Selectboard Addresses Town Lands,
Shooting Range and Voting Machines
by Ellie Russell,
May 5, 2011, page 5.....

Town lands
Among other items at its April 25 meeting, the Selectboard discussed use of several town owned lands. First on the agenda was consideration of future use of the former Flea Market site at the east end of the Burns property. Last year the lease was not renewed. John Owen suggested that a committee be named by the Selectboard to evaluate the possible future uses that were suggested by the Burns Committee, including, among others, a farmers market.

Lee Mayo and his wife, who have been vendors at the flea market for over 20 years, spoke of their interest in a continuation of a well-managed market where they might continue to sell the maple syrup and honey that they produce. Lee spoke to the importance of good management of the market and regretted the deterioration in recent years. He also suggested that if a market is to continue at the site, it should be open this coming summer season in order to avoid loss of customers who would go elsewhere if the market closed and perhaps would never return were it to reopen. All agreed that a market will need supervision, rules of operation and specific dates and times of opening and closing. The area will be cleaned up by either the previous lessees or the town.

John Owen has agreed to pursue the various possibilities and considerations regarding future use of this property. The process will kick off with a brainstorming session on Thursday, May 12, at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall. Anyone with ideas about future uses of the property is invited to attend.

Use of the agricultural lands at Thompson’s Point moved forward with a lease proposal from Tom and David Kenyon of Aurora Farms. Kenyon said, “Arable land should be in production.” They propose leasing approximately 43 acres at the site for their certified organic operation. They seek a five-year lease with an option for an additional five years. The first three years would be used for a hay forage crop because hay is the most sustainable use of the land under current conditions. After three years of hay cropping, the land could be used to grow small grains, such as winter wheat or a corn crop, if drainage work is done. All of the acreage cropped would be certified organic by NOFA, and Aurora Farms would be willing to mow some of the hay fields in a manner that encourages grassland birds. The hay produced would be used by local horse customers. If it becomes possible that small grains can eventually be grown, Aurora Farms believes this would be beneficial to the town by providing organic food to local consumers.

Questions remain as to the cost of improving the drainage, a cost that Aurora Farms expects the town to pay. Details, including the management of the remaining land (land not leased by Aurora Farms) and financial considerations, need to be resolved. Ed Stone and Winslow Ladue are charged with working with Aurora Farms to develop a concrete proposal and payment plan. An early May resolution is important due to the forthcoming planting season (if it ever stops raining).

The Galbraith parcel, owned by the town and located between Route 7 and Church Hill Road just south of the former Affectionately Cats building, affords spectacular views of the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains. Clark Hinsdale will lease this property and use it for a hay crop as soon as final details in his lease proposal are resolved. Clark chose to plant hay rather than corn because hay will not grow as tall as corn and will thus preserve the view for the public to enjoy.

The Laberge Shooting Range
In response to the April 9 incident at the shooting, which that resulted in the arrest of two men who shot in the wrong direction, endangering local residents, the Selectboard has reviewed the operation of the range with owners Louis and Judy Laberge. Judy reported that they have put up additional signage and have tried to make the area “idiot proof.” She said that all users are required to report to one of the Laberges when they enter the range. There are three residences where they can report and at least one of these is normally occupied at all times. Users also are expected to sign in on a sign-up sheet. The accused perpetrators did neither of the above. The area is not locked. When users check in, they are always asked what kind of guns they will be shooting and why, and they are directed to the correct location on the range. The entire range is checked daily.

When the police use the range for training, it is closed to others.

John Owen inspected the range recently and reported that all of the required procedures were posted and everything looked to be in good order. The Shelburne police chief, Jim Warden, has also been involved in reviewing the operation.
The shooting range has been in operation for many years and has been repeatedly found to be a legal and sanctioned operation. The Selectboard, under current law, has no authority over it. Charles Russell suggested that the Selectboard could develop an ordinance that defined a “public nuisance,” but the board took no further action. There has never been a serious accident reported resulting from the operation of the shooting range.

Voting machines
The proposed legislation to require all Vermont towns to use tabulation machines for counting votes in place of manual counting has been passed by the Vermont House and is now in the Senate. Charlotte representative Mike Yantachka, who voted against the measure, had told the Selectboard that the Senate might not have time to address the proposed law this session, which would defer it to January at the earliest. The Selectboard asked Yantachka to consult with Senate officials to assess the likelihood of the Senate dealing with the measure this session. The Selectboard opposes the requirement for voting machines, in keeping with the town vote on the issue at Town Meeting last March, and wants to be prepared for testimony prior to Senate consideration. Citizen testimony is encouraged also. Stay tuned.

Other Selectboard Items
• Route 7 paving: The state has proposed paving Route 7 from Ferry Road north to the Shelburne Road. The Selectboard will inquire if paving Route 7 south from Ferry Road to the North Ferrisburg border would compromise the major widening project for that section of road, which includes the much desired underpass for the Melissa and Trevor Mack Recreation trail. If it will not affect the larger project, the Selectboard will suggest that the need is much greater for repair of the southern section as opposed to the northern section.

• Thorp Barn Roof: The Selectboard approved the expenditure of $800 from the Thorp Barn Fund to repair recent damage to the barn roof.

• Drinking water at the Library and the Town Hall: The well water serving the Library and the Town Hall is full of sulfur. Rather than continue to buy bottled water for drinking, the Selectboard is considering a water treatment system that would remove the sulfur. The efficiency in doing this will depend on determining if the water serving these buildings is considered a “public water supply.” Winslow Ladue will make the necessary inquiries.

Flea Market Update:
The former Flea Market site on Route 7, part of the Town-owned Burns Property, was still cluttered on May 1 with tables (over 100), piping for canopies and other property of the former lessees who were supposed to remove everything by that date. The Selectboard intends to use money from the Chittenden Solid Waste District to remove the debris. Selectboard member John Owen is inviting anyone with creative ideas and suggestions to a special meeting on Thursday, May 12, 7 p.m. at the Town Hall to brainstorm about future uses of the site.

Special Selectboard Meeting April 28:
Litigation settled! At a special meeting on April 28, the Selectboard ratified the Stipulated Judgment Order that should bring to an end the appeal by Gregg and Elizabeth Beldock of the Town’s conditional use and site plan approvals for recreational uses of the 80-acre property on Plouffe Lane, formerly the Town Dump. Conditions of the settlement include buffer strips, speed limits, restricted cutting of trees and posting of rules for use of the area. Rules include hours of use, controlling and picking up after dogs, staying on trails, horseback riding in open meadows only and no motorized vehicles.