(Approved at February 26, 2007 meeting)
PLANNING COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
JANUARY 29, 2007
The meeting was called to order at 6:40 pm by Chairperson Louisa Dotoli. Present from the Commission were Bill Perkins, Arthur French, Alan Cole, Anne Alexander, and Virgil Kovachich, who arrived after the meeting had started. Andy Berley, Zoning Administrator, was present and Gerald Saindon, a community member, was also in attendance.
The minutes of the August 28, 2006 regular meeting were read and a motion was made to accept them as written by Alan, seconded by Bill and so voted.
An election of officers for the ensuing year was conducted. Louisa Dotoli was elected Chairperson and Anne Alexander was elected Clerk.
A schedule of meetings for 2007 was approved. Regular business meetings of the Planning Commission will be held on the fourth Monday of each month, at 6 pm with Zoning Board of Adjustment meetings to follow as necessary. The meeting schedule will be posted at the Municipal Building and on the web site.
Under new business, Louisa explained the grant that has been awarded to assist with costs for updating our bylaws. The grant budget includes legal costs, and NVDA costs for assistance with adoption of the amendments to the bylaws. A list of areas that require clarification which have surfaced during the past year include: fences, kennels wells, junk yards, driveways, dock exemptions, outdoor woodburning furnaces, vegetative buffer zone, exemption of small structures, port-a-potties, ponds, cribbing. Those topics will be discussed with clarifications to be included in bylaw amendments, or additions to the bylaws if indicated. A process for amending the bylaws was raised by Louisa. It was decided to send the current bylaws to Steve Stitzel, a municipal law attorney who has worked with us in the past, and to send questions regarding wells, junk yards, dock exemptions, outdoor furnaces, and port-a-potties ahead of our discussions regarding appropriateness of town regulation (bylaw or ordinance).
A motion was made by Bill, seconded by Arthur and so voted to enter executive session (at 7:40 pm) to interview a potential candidate for the vacant position on the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment. A motion was made by Virgil, seconded by Art, and so voted to exit executive session at 7:47 pm Virgil has recused himself from the commission’s selection of candidates.
After exiting executive session, a short discussion regarding the vegetative buffer language in the bylaws ensued. Alan feels that it should be added that removal of dead or dying trees is acceptable and that the area should be allowed to be manicured. The issue will be discussed further at subsequent meetings.
A second executive session was entered (at 7:55 pm) on a motion by Bill, seconded by Alan and so voted for a second candidate interview. A motion was made (at 8:22 pm) by Alan, seconded by Virgil and so voted to exit executive session.
After some discussion, a motion was made to continue the ad for the vacant Planning Commission position for two more weeks in "the Chronicle". The motion was made by Alan, seconded by Virgil and so voted. Greg will be asked to schedule interviews for the evening of February 26, starting at 7 pm.
A motion to adjourn was made (at 8:55 pm) by Bill, seconded by Virgil and so voted.
Respectfully submitted, Anne Alexander
WESTMORE ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING
JANUARY 29, 2007
The meeting was opened at 8:56 pm by Louisa Dotoli. Present were ZBA members Bill Perkins, Virgil Kovachich, Arthur French, Alan Cole, Louisa Dotoli, and Anne Alexander.
A motion was made to accept the minutes of the August 28, 2006 Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting (as written) by Bill, seconded by Alan and so voted.
An election of officers was conducted. Louisa Dotoli was elected Chairperson, and Anne Alexander was elected Clerk.
A restoration plan has been submitted by Ken and Sheri Pyden, which was discussed by the board. It was decided that a letter would be sent to Pydens asking that they list the specific plants they will be planting and to inform us of the date of planting when that information becomes known to them. Anne will send the letter.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 pm on a motion by Alan, seconded by Bill and so voted.
Respectfully submitted, Anne Alexander