Town of New Haven Back to Home
Present: Keith Hall, Paul Audy, Burt Allen, Barb Torian, Pam Kingman
Others: Jim Gallott, Harold Tricou, Tim Bouton, Roger Boise, Sarah Granstom, Kim Callahan, Jerry Smiley, Pat Paquette, Suzy Roorda
New Business
Visitors Business:
· Tim Bouton – Parks and Recreation Committee has gone out to look over the town parks to assess their overall condition. See submitted proposed expenses for 2007.
We would like to separate the Events coordinator position and the Parks and Recs organizer position. Both departments feel it is too confusing as to who is responsible for what. This is the departments recommendation.
Village Green – benches in need of repair. Trees in need of pruning, hasn’t been done since the 1998 ice storm. Some trees need to be removed, but leave the memorial trees. Flower bed maintenance should take minimum amount of time ( includes weeding).
River Park – There always seems to be broken glass from parties that take place down there. Some of the neighbors have complained about the noise as well. To make the park more appealing and user friendly, the Parks & Recs recommends installing some guardrails or a barrier to allow more parking. It would need culverts to re-route the water from that area. Discussion of changing water flow and question if the road crew would be able to do the work ( if they have time.) Doing this would also add more mow able space. We have gotten an estimate from Vt. Local Roads on guardrail installation. Burt Allen – asked about the existing gate, and also about trimming back the brush around the gate. Tim Bouton – leave existing gate and cut brush around it, would like to add rocks and posts to protect the ball field. The old backstop is falling down and needs to be replaced. There are 4-5 sites down there with BBQ pits and benches that are somewhat of a hazard they would be very hard to fix, we feel the best answer is to remove them. Some tree removal is also necessary for the parking area. This is our recommendation; we don’t need everything done this year. But it needs to be done over time to keep them maintained. Burt Allen will talk to Phil Busier about going to River Park to access the amount of work.
· Jerry Smiley – New Town Office space: Would like to talk with Bud Carpenter need clarification on price for new Town office building maybe compromise on cost. Looking for lower cost approach. Burt Allen - Willing to meet with Bud and Jerry to work things out. Jim Gallott asked when does it go out to bid and when do other contractors get involved? Burt Allen – When we have more information and cost comparison. Discussion about cost comparisons and that Bud Carpenter is volunteering his services right now. Discussed the need for new town offices and library. Trying to work the kinks out then send it out to bid.
Jerry Smiley – We need to discuss King House fate before we act on new building. Keith Hall – Has drafted a letter to pose the question on King House fate, and would like to put it before the townspeople prior to town meeting. Burt Allen – Article in the warning giving the selectboard authority to clear the King House property. Barb Torian – asked about the Historical Registry? Keith Hall – called them and hasn’t heard back. Roger Boise – New town office won’t happen until King House issue is settled. More discussion on the fate of the King House and what people in town want to do; keep it, fix it sell, it or tear it down. Need to vote on King House by paper ballot. The town is divided on the issue.
Suzy Roorda – Town Hall Applications:
African drumming and dance –Kim Callahan and Sarah Granstrom would like to take over running these two classes. Together they will be responsible for collecting the money. Fees will remain the same. Burt Allen – okay Keith Hall second. Suzy Roorda – thought Travis Paquette would be at meeting tonight, Burt thought he’d be here as well. Paul Audy – not worried about it. Some discussion on charging people but it needs to be fair for everyone. Ok to cover the costs for classes, getting extra not ok. Suzy Roorda – does Travis have insurance? Burt Allen will ask him. Paul Audy we hate to have the town liable. Pat Paquette – Knows that Travis has the participants sign waivers. Barb Torian – proof of liability insurance (pending) add to applications for town hall use. Keith Hall –we need to have it the same for everyone using the hall. All Town Hall applications signed.
Sign pay orders
Adjourn 7:55 for Public Hearing
Public Hearing 8:00pm Town Plan Amendment
Present: Keith Hall, Paul Audy, Burt Allen, Barb Torian, Pam Kingman
Others: Mike Sweeney, Jim Gallott, Steve Dupoise, Marcia Dupoise, Mike Dunbar, Christine Dunbar, Eugene Charlebois, Pat Paquette, Roger Boise, David Colander, Harold Tricou, Milo Schaefer, Susan Schaefer, Fred Napoleon, Mike Lee, Allen Karnatz, Mike Dykstra, Debra Newburgh, Suzy Roorda, Tim Bouton, Adam Lougee
Meeting began with Paul Audy asking that everyone keep there comments brief and civil, and that all questions and comments should be directed thru him. Mike Dunbar handed in three letters of support from people in town. Steve Dupoise thought that it’s a good idea to make the area commercial and the Dunbars shouldn’t be penalized. Mike Lee agreed. Jim Gallott on the other hand was opposed. He said he doesn’t want to see the town get into spot zoning. Eugene Charlebois asked if there was such a thing as residential/commercial zoning? Maybe it should be considered, it may help to keep taxes down. There was some discussion about the town plan and how it keeps getting shot down. Burt Allen – we should pass the town plan, then we could go back and week it. He commented that the Dunbars have generated a lot of business and we shouldn’t snub them and make them move out of town. They are a busy business with a good product and it shouldn’t have come to this. David Colander – his property used to be the old drive- in theater, he believes in business. The Dunbars take objection to some people saying that they aren’t following the rules. Mike Dunbar handed out a history of the old Kelton farm (now his Property) that showed how it has been used over the last 20 years for commercial business. He thinks that this will help support the tax base and keep this area in an industrial zone. He is willing to put up screening around his property to make it more appealing. Discussion about different visions that people have for the future of our town Most agree that commercial business should be along the route 7 corridor, but they don’t want to take away too many of the scenic views either. There is already some commercial property available along Rte. 7 that could be used. Milo Schaefer – feels that most towns work hard to accommodate all factions. According to VLTC development doesn’t necessarily bring taxes down. He would like to see the Dunbars accommodated, but doesn’t want the area re-zoned. We should revisit the town plan. David Colander – agrees with Milo, people should be able to have home based businesses but when they get too big and too successful it then changes the area and corridor. Mike Lee - Home based business needs to stay in the home. He likes Eugene's idea of residential/commercial zoning. Burt Allen – solution is to zone commercial up to the Hastings property; possibly giving the Dunbars a variance. He doesn’t see the area getting too big because there is no town sewer or water. Keith Hall – It is helpful when the planning commission plans for the future, they need this size crowd. Discussion on how large the crowd is at this particular hearing, Planning Commission would love to have a turn out like this for every meeting. Some people feel that the P.C. doesn’t always welcome his/her input. Steve Dupoise – Taxes are going up, we need to counteract it with new business in town. He is concerned taxes will be out of reach, we need to draft a town plan and let growth happen. Adam Lougee from Addison County Regional Planning – He’s not present to tell us what to do, the Route 7 corridor effects other towns as well as New Haven. We need to consider the long term effects and the capacity of the corridor. The Regional Planning Commission has many resources that are available to our town, they are there to help. Al Karnatz – on behalf of the P.C. he would like to thank the Dunbars for their patience. Open invitation to everyone to come to P.C. meetings. There is a division amongst the P.C. members on where do we stop? How much of a commercial corridor along route 7 do we want or need? The town plan is a wish list for the town, it is how we want our town to look. He does not like spot zoning, it’s not in the zoning regs. Should we bring to a vote? If it’s voted down, go back to zoning and try to work with home the based business issues. Try to make it work and sort out the grey areas. Discussion on businesses being on the secondary roads and how they will get all beat up. Mike Dykstra agrees that businesses are much easier for the Fire Department to get to on Route 7 in an emergency. It also keeps the secondary roads in better shape. Maybe a better way to get people to Planning Commission meetings would be to break down the issues, go section by section so people with an interest in certain areas can come to the meetings that directly affect them. They will understand more of what they are voting on.
Adjourn 9:05pm
Respectfully submitted
Pam Kingman