Town of New Haven Back to Home

Town of New Haven Selectmen’s Meeting

7:00 PM Town Clerks Office

Tuesday July 19, 2005

Present: Paul Audy, Larry Buck, Amos Roleau III, Barb Torian

Others: Jim Mahan, Betty Bell, Jim Dumont, Peter and Delores Norris, Beverly Landon, Linda Horn, Suzy Roorda

AGENDA: Results

Read and approve minutes make corrections if needed.

7:00 - NEW BUSINESS - Visitors business

Jim Mahan – Conflict of interest – Concerned that Chair of Planning Commission works for Vermont Land Trust. He is trying to sell development rights to the Land Trust and they are not offering him what his appraisal says. Will need to subdivide and sell lots if can’t make a deal with the land trust. Concerned that it is taking so long to make the deal happen. Selectman will get Planning Commission chair’s side of story. Not responsible for how people do their jobs outside of the town. Selectboard does not see that there is a conflict at this point.
Harvey Smith – VELCO -
Jim Dumont – VELCO –

Larry Buck has spoken with Tim Clapp regarding the current mitigation relating to VELCO. He said it is up to the Public Service Board. Larry Buck asked Harvey Smith and Jim Dumont to attend the meeting. VELCO has determined that the project will cost considerably more than they originally thought. Discussion of going to Gov. Jim Douglas and trying to get his support New Havens efforts. Harvey Smith – Regional Planning Commission decided to divorce themselves from the appeal at their last meeting. Apparently the Middlebury representative made a motion to drop the Commissions involvement in the appeal. Adam Lougee tried to talk them out of it. Everyone is looking for clarification on the corridor for lines leaving the New Haven substation to the North. Regional Planning will continue to support New Haven in their efforts to keep the lines in the existing corridor and the moving of the substation. Jim Dumont spoke of the Public Service Department not wanting to keep the lines in the existing Right of Way. Jim Dumont spoke about the cost increase to the project. Initial cost 128 Million for the whole thing, 345 and substation. Now looking at 220 million. Discussion of having the Public Service Board reconsider the case. Relates back to the 345 line not being needed for reliability. 115 would work. Cost increases are 345 related. Larry Buck – if stay with 115 do they need to move the substation? Might be smaller expansion in existing area. Will need to continue to mitigate. Town would not support increased size in current location. Would be very difficult to berm or shield in any way. Discussion of what is happening to the project to the South. Public Service Board is not signing off on anything. Currently a debate as to whether the Public Service Board should re-open the hearing, due to the increased cost factor. Harvey Smith – Discussion of the Forrest Drive issue – Staying in the existing corridor would be a cost saving issue.

Would not have to purchase additional right of way. Harvey Smith will try to set up a meeting with Gov. Jim Douglas. Larry Buck motion to give support for exploring / discussion with Gov. Jim Douglas. Second by Paul Audy. All agree.

Peter Norris - Act 250 questionnaire – Commercial subdivision off Route 7 and Campground road. Selectboard filled out and signed.

Discussion of ability to change a petition. – not allowed to make changes to a petition once people have signed it.

Public Hearing 8:10 pm

Petition to amend the Zoning Regulations reads as follows: Shall the highway commercial / industrial zoning along Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7) be changed, with the exception of existing use, back to residential / agricultural(RA-10) ?

Present: Beverly Landon, Peter Norris Sr., Deloris Norris, Linda Horn. Letter from John Madden.

No one who signed the petition was in attendance.

Linda Horn – Has commercial land that she is not currently using for commercial purposes and would not like to see it changed.

Discussion of commercial districts.

Letter from John Madden requesting to make a change to the petition. –

Peter Norris – Can’t change a petition

Peter Norris showed documentation of people who signed a petition stating that they would like to be able to stop frivolous law suits. Discussion of the large amount of money being spent relating to suits brought by Mr. Madden. It is time for it to stop. The appeals never get court approval.

Discussion of commercial / industrial districts creating revenue for the town. Recommend that the Selectboard not take action on the petition. Beverly Landon suggested the town get a real lawyer to pursue Madden. Much discussion of the hurt caused to the town due to confusion over issues. More discussion of frivolous law suits.

Beverly Landon – Against the Madden Plan. Districts are fine the way they are.

Close hearing 8:50.

Selectboard does not see any evidence to change the zoning along Route 7. The Planning Commission does not recommend any change and the people at the public hearing were not in favor of any change. The person who presented the petition wanted to make changes to it.

Cell phone / Radios – 500 min. no tax. 33.00 / month. Unlimited direct talk. Phone 50.00, could try for 2 wks before purchase. – Selectboard granted permission to try phones.
Sign agreement with State to use Marshall Swift tables for Listers. – signed
Suzy Roorda – Town Hall Policy – Several requests to use the Town Hall by people who don’t live in town. Would like to know if the Selectboard would be interested in changing the policy. Discussion of past problems. The issue is that people from out of town would be using the hall and then people in town would not be able to use the hall. Have also had problems with damage, and no recourse. Selectboard does not want to change the policy to allow rental to people from out of town. Permits will now be issued for short periods of time. The selectboard does not want to loan out tables and chairs. Too many problems with damage and items not being returned.

Discussion of air brakes being used on Route 17 – Would like to put signs up stating no engine brakes on both sides of Route 17.

Selectboard would like to have the Road Crew help remove a very large tree from the Evergreen Cemetery. Will need to close the road while the work is being done. Cemetery will hire a crane to help with removal.

Cafeteria doors – repair – Two bids were received. Bids for Mahogany doors were very expensive. Selectboard decided to go with galvanized steel doors from Ambrose and Sons. Will use painted panic bars. $ 2900.00 ish.
Route 17 / East Street – Waiting for more information
Suncoast Chemical – Invoice - Follow up on windshield wiper fluid that was not ordered and the company does not want to allow it to be returned. Will not pay invoice. Will send letter asking company to send a pick up slip and that we will not be paying the bill.
Appointments – Zoning Board of Adjustment

Energy Coordinator

Conservation Commission

Addison County Transit Resource Board

Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)

· Pay orders and sign documents - done

Tax rate was dropped to .4703 due to no grievance.

MISC. CORRESPONDENCE

· John Madden – Re- Town Plan Survey – concerned that a survey that was not sent out by the Planning Commission has not been reviewed. Concerned about peoples constitutional rights. Request Selectboard send out a survey and an acknowledgement of the error.

John Madden – Route 7 petition – Would like to make a change to the wording. – Petitioned item can not be changed. Public Hearing will be held on item as petitioned.

· Vermont Land Trust – Request for letter from Selectboard regarding development rights of Mahan Property.

· Vermont Land Trust - Request for letter from Selectboard regarding development rights of Charron Property.

· VLCT – Town Fair – designate – voting delegate

Old Business

Adjourn 9:15