Town of New Haven Selectmen’s Meeting

7:00 pm Town Offices

Tuesday September 18, 2007

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

Others: Lisa Lee, Mike Lee, Cris Messerle, Andy Dykstra, Roger Boise, Pete LaPete

AGENDA:

Read and approve minutes, make corrections if needed.

NEW BUSINESS

Visitors Business:

• Mike and Lisa Lee – Lisa Lee had called the office inquiring about ZBA minutes. She was told that they are public knowledge and that she could have copies of whatever minutes were here. She came in later that day to get them.  Denise Many offered to assist Mrs. Lee. When the Zoning Administrator, Cris Messerle heard her asking some zoning questions, he introduced himself and asked if he could be of any help. Mr. Messerle retrieved the ZBA minutes book for Mrs. Lee and told her that not all the minutes she was looking for were in the office, and that she may have to contact John Evers, chair of the ZBA. The ZBA doesn’t always supply the Town Office with the monthly meeting minutes.  Cris Messerle, thinking that Mrs. Lee was going to get all the minutes from John Evers, picked up the minutes book and put it away. A few minutes later Denise Many got the ZBA book for Lisa Lee to make copies of the minutes that were available at the time. Because of this there was a misunderstanding about the availability of the ZBA minutes. Mike Lee asked Paul Audy about who is in charge of hiring and firing the Zoning Administrator. He would like to see Cris Messerle gone. Paul Audy said he will have to get back to Mike Lee when he knows the answer. Andy Dykstra, a ZBA member, said he would like to see the minutes at the Town Office as well, and the ZBA is working on doing just that.  Mr. Dykstra praised Cris Messerle for the work he does as the Zoning Administrator. He commented that sometimes the Zoning Administrator is strict and goes too much by the book; but he feels this is good because Cris Messerle is following what is written in the Zoning Regulations. Discussion continued about following what is written in the zoning regulations and setting a precedence when the rules aren’t followed and how the Town needs to keep things the same for everyone. Andy Dykstra said he will bring up the issue about the ZBA minutes at their next meeting.
• Pete LaPete – Peter Morris, the architect the Town has hired for the new Town Offices, approached Mr. LaPete about doing the site work for the new Town Offices. Mr. LaPete would be happy to do the work, but he talked with Phil Busier the Road Foreman about the Road Crew doing the work; Phil Busier agreed with Mr. LaPete that they could do it. There is not going to be any cellar hole, just some trenches and drainage for a slab. Mr. LaPete said that this shouldn’t be put out to bid, that the Town could save a lot of money by having the Road Crew do the work for us. Burt Allen agreed, but was concerned that they may not have the time. Paul Audy thought the cost of the project could be worked into the road budget. Pete LaPete said he supports the new Town Offices, but he’s not happy with how the new office building actually looks, and for the cost maybe the Town should just purchase a modular home. Mr. LaPete asked how the library got included in the project and he would like to see the library do something on their own. Mr. LaPete said he uses Middlebury College Library for information. The discussion moved to when the King House is going to get moved. Keith Hall said he has unsuccessfully tried to contact the Fortiers to find out.
• Cris Messerle – would like permission from the selectboard to refund $200 to Lori Amery for an accessory building, she had applied to the ZBA for. After a review and Lori Amery reducing the home size, she no longer needed the variance. Keith Hall made a motion to sign off on the refund, second by Paul Audy. All agreed.
• Cris Messerle - Explained that if the selectboard chooses to fire him, they have to do so with merit. The Planning Commission suggests names to the selectboard for the Zoning Administrator position. The selectboard chooses who they think is the best candidate for the job; it is a three year term. Cris Messerle told the selectboard if they want him to administer differently to let him know and they could meet about it.

ROADS UPDATE:

• Munger St. paving is complete except for the top coat, which will be done in the spring. Burt Allen has received numerous complaints about speeders now that the paving is complete. There was a discussion about the amount of money left in the road budget and how much the grant on Munger St. was for.
• Letter to Rick Kehne, Transportation Advisory Committee RE: Transportation Planning Study. Burt Allen made a motion to sign the letter, second by Paul Audy. All agreed.
• Summary of Road Crew Hours – No action taken
• Vt. State Infrastructure Bank: Funding available for Municipal Transportation Construction Projects. No action taken.
• Vt. Better Back Roads: Grant Application – Copy to Katie Reilley, for the Road Crew.
• Cigna – Enrollment / change form to cancel Dave Heilser’s insurance. Paul Audy made a motion to sign, second by Keith Hall. All agreed.
• Addison Co. Road Foremen Network Meeting – 10 am, September 19, 2007 at the Town Garage in Cornwall. Katie Reilley will be attending.
• Job Applications – Burt Allen made a motion not to accept any of the applications for the road crew position and to re-open the search for a new road crew member, second by Keith Hall. All agreed.
• State of Vt. Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs RE: The Ancient Roads Research and Mapping Grant and the Municipal Education Grant – copies given to Donald Johnston who had previously shown interest, and Katie Reilley for the Road Crew. No action taken.
• Cris Messerle offered some information about a federal grant using State Troopers. That involves a three year contract with the Troopers. The Town pays $125 per hour to have a Trooper assigned to the Town of New Haven for designated hours. Tickets are written in code, and money is kicked back to the Town. The Town would be responsible for one year of that contract. No action taken.
• Roger Boise received a phone call tonight from someone wondering if Roger would ask the Selectboard where the Towns’ York Rake is. This unidentified person said they had seen the York Rake out in Panton. Burt Allen said he thought it was out there and that he would ask the Road Crew to go out and pick it up as soon as possible.

·        Burt Allen has spoken with Steve Flint the Principal from Beeman Elementary in regards to the transient who has been hanging around the school and the center of Town. There have been numerous concerns raised about him being around the school, the library and the Town Office. Burt Allen made a motion to have Cris Messerle put in a call to the State Police, Paul Audy second. All agreed.

·        Tractor Bids: 8:40 pm, Paul Audy recused himself from opening the bids. Keith Hall and Burt Allen opened five bids that were received. The amounts ranged from $3,333.33 – $12,100.00.  Discussion on the amounts followed, with Keith Hall making a motion to refuse all of the bids, second by Burt Allen. Burt Allen made a motion to run the ad in the newspaper for one more month, second by Keith Hall.

·        Proposed amendment to the 2005 agreement between the New Haven School District and the Town of New Haven: changes in section 9, page 4 the change will be as follows: The school will be responsible for cleaning the restrooms during the school year. The Town has agreed to continue to supply the paper products for this year. Keith Hall made a motion to accept the proposed amendment, second by Paul Audy. All agreed.

·        Two Brothers Tavern – Request to cater a wedding on 9/29/07 at the home of James Schaefer, 690 Pearson Rd. Paul Audy made a motion to sign the request, second Keith Hall. All agree.

MISC. CORRESPONDENCE:

• Griffin & Griffin Excavating, Inc. – Magic Salt
• Northeast Conference on Flood Hazards, Liabilities and Opportunities
• Kleinschmidt RE: Otter Creek Hydroelectric Project – draft proposed study plans
• Vt. Agency of Transportation RE: Sidewalk Project

REGULAR BUSINESS:

• VELCO Notice of intent – closing on parcel off Plank Rd. and by RR tracks. Pam Kingman will set up a time to meet for the closing.
• Michelle Litch – Request to become a part time employee instead of a temporary cleaning person. Paul Audy made a motion to change her position to part time, second by Keith Hall. All agreed.
• Allen Swain – would like to put up a fence down at the River Park using guard rail posts and cable. Burt Allen suggested calling Gil Newbury at District # 5. Mr. Swain would also like permission to cut down 3 – 4 dead elm trees and take the wood. Burt Allen made a motion to allow Allen Swain to take the trees and to write up an estimate for the fence, second by Paul Audy. All agree.
• Taborri Bruhl – has accepted the Energy Coordinator position.
• Appointment for Addison Co. Regional Planning: Transportation Advisory Committee. No action taken.
• Addison Co. Regional Planning Commission: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program – will revisit at the next meeting Oct. 2, 2007.

Treasurers Report

Sign pay orders

Old Business:

Adjourn: 9:20 pm