Town of New Haven

Town of New Haven Selectmen’s Meeting

7:00 pm Town Offices

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

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

Others: Roger Boise, Al Karnatz, Ebenezer Punderson, Barb Torian, Suzy Roorda

AGENDA RESULTS:

Read and approve minutes, make corrections if needed.

ROADS UPDATE - Action items include:

• Replacement of guard rails at the New Haven Mills cost is $789.00. A letter to Margaret and Paul Meacham will be written to ask them to cover the cost of the guard rails. Last winter one of their employees hit the guard rails causing extensive damage. The Meachams made a verbal agreement with the Town to cover the cost of replacing the guard rails. A clause will be included in the letter to give the Meachams thirty days to pay for the guard rails; if they have not paid by then, the Town will submit the bill to the Meachams’ Insurance Company. Paul Audy made a motion to send the Meachams the letter, seconded by Burt Allen. All agreed.
• Munger Street Culverts- $ 10,668.22 has been spent on replacement culverts. This is only partial expenditure of the grant we received from the state for an estimated $43,500 work which included replacing culverts on Plank Road. Burt Allen made a motion to wait until spring when the work can be completed, and then submit to the state for reimbursement. Seconded by Paul Audy. All agreed.
• ’99 International – The selectboard discussed the need to replace the dump box.  Burt Allen made a motion to have the road crew continue to use the truck as it is through the winter, seconded by Keith Hall. All agreed.
• Rattlin’ Bridge Guard Rail – The road crew would like to extend the guard rail on the approach to the bridge. It will be roughly 125 LF, and will cost about $2,000. Keith Hall made a motion to approve the guard rail extension, seconded by Burt Allen. All agreed.
• Note * Pearson Rd. between Campground Rd. and the Waltham Town line will be under construction for the winter.

NEW BUSINESS

Visitors Business:

• Al Karnatz – Development Review Board: Meeting on Thursday, November 29, 2007 @ 7:00 pm at the Town Offices. Mr. Karnatz would like to encourage the selectboard to attend the meeting along with the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment. The meeting is to get a general sense of how these members would feel about organizing a Development Review Board. The DRB would essentially eliminate the Zoning Board of Adjustment, but it would make the development issues in town easier to handle using one board instead of two separate boards. The DRB would combine functions. The DRB could have between 5-9 members, or 7 members with 2-3 alternates.  Al Karnatz said he imagines several current members of the ZBA would be on the new DRB. The meeting is to gather Town Officials for a discussion. Guest speakers include Tim Bouton from Addison Co. Regional Planning, Fred Dunnington and possibly Gary Baker from the Town of Middlebury.
• Ebenezer Punderson – Release of School Lease Land: There is 100 acres of “Glebe lands” on Jim Schaefer’s property off Pearson Rd. (old Pabst Farm) which Mr. Schaefer would like to deed to the Vermont Land Trust.  Mr. Punderson would like the selectboard to sign a quitclaim deed in order for the Vermont Land Trust to acquire the property. Vermont Land Trust requires having a clear title before taking ownership. Mr. Punderson did the title search for the property but was unable to locate the actual lease. He noted that the Glebe lands have carried through for each deed reference when the property has changed hands. Mr. Punderson added that this would be a gift to the Vermont Land Trust from Mr. Schaefer, and they would need to have the closing before the end of this year. Keith Hall expressed that this is an unusually large parcel of Glebe land, and he is not comfortable signing the quit claim deed without seeing the actual lease.  Keith Hall made a motion to have Mr. Punderson bring the actual lease to the next selectboard meeting on December 4, 2007. Seconded by Paul Audy. All agreed.
• Barb Torian – Heard that the New Haven First Response is low on volunteers. Possibly put something in the December Newsletter about the need for more people.

Request for a New Drop Box - for the Town Offices, something that will stand on its own, has a slot and gain access to remove documents with a key. Cost would be roughly $500. Barb Torian said she will look into the pricing if the selectboard agrees. Paul Audy made a motion to buy a new locking drop box, seconded by Burt Allen. All agreed.

Rate of pay - Zoning Board of Adjustment Clerk and Planning    Commission Clerk. Paul Audy made a motion to pay both clerks $16 per hour, seconded by Burt Allen. All agreed.

• Suzy Roorda – Request of funds for Winterfest totaling $300. Suzy Roorda will bring all receipts to Barb Torian.  Burt Allen made a motion to grant request for funds, seconded by Keith Hall. All agreed.

Suzy Roorda’s insurance will no longer cover anyone coming on her property to pick up the key for the Town Hall. Suzy Roorda approached the owners of the Village Green Market, to see if the would hold the key but they do not want the responsibility. Mrs. Roorda called the Town of Bristol to see how they handle renting Holley Hall; they use a combination box and change the number periodically. No action taken at this time.

New Town Hall Rental Applications for 2008, Suzy Roorda said she is repeatedly asked about renting the Towns tables and chairs. Paul Audy made a motion not to allow the Towns tables and chairs to be rented out, seconded by Burt Allen. All agreed.

Town Hall Application – Michele Chester would like to rent the Cafeteria on Sunday, December 9, 2007 from 1-3pm for Daisy Scouts. Paul Audy made a motion to sign the application, seconded by Burt Allen. All agreed.

• Suzy Roorda – In place of Julie Olson from Beeman Elementary School to request funds for girls and boys basketball, grades 4 – 6. There are about 30 - 35 children interested in participating. This is not limited to Beeman kids. If a child lives in New Haven and is the right age  they are encouraged to participate. Equipment will be purchased at Forth-n-Goal in Middlebury. Total request for funds is $576.45. Julie Olson will bring in receipts. Paul Audy made a motion to grant the request for funds for basketball, seconded by Keith Hall. All agreed.
• State of Vermont Policy & Planning Division – Mapping Unit - Ancient Roads Survey: This is a Legislative Report for Unidentified Corridors pursuant to Act 178 of 2006, Section 12(a) by the Agency of Transportation. Paul Audy made a motion to fill out the survey to the best of the selectboard’s ability, seconded by Keith Hall. All agreed.
• Sandy Kemp – Submitted a proposal for mowing along the outside of the Riverside Cemetery fence line which would be an additional $200 for the season, bringing the total amount to $2,200 for the 2008 mowing season. Keith Hall made a motion to approve the increase to have the outside of the fence mowed at Riverside Cemetery, seconded by Paul Audy. All agreed.
• Bill Brim – Letter of resignation from Emergency Management Coordinator Position.  Mr. Brim will be spending the winter in Florida and may be moving back there. The selectboard discussed appointing someone new to the position, but could not think of anyone at this time. No action taken.
• Cris Messerle – Letter of resignation from Deputy Director of Emergency Management position.  The selectboard discussed appointing someone new to the position, but could not think of anyone at this time. No action taken.

REGULAR BUSINESS:

MISC. CORRESPONDENCE:

• VLCT Board sets FY09 dues @ $.83 per capita New Haven’s share is $2,018. This is according to the 2006 Census Population estimates of 1,829 people living in New Haven.  Dues are to be paid in June, 2008.

• Town Health Officer, Steve Dupoise wanted the selectboard to be aware of a renter/rental problem in one of Richard Stones rental trailers.
• Addison County Humane Society – Response to Claire Van Buren’s letter about their adoptions process.
• VLCT – Tire Theft Loss – Check from the insurance company for $990.68 has been received.
• Letter written by Keith Hall to Shelley Gustofson and Bill Schoonover RE: Town involvement in mediation process with their neighbors on Fog Valley Rd.
• Ouimette & Runcie – RE: Deer View LLC Subdivision application (Appeal of John Madden ) Jim Ouimette appeared on the Town’s behalf.
• Kenlan, Schweibert, Facey & Goss RE:  Vermont Marble Power Division of Omya Inc.: Replacement of Beldon Falls Unit #2 Turbine
• Letter to VELCO RE: Lay – down area at the New Haven Substation

OLD BUSINESS:

Adjourn: 8:40 pm