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Town of New Haven Selectmen’s Meeting

6:30 PM Town Clerks Office

Monday April 4, 2005

 Present: Larry Buck, Paul Audy, Amos Roleau III

Others:  Kathleen Ready, Harvey Smith, Suzy Roorda, Polly Darnell, Jim Walsh, Cathy Walsh, Susan Dann, Betty Bell, Bill Brim, Susie Leonard, Watson Scott, Kevin Irish, David Heisler, Charles Whittemore, Sansea Sparling, Annie Perkins, John Perkins, Phil Busier

 AGENDA: Results

Read and approve minutes make corrections if needed. 

 Job Interviews – Charles Whittemore, David Heisler, Kevin Irish.  Letters will be sent thanking applicants for applying.  Larry Buck will call to see if applicants are interested in order of preference.

 ROAD CREW UPDATE

See handout from Phil Busier.  Would like to chew up pavement on South Street and re pave.  Would like to pave earlier in the year.  Will need to borrow money if done earlier in the year.  Select Board O.K. with that process.  Need to know far enough in advance to plan.  Pike does not want to wait until taxes come in to get paid if they pave in June. 

Estimate to repair tractor came in at $13,000.00.   – Do not want to repair tractor.  Will look for replacement.

Needs to finish repairs, from flood by Tom Boise’s house.

Limoge is repairing the Garage doors.

Would like to widen portion of River Road by Nash farm in order to create a place for people riding bikes to pull off out of dangers way.  Would be removing the burms that are there.

Quotes on filling the fuel tank – no action.

Would like to get some more hardware for computer – O.K.

Has been going to meetings and discussing road issues.  There is lots of information and stuff to talk about relating to the roads.

water pump in the 550 is being changed.

Looking for more grant and mitigation monies.

• Sign over weight Permits - Signed

• Sign pay orders        

 NEW BUSINESS

Betty Bell – Would like to remain on the Zoning Board of Adjustment – Re-appointed to ZBA.  All agree.

            Community Projects group would like to borrow $3,000.00 from the town.  To purchase a Plasma screen T.V. to raffle for a fund raiser.  Select Board does not want to be in the business of loaning money.  Would be willing to put an item on the warning at the special town meeting.  Meeting date changed to May 16^th. 

• Visitors business
  • Bill Brim – Rapid response plan – Will come back at next meeting for signatures.  Please give him changes as soon as possible.  Would also like to establish a chain of command to be used in cases of emergencies.  Would like to attend a three day workshop in White River jct.  Does not want to travel back and forth each day. Would town be willing to cover the cost of lodging.  Is working on getting a portable radio, still needs approval from the state.  Select Board O.K. 

Harvey Smith – Has a resolution from Regional Planning Commission to help with VELCO appeal.  Regional Planning Commission has voted to join the appeal.  This will provide representation for more towns. 

Discussion about moving the substation and keeping the lines in the existing corridor.  Town may drop the appeal if can reach an agreement with VELCO.  Amos Roleau and Paul Audy attended a meeting at which they learned that they needed to let the Public Service Board know what the town wanted not VELCO.  VELCO is following what the Board has said to do.  Best case would be if they would also underground the wires in the existing right of way where they cross route 17 to the East of Forrest Drive.  Forrest Drive residents are concerned about wires coming any closer to their homes.  Any agreement the town could make would have to come before the Public Service Board. 

VELCO is still stating it would be expensive to move the substation even though they would not be using any of the existing equipment.  Which would mean really all they would have to do is clean up the current site and build in a different location.  Should not cost that much more.

• Voices for Sensible Energy – Town Hall Permit / VELCO – Will be holding a meeting on April 7, 2005 at the Town Hall to update people along the line.  Jean Vissering will also be there.  This will be informative and also used to get input from people about pole placement and other needs and wants.  Sansea Sparling spoke of VELCO having asked for an extension until April 18^th.  After the 18^th there will be a schedule.

Jim Walsh – Spoke of Jean Vissering being the one who originally testified about moving the lines closer to Forrest Drive.  Does she recognize the home owners along Forrest Drive would be happier to have the lines remain in the existing corridor.  Discussion of trying to do what is best for whole town and that the original idea was to move the wires closer to the mature vegetation to make them less visibly obtrusive.  It has never been the intent of the group to have lines near homes.  More discussion about no one being aware that VELCO was going to be asked to move lines closer to Forrest Dr.  Susan Dann (Forrest Drive resident) spoke with Head of Public Service Board or Dept. about 15 months ago and they said the lines would not be moving. 

Annie Perkins – uncomfortable that there was a meeting with VELCO, Public Service Board etc. at which Amos Roleau and Paul Audy were at and there was no warning or notice.  There were people who would have liked to have been at the meeting and they had no notice.  Please try to avoid this in the future.  Kathleen Ready asked to be included in all future meetings.  Amos Roleau – Tom Boise was asked to set up a meeting so they could get more information.  They were just there to get information, not make decisions. They wanted to know what was going on and who they needed to talk to.  Town will need to make a formal request to the Public Service Board.  More discussion about pros and cons of the appeal.  Jim Walsh (Forrest Drive Resident) expressed his personal interest and the need to make a compelling argument about where the lines should end up. 

There will be two weeks to respond to the schedule presented by VELCO on the 18^th.

 Kathleen Ready – They are holding a fund raiser – Green-up Day Dance and would like to have a bar set up by the Dog Team.  They did so last year and it worked really well.  Everyone had fun and all went really well.  Very professional.  Heard a rumor that the selectboard had decided not to allow alcohol.  Would like to be able to have a bar at the dance.  Dog Team would be covered by their catering insurance. Discussion of if you do it for one would have to do it for all.  Problem is the liability it creates for the town.  Amos Roleau and Paul Audy say no to alcohol O.K. to use of Town Hall.  

• Estimate to repair doors to cafeteria – From HCI Craftsman – Seemed high will get more estimates.
• Sandy Kemp would like to continue to mow Riverside Cemetery for $2000.00 / year – Selectboard approved.
• Sign Town Hall Applications – Sara Sparling / Cathy Palmer - signed
• Warning for special town meeting. – Will wait to sign until meeting on April 14^th.  Special Meeting moved to May 16^th.

Motion by Larry Buck to appoint Susie Leonard as Municipal Project Manager for the bike- ped contract.  Second by Paul Audy.  All agree.  Susie Leonard – Construction would start in 2006, Agency has not signed off on the Cross walk.  She will be fighting for this.  Have not received the contract from the State yet.  This is a reimbursement project.   

Susie Leonard –

• Dogs – Animal Control Officer would like to have delinquent dog letter say people will be sited the first time he visits a dog that is not licensed.  He will then visit every 2 weeks and issue a citation, taking the dog on the fourth visit.  Select Board O.K.
• Liquor Licenses – Dog Team Tavern, Roland’s Place, Coco Mart
• Appointments –  Planning Commission – Susie Leonard

     Zoning Board of Adjustment – Jim Walsh

     Fire Warden

     Energy Coordinator

    Conservation Commission

                                        Addison County Transit Resource Board

                                        Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)      

Signed Resolution to keep education funds where they belong.  Will send to appropriate location.

Suzy Roorda – Still working on job description for coordinator.

Next Regular meeting will be moved to May 3^rd.  due to Amos Roleau being away on second Tuesday.

Will offer job to Charles Whittemore 1^st and send letters to others if he is interested in accepting.  Larry Buck will call all.  Discuss changing position to a salaried position.  Discuss Salary .  Three month trial.

 MISC.  CORRESPONDENCE

Betty Bell would be interested in serving on the ZBA again

Art Sherman is not interested in serving on the Planning Commission again.

Vermont State – amendment – Agri-Mark Inc. discharge permit.

FEMA – memorandum of understanding

Vermont State – Tax Dept. – Notice of receipt of appeal of determination 

Vermont State – Tax Dept. – CLA to remain at 97.22  Appeal date – April 26, 10:00 am – Some one needs to go – Also sign letter allowing listers to go.

Vermont State Liquor Control – Violation

Counseling Service of Addison County – Thank you for approval of funds

 EDUCATION

VLCT – willing to schedule on-site workshops

Education Conference – Annual Town officers

VLCT – Municipal Lands Management and Acquisition

 NEWS LETTERS

·        Candidate Bulletin

·        VLCT

·        Opinions

·        Valuation Views

·        Addison County Regional Planning

·        VOCA  Newsletter

·        Vermont Local Roads

·        UST TALK – Underground Storage Tank Owner

 Treasurers Report

 Old Business

 Adjourn 9:45