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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Chamberlin Neighborhood Airport Planning Committee - 02/10/2016CHAMBERLIN NEIGHBORHOOD- AIRPORT PLANNING COMMITTEE NOISE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES 10 FEBRUARY 2016 1 Attendees: Members: Kim Robison, Carmine Sargent, George Maille, Linda Brakel, Marc Companion Others: Tom Chittenden, Paul Conner Mr. Maille opened the meeting of the Chamberlin Neighborhood-Airport Planning Committee Noise Subcommittee at 6:30 pm at South Burlington City Hall, 575 Dorset Street. 1. Call to order; changes to the agenda; approve minutes No changes to the agenda. Ms. Sargent moved the minutes of 27 January 2016 be approved. Ms. Brakel seconded. Approved. 2. Additions, Deletions or changes in the order of agenda items; No changes 3. Open to the public for items not related to the agenda No comments 4. Continue discussion of goals and priorities Mr. Maille asked whether Mr. Companion had any items to add the list, as he was not at the first meeting. Mr. Companion said he would like to see a Plan for what resources would be in place if F-35s come in the future. This would be similar to the State having an emergency plan for the next flood or hurricane. The City shouldn’t be in the position of having to wait 2-3 years after a decision before a Plan can be developed and implemented. Mr. Maille said that there are triggers that state what actions an Airport has to take if significant material changes occur. Those are similar to Act 250, but related to noise. Under FAA order, they are required to assess the impact if there is a material change. It may drive a new Environmental Impact Study, or it may require a new Noise Exposure Map. It doesn’t put the State on the hook, though. When the FAA has told the Airport that it has been approved for a grant, under Title 5, the State has to match the grant in order for the Airport to get the money. This is the same as with surface transportation. Mr. Companion said that the arrival of the F-35s could be as catastrophic as the flooding in Rochester. The State should be prepared. Ms. Sargent asked how this will be translated into goals and priorities. Mr. Maille said that we not going to solve that year. Ms. Robison said this is outside of what a permanent noise committee can do. Mr. Companion agreed and added that the City should initiate a project to bring these additional resources beyond what the Airport can provide. Mr. Maille said that this would be done by going to the Legislature. We the City of South Burlington have no authority create such a board on its own. Mr. Companion added the City has no resources for this. 2 Mr. Chittenden asked whether the subcommittee might recommend that the City Council request that the Airport prepare new Noise Exposure Maps within 1 year of the arrival of F-35s. Mr. Maille said that an Airport does not have to perform NEM updates, what drives them is access to money. The City of South Burlington cannot compel, but it can request. Mr. Maille said that he would like to see a Noise Committee that survives this process, that has representation and agreed to by the City of South Burlington through signatures on a dotted line. If we don’t have this, we don’t have an authority to take action. If we have an interlocal agreement, such as the one between Destin and Okaloosa County, that has signatures, then that Commission exercises its authority in order to exercise ability to influence their respective legislative bodies. Mr. Companion said that the committee could have a number of outcomes; a Commission could be one of them, but there could be others as well, including preparing for something similar to a disaster. Mr. Maille asked if there are any other goals and priorities to be added in addition to those discussed at the last meeting and in this discussion. 5. Discuss drafting the composition/definition of a Noise Abatement/Planning Committee/Commission that survives the CNAPC Noise Subcommittee and/or statutory definitions as in 5 V.S.A. chapters 15 and 17 as models to be later presented to the CNAPC and subsequently to the South Burlington City Council Ms. Brakel asked to review the letter provided by Gene Richards [dated January 29, 2016]. Mr. Maille said he applauded the effort of Mr. Richards to put something together. He said that there a few shortcomings. Mr. Richards wants to create a coalition of multiple municipal representatives, to include people from the Air National Guard, from his staff, and he wants Nick Longo to chair it, and also wants input to it himself. He is an employee of the City of Burlington, as is Mr. Longo. The main problem is that this is outside of a legislative body, either as expressed through state law or through an actual Memorandum of Understanding or Contract under law. The fact is that it is outside of an elected and controlled legislative body. And so while this says it will continue in perpetuity, there is nothing to stop it from being disbanded. That’s not enough. If we’re going to address these issues, Ms. Robison said that this proposal is getting ahead of this discussion. Mr. Maille says that Title 5 establishes an authority to establish a joint zoning commission to deal within zoning within a distance of the Airport. Mr. Conner asked about the authority granted under Title 5. He said it good to know whether such a Joint Zoning Commission’s authority is restricted to zoning issues or whether their authority extends beyond the issue of zoning or not. Secondarily, it would be good to know, within the subject of zoning, what the advantages, if any, of a joint zoning commission would be over the current local authority. Mr. Maille recommended that the City Attorney be requested to look into this. 3 There was discussion of the public meetings identified in the letter from Mr. Richards. Mr. Conner said he would clarify with the Airport as to whether those meetings are the ones with the CNAPC or whether those are separate public meetings. 6. Set the date/time/place and Agenda for the next meeting Next meeting February 24th at 6:30 at City Hall. Ms. Robison asked whether the subcommittee should recommend that the Council table the discussion of the letter from Gene Richards to appoint a noise committee until the subcommittee and CNAPC have had a chance to provide its suggestions. Ms. Robison moved that the City Council and Manager table discussion of the noise group until this committee has the time to review and provide a recommendation to the CNAPC with a tentative date of March 16th. Motion seconded and approved. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 pm.