Summer events discussed at early May Selectboard meeting

The May 14 Selectboard meeting was a long one, with discussion surrounding Thompson’s Point and Lane’s Lane taking center stage. Selectboard member Lane Morrison opened the meeting early with further amendments to the Thompson’s Point Wastewater Disposal System Ordinance. Early changes in the meeting focused on the tightening of language, as Selectboard members went through the ordinance line by line. Some sections of the document, such as guidelines and policies for lease holders, were removed to become parts of separate documents, which will be better served by the information. 

The board determined that the total cost in connection fees for Lane’s Lane residents to the public sewer system will be somewhere around $3,500 per camp. This number is based on onsite inspections of current wastewater systems but does not include the price of pipes required to make the connection or legal fees. Residents can expect further updates on the connection cost for Lane’s Lane at the next Selectboard meeting.

Public comments opened with concerns about the future of an Affordable Housing Committee in town. It remains to be seen if this committee will be elected or ad hoc, but the Selectboard encourages volunteers to come forward.

Abby Foulk was reappointed as the representative to the Chittenden Solid Waste District Board of Directors for a two-year term ending May 2020, and Rachel Stein was reappointed as the alternate representative for a two-year term ending May 2020. Suzy Hodgson was reappointed to the Energy Committee for a two-year term ending April 2020. And last but not least, David Kenyon was reappointed to the Planning Commission for a four-year term ending April 2022.

The Green Mountain Bicycle Club requested approval for three time trial events for this summer on Greenbush Road, and approval was granted.

The Charlotte Recreational Beach Party, to be held on Saturday, July 14, was approved. This event at Town Beach will start at 4 p.m. and will feature live music as well as a potluck. Beach parking fees will be waived for this event.

Charlotte Recreation was also approved to sponsor Mozart at the Beach this summer. The three-night music event will take place at Town Beach on July 19, July 26 and August 2. Parking fees will be charged for this event. There is no admission fee.

The Selectboard approved a motion seeking bids for a new computer-network support service at Town Hall. The Selectboard will also seek bids for a new computer server. Selectboard member Fritz Tegatz moved to cancel the current Town Hall contract with SymQuest. His motion was approved.

Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom petitions to install fiber optic within town highway rights-of-way were approved for Prindle Road, Mutton Hill Road, Mutton Hill Drive, Sutton Place, Westgate Road and Lime Kiln Road. Rights-of-way were also approved for the Roadside Vegetation Management Plan to VTrans for mowing within the U.S. 7 right of way. Mowing in this area along the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge will be done to control the growth of wild parsnip.

The VTrans Annual Financial Plan for town highways and Certification of Compliance were also approved by the Selectboard and signed during the meeting.