Selectboard Heats Up Over Half-Marathon Question

by John Hammer

Charles Russell continues as Selectboard Chair

The Selectboard began its March 10 meeting with a vote to re-elect Charles Russell to the Chair position. Jenny Cole was re-elected as Vice Chair. Selectboard meetings will continue at 7p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at the Charlotte Town Offices.

Races in town

Rayne Herzog of the Shelburne Athletic Club (SAC) made his annual appearance to request road closure for the Fifth Annual Covered Bridges Half-Marathon to be held this year on April 26th. The marathon will be run along Hinesburg Road, and the road will be closed temporarily during the ten minutes that the runners are on it. The Selectboard agreed to close Hinesburg Road between Church Hill and Guinea Roads from 8:30 to 8:40 a.m. on that Saturday. The route will be controlled by police personnel and run officials. The popular race crosses the Sequin and Quinlan bridges. Notification signs will be posted a week in advance.

Herzog also notified the Selectboard that he againwished to run six triathlon bicycle races between Shelburne Beach and Thompson’s Point Road. The first would be scheduled for June 14 and would involve racers crossing Ferry Road in both directions between the hours of 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. Mr. Herzog assured that everything was being done to minimize any adverse impact on traffic.

Carlie Krolick, a member of the Charlotte Recreation Commission, and several members of the public called for increased safety in the organization and conduct of such races. They stated that there was particularly a problem of signage, more identifiable race control officials, and a “Code of Safety” to ensure the safety of racers and the public. Krolick asked that the SAC coordinate races in the future with the Recreation Commission before going before the Selectboard. Herzog will meet with the commission at its March 18 meeting. At that time, Herzog agreed to provide a general safety plan listing what would be done to increase safety. Krolick would also like to discuss the possibility of SAC’s making a contribution to the Town for the opportunity to run these races.

Appointments

Appointments were made to the following town positions: Fence Viewers – Mary Cheney, Harv Sharrow and Larry Hamilton Inspector of Lumber, Shingles and Wood – Andy Mansfield Weigher of Coal – Carrie Spear Tree Warden – Larry Hamilton

Miscellaneous

A three-year budget and maintenance contract for the Thompson’s Point Wastewater Treatment System was approved for $111,575. The contract was let to the Steve Williams of Shelburne. In another Thompson’s Point matter, the Selectboard heard a request from Peter Doremus to establish three parking spaces across from his camp on Lot 154 (North Shore Road). There will be a tentative site visit at 6 p.m. on April 14, after which the Selectboard will consider the request at its regular meeting.

A letter supporting the application to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board will be sent to the Vermont Land Trust concerning the subdivision and conservation of the Burleigh Farm. The farm is located to the southeast of the intersection of Prindle Road and Spear Street.

The Selectboard authorized the town Attorney to make an appearance in behalf of the Town in an Environmental Court hearing on an appeal of subdivision conditions made by Mary Beth Freeman.

The Selectboard in its role as the Liquor Control Board granted a Class II liquor license to Tenney’s Deli.

The town will not be asking this year for a grant from the National Incident Management System because the request for a $10,000 emergency generator to be placed in the Senior Center was defeated in Town Meeting. Nevertheless, in order for the Town to remain covered by the NIMS, the Selectboard agreed to sign a resolution supporting its administrative adoption within the town organization. The potential of a private donation to purchase the generator for an alternate site was discussed.

In other Town Meeting decisions, the Selectboard agreed to require organizations requesting contributions from the town to file a petition to include documents outlining their financial status. There was talk of forming a committee to establish criteria and to screen requests. Any questions regarding the investment policy of excess town funds should be addressed to the Town Treasurer Mary Mead (Town Clerk). The Selectboard agreed to study the issue of Thompson’s Point rents and the Town Meeting sound system.

The next Selectboard meeting will be on Monday, March 24.