by Margo Callaghan

Much of Tuesday night's Selectboard meeting was the discussion of impact fees on future senior housing and low income developments in town. The board was considering an amendment to the resolution involving waiving impact fees on future developments in Town that are income sensitive or considered senior housing. Town Manager Paul Bohne asked the board, "do we want to remove educational impact fees in the resolution, or do we want to wordsmith it for greater clarity?"

Board member Al Gobeille asked the board to consider what the goal of waiving or exempting impact fees is, saying he felt it is to reward developers of affordable housing and senior housing for charging less to the buyers of their units. About the waiving of impact fees, Gobeille stated, "workforce and senior housing are my concern." Those concerns included the perpetuity of a development's designation. "Over time, lines get blurred." Bohne addressed part of the concern, saying that most affordable housing is developed in partnership with a non-profit organization, and that "mechanisms are in place to keep such developments in check." While Gobeille agreed conceptually with adjusting impact fees for affordable housing, he felt the determination of impact fees for workforce housing and senior housing was a grayer area, and required more thought on the part of the board, saying "we need to wordsmith this. In the case of workforce housing, there is no oversight board." Board member Bill Smith stated his concern that if the amendment to the existing impact fee ordinance is worded to allow discretionary case by case application, it will need to be applied consistently. Board member Gary von Stange stated, "I have issues with impact fees to begin with. To set up a scenario to deal with every case would be lengthy, and still wouldn't cover all cases."

The board voted to modify the existing resolution by making mandatory, in lieu of following guidelines, the educational and recreational impact fee exemptions/waivers for senior housing and affordable housing.

Little League All Star team and coaches recognized
Chairman Bob Roesler opened the meeting by welcoming the Shelburne 11-12 All Star Team, their coaches, and family members who were in attendance. Members of the audience witnessed the reading of the formal Selectboard resolution recognizing the team as the Vermont State Little League Champions, and thanking the team's coaches and family members for their support throughout the tournament. (See www.shelburnenews.com to read the resolution in its entirety.)

Dog Control
During the "Member's Concern" portion of the meeting, Tim Pudvar brought up the need for clarification of the Town's Dog Control Ordinance, to address citizen concerns that owners are not controlling their dogs on public paths. Pudvar then volunteered to work with the Town and the Police Dept. in order to bring clarification to the ordinance, and potential inclusion of a more formal leash law. Pudvar said he would research examples of leash law ordinances from different towns in order to make recommendations to the board.

The meeting closed with the board requesting feedback from residents for their input on the Town's pet control ordinance.

Other agenda items
Paul Bohne reported that the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank sent notification that it will refund outstanding bonds, and that the Town stands to realize a savings of $280,000 over the final two years of the Municipal Bond by the year 2016.

Bohne also reported that the Planning Commission agreed to the installment of two wayfaring signs as a pilot program for Town-wide signage, which will not include a Town logo. The Town logo is in the process of being designed. The sites of the signs will be on Bostwick road designating All Soul's Interfaith Gathering, and Harbor Road designating athletic facilities, including The Fieldhouse and the Town fields.

In his Town Manager's report, Bohne clarified that completed construction on the tower which will enhance cell phone service in town is still an estimated 60 days away from being completed.