Town of New Haven

Town of New Haven Selectmen’s Meeting

7:00 pm Town Offices

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

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

Others: Mike Dykstra, Betty Bell, Roger Boise, Barb Torian, Kirsten Pitts, Lowell Nottingham, Kim Callahan, Louise Kilborn-Brin, Jeff Everest, Tim Bouton, Fred Napoleon

Agenda Results

NEW BUSINESS:

• Mike Dykstra – Here on behalf of the New Haven Volunteer Fire Department.  Each year the Town gives the Department $17,000 towards operating expenses $8,000 of which immediately goes towards their insurance coverage. The Fire Truck Fund from the Town is $25,000. This leaves the Department on a thin budget. Over the last couple of months, Chief Dykstra with the help of other firemen put together a budget that breaks down the Departments expenses, as well as their future needs and expenses for replacement of equipment and trucks. Chief Dykstra handed out copies of the Fire Dept. budget, which clearly shows a shortfall of $15,655 for the year. Chief Dykstra is hoping to go on a rotational basis for replacing worn out equipment and trucks, that way each year they can budget for the items that will need replacing. Chief Dykstra mentioned the vast amount of man hours the Fire Department puts in each year for fundraising, and the amount of money raised compared to the amount of hours put in. This year they fund raised $26,000, but it still isn’t enough to maintain the level of service for the Town. The cost of everything has risen over the years, and the Fire Department is asking the Town to help with more money towards insurance and operating expenses. Chief Dykstra is asking the Town for $25,000 in operating expenses and the Fire Truck Fund to remain at $25,000.  Chief Dykstra apologized for having to come to the Town for more money, but their expenses are growing with rising costs of equipment and maintenance, and the Fire Dept. would appreciate the support. Paul Audy told Mike Dykstra they will discuss it at the budget meetings in January.

·        Barb Torian – The Town has received the first installment for the Park & Ride Grant of $15,000. She suggested that they puy the money into the Reserve Facilities Fund if the selectboard agrees. Paul Audy made a motion to put the $15,000 from the Park & Ride grant into the Reserve Facilities Fund, seconded by Keith Hall. All agreed.

Barb Torian - also mentioned that there is $200, 000 in surplus in the Road Budget this is due to $73,000 in grant money that just came in this year and some projects that did not get done.  This means that money will be applied to next year’s budget. After some discussion about the surplus, the selectboard decided to put some of the money towards paying off the grader. Burt Allen made a motion to pay off the grader; amount being $46,000, interest is $1046.51. Seconded by Paul Audy, all agreed.

Paul Audy made a motion to put an additional $25,000 in the Equipment Fund, seconded by Keith Hall. All agreed. Ms. Torian also suggested the selectboard put an additional $15,000 into the Reserved Facilities Fund to bring the Fund back to what was originally voted.

Keith Hall asked Barb Torian about monthly Treasurer’s reports, with the end of the year and budget time coming up he would like to have these reports. Barb Torian said she gives a complete set to Pam Kingman each month that goes into the selectboard minutes, but she would be happy to print out copies for the selectboard.

• Kirsten Pitts – Request for refunds for the ball field. The ball field and the playground are both complete. Last year these were put into the budget and the selectboard agreed to pay the matching fund. Total amount of the bid price was $27,990 the Towns share is $13,997.25. Paul Audy made a motion to pay the Towns share of the ball field grant of $13,997.25 to be paid to Beeman Elementary School. Seconded by Burt Allen. All agreed.
• Guy Magnano – no show
• Vermont League of Cities and Towns RE: Consent to Rate Application and Disclosure Statement – This Pollution Disclosure is a reminder to all municipalities of the coverage.  Paul Audy made a motion to sign the Disclosure Statement, seconded by Keith Hall. All agreed.
• Suzy Roorda – Not able to attend, she submitted three 2008 Town Hall Applications for the following: 1) African Drum Class, run by Kim Callahan to be held on the 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th Thursdays of each month in the gym from 6 – 7:30 pm. Cost will remain at $15 minimum and $25 maximum depending in the number of people.  2) Children’s African Dance Class, run by Ashley Bessette to be held on four consecutive Saturdays in March: 1^st, 8^th, 15^th & 22^nd, from 3 – 4:30 pm. Cost will be $50.00 for four classes. 3) Adult African Dance Class, run by Ashley Bessette to be held on the 2^nd, 3^rd & 4^th Thursdays of each month in the gym from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. Cost will remain at $15 minimum and $25 maximum.  Burt Allen made a motion to sign each application pertaining to African Drum and Dance Classes. Seconded by Paul Audy, all agreed.
• Betty Bell – Wanted to let the selectboard know that Sandy Kemp will be coming in to talk to Barb Torian about the money towards the cemetery plots he is interested in purchasing at Riverside Cemetery. Also she is actively trying to get in touch with George Crane to ask him about gaining access to the fence around Riverside Cemetery so she can finish painting  it, and Sandy Kemp can mow around it in the summer. Betty Bell also let the selectboard know that she gained permission from Susan Smiley to mow around the fence on the other side.
•  Peter Morris, Architect RE: Breakdown of Cost for the New Town Office – Discussion about the road crew doing the excavation piece to save money. There is $200,000 in the Reserved Facilities Fund that will be put towards the total amount of the building cost, which came in at $794,000; but will be reduced to $564,000 with the money in the Reserved Facilities Fund. Fred Napoleon was concerned that the new building will be too grand for what the Town needs, and questioned what Peter Morris could do compared to what Jerry Smiley had already done. Keith Hall explained that Peter Morris has the architects stamp whereas Jerry Smiley does not. Paul Audy added that the new building will be a simple building that will be a very appropriate for the Towns needs. Mr. Napoleon also expressed concern about the Dog Team Tavern Property and the potential for it becoming a public park. Burt Allen said he had recently received a phone call from some concerned citizens on Dog Team Rd. about noise, dogs, and  there was a vagrant living there for a couple of days. Mr. Napoleon also said from an economic standpoint the restaurant always made a profit he would rather see a business there. Paul Audy explained that this proposal for the park was brought before the selectboard by the new landowner, and that the Town has nothing to do with it. This proposal right now is between the Middlebury Area Land Trust and the new property owner; if it does go through as a park then it will go to a Town vote.

TREASURER’S REPORT:

• Pay bills
• Sign pay orders

MISC. CORRESPONDENCE:

• Better Backroads – Preliminary grant award notification letter
• State of Vermont Dept. of Taxes – Results of the Division’s 2007 equalization study
• Ouimette & Runcie – Letter to Mr. Crilly RE: the Right of Way on Rivers Bend Road.
• Addison County Home Health and  Hospice Inc. to Gilbert Newbury, District Transportation Administrator RE: Traffic Flow on Route 7
• Vermont League of Cities and Towns – Legislative Priorities
• Northern Ecological Associates RE: 3^rd Party Inspection Summary
• Vt. Transco (VELCO) RE: Additional info. regarding Lay-Down areas
• Vt. Transco (VELCO) RE: Incident near Lime Kiln Rd. [stuck truck]
• State of VT. Division for Historic Preservation RE: Bottum Farm
• Addison County Regional Planning Commission – River Corridor Plan
• 3 Phase Construction for VELCO – Overweight /oversize permit
• Addison County

REGULAR BUSINESS:

OLD BUSINESS:

NEWS LETTERS:

• VLCT News
• Weekly Legislative Report

Adjourn: 8:15 pm