Selectboard Considers 35-mph Speed Limit on Dirt Roads
by Nany Wood,
July 14, 2011, pg 3....

Speeding on Charlotte roads has been a cause for complaint by many residents, and, until now, action has depended on traffic studies to prove that there is an actual problem. However, several months ago, Road Commissioner JR Lewis pointed out to the Selectboard that state law allows towns to reduce speed limits on unpaved roads without the expense of an engineering and traffic investigation. State statute authorizes towns to set limits at no less than 35-mph on “on all or a portion of” unpaved roads “after considering neighborhood character, abutting land use, bicycle and pedestrian use, and physical characteristics of the highways.”
The Selectboard voted unanimously at the July 11 meeting to begin the process of amending the Town’s Motor Vehicle and Traffic Ordinance to set the limit at 35 mph on all unpaved roads in Charlotte. A suggestion that only a portion should be considered was discussed, but dismissed because of the confusion that would cause about which roads are limited.
State law also requires that signs be posted at points of change from one speed limit to another if the speed limit is reduced below 50 mph. Currently, the only roads in town where the legal limit is below 50 mph are those posted at less, such as along Greenbush Road from the Shelburne line through the West Village, and along Hinesburg Road by the Charlotte Central School.
A change to the Traffic Ordinance will require public notice and warned hearing.

Other business at the July 11 Selectboard meeting
The board approved a Highway Access Permit for Stephen and Sallie Pintauro at 6110 Mt. Philo Road.
The board approved Town Treasure Mary Mead’s request to obtain a tax anticipation note for People’s United Bank for $300,000. Mead said the money is needed now because there was only $4,000 in the Town’s bank account at the end of the fiscal year on June 30, and new paving is underway on town roads. The $300,000 is expected to be enough to see the Town through until property taxes are due on November 15. Four members of the board voted yes, while Winslow Ladue abstained, requesting documentation illustrating the need for the loan. Mead said that a cash flow report was submitted to the bank that could be provided to the Selectboard, and that this level of borrowing is consistent with the need in prior years. On a positive note, Mead said the year ended without a deficit.
The board appointed Mary Mead to be the E-911 Coordinator and debated how to amend the 911 Ordinance to meet state requirements that any new roads be named with the approval of the E-911 coordinator. The current ordinance requires only input from the Fire Department, and final approval by the Selectboard. However, without the approval of the E-911 Coordinator, the Town is subject to liability if a tragedy occurs because of a mix-up of names when emergency rescue or fire crews respond to an emergency. Recently a request by Nancy and Tom Smith to name their road “Windever Lane” was denied because of potential confusion with other roads in the area that include the word “wind.” The board agreed to begin the amendment of the ordinance to include the E-911 Coordinator, and require input from Charlotte Fire and Rescue Services as well as Shelburne Dispatch.
The board approved the request by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to use Greenbush Road, Lake Road and the baseball field parking lot at the Town Beach for their 100-mile fundraising bicycle ride on July 30.
The Vermont League of Cities and Towns, which is the town’s insurance carrier, has identified a number of safety issues at the Town Beach, including hazardous conditions caused by debris left by lake flooding. The board voted to hire Jim Kestner for his bid of $950 to clean it up. Deb Stone, Recreation Coordinator, was asked to get estimates for repairs of other damage by the high water, such as stabilizing the banks along the beach. Selectboard member Ed Stone will submit a request to FEMA for relief for all town expenses.
Selectboard member John Owen presented the results of the survey conducted at the Town Party about the future of the Flea Market property. The survey asked respondents which of the Burns Committee recommendations they favored. Results were:
Continued use for a flea market: yes – 20, no - 4; not sure - 9.
Market for craft and agricultural products: yes - 30, no - 1, not sure - 2.
Parking and informational classroom for trail access to rest of Burns property: yes - 19, no - 4, not sure - 7.
Landbank for future expanded natural resource-based education needs: yes - 14, no - 5, not sure - 9.
Other ideas were expressed, but the question that received a strong negative response was, “Should the flea market site be left as is, and not used for any activity?” yes – 2, no - 17, not sure - 5.
The Selectboard is proposing to form a committee to research and make recommendations for the future of the site. Interested volunteers should contact John Owen at 425-4632 or by e-mail at jrowen1@gmavt.net.