Town
of New Haven Selectmen’s Meeting
7:00
PM Town Clerks Office
Thursday October 9, 2003
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AGENDA: Results
Present: Amos Roleau III, Burt Allen, Larry Buck, Barb
Torian
Others: Phil Busier, Wayne Marcelle, Doug Weber, Garret
Dague, Nina Bacon, Greg West, Paula West, Denise Many, Stephen Dupoise
Read and approve minutes make corrections if needed.
NEW BUSINESS
Marcelle - Shades on the windows in the Town Hall. Don’t roll up - are affecting the heat. Are
not taken down once put up. Allen
suggest town clerk send letter to the school board asking them to take shades
down. Torian will talk to Debi Price. Discuss
the need for the shades to be replaced; can do with something that works.
Marcelle request that monthly paychecks (paycheck – not big
enough) be paid at beginning of month even when the selectboard meeting has
been moved so he wont be late making his payments. Selectboard O.K. They will sign orders at
their next meeting.
Dupoise – Health Officer – Donna Fournier approached him
regarding some of her health concerns regarding VELCO. Discuss that the Town voted in 2000 - to work
against VELCO. Has no professional
opinion on the health affects of the power lines. He believes the subject needs more
research. He has brought this to the
select board as part of his duties as health officer because it was brought to
him as a concern.
- Sidewalk
– Doug Weber – Summit Engineering – Letter of Support – So far their have
been 3 public meetings to discuss the concerns regarding the sidewalks. The feasibility study looked at the
village area consisting of – Town Hill Road, South
Street, North Street
and Main Street (Rte
17) Three phases were developed. 1st
and 2nd phases have the most support, Major concern being providing
a safer intersection at the junction with Route 17. He looked at providing
the best spot for pedestrians to cross 17. Currently the best view is
where there is over 60 feet of
pavement to cross. Phase one - Extends
the green to make the crossing smaller, reduces the radius on curbs so
people have to slow down to turn. He has tried to incorporate the sidewalk
/ traffic calming options with other town projects (school parking
problems and the King House).
Option/phase two goes along Main Street.
And focuses on the concerns relating to volume and speed of vehicles going
through a village area. Would put sidewalks
and change curb radius. The sidewalk would be offset from the road, they
would not be narrowing the pavement, and potential to plant trees along
the side of the road with the objective being to change people’s
perception. Both options received
favorable support. Option 3 sidewalks around green. Not supported. Allen –Concerned about farm equipment
can’t get through if to narrow. Not
actually changing the roadway. Allen
– concerned about trees. Thinks
will be accidents.
Hoping to serve the municipal
center – Discussion of pricing – He has sent a draft to AOT. AOT suggested that he include a 10%
contingency and add drainage. But drainage
is not an issue in these areas. Discussion
selectboard could petition for speed reduction.
Could do 30mph if the work was done. Can’t change speed if you don’t do
the work.
Would like letter of endorsement to
help with obtaining funding, the project is a good candidate for federal grant
money of 80-90 %. Selectboard.
O.K.
- Nina
Bacon – Velco – New Haven is now
an interested party in the current Public Service Board Hearings for VELCO.
Would like selectboard to be aware of upcoming deadline of
Oct. 22. After which there will be no more formal
questions. Dec.17 deadline for
testimony. If town wants to have input they need to
act soon. She is concerned that people can’t
have input if they don’t know what is going on.
Many people think it is the same plan that went through Monkton in 2000. It is not.
VELCO has mentioned they might do special mitigation for Charlotte and
Shelburne. She would like the same for New Haven.
Discussion - Article passed at town
meeting. 2000 selectman directed to
prevent the expansion of VELCO - points made visually ugly, health, farmer
access, property values. Flow through
for other states. Electro magnetic
fields. Wants to know what has been done.
Shall New Haven not act or
shall we give people a chance to see what’s happening. Can we enlarge the committee? Can town please find out if letters to Public
Service Board will be heard from citizens or do they need to come from town? Proper channel is through the town. Buck did make effort to get individuals
involved. Torian currently spokes person
does not want that roll. Not currently
active committee. There needs to be a
person to take charge, so that input can go to them. More then the selectboard can handle. Lawyers are handling for other towns. She has gathered many questions from other
towns and done some research. But does not want to continue if not O.K. with
selectboard. Is the board going to do as they were instructed to do by the
citizens? Discussion - How much do we spend?? Can we share a lawyer with another town? Write letter to paper. All about town forum as an option for getting
people information / involved. Legal
presentation is different. Many
concerns are the same. Need to educate
the people. Buck suggest that Bacon pull
the information / questions together and present that information, then the
board could decide how much time and money might be appropriate to protect our
interest. Economic concerns. Worth proceeding to get more info. Bigger then selectboard can handle. Problem that can be time and money consuming. Willing to look into presenting a concise
package.
Denise Many still trying to collect
info. Suggest talking to Donna
Fournier.
Discussion – VELCO project involves
enlargement of the sub station and lines.
They have spoken to VELCO about burming the entire perimeter, in hopes
of making the sound go up and hiding from view.
Most people know its there, VELCO bought the right of way along time
ago. The line was put in during the 50’s. Part of progress. Stuck with it. All using the power. People want some say in what done to their
property.
- Heffernan’s
– Act 250 – Waiting for info from Busier -
- Liquor
License – Greg West – Rt 7 Restaurant and Pizzeria – Foote’s insurance
letter stating can obtain and know cost.
Discussion VELCO continued - power not staying here. Going through Vermont. Some comes back. Most going to big
city. Can’t tell which way an
electron goes. Separate company
from NY. Goes everywhere. Ask for free power. Upgraded twice. Originally smaller. Lines were originally put were people
were not now people have built near lines.
–
Selectboard O.k. to sign liquor license
waiting for check and ownership of property.
Neighbor called Roleau concerned
about what was happening. Selectboard
sent to the planning Commission.
- Appoint
Emergency Manager - can’t find anyone willing to do.
- Appoint Solid Waste Representative – on hold
- Letter
of Support from Champlain Valley Alliance – no action
- King
House – winter – heat etc. – O.k. as is.
Look at latest drawings for modifications to town offices /
community center / library. Looks
good so far.
- Marsh
/ Maier – Twitchell Hill Rd
– can not attend this meeting – Would like response – On hold until next
meeting
- Insurance
renewal info – Deadline Nov. 7,
2003.
- Next
Meeting November 13, 2003
Keith Hall – Would like to have
road access permits signed in between meetings.
Selectboard willing to have people bring permits to them. If Phil Busier has O.K. then they will sign off.
ROAD CREW UPDATE
Grader broken don’t know what problem is yet. Might be able to fix for $14,000.00. Busier is calling around to get prices for
other used graders. $44,000 to $103,000.
Discuss- Buy a new one and trade later. How much new maybe $225,000.00. Don’t want to spend too much on grader. Discuss options. Wait and let Choiniere recommend what to do.
Will give good recommendation taking
costs into consideration.
Contractor for sand/salt shed. Compare 40/100 foot building compare prices
stick built / cover all.
Town can do some of the work. Then hire company to put cover over.
How do you want to come up with money for this? Do you want numbers ready for town meeting? Yes. How much time will it take away from regular
work if road crew does work? Will need
to find some other help and get engineer to look the project. Potential to just by parts and get help with
manpower.
Should be ready for pavement on Twitchell
Hill Road next week. Would like to end on top of hill if we have enough
money.
Discussion - Did you narrow road at all. Need to have room for shoulders. Want to have room and good base incase need
to expand at a later date.
Then start sand pile.
Road access Wright Stowe – Waiting for him to come in
- Road
Access Permit Rick Pollack - Hall has measured now appears to be O.K –
will sign off.
- Road
Access Permit – Stephen Butler for Dave Weissman - Signed
- Speed
Limit / Road Access Policy - on
Hold
- Sign
pay orders
MISC. CORRESPONDENCE
- Madden
– various correspondence – Discuss - Selectboard not willing to change state
statutes. Madden can re do petition
if he would like to. Can not accept
a changed petition. Discussion
-Town attorney is not on retainer.
It costs money every time we utilize his services.
- Ouimette
– Documents relating to Neri
Road access appeal and McGrath zoning issues
- Velco
– Petition to enlarge power lines and substation. – Related documents – On
going many documents
- Burak,
Anderson and Melloni – Cell tower at Charrons – Act 250 info.
- Solid
Waste District – Anticipated Bond Vote at Town Meeting
- Pam
Marsh – Letter of concern about speed and paving of Twitchell
Hill Rd
- Jerry
Smiley – Letter regarding trees and brush along the roadsides.
- Diversified
Telecommunication – Proposal for phone system
- Rick
Shappy – Resignation from Solid Waste District.
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Approved:
________________
___________________
_________________
Amos Roleau III
Burt Allen Larry Buck