Selectboard Tries New Agenda Format

by John Hammer

The April 14 meeting opened with an attempt to obtain approval for a consent agenda, which bundled nine items into one agenda item to be discussed and passed in one motion. The board decided this format limited adequate discussion among the board members and public debate. Seven of the nine bundled items passed, including renaming the Schneider/Donavan subdivision private road Williams Hill Drive from Griffin Hill Road, declaring May 2 and 3 Charlotte Arbor Days, and appointing Larry Hamilton to the Park and Wildlife Refuge Oversight Committee (2 years), Bill April, Brooke Scatchard, and Carlie Krolick to the Trails Committee (2 years), and Lucia Plante as Town Service Officer (1 year).
The board later discussed a multiple-approval request for the Schneider/Donovan Subdivision. After a short discussion, easements (with attendant agreement and waivers) were granted for conservation of agriculture/forestry, sewage service and storm water drainage, as was a roadway easement/waiver and a trail easement deed.

Sixth annual Champ Run approved.
The board approved closing Hinesburg Road between Church Hill and Mt. Philo Roads from 4:15-5:15 p.m. on May 31 for the sixth annual CCS Champ Run.

Special Selectboard meeting addresses Burleigh family farm.
At a special meeting April 7 the Selectboard addressed a request for disbursements of $135,000 and $145,000 from the Charlotte Conservation Fund to be applied toward conservation of 195 acres of the Burleigh Family Farm located southeast of the intersection of Prindle Road with Spear Street. The farm is being split into a five-acre homestead lot for Gary and Sheila Burleigh, a 68-acre parcel covered by development rights and maintained as agricultural lands associated with the Burleigh Farm, and a 127-acre parcel to be purchased by The Nature Conservancy.
While the Selectboard was fundamentally in favor of the disbursement, it was concerned about access for trails. While the guidelines for disbursements from the Charlotte Conservation Fund contain no explicit conditions concerning trails, the board is sensitive to potential trail access in this piece of land that occupies a major block between Lewis Creek and Prindle Road.
Questions were also raised about the ultimate ownership should the primary owners become unable to continue. The Nature Conservancy, the Vermont Land Trust, Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and Charlotte Land Trust will be involved in resolving this issue and will return for a final discussion at the April 28 meeting.
The Burleighs have been considering the disposition of their farm for several years; Arthur Burleigh is 88 and wanted to leave the farm to his children. The Vermont Land Trust will hold the easement on the farmland, while The Nature Conservancy will manage the forested parcel.

Doremus granted limited parking.
The board gave Peter Doremus permission to form a three-vehicle parking spot across North Shore Road from his Thompson’s Point camp (Lot 154-260). The spot is approved pending Selectboard determination of a mechanism for controlling such a permit and with a restriction on cutting vegetation as approved by the Tree Warden.

VELCO receives approval for temporary road access.
VELCO received approval for temporary road access at three locatios (North Greenbush Road at the Patenaud Farm, in the Park and Wildlife Refuge, and on the north side of Thompson’s Point Road where it crosses the railway track) along with four other de facto road accesses around town. These will give VELCO access to the power line route under a one-year permit. The paths are characterized by a short bed of white stone placed to dislodge mud from tires before entering town roads. VELCO hopes to complete the new line construction phase by year-end.

Charlotte Housing Trust Fund update
John Owen and his committee brought a draft documents governing administration of the Charlotte Housing Trust Fund before the Selectboard. Charlotte is well ahead of other Vermont towns in formulating such documents. The first steps will concentrate on affordable rentals. The fund, which adds $40,000 a year, already totals $80,000; the committee hopes to implement the first phase this summer. Potential tenants will be chosen from applicants making less than 50 percent of the median income for Chittenden County. The Selectboard fundamentally agreed with the draft but encouraged the committee to develop procedures on how to fund affordable rental properties and how to manage those properties once in place. The committee will rework and resubmit final documents, which the town attorneys will then review.
Deb Stone appointed Town Beach Manager
At the April 14 meeting Recreation Coordinator Deb Stone was appointed Town Beach Manager. This new position was formed to break out the responsibilities for running the beach. There was a specific need to supervise beach attendants and approve their schedules and time slips. Of immediate concern is interviewing and hiring attendants for this summer. The job description for the post is to be developed and presented to the Selectboard for final approval.

Land maintenance contracts decided
The annual exercise to pick land maintenance contractors occurred at the April 14 meeting; the Winooski firm A Fix It Rich was awarded the contract for all land maintenance except the trails at the Plouffe Lane landfill. The latter, along with all the town brush-hogging, went to Ward Preston of Charlotte. The total of $27,535 is well below the budgeted $32,900.

Miscellaneous items
The Selectboard, in its role as Liquor Control Board, granted Class 2 Liquor Licenses to the Old Brick Store and Point Bay Marina. These licenses allow the sale of beer and wine. Virginia Foster was appointed to a three-year term on the Recreation Commission.
The board apportioned $850 to town employees from the $1,250 awarded the town for very successful participation in the Vermont League of Cities and Towns Leaders Program.

The next Selectboard meeting is Monday, April 28.