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Present: Paul Audy, Burt Allen, Amos Roleau III, Barb Torian
Absent:
Others: Jerry Smiley, Beaver Trudeau, Suzy Roorda, Marcia and Steve Dupoise, Sue Ford
AGENDA:
Read and approve minutes make corrections if needed.
NEW BUSINESS
Jerry Smiley Town Offices Has been working on a revised site plan. He has been using the site plan from Northern Architects and is trying to make some changes in hopes of saving money. He is setting things up with no catch basins, few curbs and changed some things to adjust for water levels. Concerned about parking issues in front of the School and wanted to make sure that they know the trees in front would need to be removed, as well as the yard being reduced, in order to accommodate the parking changes. Discussion of the parking spaces in front of the school if the spaces were angled 5 spaces would be lost. Discussion of parking by the ball field. Discussion of agreement between school and selectboard and need for clarification. He would like to be able to proceed, He would like something from the Selectboard giving him permission to talk to others. He will be talking to Otter Creek engineers, Labor and Industry etc. trying to get more information on requirements. May need to hire some people to do work that he is not qualified to do. Hoping to hire people by the hour and keep costs low. Willing to continue working on the site plan. Selectboard designated Jerry Smiley as coordinator for the project. Will write a letter.
Sue Ford Tax Sales - Would like the board to give her authorization to hire a lawyer to go to tax sale. Authorization signed.
Copier - The Town has had problems with the copier from Imagistics since it was first leased. No payments have been made on the lease. Green Mountain Office Machines has been asked to take the copier back. The lease company has said they will speak with Imagistics. A new copier has been ordered from Symquest.
Energy Coordinator
Conservation Commission
Addison County Transit Resource Board
Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC)
Petition presented to Selectboard from John Madden - Implication of the petition is that the Selectboard should have the town vote on the Zoning Regulations. Conversation with the Secretary of States office after having faxed a page to them for verification was that the petition was not valid. The Selectboard decided to get more information before taking action. (John Madden was giving suggestions on how to word a petition in order to make his intent clearer and legal.)
ROADS update
Discuss selling the tractor or trading it in on another one. Discuss looking into a different mower, Maybe a ditch bank mower would work on the current tractor. Problem is that the tractor has a dry clutch and it keeps going out. The mower may be the problem not the tractor. Discussion that the 3 point hitch was not big enough and that is why it broke. Discussion of having equipment that will work for various users. Amos Roleau will look into.
Burt Allen knows of Some Cat Challengers in Chester.
Edgar Trudeau Concerned about Beldon Falls Road Continual water problems and traffic problems. Discussion of potential solutions and what is being done. Discussion of how to grade a road and making sure that the road has a crown.
Public Hearing 8:00 Zoning Regulations
Present: ( in addition to those list above for the selectboard meeting) Fred Napoleon, Marilyn Napoleon, Stephanie Napoleon, Allen Karnatz, Jerry Smiley, Tim Bouton, Marcia Dupoise, Steve Dupoise, Bev Landon, John Madden, Suzy Roorda, Mary Pratt, Dave Pidgeon, Harold Tricou, Pat Paquette, Louis Metcalf, Tim Decoff.
Petition from John Madden requesting the Selectboard to have the Town vote on the adoption of Zoning Regulations. See above.
AL Karnatz Provided an over view of the changes the Planning Commission made after their public hearing.
Bev Landon Asked for clarification about the changes relating to the Dyno Nobel property.
Al Karnatz The Planning Commission decided to recommend that it remain as an Industrial zone. Even though it had not been on the map they have now added it to the map.
Lois Metcalf Would like to see the zoning regulations cover the digging of ponds. She then explained some of the problems she has been having, since a pond was dug along her property line and the discharge pipes are draining into her yard and causing flooding issues. Please start to regulate ponds. Everyone thought it should be done but that it would require more research to insert it properly and would be done at a later point in time.
John Madden Offered several suggestions Beginning with Definitions: Agricultural use should not have been deleated. Flood Hazard has references to maps and standards would like to see specific information included in definition. Change of Use - would like to see clarification of this definition. Multi Famliy dweling opened up opportunities for apartment houses and other things that are not appropriate for New Haven. Farming really should be agricultural use would like to keep the word agricultural and a definition. Firm was added and refers to items that are not easy to understand should be changed. Interested Person Should be the same as the State Statute. Planned Unit Development Should be changed. Discussion of how it is governed by the state through septic capacity.
Amos Roleau Wondered how many more suggestions Mr. Madden had.
John Madden - Has a lot more suggestions. He would be willing to write them up and present them to the board.
Discussion of how long one person should have the floor and what would be needed to make changes this evening. Discussion of the ability to make minor changes at this hearing. It has been a long time since changes have been made to the regulations.
Bev Landon Suggested that the board move forward with these regulations as they are.
Pat Paquette Wondered if State or Federal regulations superseded the Town The answer was yes.
John Madden concerned about the issues that are covered at the local level.
Discussion of process and what happens when local, State and / or Federal regulations conflict.
John Madden - Would like more clarification and would like to try to keep people out of the courts.
Bev Landon Protest that one person in a municipality should be allowed to monopolize the meeting.
Amos Roleau Spoke of having some trust in the people who have been working on the regulations for the last several years. It appears that these regulations address most issues.
Discussion about John Madden having been present at most of the Planning Commissions meetings and wondering why he had not brought these suggestions to them sooner.
John Madden Has been trying to, Planning Commission does not always agree with him.
Amos Roleau Suggest that John Madden bring forward any gross changes or real problems at this point. The board will review his list of other suggestions at their meeting on July 11.
John Madden Concerned about the process for making changes and that waiting will be too late in the process.
Many suggestions to limit the time one person can talk.
More discussion about how many more suggestions John Madden might have and when and where it is appropriate for him to present them.
Amos Roleau Noticed that people were starting to leave and wondered if anyone else had any comments. Most people present were happy with the regulations as presented. He did not see any reason to make any changes tonight. Would be happy to meet with anyone later and start the process over if there were any significant changes.
Dave Pidgeon Spoke of the legislature having passed a law stating that the Selectboard has the authority to approve the regulations.
Selectboard does have the authority to approve the regulations as they are.
John Madden made reference to statute that also provides for a process to have the Town vote on the regulations by Australian ballot. He has submitted apetition asking the selectboard to present the regulations to the town for a vote.
Pat Paquette would like the board to decide. The Planning Commission did a lot of work and would like to see the select obard back their work.
Tim Bouton Works with this type of stuff every day and most of these changes were in order to bring the town regulations into compliance with the state regulations. Suggest that the board make a decision on their own and can bring other changes to the voters. These are minor changes.
John Madden These are not simple changes. Local bylaws are being significantly changed. People should be allowed to make the decision.
Public Hearing Closed at 9:10
Selectboard meeting continued.
Paul Audy motion to accept the zoning Regulations as presented from the Planning Commission. Second by Burt Allen. All agree.
Reasoning behind the motion. Most changes were to bring the town into compliance with the State. The changes that were suggested could not be dealt with at this time. This is an ongoing process and more changes will need to be made on a regular basis. It is better to incorporate these regulations now and continue the process as needed. Waiting to approve the regulations would be more confusing for people over the long run. Most people seemed to approve of the regulations as presented. Selectboard would continue to listen to John Maddens suggestions and they could be dealt with at the next appropriate opportunity.
Steve Dupoise would like to thank Phil Busier and crew for the work done on Dog Team Road. It is great.
Amos will have a retirement party for the town on August 19th at Field Days Site.
Next Meetings will be July 11, August 1st and 22nd.
Vermont State Tax Dept. Prorated estimate of PILOT payment $1,244.00.
VELCO
Dana King House
Pay Orders
Sign Documents
Adjourn: 9:35
Respectfully submitted:
Barbara Torian