RFP Released for Ag Lease
September 23, 2010, page 1.....

The Selectboard has sent out a request for proposals (RFP) for the agricultural lease of town-owned property at the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge. The deadline for submitting proposals is October 15 at 4 p.m.
The Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge is the 290-acre park, formerly referred to as Demeter Park, located between Route 7 and Greenbush Road. The property includes approximately 115 acres of land leased for agricultural use. The current lease expires on December 31, 2010. The lease length has been five years in the past, but the Town is flexible on this.
Proposals will be reviewed by the Park Oversight Committee, which will make a recommendation to the Selectboard. The Committee and Selectboard may select a proposal that is not the highest paying if the proposal meets other criteria for the lease and for the Park as described in the 1999 Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Management Plan. The management plan provides information on the Park agricultural units and can be viewed on the Town of Charlotte web site at charlottevt.org. Copies are also available at the Charlotte Town Hall.
Questions about the lease can be directed to Dean Bloch at 425-3533 or dean@townofcharlotte.com. Proposals must be received in the Town Office by 4 p.m. on October 15, 2010.
Selectboard Will Revisit Use of Conservation Funds
At its last meeting, on September 13, the Selectboard did not approve two areas of the new Charlotte Conservation Fund Guidelines. According to Selectboard chair Charles Russell, the board will revisit the issue at the Monday, September 27 meeting. He expects approval of the use of the fund for reasonable closing costs associated with the acquisition of rights to or ownership of land, such as appraisals; fees for attorneys, processing, administrative or stewardship; and title insurance. There may be further discussion about placing on the ballot at Town Meeting the question of using the fund for projects that are not entirely in Charlotte.

-nw