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Present: Burt Allen, Larry Buck, Amos Roleau III, Barb Torian
Others: Roger Boise, Ken Sawyer, Dick Stone, Jim Walsh, Polly Darnell, John Madden, Paul Audy, Beverly Landon, Bill Landon, Bill Paine, Rae Paine, Ramonde Bessette, Earl Bessette, Tom Boise, Fred Napoleon, George Crane, Clem Sheffert, Pat Sheffert, Susan Smiley, Jerry Smiley, Kathleen Ready, Andy Dykstra, Jim Dumont Esq. Lanny Smith
AGENDA: Results
Read and approve minutes make corrections if needed.
Burt Allen – due to the notice for the February 7th Selectboard meeting not having been posted in 3 places the selectboard has decided to re do their actions taken at that meeting. Burt Allen started the discussion. Why weren’t people notified of VELCO’s proposed changes to the wires from the potential new substation site? It had been assumed that the wires would remain in the existing
Right-of-way.
Jim Dumont – Spoke of reasons to appeal and appealing being the only way to continue to have a voice in how VELCO responds to moving the Substation. The mitigation committee met with VELCO. Sent letters to people along the line and did their best to reduce the impact of the increased size of the substation from its current .6 acres up to 8 acres. The move seemed to be of the best interest to the town as a whole. No one thought that there would be any need to move the lines out of the existing right of way. This is a difficult process perhaps things could have been done better.
Burt Allen concerned about the people on Forrest Dr. Discussion of needs for power continuing to increase.
Jim Dumont – VELCO engineers have said there is no need for the 345KV line a second 115 line would work. The next stage of the plan is to do a 345 line from New Haven to Williston. It is important to keep your options open now. Vermont law says that they are required to study alternatives and they are not doing it.
Jerry Smiley – Provided more background relating to Forrest Dr. Committee spoke with Tom Boise who owned the land for the proposed move and thought that would be good. Tom Dunn from VELCO then called the residents on Forrest Dr. and told them the substation would be closer to them. No proposal or clarity in the process, at that time there was nothing about the lines being moved. Spoke of new location being for the larger public good.
Burt Allen – Concerned that if we appeal we would lose the ability for further mitigation. Would like to make sure lines do not get moved if substation is moved.
Jim Dumont – No reason that can’t be part of the mitigation proposal. We won’t know VELCO’s determination for months. It is important to keep your options open.
Susan Smiley – Why appeal.
Jim Dumont – 345 not necessary, Costs have not been evaluated. Appeal is to a different body.
More discussion about the lines being moved closer to Forrest Dr.
Tom Boise – VELCO was told they had to move the line by the Dept. of Public Service.
Burt Allen – Would like to be able to sit down with VELCO and work out problems.
Kathleen Ready – Committee met with VELCO in good faith and VELCO did not respond with any integrity. Need to have some legal power or they will not listen to us. Spoke of previous votes and the town plan all pointing in same direction. Need to appeal.
Fred Napoleon – How was the mitigation Committee chosen. Why haven’t people been given more information?
Amos Roleau – Committee was appointed by the Select Board and has reported back to the Select Board. There were several public meetings. It’s been in the paper. Not trying to sweep anything under the rug. The committee spent a lot of time contacting people and trying to determine what they wanted for mitigation options.
Fred Napoleon – Does not believe the majority of people want this. Does not like being caught in the middle of this mess.
Burt Allen – Would like to know about the impact on the Grand List.
James Dumont – No financial benefit to New Haven due to act 68 monetary increases would go to the state.
Andy Dykstra – Where are we going to be able to conserve power? How many people use less power now than they did ten years ago? We need to plan for future usage. Does not want to pay for this fight.
Jim Dumont – Has agreed not to charge the town any money for the appeal.
Discussion of past money spent. There were 2 votes to spend money. Discussion of health issues not being realistic problem. Discussion on how appeal would be done.
Tom Boise – The demand for power is there. We will have some kind of a power line. Best interest of the Town to move the substation and keep the lines in the existing corridor. If you appeal and lose then we won’t be able to do that. Suggest working for the town on the mitigation and fighting the power line under some other group. Thinks could sit down with VELCO and hash out a deal.
Jim Dumont – Why does an appeal lose the ability to mitigate or move the substation?
Larry Buck – Spoke of the next step in the process being the addition of a 345 line from New Haven to Williston. If don’t appeal have no say. Have not been able to get VELCO to sign off on anything.
Earl Bessette – The line has increased in size twice and nobody fought it them. We are still demanding more electricity.
Roger Boise – This could be fought forever. Line will have to be in someone’s back yard. He is sure the line will go through.
Bev Landon – VELCO will not be inclined to talk with town while we have an attorney jabbing at them. Why are we in with the Conservation Law Foundation?
Jim Dumont – The case is being shared by other organizations or towns where the issues are agreed upon.
George Crane – Select Board should appeal in order to have a bargaining chip.
Tom Boise – What if he could set up a meeting with VELCO. Stating we would stop the appeal if they would……
Amos Roleau – The town has petitioned the Select Board twice to go in this direction, he is sure they would do it again if did not continue in this direction. The appeal could be stopped at any time.
Kathleen Ready – The committee has been trying to get VELCO to commit for some time. If stop appeal lose bargaining power. The Town continues to vote to move forward with this. There may be some against it but the majority are for it.
Bill Landon – Suggest that Tom Boise join the mitigation committee.
Discussion of how meetings should take place. – All will be open to public and warned.
Larry Buck Motion to authorize Jim Dumont to continue to represent the Town of New Haven at no cost to the Town, regarding issues relating to VELCO and the Northwest Reliability Project, starting with an appeal of the Public Service Boards decision
Second by Amos Roleau. Larry Buck yes, Amos Roleau yes, Burt Allen no.
Bev Landon requests the Select Board make a motion to agree to meet with VELCO.
Burt Allen Motion to work with Tom Boise to set up a meeting with VELCO. Larry Buck second. All agree.
Go over Warning with Moderator Lanny Smith.
Old Business
Respectfully submitted:
Barbara Torian