Town of New Haven Back to Home
Present: Larry Buck, Burt Allen, Amos Roleau, Barb Torian
Others: Jerry Smiley, Ann Duclos, Gail Freidin, Mary Pratt, Kathleen Ready, Jim Dumont, Jeff Everest, Michael Manley, Polly Darnell, Jim Walsh, Connie Holler, Rae Paine, Amy Paine,
AGENDA: Results
Read and approve minutes make corrections if needed.
Community Center on King House Site Informational Meeting
Larry Buck: This is the second informational meeting. Preview of the slide show for town meeting. They have been working with Northern Architects. Working towards getting village designation. Have received 8,000.00 in planning grant money for village designation.
They have been trying to look at the village area as a whole and develop a comprehensive plan. The town offices will out grow the vault within 3-5 years. Current offices are too small. There is a lot of noise from the gym overhead. There is no need to use the upstairs of the house right away, but it will be brought up to code and ready to be completed when needed. They have worked to solve the traffic flow problems in front of the school, which are very dangerous.
The library continues to look for private funding for their building. The current 1.2 million number is for renovations to the house, site work, new vault, new meeting room, no entrance area, parking in front of the school, moving the ball field, etc.
The last office addition was completed in 1987 since then there has been a 40% increase in residence and the Grand List has gone up by 178%. The next step is project development. We will be asking for $82,500.00 at town meeting, if that is approved we will be able to pursue grant monies. We can’t pursue grant, no-one will give funding on an idea of a project. The town needs to show commitment to a project in order to get funding. The hope would be to go to bond in the summer or fall. The project development will provide pricing on all components of the project. Construction could start in the spring of 2005. Would like to begin before numbers change for pricing. Many towns are in the same position. Towns are growing fast. We know it is hard to see taxes to go up.
Currently bonded for - Mt Abe - 3 cents for the next 10 years. Beeman 4 cents for the next 10 years.
Tried to make at least a 20 year projection of town needs.
Amos Roleau – Unfortunately no one has ever donated a library to the town. Many other towns in the state have had someone donate buildings and/or funds for library. Now we have to play catch up.
Jerry Smiley – Would make since to have child care / or elderly program in the community center for better capital granting opportunities. Other communities have co-op child care.
8:15 start selectboard meeting.
Jim Dumont – Lawyer representing the town in the VELCO matter – Everything is different then he thought it would be. Shelburne, Charlotte, Addison County Regional Planning have all come out against it. From Middlebury to Shelburne all towns are upset with VELCO.
He thinks that the 345 line may not be approved by the board. This is where there have been the most questions and seems to be the weakest link and appears to not be needed at this time. It appears that VELCO and the Board have not looked into conservation. Under grounding was originally recommended and the designer was told to take it out. Route 17 is one of those spots. Terry Boyle has missed some stuff. He apparently read town plans but did not do other research.
If the 345 line does not go through then they will not need to upgrade the substation. It appears some under grounding may be recommended which would change the pricing. If the pricing changes more than 10% of the estimate VELCO will need to go back to ISO and get approval again.
Jim Dumont – Mitigation Committee – The committee met with VELCO. Velco took their list of suggestions and has not replied yet. What else would you like them to work on?
Amos Roleau – It is hard to play with no rules. Will need to wait and see what happens next. How best to protect the town’s interests.
Jim Dumont – Apparently there is a law which states that the selectboard has the right to say electric lines that cross a highway may be directed to put underground. This would work for Town Hill Road and Hunt Road. 30VSA 2504
Suggest talking to Ouimette about the board’s ability to exorcise these provisions. (Revised in 1990)
Discussion of money spent and money to pay expert witnesses. Will pay for Doug Hoffer. Deb Broughton is donating her time.
Jim Walsh – Salt shed options.
Greg West liquor license – will wait for ZBA decision.
Speed ordinances – next time
Next meeting will be on March 9, 2004. Due to Burt Allen being away.
Adjourn 9:10
Approved:
________________ ___________________ _________________
Amos Roleau III Burt Allen Larry Buck