Town of New Haven

Town of New Haven Selectman’s Meeting

7:00 pm Town Clerks Office

Tuesday May 15, 2007

Present: Burt Allen, Keith Hall, Paul Audy, Pam Kingman

Others: Pete LaPete, Neb Kehoe, Larry Buck, Susie Leonard, Barb Torian, Tim Bouton, Dale Everest, Jeff Everest, Roger Boise, Betty Bell, Fred Napoleon, Suzy Roorda, Warren Whitcomb, Wayne Marcelle, Al Karnatz

Agenda Results:

Read and approve minutes and make corrections if needed

NEW BUSINESS

Visitors Business:

• Neb Kehoe –Addison County Transit: Missed petitioning Town Meeting due to an injury. He is coming before the selectboard to request $1,900.00 in funds to help with operating costs. Rider-ship is increasing, last year Addison Co. Transit served more than nine hundred New Haven residents. It does not cost anything to ride the bus no matter what route you take. There is a donation box out on every bus, but it does not generate much money. Operating costs are rising mainly due to the price of gas, meaning more people are parking their cars in favor of taking the bus. Addison Co. Transit is hoping to extend their routes in the future to serve more people with less time spent on the bus. Keith Hall suggested next year Mr. Kehoe petition the Town prior to Town Meeting. The selectboad all agree it is a great service and they will let Mr. Kehoe know what their decision is in the near future. No action taken.
• Susie Leonard – Municipal Sidewalk Manager: The selectboard had asked her to review the latest plans, but they haven’t changed much. She reviewed the timeline for the project, which are available at the Town Office, along with the plans. Ms. Leonard went on to explain that the original person at the State level working on the New Haven sidewalk project took another job in the middle of the project, so this took considerable time away from the project moving forward. She does not anticipate the project happening this summer, but to look for it in 2008. She encouraged people to call her at home with questions @ 388-0739.
• Doug Weber – Summit Engineering Representative: Mr. Weber reviewed all of the changes to the sidewalk project that the selectboard had concerns about which were:  realigning the sidewalk and not to extend the sidewalk as far down as the Davidson’s house on Main St. All of these changes have been already made to the plan. The Agency of Transportation has approved a safe location for a crosswalk at the corner of North St. to the Village Green. The Agency of Transportation is not willing to allow for a crosswalk unless it has been fully engineered. Mr. Weber went on to say that this is a simple project and right now they are looking for easements from property owners. He said that the review process might take six to eight months, and that is the primary reason it won’t go out to bid until this fall or as late as the spring of 2008. There was discussion about how the whole project started, and why there was never a town vote. It was explained that this is a matching grant, much like the playground and ball field, they were voted on in the budget. The grant amount is $236,000 and the Town is responsible for 10% of the grant. This project was initiated for safety reasons in regards to children walking to and from school. Phil Busier witnessed some children almost get hit and he took his concern to the selectboard. Tim Bouton said he asked the State about putting sidewalks in when his son was at Beeman( he’s now in high school) and he was told no that they only put in sidewalks if it runs to another sidewalk. There are old existing sidewalks, but they have not been maintained over the years and have basically disappeared under a lot of soil.                                                                                                      The selectboard had received a request from Addison County Regional Planning to do a study on the area in 2003. The selectboard  then signed a letter of support in 2004. There were several warned meetings about the study to inform residents. There were questions to whether this project was influenced from the Down Town Designation Grant, but it was realized that the sidewalk project was initiated first. There were also concerns about who would maintain the sidewalks and the equipment needed for that in the winter. Lowell Nottingham – he was the one who wrote the grant for this project, and projects like this can take time over the years. He said he would like to see a process where old and new selectboard members continue to support grants that are put into place. He doesn’t understand why this is still being debated when there have been numerous warned meetings for the public to attend.  Doug Weber stated that this design is the result of public input.                                     Original changes to the area as requested from the selectboard from the beginning are: 1 - Excessive speed. 2 – Radius turns, too fast. 3 - Area in front of the Village Green not safe.                                                        Sidewalks and curbs would change the appearance of the road way. Having vertical granite curbing signals drivers they are coming into a population of people and that is the intent of using curbs and sidewalks. There was discussion about the turning radius for larger trucks and school buses on Town Hill Rd.  Doug Weber assured everyone that the radius on the curbs meets the Agency of Transportation standards.  Susie Leonard added that the AOT has wider requirements than most. Doug Weber also said that the town well will not be disturbed when the intersection of Town Hill Rd. and Main St. are changed. There will be approximately twelve hundred feet of new sidewalk, and existing trees will be part of the plan with money left over for additional plantings. Burt Allen suggested putting money in the budget each year for plantings and wanted to stress not to plant on corners to obstruct sight line. Doug Weber said this has been reviewed by traffic safety experts and they have approved the project and will not allow for unsafe areas. Further discussion on the crosswalk included that it will not be pedestrian activated Beeman Elementary school is on board and they are considering hiring a crossing guard at peak times. Susie Leonard has written a letter to Joel Perrigo at the Agency of Transportation saying that the selectboard has approved of the design.  She is concerned that if the selectboard does not sign it will cause more delays. Burt Allen made a motion to sign letter, seconded by Keith Hall. All agree. Letter signed.
• Wayne Marcelle – Dog Warden: Has had several dog incidents around town, including one on Plank Rd. Jason Sabourin and Heather Kandzior’s dog attacked a neighbor’s dog then bit the owner as well. This is considered two separate attacks.  A certified letter went out to Sabourin/Kandzior today. The couple lives across the street from the victims in Ferrisburgh on Plank Rd.  Wayne Marcelle has asked to be put on the agenda for the next selecboard meeting in regards to this incident. Two other letters were mailed out today as well, one to Emile and Elaine Paquette.  There have been several complaints about their dog running loose; it has been to Wayne Marcelles house worrying his sheep. Two of his sheep had to be medicated for this condition.  Second letter mailed to Norman and Annette Armstrong in regards to dogs barking at all hours. Nick Liberio’s dog is going after people. Wayne Marcelle was attacked by the dog on Sunday May 13, 2007. The attack was witnessed by Suzy Roorda and a State Trooper who happened to be driving through town. The Trooper was asked by Mr. Marcelle to please log in the attack. The selectboard will write up a letter and mail it to Mr. Liberio.  Several in- town residents asked if the selectboard would post a “clean up after your dog” sign on the Town Green. Suzy Roorda added she had to “pick up” the Green prior to the Easter candy hunt, and signs would be welcome. Pam Kingman will price signs for the village Green.  Wayne Marcelle asked the selectboard for someone to help him out. He drives a school bus and isn’t always available during the day. There have been times when Barb Torian has had to go pick up a dog and it then stays in the Town Office until Wayne Marcelle or the owner can pick it up. He has the following people in mind: Cris Messerle, Bob McKnight and Jim McKnight. Other suggestions are: Gary DeVoe or Alan and Michelle Chester. Keith Hall made a motion to accept Wayne Marcelle having an assistant, seconded by Paul Audy, all agree. Pam Kingman will contact them and report back to Wayne Marcelle and the selectboard.                                                                                  Wayne Marcelle – Constable:  Wanted to approach the selectboard about issuing tickets to overloaded trucks that continuously use Town Hill Rd. He said he has seen them drive right past the Sheriff. Most people know that Town Hill Rd. is posted, and one of the offenders lives in town. No action taken.  Also wondered if the selectboard ever considered having a junk law ordinance. There are several properties in town with more than the state regulations say you can have, which is 3 unregistered cars at one time. No action taken.

REGULAR BUSINESS:

·        Road Crew Update – Chloride: All dirt roads in town were treated with a moderate amount. This used all 4,500 gallons of chloride that the road crew estimated would be enough for the summer. Need to order more for a second treatment and for disturbed areas during reclamation of Munger St. Started with $8,000 in budget, used $3,735 for original 4,500 gallons, have $4,265 left in the budget at this time for chloride. No action taken.

·        Current Work – Fixing guard rail in the Mills (waiting on Dig Safe)

                           Finishing Twitchell Hill Rd – shoulders and culverts

                           Campground Rd. – Culverts, ditching,

                           Munger St. –Culverts; road staked by Dig Safe; ready    to go. Grant money for paving .3 miles of Munger St. is $85,500. Burt Allen made a motion to pave what the grant covers, seconded by Paul Audy, all agree.

·        Future Work – Pearson Rd.: Permission to dig out part that’s bad by Waltham town line while Rattlin’ Bridge is closed – No action taken

                         Quaker Village Rd.: Need to replace two aging culverts with a bridge or box culvert; beavers still a nuisance. Looking for grant money and state regulatory compliance. No action taken.

·        Push Blade Estimate from Browns Certified Welding: $5,800 – No       action taken.

·        Lawes Ag. Sales and Service, Inc.: invoice for chloride tank $1,400 to be mounted onto trailer. Burt Allen motion to pay invoice, seconded by Paul Audy, all agree.

·        Keith Hall and Pam Kingman: will draft a letter to the Road Crew stating they can help the Town of Panton in emergency situations only.

·        Suzy Roorda – Request for funds: $75.00 for Green up Day – food and drinks. Paul Audy motion to pay the request for funds, seconded by Keith Hall. All agree.

                               Request for funds: $100.00 for storage containers that  

will protect items for Town events and office supplies. Paul Audy made a motion to pay the request for funds, seconded by Keith Hall, all agree.

·        Keith Hall – Random shooting incident in the vicinity of River Rd. and East St.  Mr. Hall mailed a letter out to many of his neighbor’s after doing some research on discharging a firearm near houses and across public highways. No action taken.

·        Sign pay orders

·        Sign overweight permits

·        Letter to town residents RE: King House vote – Keith Hall made a motion to approve cost of bulk mailing and signing letter, seconded by Paul Audy, all agree.

MISC. CORRESPONDENCE:

·        Addison Co. Regional Planning – Appointments – no action taken

• VLTC – Legislative Policy Development – no action taken
• VLTC – Dental Insurance rate increase – no action taken
• State of Vt. / Safe Routes to School – Application for Beeman Elementary - a copy was given to Karen Danyow who is in charge of the grant. No action taken.
• VLTC newsletter
• Citation – petition of Vermont Transco, LLC – condemnation process for the deBoer property. Pre – Hearing conference will be on Friday May 25, 2007 at 11:00 am location: North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church.

OLD BUSINESS:

Adjourn: 9:40pm

Respectfully Submitted

Pam Kingman