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Selectboard Meeting

August 29, 2005

 

Attending the meeting: Rob Bast, Andrea Morgante, Jon Trefry, Howard Russell, Randy Volk and Jeanne Wilson.

 

Chairman Bast called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm.

 

Approve Warrants:  Jon moved that the Board vote to approve the warrants (including payroll warrants) for bills payable as presented by the Town Treasurer.  Seconded by Howard and approved.

 

Receive List of Unlicensed Dogs from Town Clerk:  Andrea moved that the Board vote to acknowledge receipt of the annual list of dogs and wolf-hybrids not licensed or inoculated as required by law.  Seconded by Howard and approved.

 

VTrans Finance & Maintenance Agreement for Hinesburg HES SFTY (2) / Safety Improvements to Shelburne Falls Road and Charlotte Road:  This project is funded 100% by VTrans, and shall consist of:

On Shelburne Falls Road – relocation of existing signs and installation of new signs on the first and second curves from Vermont Route 116 (signs and posts to be provided by VTrans).  Signs and posts to be installed by the Town, with VTrans reimbursing the Town for labor costs;

On Charlotte Road – edge-line markings and replacement of curve signs from the town line to Baldwin Road (signs and posts to be provided by VTrans).  Signs and posts to be installed by the Town, and Town will contract out edge-line markings, with VTrans reimbursing the Town for labor and contract costs.

 

Howard moved that the Board vote to sign the Finance and Maintenance Agreement between the State of Vermont Agency of Transportation and the Town of Hinesburg for safety improvements to Shelburne Falls Road and Charlotte Road (HINESBURG HES SFTY(2)).  Seconded by Jon and approved.

 

Drainage Issues on Hayden Hill Road West / Notice of Drainage Work:  Jon moved that the Board vote to conduct a site inspection for proposed drainage work on Hayden Hill Road West, adjacent to Grand List Lot # 09-01-77.12, on Monday, October 17, 2005 at 5:30 PM, and that notice of this site inspection and a description of the proposed drainage work be sent via certified mail to the property owner and any other interested person, as outlined in Title 19 VSA § 923.  Seconded by Andrea and approved.  The Board discussed and scheduled a preliminary visit to the site with the Highway Foreman on September 19, 2005 at 6:15 PM to review the proposed work in advance of the October 17 site visit.

 

CVU High School Expansion / CVU Road Speed Limit and School Zone Light and Funding for Future Improvements to CVU Road & Route 116 Intersection:  In order for the Zoning Administrator to complete the Certificate of Occupancy for the CVU construction project, Selectboard comment on the following two conditions is needed:

 

1)         Before receiving a Certificate of Occupancy for the new improvements the applicant shall contact the Hinesburg Selectboard and review the recommendations of the traffic analysis concerning the blinking lights and speed limits for CVU Rd. and install signs and lights if requested

 

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to do so by the Selectboard.  The traffic engineering study for the CVU project made the following recommendations:  “School zone flashers are recommended to emphasize the 25 mph school zone speed limit on CVU Road.  This would also allow a higher speed limit to be posted on CVU Road for use when school is not in session and during off-peak hours”.  Based on the recommendations of the study, at the meeting the Selectboard concluded that they would like to have CVU install the flashing lights, and will explore increasing the speed limit on CVU road from 25 mph to 35 mph.   

2)         Before receiving a Certificate of Occupancy for the new improvements the applicant shall, as suggested by their Traffic Analysis, initiate discussion with VTrans, CCMPO and the Town concerning contributing to the funding for future improvements to the intersection of CVU Road and Rte 116. The results of these meetings shall be forwarded to the DRB and if contributions are agreed upon they shall be included as a condition of this permit.  According to CSSU Chief Operations Officer Robert Mason, CVU has invested approximately $30,000 for the engineering work and equipment to install the advanced turn signal lights at the Route 116 and CVU Road intersection.  At the meeting, the Selectboard concluded that this was a sufficient investment into the intersection improvements.

 

The Board directed Jeanne to draft a letter to CVU, outlining the Boards conclusions regarding the two conditions.

 

 

Final Review of Zoning & Subdivision Regulation Revisions:  Based on the discussion from the last meeting, Jeanne had made changes to the proposed Zoning and Subdivision Regulations in preparation for the Selectboard public hearing on September 19.  However, further clarification was needed regarding the Board’s decision on changes to item 3.4.4(8), adding the following language “on lots where more than one 2 family dwelling is proposed these ratios shall be applicable”.  Following the last meeting, Town Planner Alex Weinhagen had recommended that this change not be made at this time, pending a more thorough review by the Planning Commission as part of the Village Growth Project.

 

Following a lengthy discussion regarding whether to make this proposed change, the Board directed Jeanne to ask Alex for clarification on the rational for having different standards for lot sizes for multi-family houses vs. duplexes.  Jeanne will forward information to the Board in order for a decision on whether or not to make the change to occur prior to the deadline for completing changes in preparation for the September 19 public hearing.

 

Discussion of Road Standards:  In response to a memo from Alex Weinhagen, the Selectboard discussed and provided the following clarifications on the Road Standards adopted by the Board in 1999:

Maximum Grade – Sheet A-76 of the standard suggests a 10% maximum grade with an allowance for grades up to 16% in mountainous terrain.  The Selectboard concluded that the maximum road grade in 16%.  The DRB has the right to request engineered design for any road, but for roads with grades between 11% and 16% engineered design is required.  The reference to mountainous terrain should be disregarded.  It is the responsibility of the landowner to demonstrate why a grade of 10% or less is not feasible.  In considering any new road, the DRB may use guidelines, such as runoff, deforestation, maintaining natural topography, safety and cost for allowing grades between 11% and 16%:.

 

Required Paving  - Sheet A-76 of the standard states that roads with grades exceeding 7% should be paved, unless waived by the Selectboard.  The Selectboard concluded that paving

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should not be a mandatory requirement.  The DRB could request paving if rational reasons can be sited, but paving should not be mandatory.

 

Minimum Road Width – Sheet A-76 of the standard recommends a traveled way width of 24’, while Sheet A-21 of the standard relates the traveled way width to ADT, with traveled width varying between 14’ and 28’ depending on vehicle trips.  The Selectboard concluded that the DRB should refer to Sheet A-21 when determining road widths, and that the table on Sheet A-21 should be viewed as a continuum, allowing the DRB the flexibility to require widths in between those listed, based on ADT and other contributing factors.  The widths on A-21 refer to traveled width.

 

Driveway Standards – Sheet B-71 of the standards specifies a sub-base of 12” for residential drives.  In the past the DRB has not required a minimum sub-base depth for residential drives.  The Selectboard concluded that a minimum sub-base depth was not necessary. 

 

Annual Performance Appraisal / Town Administrator Jeanne Wilson:  The Selectboard met with Jeanne Wilson for the purpose of conducting the annual performance appraisal.

 

Outgoing Correspondence

 

Letter to DRB / RE: Relocation of Shrubs at Good Times Café:  The Selectboard signed a letter to the DRB summarizing their observations from the site visit to Good Times Café in reference to the relocation or removal of shrubs adjacent to the Village Green.

 

Rob made a motion that the Board adjourn at 11:10 PM, seconded by Howard and approved.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Jeanne Kundell Wilson

Town Administrator