Town of Charlotte

Board of Selectboardmen

Minutes

Monday, June 23August 25, 2003

67:00 :30 PM, Charlotte Town Hall

MEMBERS PRESENT: Ellie RussellCharles Russell, Chair

Jennifer Cole

EllieCharles Russell

Paul Arthaud

Debbie Ramsdell

OTHERS: Dan Senecal-Albrecht (selectboard assistant)

Stephen Brooks

Peter Coleman

Dana Farley

Marty Illick

Sylvia Sprigg

Martha Perkins

Tony Stout

Jake Callery

Sylvia

Stephen Brooks

Sheila Braun

Marshall

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m.

The items on the agenda were as follows:

Approve Minutes for August 11Highway access permits: Applicants- 1. Estate of Marietta Palmer, 2. Alma T. Clark June 29, 1995 Revocable Trust, 3. Champlain Valley Cohousing Development Company, LLC. / Public Discussion / Approve Conservation Fund Expenditure for Knowles Farm PreservationAdjustments to Agenda / Public Discussion/ Appointments (member & alternate) to CCMPO-TAC/ Approve appointment of Zoning Administrator, Tom Mansfield, as recommended by Planning Commission / Peter Keating, Executive Director, CCMPO: Report to Town of Charlotte / Adjustments to FY04 Town Budget / Parking issues at Old Brick Store (Michael Frost) / Report by Clark Hinsdale, III on proposed new barn at Nordic Farm / Presentation of Recommendation by Rec. Cmsn. On Town Intramural Program / Open Bids for Brushhogging of certain Town lands / Approve permit request by Waitsfield Telecom to repair utility pole on Thompsons’ Pt. Rd./ Potential acquisition of Varney Farm by Town / Appointemtsn to Town Trails Committee / Approve minutes of May 12^th, May 20^th, June 9^th and June 11^thLewis Creek Association Grant Proposal / Varney Farm: Update and Decision on conceptual Purchase and Sales agreement / Appoint new Selectboard member to serve in Ms. Ramsdell’s place until the next town meeting / Selectboard Updates / Adjournment

Highway access permits

Estate of Mariette Palmer – Erick Farrell, respeting the estate asddressed the meeting. Cmikgn off existing cut and proposeing to sweep it – curfren road serves existing house – Jauily 2^nd going in fron tof CPC. Road commissioner has been there already in answer to Ellie’s question if he had been on site yet. He had no problems. Chrales askedf or culvert. Ther eis a culvert – enterie road needs to be upgraded, Eric said. 18 foot wide road in twon spec, but Dan suggested at intersection it may be wider than that. Planenrs will determine that. Ellie said usually see peole after planning, but she sees no problem with it. 7 lots. Planloloks good to Selectboard. Come bafckd after preliminary. Charles asked for comments by neighbors. Tehre were none. No big objection now.

Alma T. Clark – Tony Stout addressed the PC. He showed wehere site was on ortho map. Plan is to have driveway be at top of long grade that goes down Spear St. eextension. Scrfeening on ____ he asked for a low screening, Mr. Claflin asked for. Charles said that is a planning commission item. Dan asked if PC had reocjmmmendaiton on curb cut. Yes, this is final approved. Tony will talk with Jean to see if she would put screening in, but up to purchaser of lot. Dan asked for dcomments relative to the driveway.

Charles asked for application from Junior of Dan. Site distance 550 fee to the north and 1300 fee t oithe south – it has been flaggedk Dan read from the appolicationl.

Champlai Vallye cohousing – Dave Marshall from CEA showed map of location of project. Locvasytred between Mr. Larwane’c epondand Doug Cole’s place. Aploication creates new curb cut. Serve 26 units – had sketpch plan and prleiniahnry plat approval form lpaning ocmmisons – appolicatoin in for ifinal approval to CPC. CVCH formalize enrance with paving, no curb. Ellie asked if any culver t- Dave said no culver tnecessary there. Sitge distandces in nrotherlyd ireciton 510 rfeetk, southerly 1230 feet. AOT recommendatdiokns site distances – road posted at 35 but could use additional signs, but wen tup to 40 and 45, at 45 mph, dite sitancde is 495 feet. Can get 550 feet of distance if cut some vegetation in front of Mr. Lawrence’ slot. He recomjmends that. Buildign drifveway in another otwn’s right of way, Charles noted. Dan asked for reposnbiloityh of mowing – it would be the applicatnt’s responsibilty, Dave Marshall said.

Charles asked for concerns of neighborfs. There were none.

7:20 – regular meeting – Charles called to order.

Adjustments to Agenda

None. Syhlvia ____ raise questions about issues listed at the end – can we raise issues during the public disucssiojhn comment and subjmit at that point about VELCO? Charles said you can brin it up briefly then or leave something that can read later. Move to close hearing on 2 driveway acdcess request (Clark and COHOUSIGN – Elloie, Jenn second. All in favor.

Public Discussion

Sylvia Knight, studied VELCO ducments and looked at Charlotte Town plan, which appears to contain no olanguage about tulitelsi and rights of way inrelation toh et values the Tonw antes to rptoect and belives tha that situation can be remedied. Next poin – VELCO proejfct must comply with 30 VSA Section 248 in reard to protedcting pubolic heath, natural resoures and other values covere din town doucmeetsn and must show that power needs can not be addressed in any other way. Material from velco do not demonstrate to this point that preojct won’t cojmply withpreoovisn sof the law – hopikng that Selctboard nad CPC will work together rto jmaybe amend town plan to include language about tiltiutelsi and rihts of way and inp ut from CCC that it beocm ea prat to VELCO petition and maybe set up adhoc group to help them int eh process. Nothing in comments so far that address the issue of tocins used in chemically treated poles. No recognition of natural communities that CCC has idneified in the town. Some probelmes around economics and lack of full o regard for alternative measures. She gave written comments. Ellie asked if referrihng to chemicallyh treatedw oooden polesl. Yes, Syvloia said.

Chalrfes asked for nother public disucssino., Stephen Brooks asked 1) did slectman provide inforjmaiton regaridn his attendance this evening (Arthaud) – ellie said back in saddle in July –she ahd emjail form him 2) has Chalroetet vlUtnerere fire and rescue provided radft of corporate bvylaw syet – Ellie said no – they have been working othem, gone out to membership and haven’t come back form membership yet – 3) following up the Ploof Farm road discussion at last kjmeeting, has town ocucnil been consuldte dgarding wMr. Belmont’s comments? Charles said yes. Some of Beldex’s comments cmae out of lease bwetteen shelburen and charlotte and cease to esist when sale went thorugh. The lates word from town attorney is that the row that was liad out originally inMay of 65 still exsistgin addition tohe oradway tha tno exists and right of way was never extinguished. Beldar

Also fences when road was widended to y60 fee tform 50 fee int eh 90s, Charles said, the requirements for fences on both wsides didn’t go away – so still reuqireimetns for gates at end of road, but no reuqiremetn to lock or close the gates at any given time. Is it SB’ intention to sumarmize lalt hese thing sin wriign and if so, when, steve asked. Ellie said end of summer. Thank kyou very much< Steve said.

CCMPO TAC – appoint Dan fo r2-year term, Chalres asaid. Move aponitDan S_A, Elli to 2-year term as our represntaitnve to tehCCMPO – TAC. Jenifer seconded. All in favor. PASSED. Also, Elli moved to apopinte Debbie Ramsdell aslatenrate to same orgnaizaiton for eh reuqireiste term. Jenny seconded. All in favor. Passed.

Appoikntgemtn of Zoning adminsitriator – CPC recolmmedned – Elli moved to approve CPC apopintmetn. Jenny seconded. All in favo r – PASSEDl.,

PETER KEDATING – Susan Smichenko in polace of Peter Kearting. Addresssed th PC – to talk about 2025 Metropolitan Transporation Plan and give explanation. Did just handouts. She gave brief overview of CCMPO – established by federal law, locally contgroleld in 1982. Long-range plan, maintain TIP, project scooping, planning studies and technical assistance. Plan required by law. Has to be updated every 5 years. Some new information is freight study, bike/ped plan, corridor studies, new population and emloyemtnrpoejctoins, transit studies and palns fo rinteliigent transporatoin systems. Last update was in 1997. Exlained the phases of devleping the plan. Looked at existing conditions, existing public tarnsporation, rail and bike;ped facilities. Looked at county travel patterns. Trend analyhsis looked at population and employemtn preojctiosn devleopd for the county and spreading jobs and households and relating to traffic and transporation and coming up with a 2025 planl. That was Phase 1. SHE WENT THROUGH POWER POINT PRESENTATION ATTACHED. By fall, have draft plan for Selectboard to read. Goal is to have people not use their cars – stgaggared work hours, bike/ped planning, increase transit, CIRC highway. Trying to balance money – interstae aned arterials. Lots of time in public outreach. Made presentations to selctobards, workshops. Now finalizing the preferred latenratigve in tersm of what projects CCMPO wil lbe recommending. Iiimportant to be in MTP to secure federal fudnign for them – hope to have draft plan readyh in July 03. Hoe to adopt plan in late 2003. Sylvia Sprig asked what is official line of CCMPO about Bulringotn’s proposed mujltmodal downtown transit center. Susan said they have always support multijmodal transit center; belive important component to continuing rowht of transit in the county. Syhlvia asked the location. Susan had never heard any ojbectoin to the location – it is near the lake and they are promjting lalke front devleopmtn; downtown and accessible – she has heard that bad thing to have near lake cuz bus stations are bad places. Bulringont wants to create a nice place near ECHO center, she said. They encourage public transportation. IT is a city of bulrington project. Nancy asked if 1.5 milllin for building and that’s noneof yoru funds?? Susan said a lto of it is federal funds. Wantg it near the railroad tracksf or the train, Nancy confirmed with Susan. Sylv a____ good to have in one placek,m – main disavnatgne is away from shopping center (Church Street). Sylvia ___ -concerned about ejmphasis on highways and very littile emphaspiss on alternative tarnpsort. Susan said strive for balanced approach and plan does have signaitincint dollars for bike paths, sidewalks. Syhlvia ____ said weidneign tends to increase speed, she voiced her concern. Susan said most fcirttical elrmeent was land use. If sprawl, congestion will get worse, she said. Sylvai Sprig said January roundtable workshop was a very good acitity. Clark Hindasale asked future of reailroad. Susan said they are evaluating a number of things (federal transit amdihnsitraiton – we had gotten al to fomeony for rail and it was costing goto much money) and there are no immeidat eplans to start up again – they said if traffic during congstructoin on route 7 gets bakck, the=y will consider startin git upagain. Sylvia ____ concern that VELCO preojct may take its new expanded tarnsmision line irhgt on top of rr station so may have tow rk out coorfdination with that. Syhlvia ____ - said all reprairs mad eon rr for passenger service were jmade on understanding that service be resumed or continue, so hope that those epxneditgures are not in vain (the building of the station). Susan considers passenger rail to be an important ocmponetn of transporatin system. When Flyer was operatingk, wasn’t used by enough people – tghey are also loking at bringing tarisn to Misddlblour; St. Albans. Rfail is imporatn to CCMPO and part aof the future. Clark asked if bed able to afford the multmodall. Suean said City of Burlington rpeojct being paid for by federal dollars. Clarfk asked if it will be adfforfdable. Susan said doesn’t know if got any teantn. Nancy asked costs $15 milino for whole preojct, Susan said. Ellie surpised that CCMPO Board support CIRC highway from end to end.

Charles aksed about freight. Susan said athere was a freight study that looked at oppouirthies for freight in Chitten dCounty but have recongiezd that it is outdated and freight is very much a focus riht now – loking to update study next year. What types of freight, Charles asked. Susan said ther ei snot an emphasis at this point – certainly rail is better altanritev, keeps truck soff raod, but it is expensive and they arelooing at. Draft plan didn’t address that at all, so that was added in January as necessary cojnpoeont. They are talking about moving rr yard – and now trucks on highway – therea reno warehouses – it’s all on the road. Nancy asked how legally can use rrs for service eand storage yards of rr cars? Jeff said part of it is to get a handle on it for staff. Sylvia ____ if talking about rr, more consideration of more sustainable methods of manaignag weeds on right of way and less toxic way and rrs need support of community in order to buy tehcnolgoy and have personnel to do that work. Susan said ANR would be helpful for that, but Sylvai ___ said been down that route. She just wanted to put that in in a genarel way. Cloark asked if CCJMPO fourc eof udnign for trails. Suesan said yes, ChamplainPath comes down through Charlotte.

Charfles and Susan sked any other questions. There were none.

Charles Russell, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Ms. Russell said that Clark Hinsdale, III will be coming in around 8:30 p.m. to give an update on his application.

APPROVE MINUTES FOR AUGUST 11, 2003.

Ms. Russell moved to approve the minutes of the August 11, 2003 meeting with corrections noted. Ms. Cole seconded. Corrections were briefly discussed. Mr. Russell asked for public comment. There was none. All were in favor and the motion was unanimously APPROVED.

PUBLIC DISCUSSION

Debbie Ramsdell has a revised job description she wanted to put in the agenda.

Peter Coleman asked about the survey that the Selectboard recently send out. He noted that he had sent an email about his objection to it but wanted to state tonight for public record that it was a terrible map that was used. Mr. Russell said his feedback is well taken. Mr. Coleman added that there is still public confusion about where the Burns property is and who owns it.

Debbie Ramsdell wanted to discuss some housekeeping issues:

· Need to appoint a new TAC representative and alternate due to her absence and Dan Senecal-Albright’s departure.

· Also she has been informing the Burlington Free Press when the SB havehas meetings. She said that the new person will need the address to continue doing this and she gave it out:: jpeters@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com

Ms. Russell reminded the SB that Ms. Ramsdell also represents the SB at the senior center meetings on the first Thursday of the month. Ms. Russell offered to fill this void on a temporary basis. Ms. Russell has the draft of the senior center coordinator job description and will circulate it.

Ms. Russell thanked Debbie Ramsdell for three and a half years of service. She also thanked her for her guidance.

Peter Coleman asked if the Selectboard put up approved minutes on the web site. Mr. Russell said that they hope to put them up, as well as draft minutes, when they get a new assistant.

Mr. Russell asked Peter Coleman about the Old Lantern application. The town is an abutting neighbor of the property and they received notification of the application. Mr. Coleman said that when the original property was subdivided, the Old Lantern was previously 5.1 acres and as it ended up, the farmhouse got the leftover land (9.53 acres). They are proposing to sell the farmhouse and want to move 4.52 acres. The farmhouse property wraps around The Old Lantern presently; the current 9.53 acres would decrease to 5.02 acres for the farmhouse and the Old Lantern would be 9.53 acres. He explained it is just putting more of the land with the Old Lantern. He further said that a bed and breakfast could be built on this property as long as it is pertinentappurtenant to the Old Lanternas long as there is an operating pertinence to the Old Lantern. This subdivision modification is proposed to be discussed at the September 4, 2003 Planning Commission meeting. Ms. Russell said she could not be present at that meeting. The Selectboard agreed that they had no opposition to this proposed modification.

VELCO

At this time, Ms. Russell asked Ms. Cole about the hearing schedule for the VELCO transmission line matter. Ms. Cole said there is a Sep