Board of Selectmen November 11, 2002

TOWN OF CHARLOTTE
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MINUTES
NOVEMBER 11, 2002

MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Charles Russell
Debbie Ramsdell
Paul Arthaud
Ellie Russell
Jennifer Steele Cole

OTHERS: Kate Lampton
Stephen C. Brooks
Moe Harvey
Adam Silverman
Frank Tenney
Steve Moore
Clark W. Hinsdale, Jr.
Liam Murphy
Linda S. Hamilton
Libby James
Bradley Carleton
David Brown
David Hill
Bill Bly
Frank Thornton
Lynn Nurczynski
Peter Joslin
Terry Harris
Sylvia Sprigg
Dan 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

Chairman Russell asked if the board had any adjustments to the
agenda. E. Russell said she would like to talk about the
bidding process for work on town lands and the town's curb cut
policy.


APPROVE MINUTES

Chairman Russell asked if the board wanted to approve the
minutes of October 28, 2002.

E. Russell clarified on 4 that it was Chairman Russell and not
her that was on the Ad Hoc Committee for siting the trail on the
Nordic Farm property and that Dan Senecal-Albrecht was no longer
on the Committee. E. Russell also noted in the same agenda item
that the Hinsdales wanted the trail location "figured out sooner
than later" and not before they buy the property.
Board of Selectmen -2- November 11, 2002

E. Russell noted on page 5 that Chairman Russell had recused
himself from the Melrose Huff curb cut agenda item only and
returned to the board following that agenda item.

Chairman Russell noted in the Spear Gervia agenda item that the
road referred to by Jack Wallace was downgraded to a trail and
not thrown up by the town and that the board has suggested to
Mr. Wallace that he go to the Planning Commission for a sketch
plan.

Chairman Russell wished to note that the town is not liable for
inoperative dry hydrants, and to expand in the reference to the
letter from Terry Harris to the board that Harris had completed
his field research.

Ramsdell corrected in the second motion on page 6 that "tow road
should be "town road."

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by
Ramsdell:
* "TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF OCTOBER 28, 2002 AS
CORRECTED."
Vote: All in favor.


PUBLIC DISCUSSION

Moe Harvey said the previous Tuesday was an election day and the
Town Clerk and others were counting ballots until 12:30 a.m. and
then all the ballots were locked in the safe. Harvey stated
that at 1:30 a.m. a reporter and a Selectboard member were at
his door asking for a tally of votes. Harvey stated he thought
that a Selectboard member should understand election procedures,
the election staff works 17 hours days and discussed his
displeasure with his household being disturbed at that hour.


APPROVE FINAL GALBREATH DOCUMENTS - KATE LAMPTON OF CHAMPLAIN
VALLEY GREENBELT ALLIANCE

Kate Lampton reviewed the changes to the final documents in the
Warranty Deed and the Grant and Development Rights and
Conservation Restrictions.

Arthaud discussed his concerns with the notification process of
any changes to the development rights or conservation
restrictions and Liam Murphy said the issue could be adjusted in
the documents and he would add to the document that the town
will be notified of any transfer.

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by
Ramsdell:
* "TO ACCEPT THE GRANT OF DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND
CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS WITH THE INCLUSION OF THE
TOWN'S NOTIFICATION OF ANY TRANSFER OF DEVELOPMENT
RIGHTS AND CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS."
Vote: All in favor.


Board of Selectmen -3- November 11, 2002

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by
Arthaud:
* "TO APPROVE THE LIMITED WARRANTY DEED OF THE
GALBREATH PROPERTY TO THE TOWN."
Vote: All in favor.

Lampton said this was the CVGA's first property acquisition and
her group would like to have an event to celebrate in the spring
and take a photograph. Lampton noted the land is for public use
and suggested having a place to pull off the road along Route 7.

Arthaud asked if anyone had looked into the cost of land
maintenance for brushhogging on the property, etc. and Lampton
responded no.

Chairman Russell thanked the CVGA for the land.


CONSERVATION COMMISSION UPDATE AND BUDGET - LINDA HAMILTON

Linda Hamilton and Libby James attended the meeting to present
the Conservation Commission budget.

Hamilton said that last fall the Commission revised their goals
and while their emphasis is on land use, they have been doing
mapping, been working in schools, working on a "Welcome to
Charlotte" brochure and working with other boards and the
Planning Commission. Hamilton said the Commission has more
opportunities for land conservation than they are able to take
on and asked the Selectboard for feedback.

E. Russell suggested the Commission write down their goals and
priorities and Hamilton said they could do that.

Hamilton reviewed the Conservation Commission budget, noting
they expect to stay on budget as always.

Arthaud asked about the cost of GIS mapping and Hamilton offered
they make be able to share costs with the Planning Commission.


EDUCATION INITIATIVE - CONSERVATION COMMISSION & SPORTSMEN'S
ALLIANCE

Bradley Carleton, Dave Brown, Linda Hamilton and David Hill
updated the board that the Conservation Commission and the
Sportmen's Alliance are working together in their mutual
interest in healthy wildlife habitat and wildlife populations.
Hamilton advised they are looking at and mapping key wildlife
habitats in town and want to do nature study outings and they
were attending the board meeting to ask for the board's
blessing.

Bradley Carleton, President of the Sportmen's Alliance reviewed
the number of deer in town, how many are harvested every year,
and the number that died of starvation; indication that the
number of harvested deer is lower than it should be. Carleton
said he wished to offer these numbers to the board as a
resource.
Board of Selectmen -4- November 11, 2002

Dave Brown reviewed that the Sportsmen's Alliance is the
practice of safe hunting. Brown discussed wildlife population
balances and how specifically the deer population multiplies.

Linda Hamilton said the Conservation Commission would like to
use the Town Hall wall to hang maps so they could be reviewed
and updated by members of the Sportmen's Alliance and the board
agreed to the request.

Chairman Russell discussed having an inventory of town lands.


OPTION FOR TRAIL EASEMENT ON NORDIC FARM, TRANSFER TO TOWN FROM
VHCB

Chairman Russell reviewed that the VHCB holds an easement on
Nordic Farm and wants to exercise its option and not transfer
the easement to the town. Chairman Russell reviewed having an
Ad Hoc committee with the town attorney, who suggested having 2
Selectboard members work on siting the trail rather than having
a committee do it.

Arthaud expressed his concern of getting the work done before
the end of the year deadline. Senecal-Albrecht said the
Hinsdales, who just bought the property, would like to see the
trail mapped sooner rather than later. The board decided that
Chairman Russell, Arthaud, Senecal Albrecht and Clark Hinsdale,
III would work in the project together.


PRESENTATION OF COMPLETED THORNTON'S TRACE SURVEY - TERRY HARRIS

Terry Harris reviewed his work to research, survey and map
Thornton's Trace. Harris reviewed the description of Thornton's
Trace in the 1817 land records and then said he confirmed the
location of the road from his land survey. Harris reviewed the
title changes since the early 1800s and researched any changes
in land records and references to the road in Selectboard
meeting and Town Meeting minutes. Harris said he could find no
changes to or relocation of the road. Harris reported that he
had seen remnants of a stump fence acting as a boundary and
believes the center line of the road is the lot line. Harris
said there is a public right-of-way that still exists, although
a highway was never constructed.

Selectboard Assistant, Dan Senecal-Albrecht reviewed the next
steps after the survey, including recording the survey in the
town records.

Clark Hinsdale, Jr. asked for a copy of the survey map and
Chairman Russell asked Frank Thornton to sign a survey map for
posterity.







Board of Selectmen -5- November 11, 2002

REVIEW DRAFT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE

E. Russell and the board reviewed changes to the draft of the
Emergency Management Ordinance that Arthaud had previously
emailed to board members. Arthaud said he would revise the
draft and then send it to the town attorney for his review.


GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER PETITION, 343 ASSOCIATION WAY

Chairman Russell reviewed the petition by Green Mountain Power
for replacement of utility poles. E. Russell reviewed it was
the advice of the town attorney that pursuing an Act 250 battle
with the power company would be a long, expensive battle that
the town would not win.

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by
Ramsdell:
* "TO SIGN THE GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER PETITION AS FILE
NUMBER A0002204724 FOR 343 ASSOCIATION WAY."
Vote: All in favor.


GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER PETITION, EASEMENT DEED ON TOWN LAND ACROSS
FROM OLD LANTERN

Chairman Russell reviewed the petition by Green Mountain Power
for replacement of utility poles along Greenbush Road and the
location of the utility pole on the former Burns property that
GMP wanted to install.

Stephen Brooks said he thought the town should not make that
decision without reviewing the permit with those involved in the
Burns planning process.

E. Russell moved and the motion was seconded by
Ramsdell:
* "TO SIGN THE GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER EASEMENT DEED FOR
A POLE AND GUY WIRES FOR THE TOWN LAND ACROSS FROM
THE OLD LANTERN."

The motion was tabled.


DECIDE PROCEDURE AND SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING BUDGET MEETINGS

E. Russell reviewed the budget meeting schedule she had put in
Selectboard members' mailboxes. The board decided to work with
E. Russell's schedule.

Arthaud said he was concerned with the bidding schedule for town
land maintenance, saying he wanted all the town lands bid for
maintenance and Arthaud and the board discussed bidding for one
season instead of a fiscal year ending June 30th. There was a
discussion of including the Little League fields in the
maintenance bidding process and it was decided that Arthaud and
Dan Senecal-Albrecht would work together on the bidding
specifications.

Board of Selectmen -6- November 11, 2002

DISCUSSION OF VILLAGE CENTER DESIGNATION LETTER/APPLICATION -
ELLIE

E. Russell discussed a bill passed by the Legislature this year
on Village Center Designation, noting the state uses the
designation to give priority for grants by towns.
Senecal-Albrecht suggested that the Planning Commission research
the matter as there is required mapping work and E. Russell
noted that the grant application has to come from the
Selectboard.


CURB CUTS POLICY

E. Russell reviewed her third draft of the Selectboard's policy
on curb cuts. Sylvia Sprigg asked about temporary curb cuts and
E. Russell said she would put a provision in the policy that
temporary curb cuts would be considered independent of the
normal curb cut process with Selectboard and Road Commissioner
approval.

There was a discussion of having fees for curb cuts, but no
action was taken. E. Russell said she would make corrections to
her draft and recirculate the next draft with Selectboard
members and then send it to the town attorney for review.
Chairman Russell said he would put the draft on the town
website.


SELECTBOARD UPDATES

Senecal-Albrecht advised that Panurgy was at the town offices
that day and set up 8 electronic mailboxes. Chairman Russell
added that the board could now be reached by email.

E. Russell advised that Carrie Spear is the new Business and
Economic Committee Chair and the Planning Commission had been
awarded grant monies for upgrading the new town by-laws.

Ramsdell said the Holcomb Committee met recently and noted there
had been a deposit put on the Holcomb property by another party.

Cole said she had spoken with Debbie Fischer about appointing
someone to the open slot on the Recreation Commission and noted
that Bernie Bailey is doing a lot of work for the Commission,
but is not a member. Cole said she would talk to Bailey and see
if he wants to send a letter of interest about being on the
Commission.

Arthaud left for the evening at 10:20 p.m.

Senecal-Albrecht said he had received an email from Marty Illick
on the Charlotte Trail Committee and had received an email from
Ruah Swennerfelt about her interest in being the MPO Alternate.





Board of Selectmen -7- November 11, 2002

Senecal-Albrecht said he had received a letter from the attorney
for Janet Binkerd (who was injured on town property), concerning
the jury draw for Binkerd v. Town of Charlotte and then
Senecal-Albrecht reviewed his discussion with the attorneys for
both parties.

Senecal-Albrecht noted the grant application was submitted for
restoration of the Thorp Barn.


SIGN WARRANTS 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 10:32 p.m.
Minutes submitted by:
Debby Flynn