Present:Amos Roleau
III, Burt Allen, Larry Buck, Barb Torian
Due to the
need to act quickly the selectmen have called this emergency meeting to review
the information obtained by Amos Roleau from Jim Ouimette (town attorney).
Discussion
of the vote held in 2000 regarding the opposition to the VELCO expansion.The article did not make reference to any
specific project and is thus still appropriate in relation to the current
project.Ouimette did not feel qualified
to represent the town in their dealings with VELCO.He recommended Jim Dumont in that he is an
authority in utilities law.He also
asked Ouimette if he thought Dumont would represent the town and do what they
requested of him. Ouimette responded that his lawyers’ oath would require him
to do as he was directed.
The
selectmen have been elected to do the job regardless of what people say.People really can’t tell them what to do, but
the people have expressed their desire to go in a direction and it is up to the
selectboard to do what is best for the town taking into consideration what the
people have suggested they do.The town
lawyer recommended that they hire Jim Dumont to represent them in their negotiations
with VELCO due to his expertise in this area.
Larry Buck
motion - The Town of New Haven, having decided to put to town vote the
allocation of up to twenty thousand dollars to pay for counsel and expert
witnesses in connection with the VELCO NRP, and recognizing that continuing
representation is needed pending this vote, authorizing James A. Dumont, Esq.,
to continue to represent the town with the understanding he may not be paid for
his time if the vote does not pass. Second by Roleau. All agree.
Discussion
of forming a committee to negotiate with VELCO.
Committee to
negotiate with VELCO would be made up of Burt Allen, John Evers, Jerry Smiley,
Kathleen Ready and Sansea Sparling.
All town
people are welcome to submit questions regarding VELCO.
Harvey Smith
is working on setting up an informational meeting.