Selectboard Tackles Wastewater, Revisits Flea Market
by Nancy Wood
July 1, 2010, pg 4

Wastewater Project Moves Forward

The Selectboard gave the go-ahead Monday night, June 28, to form an exploration group to pursue the development of a wastewater system in the West Village.
The voters approved an article at Town Meeting two years ago authorizing the Selectboard to explore the potential of a community wastewater system. The expectation is that village homes with failed systems and future users would be able to access the system, which would use septic capacity on the Town-owned Burns property or elsewhere. The users would pay for the system and its maintenance. The Town is currently using about 20 percent of the septic capacity on the Burns property for the Town Hall and other town-owned buildings.
Board member Winslow Ladue is spearheading the effort. He has outlined steps for the process, starting with seeking volunteers for the exploration group, reviewing the extensive information already compiled, preparing conceptual designs and cost estimates, surveying homeowners to determine interest in connecting to a sewer system and holding public meetings to determine town interest in using reserve septic capacity. If all of these steps indicate enough support, a proposal will be brought to the voters at Town Meeting in March 2011.
Those interested in serving on the exploration group should contact Ladue directly at 425-2275. Depending on the engineering and other expertise of the volunteers, professional assistance may also be brought in. According to Ladue, there is state money available for a loan to fund the research and calculations needed.

The Selectboard will have a table at the Town Party on June 10 where informa-tion about the project will be available.

Flea Market Vendors and Lessees Respond

Daniel Jones and Roy Jones, father and son from Milton who operate the Flea Market on a lease from the town, joined by 11 vendors, attended the June 28 Selectboard meeting to respond to the issues raised at the prior Board meeting and reported in The Charlotte News on June 17. Ed Stone had reported to the Board that he and Tom Mansfield had visited the site and determined that there were violations of the lease and possibly of town and state regulations because of overnight camping, trash and unsanitary conditions. They also had not seen a state license posted on the food cart.

The Joneses pointed out that they were struggling to repair damage done to the site by the snow and windstorms this spring, which is why there are broken pipes and tarps in the woods. The owners of the food cart, Deborah and Oscar Daudelin, brought to the meeting their current license to operate the cart, which they pointed out is always posted inside the cart. They also said that the camper next to the food cart is there for Deborah’s use during the day, and is not used at night.

Daniel Jones wanted to know why these issues were being raised suddenly, and whether there were going to be changes to the lease. He said that local vendors all go home at night, but those who come long distances from New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut should not be expected to go to a motel. He said no more than ten ever spend the night at the campground, that they bring their own water and that the portable toilet has hand sanitizer. Their presence at night also provides security for the merchandise on the tables. He said that staying on premises is a long-standing practice and is common at the Waterbury flea market.

The action item on the Selectboard’s agenda was to consider modifying the lease to allow vendor overnight camping. Board Chair Charles Russell pointed out there was a clause in the lease for termination if the lessees were in violation of the terms, and there is also the option of buying out the lease. Board members had differing opinions about what action to take. John Owen said he didn’t favor making sudden changes in the middle of the season, and that if it is not against state regulations, the current overnight camping by vendors could be allowed to continue for the short-term. Jenny Cole agreed that more research needed to be done before making changes. Ed Stone said the lease should be terminated because they are in violation. The issue was tabled to allow time to research the state and local regulations. Oscar Daudelin asked if they had to remove their camper, and Russell told him no, as long as it is removed before the four month limit in the town’s regulations.

Other Board actions, all approved unanimously:
Tiffany Shaw was appointed to the Conservation Commission.

John Hammer was granted permission to install a solar light at the top of the new flagpole by the monument at the intersection of Ferry and Greenbush Roads.
Dick St. George was authorized to spend four hours to determine a partial scope of work for Town Hall repairs.
A letter of intent to lease the agricultural land at the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge will be sent to determine who might be interested in addition to current lessee Robert Mack.