The CharlotteNewsVT.org Vol. 63, no.14 January 14, 2021 Charlotte News Your nonprofit community news source since 1958 Twins! CVFRS delivers An astonishing result Chea Waters Evans Claudia Marshall but even though it’s hackneyed, in this case, NEWS EDITOR PUBLISHER it’s certainly true. A regular Monday morning turned into an Thank you. An equally big “thank you,” goes to the extraordinary one this week for Willa and Eric The Charlotte News just wrapped up the most people who have given their time and talents Lampman. Thirty-five weeks and six days successful fund drive in its history--and that’s to the paper voluntarily. That includes nearly into her pregnancy with twins, Willa went into because of you. 130 writers, photographers and proofreaders, labor at their home in Charlotte and ended up who have all pitched in to make The Charlotte delivering the babies shortly afterward—one We started our campaign October 29 with a News what it is: a community newspaper by while they were still at home. “It’s wild!” Wil- report in this paper reminding folks that we the people of Charlotte and for the people of la said. She and both babies are doing great. are an independent, nonprofit community Charlotte. newspaper devoted to telling the authentic While getting her day started with her stories of Charlotte. We work to connect this So thank you for stepping up and helping us 22-month-old son, Willa felt a contraction at community and I believe that connection is meet the challenges of these times. Thank you 7:45 a.m. and made a call to her obstetrician more critical than ever. to our stalwart advertisers who have stood at University of Vermont Medical Center. “By by us and expressed their support for the the sound of my breathing she was like, you’re Clearly, you feel that way, too. community, even when times are tough. not going to make it, you need to call 911,” In the last two months of the Thank you to the Friends of the Willa said. year, we received more than Charlotte News who work quietly to support the paper behind the It’s a good thing they called when they did— 280 voluntary donations and almost double the amount scenes. Thanks to members of even though Charlotte Volunteer Fire and our board of directors, who Rescue Services showed up before 10 minutes of money raised in our year-end campaign the have given both time and had passed, baby number one was almost money to ensure the paper’s there. Luckily, Eric’s mother was able to come previous year. The number of brand-new donors in success. Thank you to the over in time to pick up their older son before staff, who work way too hard first responders’ ambulance arrived. 2020: 166. To my mind, that’s an astonishing result given and turn out a great paper 25 “I thought we were going to get in the ambu- these uncertain times. I take it as times each year. lance and go to the hospital, and I was going a vote of confidence that this paper is I recently read an interesting article by a to get an epidural, and we were going to have delivering (um, no pun intended) the news you research scientist about the difference between a baby,” Willa said. Because her daughter was need on the page and online. optimism and hope. Optimism is considered still in the breech position, she was expecting Part of the fund drive’s success is most a tendency to see the glass half full, while a birth by C-section anyway. But it wasn’t to hope is a practice of working to make good be. certainly due to a matching grant which we expect to receive worth $11,500, and it must things happen. Here at The Charlotte News, When CVFRS Deputy Fire Chief Rob Mullin be mentioned that our board of directors we have certainly seen the people of Charlotte and AEMT Arron Barney arrived, two mem- ponied up another $11,000 as a matching demonstrate their hope for this newspaper and this community by donating generously. It’s bers of the Lampman family were on the floor Rhodes Lampman and her brother, who arrived grant. in the bathroom—one giving moral support, so unexpectedly he doesn’t quite have a name gratifying and humbling. one in serious labor—and a third was on her yet, made a dramatic entrance into the world All of these contributions will make it possible for us to grow our coverage of the Our board of directors is discussing ways we way. Monday with the assistance of CVFRS. can thank the town for its support…in addition Photos by Eric and Willa Lampman issues that matter most in Charlotte and of the people who live here. You and me, in other to putting out a paper we can all be proud of 25 times per year. As always, watch these SEE BABIES PAGE 15 words. That old saying, “We’re all in this together” has been bandied about a lot lately, pages for details. Zoning administrator, town Pineapple sign stolen from agree to part ways Inn at Charlotte Chea Waters Evans resignation would be effective Jan. 1 Chea Waters Evans pending a formal, irrevocable resignation “The Selectboard wishes to offer you an letter due no later than Jan. 4. Morgan’s paid The pineapple is commonly known as a sign opportunity to voluntarily resign your administrative, which began on Dec. 23, of hospitality; last week, someone did a most employment under a separation agreement.” ended at that time. unhospitable thing to the owner of the Inn at A separation agreement ends Zoning Charlotte. The inn’s landmark carved-wood Administrator Daniel Morgan’s 18-month Under the terms of the separation pineapple sign was stolen in the night; the term with the Town of Charlotte. Delivered agreement, Morgan was held to town owner, Duker Bower, who also lives on the to Morgan by the Selectboard on Dec. 31 employment terms and was still under property, is hoping to get it back—and if that’s and ratified by the board on Jan. 4, the Bloch’s supervision, but he was ordered not not possible, to see if anyone has a photo of agreement ends months of back and forth to go to work or perform any town work it. He’d like to have the memory of it, and he between the ZA and the town over the terms unless specifically directed to do so. Morgan can’t afford to buy a new sign. of his employment. also agreed that he would not communicate Bower said that he noticed the sign was with any town personnel unless directed to, missing on Dec. 17, and figured it must have The fourth ZA in seven years, Morgan was and that he would continue to “cooperate been stolen in the early hours at that morning, hired in the summer of 2018 for several and communicate” with the Selectboard as when traffic past the Route 7 and State Park jobs within Town Hall that added up to a requested. Road inn was quiet and the Charlotte winter The Inn at Charlotte sign was stolen using bolt full-time position. As ZA, Morgan operated sky was dark. “It wasn’t that easy to steal,” cutters. as his own department with quasi-judicial Photo by Ronan Evans Morgan received a severance as part of the Bower said. “It had four chains holding it into authority; in his other jobs as clerk to the separation agreement that amounted to three position…they must have had a bolt cutter or elements. It featured the name of the inn and Zoning Board of Adjustment, the town months of regular payroll for 40 hours a something.” a carved pineapple, which Wells enhanced E-911 coordinator, and the sewage control week of work, plus $5,000 within 15 days with cut metal letters placed on posts so they officer, he was under the supervision of of the agreement’s ratification. He also The sign, which Bower, who is an artist, became three-dimensional. Town Administrator Dean Bloch. received payment for unused vacation leave. designed, cut, and painted himself, was made by Monkton artist and sign maker Homer The separation agreement between Morgan Wells, who works with metals and auto paint and the town stipulates that Morgan’s to create works of art that can withstand the SEE ZONING PAGE 7 SEE SIGN PAGE 15 The Charlotte News • January 14, 2021 • 3 Town LURs wend their way to the ballot; budget has to budge a bit Chea Waters Evans be built in the area, there was no guarantee We’re losing smart, that it would actually be inhabited by Charlotters. With three meetings in eight days, the “capable senionrs The Charlotte News Selectboard is just about on track for time Alex Bunten, who also lives in the East Mission Statement spent getting the budget and ballot items because there’s no Village, said he was concerned that The mission of The Charlotte News is to inform our ready for Charlotters. With Land Use Charlotte was making itself into a “lab rat” readers about current events, issues and topics, and Regulation amendments on track to make with zoning and density changes in the East to serve as a forum for the free exchange of views of damn place to live town residents and community volunteer organizations it to a vote this spring, and around $70,00 Village, and that he thought any changes on matters related to Charlotte and the lives of its that needs to be shaved off the budget, when they can’t take made should apply to all village zones in residents.