MINUTES

October 4, 2004

Present: Nan Stolzenburg, Rick Smith, Gary Vanderhorst, Dawn Szurek, Sally Ellms, Steve Caine, Christy Schrader, Deborah Herrin, Andrea Herrin, Lynda Battenhausen, Bill Heilman, Marv Schorr, Dot Mitchell, Guy Mitchell.

Meeting was opened at 7:10 P.M. by Steve Caine. The Minutes from the September 6, 2004 meeting were approved as written.

Steve began the meeting by stating that he wants everyone on the committee to be able to voice his or her concerns and opinions regarding the work the committee is doing. He believes a better job can be done in hearing everyone’s views. Steve asked Nan to be the facilitator on substantive discussion issues in an effort to achieve this goal. Nan stated that with such a large group it could be difficult for everyone to voice their opinions and ideas. She suggested that the committee at times be split up into smaller discussion groups to work on and discuss certain topics. Each smaller group would pick a spokesperson to report to the larger group their ideas and concerns. Christy Schrader asked Nan if the Zoning laws would have to be changed to match the Comprehensive Plan. Nan said that any land use law a local government has must be in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan. Therefore, any laws that are on the books should be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Marv noted that the zoning review committee is currently reviewing our zoning laws, but will wait until completion of the Comprehensive Plan before reporting on its recommendations. NYS has set up their Comprehensive Plan stating that Comprehensive Plans are voluntary for local government. Nan stated that there are a lot of things in a Comprehensive Plan that get changed or don’t get implemented or are vague. Nan’s advice is to be very specific and that a Comprehensive Plan is successful when it’s specific and gives guidelines on what to do in the future. She said there shouldn’t be anything in the Comprehensive that won’t be implemented.

The first item on the agenda was to refine the Vision Statement. Nan said that the Vision Statement sets the tone for the Comprehensive Plan. It gives a broad picture of what the town wants the community to be like in the future. Nan made the changes to the Vision Statement that were discussed last month. She said that the committee should be aware that in refining the Vision Statement, they are working toward presenting it to the public. This Vision Statement should reflect what the committee hears the public saying they want for the Town of Charlton fifteen years into the future. Nan also said that more than one Vision Statement could be presented to the public for their input. Nan went around the table and asked everyone to voice their opinion on the Vision Statement, and the changes that were made. At the beginning of our dialogue, some said they wanted to see the Hamlet be the focal point for businesses in the town and others did not want to encourage growth in the Hamlet or see it change from what it is today. It was suggested that the word business be more precise and defining. There was uniform agreement in trying to keep the historic character of the Hamlet. There was discussion about the phrase business growth, family-owned businesses and the very broad term commercial growth, what each phrase means and how it could be interpreted by others in the town and what we really meant. The group agreed that any business in the town should compliment or not harm the town’s unique character and also provide a service that enhances our citizens quality of life. In the Vision Statement the sentence which reads, Town government provides high levels of public services will be changed to read Town government provides quality community services.

Nan led the committee to the next topic, which was Goals. She reminded the committee that the Goals should reflect ideal future conditions desired by the Town. Goals offer more specific direction and should be consistent with the stated vision. The committee split in three groups and Nan asked them to talk about their general impressions of the Goals, keeping in mind the Vision Statement and areas that need further definition. One person from each group reported to the larger committee and then it was discussed.

Nan began with Goal 1 and asked each group what they wanted to say about it.

After discussion with each group, it was decided to change the wording in Goal 1 from where future residential and business development is to read, where future development, residential and business, is.

Goal 2 was changed from residential and agricultural community where limited small businesses enhance the quality of life for our citizens, while maintaining our town’s unique character to read, residential and agricultural community where businesses enhance the quality of life of our citizens, and maintain our town’s unique character.

Goal 3 stands as is.

Goal 4 was changed from The town’s rural vistas and scenic views are identified, protected, and enhanced for the enjoyment of all to read, While respecting landowner’s rights, the town’s rural vistas and scenic views are identified, protected, and enhanced for the enjoyment of all.

Under Environmental Quality Vision, a change will be made from balances growth with protection of our forests to read, balances growth with protection of our woodlands

Goal 5 stands as is.

Goal 6 stands as is.

Under Sense of Community Vision, an addition will be made as the last sentence in the paragraph to read, The Hamlet serves as the focus of community life.

Goal 7 stands as is.

Goal 8 was changed from All community facilities and programs are available, welcoming and easily accessible to read, All community facilities and programs are open to all and easily accessible.

Two new goals were added:

Goal 8A should be Existing structures have been creatively used and adapted for community benefits.

Goal 8B should be The Hamlet serves as a focus for town government, cultural, and economic activities.

Goal 9 stands as is.

Goal 10 stands as is.

Goal 11 was changed from Public transportation is available, especially for senior citizens to read, Transportation assistance is available for senior citizens and those with special needs.

Goal 12 stands as is.

Goal 13 stands as is.

There was considerable discussion about good neighbors and it was decided to address this topic when writing the strategies and objectives.

Goal 14 was changed from active and passive recreational opportunities for all ages as well as opportunities for to read, active and passive recreation, and opportunities for educational and cultural development for all ages.

Goal 15 was changed from A diversity of comfortable and well-maintained housing opportunities exist to read, A diversity of well-maintained housing opportunities exist

The next item on the agenda for the evening was for Deborah Herrin to discuss protecting resident’s wells. Before she began, Marv Schorr reminded the committee that Sam Gowen. President of Alpha Geoscience spoke with Dave Adams and agreed to sit down with a group to talk about how to protect the ground water. Steve said Sam Gowen would charge approximately $100/hour to talk with the committee. Marv said that Dave wanted to make the point that the committee has an obligation to answer Midge Dube’s concerns that there are people who are having problems with their wells. Deborah stated that John Tasse also thought it would be a good idea to have some kind of protection for new people moving into the town so they have adequate water and that those wells won’t impact the residents already living in the town. She said that the Planning Board agreed to ask for input from the town engineer, and Deborah also wrote Nan and asked her what other town’s are doing to protect neighboring well supplies? Jim Leupold and Deborah are planning on talking to Joe Cernack, a local well driller, to find out where he’s drilled in the town and what types of layers of rocks he usually finds, average well yields, etc. The information received from him, the well logs, and information received from and from the town engineer will help in deciding how to protect the water in town. Marv Schorr stated that Dave Adams asked if this topic could be discussed at the next meeting so he can expand on the idea. Deborah asked the committee if anyone would like to help with gathering information on water. Steve Caine told the committee that it’s not in the budget to pay a consultant $100/hour to discuss the water issues, and if it was decided to go this route, the committee would have to go to the Town Board for approval for the funds. In light of that, Steve feels there is no harm to gather as much information as possible and then make the decision whether to go forward and spend money talk to a hydrogeologist. It was suggested that other well drillers be contacted for information as well.

Discussion took place on when to have a public meeting to update the community on where things stand and to get more input from them on the vision and goals the committee drafted. Nan suggested putting out a press release, putting up posters around town and putting notice on the website of the vision and goals and asking the community to come to a public meeting to get their input. After some discussion it was decided to have a public meeting on November 1^st. Steve said the Freehold Church is available to have a public meeting. The meeting will be from 7:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. with the committee meeting afterwards from 8:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Steve asked for volunteers to help Deborah set up the church. Gary Vanderhorst and Marv Schorr volunteered to help set up. Steve will see that the Vision Statement and Goals are put on the website. Andrea Herrin will do posters and they will include the vision statement and goals. Marv Schorr will put the information in the Spotlight, the Times Union and the Gazette. Nan stated she would help write the press release. Dot Mitchell told the committee that the town newsletter is going out and it states that there will be a public meeting coming up and to watch for notification of same. Nan also suggested that every committee member call four or five people to tell them about the public meeting. Nan also suggested that one or more committee members make the presentation at the public meeting. Deborah Herrin said she would be willing to do the presentation if no one else volunteers. Nan said the presentation could be split up into sections such as recapping what has been accomplished to date, a summary of the two surveys, a brief presentation of the maps, and then the vision and the goals. Because of the short amount of time before the public meeting, it was decided that Nan will do the presentation.

Steve Caine said the December meeting is currently scheduled for the 6^th,the same night as the Historic Society Christmas party. After discussion, it was agreed to move the meeting ahead to the first Monday after Thanksgiving, which is November 29^th. The meeting place will be determined at a later date and Steve will email the committee members to advise them of the location. There will be no meeting in December.

Gary Vanderhorst had a final comment about tonight’s meeting stating he felt that Nan facilitating the meeting was an excellent choice and there was more control and a lot was accomplished. Meeting closed at 10:00 P.M.