The meeting was called to order and the warning read.
Moderator Lanny Smith opened the meeting and set the tone by
letting people know that he had spoken with the Secretary of State’s Office and
they had said to follow Robert’s Rules of Order. People will be allowed to speak only once and
for 5 minutes. Only registered voters
may speak. Non-registered voters may speak
if allowed by the voters. He will try to
clarify the effects of any motions made.
People were asked to stand and state their name prior to speaking.
Article1 was read.
Article
1: Shall
the voters of the Town of
Select Board to expend up to $20,000.00 for the purpose of
acquiring legal representation for the town relating to the proposed VELCO
transmission line upgrade.
Moved by Select board. Second by Harvey Smith –He thought it
would be helpful to have someone walk through the act 248 process. The Department of Public Service Dept chair
David O’Brien and deputy commissioner John Sayles. The people were asked to allow them to speak. Second by John Peters. O.K. to speak.
David O’Brien -They will try to explain the process and what
has happened so far. They will try to
explain what the town’s role in the process is and answer any questions.
John Sayles – Section 248 of title 30 in the Vermont State
Statutes governs the Public Service Board, which acts as a court system to
decide whether or not the VELCO expansion should be allowed. The Public Service
Department acts as an advocate for all ratepayers. They try to figure out what is best for the
majority of ratepayers and give that position to the Board. The board is required to hold several public
hearings, which were held in Brandon, Charlotte, and Barre. The board will take into consideration local
and regional planning. The project must
meet the needs for demand for service and economic good. Forty-five days prior to construction they
have to file with each town along the proposed route. New Haven has become a litigant in the
case. The Public Service Board will act
as the judge and they set the rules for procedure. VELCO filed on June 5, 2003, then questions
were submitted. Studies were done, testimony was filed. More questions more
testimony - back and forth for a while
then hold court with live arguments. The
board will then write a decision. That
decision can be appealed. Then Board will write a final decision. Target date for end of process is June 30,
2004.
David O’Brien – Questions that the Department looked at to
evaluate the application were – Is the upgrade needed; Is the design optimal;
What kind of aesthetic impact will there be; What are the health
implications.
The department hired experts to evaluate those questions and
look at other possibilities. The board
recommended that the substation in Barre not be built. They determined that the
need has outgrown the transmission ability.
They looked at several options and decided that the upgrade would be the
best fix. Health information can be
looked at in the Health Department’s testimony.
The aesthetics consultant has looked at every mile of the route and made
recommendations. The Public Service
Department has reserved the right to modify their position if something comes
up to cause them to change their opinion.
This is a big case with lots of evidence.
Donna Fournier – Would like to be allowed as much time to
speak as the 25 min the Department had.
Andy Dykstra – Would like clarification on what the money
will be used for.
Amos Roleau – The citizens of the town have requested
funding to fight the expansion of VELCO.
Reference to Article 19 Town Meeting 2000.
John O’Brien – There are four towns intervening in the
process. The Board is interested in hearing the town’s reasons. The department has based its findings on cost
and reliability.
Kathleen Ready – Would like Margaret Benn to be allowed to
speak. She has live in New Haven for 22
years, but has retained citizenship in another country. And James Dumont,
Esquire (lawyer hired by the town who lives in another town). Second by Annie
Perkins. Both were given permission to speak.
Margaret Benn – gave a power point presentation. Substation
will increase in size from .8acres to 6acres.
There will be light and a hum.
The corridor width will be increased from 150 ft to 250 feet. The pole height will increase from 27 feet to
79 feet. Future projects are already
planned. There will be no reimbursements
for property values or health problems. The site mitigation will be similar to
Rutland, which is almost non-existent. The tax benefit to the town will be very
small - most will go to the state. The energy problems could be solved with
conservation and small local generation, which would also produce new
jobs. Project will be paid for through
increases in power bills. New Haven is
the most negatively effected. There will
be tourist and economic downturns due to expansion. They will not monitor the electromagnetic
fields. Article 19 and the Town Plan direct the select board to appose the
expansion of VELCO. A committee for
mitigation purposes has been set up consisting of Jerry Smiley, Sarah Sparling,
John Evers, Kathleen Ready and Burt Allen.
Committee is open for input and suggestions or questions. Private
citizens have raised $10,000.00 to hire expert testimony. Please support funding. Attorney’s fees for fighting the expansion
will be capped at $10,000.00. Additional fees for mitigation are possible. Passing the article as written gives the
select board flexibility in the mitigation process. Applause
Fred Napoleon – Has listened to both sides and does not
believe the article represents the town.
Does not want to spend his hard earned money in this manner.
Bill Barnard – If the objective of the project is to
increase capacity why can’t a new set of lines be run on the existing
poles? Believes it is important to
proceed with mitigation. Could the line
be put underground?
Alan Whitney – Has been an electrician for 30 years. Has worked in power plants and under power
lines. The electro magnetic field at
30-foot distance is not significant.
Studies show the need for the power lines. Lines are adequate now but won’t be in a few
years.
Mary Pratt – What would the tax increase be?
Barb Torian – One cent of taxes raises about $13,000.00.
John Madden – Remembered a man speaking at the 2000 meeting
whose pacemaker was affected by the power lines. This is an important issue.
Peter Nelson – Spoke in favor of the expansion – upgrade
might be needed and we would be standing in the way. Suggest people vote
against the article.
Melissa Winborn – Lives on
Burt Allen – Measured milligauss units with person from
Green Mountain Power – Computer top 23-24 on the gauge but in front and to the
side that drops down between 1 and 4.
Compressor is 120 on top and goes down to 1-2 at 3 feet in front. We need the power. Health issue is not a problem at a distance.
Harvey Smith – Went with the person from Green Mountain
Power under the power lines on
Nina Bacon – How much of the power will be used in
David O’Brien – Grid is set up to move power that we all
use. There is currently congestion that
needs to be cleared with this project.
Present peak demand is past the capacity to retain reliability. Can’t localize the demand. Currently paying
more for power due to congestion.
Tom Boise - Motion to
call the question. Second by Peter Nelson.
John Freidin - Would like them to consider withdrawing the
motion. This is an issue of enormous
importance to some. They are here to
listen and have a chance to speak in order to make a decision.
John Madden – Please give people a chance to speak.
Beverly Baker – Confused about what voting on.
John Perkins – If vote to call question no one else would be
able to speak.
Valarie Calzini – There are still many hands up waiting to
speak.
Rick Shappy request vote by show of hands. Seven in support
of voting by show of hands. Many hands in support. Few hands apposed. Question was not called.
Beverly Baker – If we vote to hire an attorney what will he
do? This is not much money to attempt to stop the project.
Jim Dumont would cap his fees to fight at $10,000.00. Town would be his client. So far he has been asked to carry out the
wishes of the town and to mitigate the project at the same time. He would be directed by the select
board.
Donald Johnston – Would like to know why Jim Dumont was
chosen.
Amos Roleau – The Town lawyer suggested he would be the most
qualified due to his expertise in this area.
Mike Kingman – The proposed power line goes beyond
reliability. The proposed line is 3
times the current size. Why so big? The milligauss issue needs more research and
needs to be done over time. He has had
readings in his back yard of 125 and 65 on his deck. Does not want to have higher readings at his
house. Believes the town should have a
voice in the process.
Kate Selby – Has heard of health issues from people close to
the power lines. This is a small amount
of money to spend to have a voice. The
people who care enough to come to these meetings are clearly stating their
opinion. The people have voted to limit
the power lines, health risks and keep the aesthetics. She is opposed to the project and glad to
have mitigation for the town.
Jerry Smiley – Read from town plan and spoke of the warned
article in 2000. Expressed belief in
those documents. Spoke of Regional
Planning Commission’s resolution that he helped to draft. Feels it is important to have a say in the
process. Expressed high regard for town
for having enough foresight to state our opinion in 2000. Hope people will support the article.
Beverly Landon – Spoke of the power being used to show the
power point presentation. Sorry for
those with health issues. Family has
lived under the power lines for 40 years and has no health problems from the
lines.
Emily Blagden – Speaking for the upcoming generation –
Health hazards have not been proven either way, but you can’t trust that there
is no effect. Spoke of children’s children.
Hopes are standing in the way but looking to the future. She is an apprentice designer working on
developing alternative energy, which will not have health affects.
Peter Carothers – Wondered about the economic life of the
upgrade and if the proposed size is really necessary.
Dave O’Brien – Studies show that 145 or 230 would not be
enough capacity. Upgrade is projected to
last up to 2012.
Discussion of other potential projects and when they might
occur as well as how much power is needed where. Why not bring power from Canada.
Donna Fournier – Spoke of many problems with the
project. Read from testimony. Vergennes research shows adverse
effects. Project will affect taxes. This is a billion dollar moneymaking
project. So is the tourist industry,
which will be affected by this project.
This project is not necessary.
Needs could be met by conservation and new construction of small local
plants. The cost for this project is
only about 41/2 % but goes up for other related projects. Believes the black out was a scare
tactic. It was due to misjudgments not a
lack of power. Once this process is over we will no longer have a say. Used the tobacco analogy - lot of years to prove it is bad. Hard to replicate studies. There are 21 people living along the lines
who have cancer. One can’t say what the causes
are but it sure seems suspicious. Meter
readings change with climate and temperature.
The magnetic fields are not blocked by anything. Do you want to take a chance this close to
town center and children?
Harry Chaucer – The question is do we want to be represented
at the table. Reiterated the tobacco
analogy. Does not want to see VELCO at
the table
with no one on the other side.
Caroline Donnan – Select board is asking if we want to hire
an attorney to do two things for the town.
One is follow the will of the people expressed in 2000; the other is to
reduce the effects if stopping the project is not possible. Lower property values will cost us all
money. No matter what you think the town
has asked the select board to appose the project and if they can’t oppose it
they should at least be able to mitigate.
We can’t turn back. There are
health and aesthetic questions. Select
board needs to follow the will of the people.
John Chapin – Spoke of Vergennes and Middlebury already in
mitigation with VELCO and getting results.
New Haven needs to have the opportunity to have a say.
Susan Tomasi – This is a complicated issue and we should not
go to the table without support.
George Merritt – Spoke of town plan opposing VELCO
expansion.
Adrienne Delaney – Move to call the question. Second by
Jason Bacon.
George Merritt asked for show of hands. John Madden – Wondered how many still want to
speak. Show of a few hands.
Fred Napoleon – Request a paper ballot. Confusion over paper ballot to call the
question or on the actual article.
Request was for main question not pertinent at the moment.
Count hands to call the question. Many hands in favor, few hands opposed. Debate is ceased.
Fred Napoleon request for paper ballot. Second by Ken
Sawyer. Show of hands for paper ballot
showed 35 in favor and 76 opposed.
Article will be voted on by show of hands. 96 hands in favor of article 1. 21 apposed. Article Passed.
Article 2 – read.
Article 2: To transact, vote and act upon any further non-binding business
which may legally come before this meeting.
Motion to adjourn. Many seconds.
Adjourn
Respectfully submitted:
Barbara Torian
Approved:
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