairman Illick reviewed a letter from Tree Warden, Larry
Hamilton, asking for advisement in what to do regarding some
trees damaged by Hurricane Floyd. Hamilton said his problem
came in designating what to do with trees on property owned by
the town and leased to individuals. Hinsdale suggested the
Selectboard begin by contacting Secretary of State Markowitz's
office for advisement on the issue.
LISTER APPOINTMENT
Chairman Illick noted Heather Manning had been temporarily
appointed to the Lister position vacated by Robin Simpson.
Rosenthal asked if anyone else had been shown interest in the
position and Illick answered no.
Hinsdale moved and the motion was seconded by
Sheldon-Dean:
* "TO APPOINT HEATHER MANNING TO FILL THE UNEXPIRED
TERM OF ROBIN SIMPSON."
Vote: All in favor.
TOWN PROPERTY INSURANCE - UPDATE
Board members reviewed the current property coverage for the
town. Illick said the board needed to identify any new town
assets that may not be covered by insurance. Mack said he had
no changes to the current coverage and Illick said she had a
couple of small changes to discuss with the Town Clerk.
Hinsdale asked if there was a claim pending on the Thorpe Barn
(Hurricane Floyd) and Mack answered yes.
MOTION TO RATIFY BURNS OPTION PAYMENTS - (8/1/99 & 9/1/99)
Illick said it had been brought to her attention by the Minute
Taker that motions to pay the buying option on the Burns
property had not been slated or made for the last 2 months.
Mack contended he thought signing the order on the option was
sufficient of the board's intention. Illick said she viewed the
measure as a "housekeeping measure."
Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by
Hinsdale:
* "TO PAY THE BURNS PAYMENT."
Vote: 1 in favor (Illick) 3 opposed, Hinsdale
abstained.
Board of Selectman -5- October 18, 1999
APPROVE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 27, OCTOBER 4 & 11TH MEETINGS
Chairman Illick asked board members if they wished to approve
the minutes of September 27 and 13, 1999. Illick said she had
one change to the minutes of September 27; to clarify the board
went into Executive session to discuss the cases of Lazar,
Fournier and David Miner.
Rosenthal moved and the motion was seconded by
Sheldon-Dean:
* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 27, 1999 AS
AMENDED."
Vote: All in favor.
Chairman Illick said she had the following corrections for the
minutes of October 4, 1999: to change the date in the motion to
approve the minutes on page 2 to September 13, 1999; to make the
fourth paragraph on page 3 to read - Illick discussed the motion
to set the speed limit on Greenbush Road at 40m.p.h. and
compared them to the traffic studies that had been done for the
town which recommended the speed limit in the village to be 25
m.p.h., while 35 m.p.h. was recommended north of the village to
the underpass. Illick asked that the Selectboard be prepare to
revisit this issue. Sheldon-Dean said he was looking into
having "no parking" signs put on Route 7 by Charlotte Park as he
would have to see what the state recommended. Illick also
clarified on page 4 in the fifth paragraph that the "message she
got from townspeople was to continue to pursue the Burns
property."
Nancy Sabin asked why Steve Moore's question about who the Land
Trust was had not been included in the minutes and the Minute
Taker explained that questions on local civics are not
necessarily germane to the events and requirements of enclosure
for minutes.
Sheldon-Dean moved and the motion was seconded by
Rosenthal:
* "TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 4, 1999 AS
AMENDED."
Vote: All in favor.
Illick suggested approving the minutes of October 11, 1999 be on
the agenda for the next meeting as board members had not had
ample time to review them.
BILL SIGNING/DISCUSSION
Board members reviewed and signed bills.
Hinsdale moved and the motion was seconded by
Mack:
* "TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL
ISSUES AND PENDING LITIGATION."
Vote: All in favor.
Board of Selectman -6- October 18, 1999
Executive Session began at 8:45 p.m. and ended at 9:45 p.m.
Hinsdale moved and the motion was seconded by
Mack:
* "TO COME OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION AND ADJOURN."
Vote: All in favor.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Debby Flynn