Town of New Haven Selectmen’s Meeting

7:00 pm Town Clerks Office

Tuesday September 4, 2007

Present: Keith Hall, Burt Allen, Paul Audy, Claire Van Buren, Barb Torian, Pam Kingman

Others: Peter Morris, Betty Bell, Jeff Everest, Roger Boise, Steve Flint, Chris Wilson, Lowell Nottingham, Taina Curry, Ilana Snyder, Laurie Vincent, Wayne Marcelle, Chris Bray, Polly Darnell, Pam Marsh

AGENDA: Results

Read and approve minutes, make corrections if needed.

NEW BUSINESS

Visitors Business:

• Betty Bell –  Restoration Estimate for Riverside and West Cemeteries from E.H. Clegg & Co., Inc., Morrisville, Vt.  Total for Riverside - $250, and total for West - $900. Selectboard will talk with Allen Swain about mowing too close to the head stones because it is damaging them. Keith Hall will talk to Mr. Swain about trying to be more careful around the stones. Paul Audy made a motion to accept Clegg’s estimate, second by Keith Hall. All agree.
• Steve Flint – Beeman Elementary School Principal; he is happy to be at Beeman and is looking forward to many years there. Coming before the selectboard to see if the Mary Johnson Day Care Center after School Program can be held in the cafeteria again this year. He feels it’s a wonderful program and would like to see it continue. The school tried to figure out a way to hold it there, but none of the classrooms are available. Steve Flint understands the school will need to hire someone to clean the restrooms on a daily basis throughout the school year, and the two adults who run the program will keep the cafeteria cleaned. There will be ongoing negotiations between the school and the Town about keeping the cafeteria clean. In the mean time Wayne Marcelle will continue to clean the restrooms until the school hires someone. Laurie Vincent, a parent of two children who attend the program, said both her children like coming to the cafeteria better because it gives them more room. Lowell Nottingham, schoolboard chair said there needs to be open communication between the Town and the school if any problems should arise. Keith Hall made a motion to allow the after school program to be held in the cafeteria, second by Paul Audy. All agree.
• Chris Wilson – After school soccer program coordinator seeking some of the money from the sports fund. He handed out a proposal he put together for all of the equipment he needs for this year. The total being $728.85 for everything. There are 41 children signed up for this season, down from 60 last year. Keith Hall asked if the paint is non toxic that will replace the chalk to mark the field. Chris Wilson will look into it and get back to Keith. For now all the equipment lives with either Mr. Wilson or Kirsten Pitts. The question was raised if the schools outdoor classroom could be closed in and used as a storage facility for sports equipment. Lowell Nottingham will discuss it with the other school board members. Paul Audy made a motion to approve request for funds for soccer, second by Keith Hall. All agree.
• Susie Leonard – Sidewalk Project: she has received permission from the Johnson’s and Quinn’s to use that as a temporary right of way for the sidewalk project. Doug and Mae Everest are not interested in having the ROW by their house and they also don’t want a hump in their driveway from the sidewalk. Susie Leonard was positive there would be no hump in their driveway according to the elevation map. The selectboard will try to work it out with Doug and Mae Everest, the project won’t be happening this year anyway.
• Relocation of the Ball field – The contract called for 4” of top soil over the whole field, there is only 1 – 2’’ on it and it has been hydro seeded and mulched. Case St. Redi Mix was hired to do the job, there was some concern about how low their bid was at the time of hiring; they have not been paid yet. Paul Audy said it is up to the school board to decide what they want to do.  Lowell Nottingham said he will bring the issue up at the next school board meeting.
• King House: Roger Boise asked what was happening with the house and where the Fortier’s stand. Keith Hall explained he had just spoken with Deborah Fortier they are ready, but they are having trouble finding someone to move the house. The Fortier’s are hoping to meet with Emile Desautel later this week. Originally Mr. Desautel told them he couldn’t move it until June 2008. If the house doesn’t get moved until next year, the contents of the storage trailer will be moved back into the King House and the trailer will be removed. Roger Boise mentioned he knows someone interested in the King House that is willing to pay a fair amount for the house and move it if it doesn’t work out with the Fortier’s. Paul Audy made a motion to keep the electricity on in the house until it is moved, second by Keith Hall. All agree.
• Revised Town Office Plan: Peter Morris dropped off the new plans for review. The building will face North St. with parking and a driveway all the way around it.  The new plan calls for a geothermal heating system, which costs more up front, but is very cost efficient in the long run and is maintenance free. The existing well could be used for the heating system and a new well drilled for drinking water.  The new plan has increased the vault size as well as the size of the Library. This is because of the new heating system there is no need for a utility room. Paul Audy made a motion to accept the revised office plan, second by Keith Hall. All agree. The contract with Peter Morris states the Town will pay him $5,000 up front for his work and $3,500 for the “clerk of the works” but that person has moved. The $3,500 will be used to start an account for the architect. There was discussion on what fund the money would come out of Barb Torian mentioned this money is not in the budget. Any time the Town spends more than $5,000 it needs to be voted on. Keith Hall disagreed stating that the Reserve Facilities Fund is earmarked for the new town offices and the money could be used from that fund. Pam Marsh, Library Trustee offered half of the money from the library to help pay Peter Morris. Paul Audy said he appreciates the offer but respectfully declined the offer, saying the library needs the money. After the discussion the selectboard decided to take money from the budget and put less money into the Reserve Facilities Fund at the end of the year.  Paul Audy made a motion to pay Peter Morris $5,000 and to set up an account with the $3,500. Second by Keith Hall. All agree.
• Wayne Marcelle – has received several complaints about Norm Armstrong’s dogs barking. At the June 5, 2007 meeting Mr. Armstrong indicated he was actively trying to sell all his Beagles and he would activate all the bark boxes.  Wayne Marcelle is still getting complaints about the dogs barking and he would like permission from the selectboard to start issuing Mr. Armstrong tickets. None of the Armstrong’s dogs have been licensed this year. Paul Audy made a motion for Wayne Marcelle to issue citations to Norman Armstrong, second by Keith Hall. All agree.
• Chris Bray – asked the selectboard if Montpelier could be of any help to the town. Mr. Bray said the State was pretty responsive to his request to help out with roads. Paul Audy thought he’d like to see the State help out with replacing and or repairing bridges. It’s hard at the Town level we can’t replace them;  we need State and Federal help. Keith Hall asked Chris Bray to find out how much time and money the State spends on surveying things. There is also some concern about the stability of Cove Road, and River Road. If either road were undermined the town would need State and Federal help. Burt Allen said that Chris Brunell of Vermont Stream Alterations came to meet with Burt Allen, Katie Reilley and Phil Busier about some areas of concern, which included Cove and River Roads. They discussed the best way to keep the River from eroding away the banks too much, from rip rap to logs from fallen trees.
• Kenlan Schweibert Facey & Goss – Vt. Marble Power Division of Omya Inc., Beldons Replacement 2007. One of their one hundred year old turbines failed, asking for the selectboards’ permission to go ahead and replace that turbine and upgrade some of the electrical switches. Paul Audy made a motion to sign, giving them permission to replace aging turbine, second by Keith Hall. All agree.
• State of Vt. Dept. of Health – Sign Town Health Officer recommendation form
• Clement Sheffert – declined Addison Co. Regional Plannning Commission Transportation Advisory Committee. No action taken.
• Ad’s for John Deere tractor and Lumber are running in the Addison Independent.
• Review job applications for Road Crew
• Barb Torian will continue to put the Road crews pay check in their boxes at work. She has not heard back from the selectboard directing her about what to do with their paychecks.

MISC. CORRESPONDENCE:

• 2007 Annual Report – Hydroelectric Project update on field observations.
• Agency of Natural Resources Dept. of  Environmental Conservation – Notice of Issuance of Conditional use Determination – VELCO
• Land Use Permit – James McGrath off Campground Road

REGULAR BUSINESS:

• Sign Road Access Permit

TREASURER’S REPORT:

• Sign pay orders

OLD BUSINESS:

Adjourn: 9:45 pm