Town of New Haven

New Haven Selectmen’s Meeting

7:00 pm Town Office

Tuesday June 5, 2007

Present: Keith Hall, Paul Audy, Pam Kingman

Absent: Burt Allen

Others: Peter Morris, Betty Bell, Barb Torian, Norman Armstrong, Wayne Marcelle, Nick Liberio

Keith Hall made a motion to move into executive session to interview architect, Peter Morris. Second by Paul Audy, all agree.

Moved into executive session at 7:07 pm.

Paul Audy made a motion to adjourn from executive session at 7:50 pm. Second by Keith Hall, all agree.

AGENDA RESULTS

Read and approve minutes, make corrections if needed.

NEW BUSINESS

Visitors Business:

• Norman Armstrong – Received a letter from the Dog Warden, Wayne Marcelle about his Beagles barking all the time. He understands the neighbors are frustrated with the noise, and he wants to keep the peace with all of them. He has decided to sell the last eight Beagles, because he doesn’t know what else he can do. He said he has tried using the bark boxes, but they don’t seem to be doing enough. There were a couple of suggestions made about how Norm Armstrong could try to keep the noise down. For example: building a barn to house the dogs or planting shrubs to deflect the noise.  Wayne Marcelle said he has heard the dogs barking from as far away as his house. He also reminded Mr. Armstrong that he now has new neighbors in both houses that surround him, and they don’t want any trouble with the Armstrong’s.  Mr. Armstrong added there is a neighbor who is always riding on a four wheeler or is driving around in a truck on nearby property. It’s noisy and he realizes there isn’t much he can do about it. He added sometimes we all have to live with some noise.
• Norman Armstrong – RE: Kipp’s garage - there seems to be some kind of repair business being run out of it. Mr. Armstrong has seen many different types of vehicles coming in and out of there. He has spoken with the Zoning Administrator, Cris Messerle about this and Mr. Messerle has gone out there to check it out, but found nothing at the time. Mr. Armstrong was encouraged to notify the Zoning Administrator if he sees any activity at the Kipp’s garage.
• Wayne Marcelle – Was expecting Jason Sabourin from Ferrisburgh to be here. There was an incident last month on Plank Rd. involving Mr. Sabourin’s dog attacking the neighbor’s dog and then biting the neighbor as well. This is considered two separate attacks. Jason Sabourin has told Wayne Marcelle that he is contesting the fact that this is considered two separate bites.
• Jon Schaefer – Road name for sub-division off Otter Creek Hwy. – No show.
• Nick Liberio – received letter from the selectboard in regards to his dog acting aggressively, he says the dog is not aggressive. Mr. Liberio added that his dog loves people, but she does hate cats. He feels that Wayne Marcelle is confusing aggression with natural behavior. Wayne Marcelle said that the dog has come after him, and there were witnesses. Mr. Marcelle explained to Mr. Liberio that the letter was standard procedure, and that several residents in town have received similar letters. The letter basically asks people to keep dogs on a leash or confined to their property. Included with the letters are copies of the town ordinance and the State Statutes. Wayne Marcelle reassured Nick Liberio that his neighbors who own cats also received a letter informing them that if their cat wonders onto a neighbor’s property that owns a dog and gets attacked, the owner of the dog is not responsible; because it happened on the dog owners land.
• Road Crew Update – Rattlin’ Bridge project: Bridge was closed on May 21^st as they prepare the site to remove and repair the bridge.

The condition of Pearson Rd. north of the bridge is in need of work due to a spongy subbase. Phil Busier was told by CCS constructors to build up the road, so that the large crane has room to maneuver. The roadcrew dug out the ditches, laid down fabric and PVC pipe and brought in pea stone. The bridge will be closed until at least December of this year.

• Letter from Auditors RE: outside audit – Jill DeVoe contacted all accounting firms in our area and only three showed interest. She then mailed packets to those three, and only one responded; Telling and Associates in Middlebury. Their proposed audit fee is $2,960 for the year ending December 31, 2006.  Keith Hall made a motion to have Telling & Assoc. do the audit. Second by Paul Audy. All agree.
• Letter from Julie Olson – request for $1,000 for summer services for Beeman Elementary. Keith Hall motion to pay $1,000 for summer sevices, second by Paul Audy. All agree.
• Vt. Marble Power Division of Omya, Inc. – Otter Creek hydroelectric Project RE: proposed studies. Addison Co. Regional Planning is asking if the town has any other studies they want conducted, the town has between May 24, 2007 and July 24, 2007 to respond. No action taken
• Special Event Permit – Otter Creek Brewing, Inc. – would like to hold annual event during Field Days. Selectboard okay with having the town clerk approve.
• Addison Co. Regional Planning – Appointments – no action taken.
• State of Vermont RE: 2008 Municipal Park and Ride Grant Program – Barb Torian suggested this may help fund the new town office parking lot. Pam Kingman will look into this.
• Treasurer, Barb Torian – request for selectboard to sign note for  refinance / continuation for the grader. Paul Audy motion to sign note, second Keith Hall. All agree.
• Barb Torian – request for permission for the town to get the documents ready, selectboard will hold a special meeting to sign them. Paul Audy made a motion to give permission to Barb Torian to borrow money, second by Keith Hall. All agree.                          

MISC. CORRESPONENCE:

• License to operate junkyards: Amos Roleau III and Floyd Bartlett

• State of Vt. Management Division – Letter to CCS Contractors, Inc. and Champlain Precision, Inc. RE: Disposal of bituminous concrete, concrete rubble and stumps – ask Cris Messerle if Champlain Precision acquired a building permit. Follow up – the above mentioned had been issued a building permit on April 27, 2007.
• Beeman Elementary – Thank you for the use of the town hall during the preparation time for the school play. Also to draw selectboards attention to the overall appearance of the interior of the building. No action taken.
• Architect Thomas Leytham – Thank you for interviewing him, hopes to hear from the selectboard in the near future.
• Delta Dental: New ID numbers / New subscribers ID numbers
• VLTC – Open enrollment for Delta Dental and CIGNA.
• Addison Co. Regional Planning – Transportation Plan Update –inviting town officials to provide feedback regarding future transportation needs in the county. No action taken.
• U.S. Census Bureau News – local update of Census address program: workshop on June 27, 2007 @ 2:00 pm in the Middlebury College Library. Maybe someone in the community would like to attend.

REGULAR BUSINESS:

·        Sign overweight permits

·        Sign pay orders

·        Keith Hall made a motion to approve Treasurers report, second by Paul Audy. All agree.

NEWSLETTERS

• VLTC Newsletter

OLD BUSINESS:

Adjourn:

Respectfully submitted

Pam Kingman