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Present: Burt Allen, Amos Roleau III, Larry Buck, Barb Torian
Others: Sharon Lutton, Jerry Smiley, Susan Dann, John Peters, Kathleen Ready, Sara Sparling, Jim Dumont, Francis Sturtevant, Ralph Farnsworth, Catherine Esty, Richard Esty, Stuart MacCrellish, Donna Fournier, Margaret Benn, Mary Pratt, Jan Bark, John Perkins, Bill Boise, Jamie Stuart, Tori Lathrop, Mike Sweeney, Cathy Walsh, Jim Walsh, Philip Bartsch, Susan Tomasi, Peggy Laro, Kevin Laro, Pat Palmer, Tom Boise, Pat Paquette, Mary Manley, Dennis Sparling, Pam Kingman, Neil Allen, George Shortsleeve, John McKinley, Harvey Smith, Jerry Sodano, Nina Sodano, Bill Shafer, Cecilia Shafer, Anne Vernon, JoAnne Cimino, Melvin Simmons, Margaret Carothers, Tim Bouton, Dean Gilmore, Candice Davidson, Brenda Charron, Lee Charron, Pete LaPete, Kirsten Pitts, Matt Schlein, Annie Perkins, David Maille, Pat Minor, Nicholas Clifford, Janet Wiseman, Jonathan Chapin, Suzy Roorda, David Millson, Peter Norris, Bill Schoonover, Shelley Gustafson, Polly Darnell, Chris Bray, Jim Burns, Cal Minor,
AGENDA: Results
Read and approve minutes
VELCO gave a presentation to the selectboard. At that time the town had no representation to the Public Service Board. He made calls to see if people were interested in being involved. No one was interested. Later we started getting information to respond too. Torian sent information in to become an interested party. Kathleen Ready and Sansea Sparling then came forward and asked to be involved. They were appointed to create a committee. They then realized that there is more going on then they could handle. This is a fast process. The topic of spending money came up. Amos Roleau was on vacation last week and was not trying to avoid any meetings. Larry Buck has called the Secretary of States Office to talk about the process that took place at the last meeting where there was a yes vote and an abstention and she suggested that they reconsider that vote with all the selectmen present.
Discussion of the need for $20,000.00 for legal representation and expert witnesses. Jim Dumont is willing to work for a reduced fee in representing the town.
Sansea Sparling - Article 19 from town meeting 2000 passed and the town plan which passed also speaks to issues related to VELCO - rural agricultural and economically diverse. Health and safety for present and future generations. Energy conservation.
If this goes through then we would no longer have control
over it. Are we willing to give up local
control? There is no need we can do
energy conservation and keep jobs in
The next portion of the project is to loop its way up to Williston. Gentleman who worked for VELCO, CVPS and other related organizations spoke of how poorly this is being handled. There is a lack of information and it is being hurried through. The deadlines and information are difficult to deal with. Many of the answers to questions being asked are I dont know.
Amos Roleau - asked if anyone had an apposing position.
Bill Shafer presented a petition to not spend more then one dollar on the opposition of VELCO.
Amos Roleau spoke of the need to look at the future and now. The selectboard has an obligation to look forward for the town.
Jerry Smiley Spoke of the towns general purpose government and spending capacity and that the $20,000.00 does not fit into this category. Suggested that people put there money where their mouths are. We are getting involved to late. Looking for a compromise.
Amos Roleau Willing to follow what ever the town instructs selectboard to do. Expressed concern about how deep the well might need to be and is $20,000.00 going to get you anywhere?
Kathleen Ready Have been working on joining forces and the need for having a lawyer who will look after our needs. Next hearing is in Dec. 17th and final hearings in February. The Conservation Law Foundation will help with additional experts and the $20,000.00 is all they are looking for.
Burt Allen Spoke of the amounts of papers and paying someone $100-175.00 per hour to go through it all would raise taxes.
Kathleen Ready This is a one time allotment and they would have to budget wisely.
Sansea Sparling Has been readying and sorting through the materials in order to keep costs lower. Questions are due tomorrow.
Donna Fournier Jim Dumont is already involved in the process and is already informed.
David Millson Has gone on line to gather some information. He does not personally want to spend any money toward this battle. What are people opposed to? Is this a winnable battle? What is the major concern?
Many responses of different concerns Farmer has trouble getting around poles on farm land, Aesthetics, Health.
Amos Roleau Spoke of they already own 100 foot right of way.
Earl Bessette Farms under the power lines and doesnt see them as causing any problems. Spoke about what it was like before there was power and the costs of running their own generator to keep power running when it went out. It cost him more to run a generator then it did to pay his electric bill. Spoke of some of the power is staying here.
Kathleen Ready Spoke of research that says there are other ways to have more reliable energy with small local generation.
Bill Shafer Wondered how that could be accomplished. Oil No, water no, wind eye sore and people dont want. How do you do it?
Jim
Jamie Stuart wondered why there were not any
representatives from VELCO here. They
are willing to come and talk about the alternatives. There is a 5% energy efficiency change
required to look at options. He believes
we would all have to change all of the appliances in our homes in order to
reach that. Spoke of the lines going
north to South and distribution of power would be staying in
Tim Bouton Spoke of the value in putting money behind fighting and the ability to negotiate. We will need legal representation in order to deal with VELCO.
VELCO will bring a lawyer to the negotiation table. Negotiations will need to be in writing.
Tom Boise owns the land that VELCO is looking at for the power station and they told him that the town has not approached VELCO with what they might want. Public Service Board has the final say. Wont change much by putting $20,000.00 toward it.
Jerry Smiley Spoke of process and joining to late. Can process be delayed?
Jim Dumont Spoke about the project violating Vermont Law.
Discussion about law suits and violation of Vermont Law. Why is public service board even listening to something that is against the law?
Harvey Smith Representative to Regional Planning
Commission Spoke of different presentations they have heard from VELCO. There are many layers to this project. Some groups support it - Addison County
Economic Development, Addison County Chamber of Commerce, and Coalition of
groups from
John Peters This increases capacity not reliability.
Harvey Smith Believes this will increase the reliability and that we have a weak link. Recommends direct open negotiation with VELCO. Substation will have a 14 million dollar investment into it. This will add to the Grand List and have an impact on taxes. However will this be determined by income producing ability? We need to negotiate a guarantee.
Jim Dumont spoke of VELCO not willing to do that.
Pam Kingman spoke of the personal properties that will drop in value if the line is expanded.
Tori Lathrop The issue is not whether we are for or against the line it is should we spend the money.
Francis Sturtevant VELCO will not negotiate without lawyers.
George Shortsleeve Not willing to spend money anytime a cause comes to town with their hand out.
Amos Roleau - Most of the houses along the lines were built after the lines were put in. The lines originally went where there were no houses. This is a capital expense and should be voted on.
Donna Fournier Presentation on health issues. Electro magnetic fields are invisible and are a force around any electrical device. Item usually needs to be on in order to produce this field, but not always. This force increases or decreases depending on the distance from the appliance or power lines. Magnetic fields are not blocked by buildings. At the time the lines were put in people did not know there were health issues. (similar to tobacco) Now there are studies that show class 2b carcinogens caused by magnetic fields. Class 2B consists of formaldehydes and DDT. These are all the same class. If these are appliances you have a choice in how you can reduce your exposure. You will not have a choice with the power lines if you live near them. They have been linked to leukemia, abortion, ALS, childhood brain cancer, Alzheimers and more. It is difficult to replicate these tests. That does not mean it is safe. There are 2100 people who live near the lines. More discussion on distances from the lines and miligauss amounts from different distances.
David Millson Has printed out some facts from the New England Journal of Medicine, World Health etc. He wonders about these scare tactics that are being presented. His parents died from cancer. Does not think there is conclusive evidence of danger.
Scott Perlee It does say there is a possibility.
Annie Perkins We spend money to pave roads which she is not personally for but it is O.K. that the town voted to do so. $20,000.00 is cheap and deserves equal time.
Michelle Gustafson - The community is expressing concern not just because they are under the power lines
Donna Fournier Would like to see spend the money.
Amos Roleau Wondered if they have done any studies on
people working in power plants? What are
the numbers of incidents? Studies in
Donna Fournier The lines will take our choice away. We have to do everything possible to fight this. What will she tell the three kids who are fighting cancer if she doesnt?
Ann Watson The town has already voted to prevent the
expansion. The project is in violation
to
More discussion on last weeks vote.
Larry Buck even if we dont spend the $20,000.00 we still need to have legal representation.
Discussion of warning town meeting and time frame when the deadline is December 17th. There are prior documents apposing this line as it stands. Perhaps donations toward Mr. Dumont would be in order pending a vote.
Burt Allen Would like to sit at a table and negotiate with VELCO. Could iron out problems and work with a committee.
Sansea Sparling Wondered if people have seen the
substation in
Amos Roleau We will have them burm the area and put trees on the top of that.
Sansea Sparling asked Terry Boyle if they would do the same
as they did in
Discussion on property value reimbursement and how they would try to hide the sub station. They have said there wont be any reimbursement.
Jim Dumont suggest request more time from the public service board. He can donate time but he cant ask an expert witness to do that.
Amos Roleau Not a problem to endorse the present proposal.
Larry Buck motion to write letter to Public Service Board requesting more time to secure a town vote for funding to hire an attorney and expert testimony. Second by Amos Roleau. Burt Allen abstain.
Mary Pratt There must be some situations when you have to spend money.
Amos Roleau No slush fund.
Discussion of what kind of an article the selectboard will have at the upcoming town meeting. Amos Roleau said they will ask the town to spend up to the $20,000.00.
More discussion on the need for the town to have legal representation, regardless of for or against the power line expansion.
ROAD CREW UPDATE
MISC. COORESPONDENCE
Work on warning for Special meeting. Will warn meeting for
Warning will ask to spend up to $20,000.00 for legal representation for the town relating to VELCO.
Sign documents
Approved:
________________ ___________________ _________________
Amos Roleau III Burt Allen Larry Buck