Meeting Minutes
Town of LeicesterSelectboard Meeting Minutes Monday, February 18, 2013*Unapproved*** See subsequent minutes for any changes Members Present: Diane Benware, Ron Fiske, Brad Lawes, Tom Barker Absent Members: Ken Young Others Present: Julie Delphia, Arlan Pidgeon, Bill Shouldice, Sandra Trombley, Secretary Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Review of Agenda: Approval of February 4, 2013 Minutes: Motion by Brad and second by Ron to approve minutes of February 4, 2013. All in favor. So approved. Review/Authorization to pay bills: Bills making their rounds for signatures. Julie mentioned that the form to officially notify ACRP that Lynn Bisbee is Leicester’s representative is in the book to sign and there are a couple of opportunities for Town programs. Reports from Town Officials, Committees: Town Clerk/Treasurer: Julie reported that Town Reports are here and will hopefully be mailed out by Wednesday. She would like help after tonight’s meeting carrying in Town Reports. Town Meeting is March 4th and need to make sure we do the sound system. Voting is on March 5th so let Julie know if anyone is available to count that evening. Delinquents are at $87,000. Town Foreman: Arlan cut the tree on Cram Road and has plowed off the Bullock Road. He needs to pick up tires. Listers: None Zoning Administrator: Julie reported that Kate is concerned about Bill 223 that is up for discussion that has to do with shorelines. Bill explained that this is the old buffer zone bill again, but just done in a different way. They want to take control of the first 25’ of your land; brush and trees you can and can’t have or cut and can’t cut, etc. Kate had concerns that if you owned a camp within that zone and it burns that you cannot rebuild in that zone. Bill stated that was correct. Julie stated that would affect a number of properties in Leicester. Bill stated that there was also another bill that takes over the policing of zoning laws to give town’s help policing their zoning. That just came out Friday. He hasn’t had a chance to study it. Bill came tonight as a new member to the Planning Commission to get direction from the Selectboard what they would like the PC to do going forward with the zoning regulations. He got the message at the last meeting to be very careful what they do with the overlays and not get into legal battles. Ron stated that the changes to zoning were supposed to be about clarifications and such and all of a sudden they see them taking the ball and just running with it, adding, adding and adding. That was never our intent. As a new member, Bill would like direction from the Selectboard and take the message back. Does the Selectboard care about clarification of the trailers, temporary and full-time storage units? Ron stated, yes, that there are a lot of issues there; as well as, docks and boat houses. Ron stated that they worry about overlays being used to shut huge areas of land down. The steepest slopes are National Forest, not even private property. Tom stated that a lot of the new building can be taken care of with curb cuts. If they can’t get a curb cut to it, you can shut them down, but you are not shutting them down to the point they can’t use their land for anything else. Julie said a big concern was that it was completely unenforceable. Julie mentioned that you would have to survey the whole town to figure out where these overlays actually went. Tom mentioned that years ago there was study and a program that had density maps that showed what areas could be developed for housing. He doesn’t know what ever happened to that. Ron stated that our zoning already has good language on drainage. Diane summarized that even if they adopted overlays, it would almost be unenforceable without having a survey done. We don’t want to be in the position of telling people whose land is closer to the mountain, what they can and cannot do with their land. In some places it is ambiguous or open to interpretation. We are trying to clean things up so that it can’t have a multitude of interpretations. Health Officer: None Cemetery Committee: Tom fixed the flag pole again. Arlan looked at two weight permits and stated that they were ok for Ken to sign. Diane signed the ACRP appointment form for Lynn Bisbee to be the town’s delegate and Diane agreed to be alternate. CORRESPONDENCE: 2013 state approved town and bridge standards which is coupled with the town highway grant program. Grants have a new format. Diane will talk with Regional Planning about updating roads, bridges and culverts for Infrastructure Study. There is a Certification of Compliance Form in the packet that needs to be signed by the Selectboard. After Town Meeting, Nelson Blanchard, District 3 Coordinator will be coming to talk with town officials about financial plan. NEW BUSINESS: Prepare for Town Meeting: March 4th at 7:00 p.m. Town Meeting is the opportunity to talk about the White Building and the Town Shed and that the buildings are aging and need work. Focus on the Town maintaining a level budget. The budget is very clear with good explanations. Next meeting to re-organize, review responsibilities, etc. Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. Discussion of appointments needed: Energy Coordinator, Emergency Coordinator, Cemetery Sexton, Road Commissioner, Tree Warden, Solid Waste Representative and Lister. OLD BUSINESS: Motion by Tom and second by Ron to adjourn at 7:25 p.m. All in favor. So approved. Respectfully submitted, Sandra L. Trombley, Secretary