The Selectboard met January 7 to finish discussions on the draft Town Plan. With only a few editorial changes to make and some clarifying additions, the board voted to approve the draft plan and to warn a second public hearing on January 28. The revised draft will be available for public review on Wednesday, January 9.

Appointments made
Appointments were made to fill two unexpired terms on town commissions. John Streng, an enthusiastic member of the community, was appointed to fill the rest of Carol Clay’s Recreation Commission term which is up on this coming Town Meeting Day. In a second action the Selectboard approved the appointment of past Selectboard Chair Ellie Russell to fill the four-year term of Andrew Thurber on the Planning Commission. Thurber has bought David Day’s land in the center of the West Village and resigned from the commission to avoid possible conflict of interest. Russell said that she “has been interested in planning all along” and that she sees the position as commissioner as “… a balancing act – sometimes it’s easy, and sometimes it’s hard.” Her term will be up in 2010.

Dale Bergdahl has been appointed to the Rutter Family Charlotte Beautification Committee.

Miscellaneous
Stephen and Stella Hall’s lease on Thompson’s Point Lots 34 and 35 was renewed for 20 years. The Selectboard agreed to send a petition from Bid Spears to the Planning Commission for review. The petition seeks to change the zoning on the East side of Route 7 for a length of a quarter mile south of Church Hill Road to allow retail and services businesses. The petition needs to go through a series of reviews and public hearings before being brought to the voters. It was not certain when a vote could be accomplished.

The next Selectboard meetings will be held on January 14 and 28.