Selectboard Supports Merger of Regional Commissions & Commission Appointments
by Eleanor Russell,
April 7, 2011, page 4.....

At its March 28 meeting the Selectboard had a long agenda, but dispatched most of its business in quick order. (It should be noted that this was a very rare occasion when only three board members were present at the meeting, Charles Russell, Winslow Ladue and Dennis Delaney).

CCRPC/CCMPO merger supported
Representatives from Chittenden County Regional Planning Committee (CCRPC) and Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization (CCMPO), Michelle Boomhower and Charlie Baker, respectively, were present to discuss the planned merger of CCRPC and CCMPO. This merger has been under study for some time in an effort to increase efficiency and reduce costs and to provide integration of land use and transportation planning. Further impetus to the merger comes from the state through the Challenge for Change recently passed by the Vermont legislature.
Already both organizations have co-located in the same building, and their staffs work very closely together. However, each continues to have a separate board and governance structure, and each municipality in Chittenden County appoints a representative and an alternate to each organization. The merger would provide for one board of directors and one representative and one alternate from each town. Eventually other entities will be represented on the governing board. Many details remain to be worked out, including financial and legal considerations. A new name will be chosen in mid-May.
Under the plan, voting rights for each community are preserved and the existing municipal dues will be flat for the next three years. It is believed that communities will be better served with the integration of planning for issues such as transportation, natural resources, elder transport, pedestrian networks and other important planning concerns.
Charles Russell suggested that the new organization should look at coordination of emergency services between towns.
Chittenden County municipalities are being asked to formalize support for the merger through a resolution approved by each municipality that supports the merger and directs our representatives to vote for the merger. In response to a question by Dennis Delaney, Michelle Boomhower replied that they were not aware of any opposition to the merger. The Selectboard voted unanimously in favor of the resolution.

Non-contiguous PRD (Planned Residential Development) approved
With a vote of approval of the necessary legal documents, the Selectboard approved Charlotte’s first non-contiguous PRD. A non-contiguous PRD is a PRD that utilizes the transfer of density from one property to another property and thus allows for clustering of housing on the receiving lot and open space on the sending lot. This was made possible by a change of the Land Use Regulations in 2006. In this case John Patnaude will transfer five acres of density from a 10-acre lot he owns on Greenbush Road to a non-adjacent five-acre lot also on Greenbush Road. A transfer of density can be with either contiguous or non-contiguous properties and must be accomplished simultaneously through the Planning Commission PRD permitting process.

Speed limits and hazardous roads
The Selectboard announced its intent to amend the traffic ordinance to set a speed limit of 30 miles per hour on Hinesburg Road between Church Hill Road and Mount Philo Road and on Greenbush Road from roughly the Old Lantern to the Mack farm. In a related matter, the state, under the High Risk Rural Roads Program, has listed a section of Mt. Philo Road and a section of Spear Street as “high hazard locations.” If selected by the state, these road sections will be reviewed this summer and eligible for low-cost improvements and signage, both provided by the State. Roads are selected based on the number of accidents and serious injuries or fatalities resulting.

In other action, the Selectboard:
accepted the lowest bid of $22,275, offered by Justin Bora, for summer land maintenance (mowing, etc.) for Town Lands (beach, park, Town green, etc., ball field at the Berry Farm, and trails) Seven bids were received, the highest being $49,364;
approved the Lund Family Center’s Mother’s Day Ride, a bicycling event using Charlotte roads and the Senior Center;
approved a request by Nancy Sabin for the waiver of permitting fees for two affordable rental units on her Greenbush Road property;
reappointed Dick St.George as Animal Control Officer for a one-year term;
reappointed board, commission and committee members as listed here;
noted that the Gaujacs and their neighbors have reached an agreement in regard to the construction of the inn at the Old Lantern site.

The Selectboard has made the following appointments to town committees and commissions:

Appointments approved March 14, 2011:

Jenny Cole and Mark Dillenbeck were appointed to the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Oversight Committee. (There are no specific term limits.)
Stephany Hasse was appointed to the Trails Committee for a full term ending April 2013.
Lucia Plante was appointed to be Town Service Officer for 2011.
Batchelder Associates of Barre was chosen to conduct the 2011 town audit.

Reappointments approved March 28:

Bob Hyams to the Conservation Commission for a four-year term ending April 2015
Howard Verman to the Conservation Commission for a four-year term ending April 2015
Catherine Hughes to the Energy Committee for a two-year term ending April 2013
Michelle Lussier to the Energy Committee for a two-year term ending April 2013
Margaret Russell to the Trails Committee for a two-year term ending April 2013
Holly Sullivan to the Trails Committee for a two-year term ending April 2013
Laurie Thompson to the Trails Committee for a two-year term ending April 2013
Robin Coleburn to the Design Review Committee for a three-year term ending April 2014
Jeff McDonald to the Planning Commission for a four-year term ending April 2015
Linda Radimer to the Planning Commission for a four-year term ending April 2015
John Streng to the Recreation Commission for a three-year term ending April 2014
Kerry McManus to the Recreation Commission for a three-year term ending April 2014
Larry Hamilton as Tree Warden for a one-year term ending April 2012
Jonathan Fisher to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a three-year term ending April 2014
Ben Pualwan to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a three-year term ending April 2014
Also, Dick St. George was reappointed as Animal Control Officer for a one-year term ending April 2012.