Members attending: Ted White, Sarah Blythe, Sally Guttler, Nancy Plunkett, Martin Peterson, Bill Marks, Nancy Baker, David Hirth Members missing: David Wagner Non-members attending: Faith Ingulsrud

Chairman Ted White called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The minutes from the meeting of September 11, 2000 were read and approved.

Communications included a seminar brochure for the 23rd Annual Municipal Officers' Management Seminars. Ted White recommended that any members who could attend should definitely do so.

The HCC asked Faith Ingulsrud about the Truax development that is under consideration by the Planning Commission (see their meeting minutes of August 16). It is a 30+ acre plot that is being divided into three 10+ acre plots. Faith's proposal to amend that to a 24-acre plot and two 3-acre plots was defeated in that meeting. Her argument was that the 24-acre plot would provide a larger contiguous forested area. The owners, however, would rather have the 10+ acre lots because the regulations for development are less stringent.

Martin Peterson proposed a question to the HCC. Let us assume that 100 homes will be built in Hinesburg in the next five years. Where do we (the HCC) want them? And how do we push to get them built in those places? Nancy Baker suggested that the best place to develop Hinesburg was in its "core" area of the village. However, this cannot be currently done because of the limited capacity of the wastewater treatment plant. The final rhetorical question from Martin Peterson was then: Should we be supporting and pushing for increased wastewater treatment plant capacity as a way of conserving Hinesburg's scenic and forest resources?

Nancy Plunkett reported on the staking of the LaPlatte River on September 16. HCC members Bill Marks, Nancy Plunkett, Martin Peterson, David Wagner and Nancy Baker staked about three miles of the LaPlatte River, placing about 60 stakes at 300' intervals. The stakers reported some oily areas above the Hinesburg Elementary School, so Nancy Plunkett will contact Jim Pease about it. The inventorying will be done this winter, hopefully by mid-November. Bill Marks asked how do let the people of Hinesburg know what we're doing and why. Nancy Plunkett will do some planning on publicity of the project.

Sarah Blythe reported on Geprags Park. A new pipe gate will cost $100 to build. HCC will install it.

Ted White reported on the Great Pumpkin Dilemma on October 13 and 14. Pumpkin carving will take place October 12 at 6:30 p.m. HCC will be selling cider and donuts, provided by Ted White and being sold by Nancy Plunkett and Nancy Baker.

Martin Peterson did not attend the fundraising seminar in Maine.

Nancy Plunkett has set a date of Saturday, November 4 for more LaPlatte River inventorying. The rain date is November 11. Martin Peterson will try to put together a training video by November 4. A continental breakfast will be served by HCC to the volunteers.

Discussion was held about a fund raising effort for the Geprags Pond.

The next meeting is Monday, October 9. Ted White adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Martin Peterson
Secretary Pro Tem