Town of New Haven

Town of New Haven Selectmen’s Meeting

7:00 pm Town Offices

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

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

Others: Barb Torian, Claire Van Buren, Tim Goyette, Roger Boise, Jeff Everest, Pam Marsh

Agenda Results:

Read and approve minutes

NEW BUSINESS

• Tim Goyette - He has an interest in buying and moving the King House to his lot on South Street.  Paul Audy showed Tim Goyette the warning that will be put on the ballot for Town Meeting regarding the King House. Tim Goyette realizes that the King House will go to the highest bidder, he just came before the Selectboard to express his interest.
• Information from John Madden – Expressing concerns about paving Hunt Rd., but there are no plans to pave Hunt Road in the near future.
• Location of New Drop Box – The new drop box has arrived and there is a need to find a temporary location for it and someone to install it. Paul Audy made a motion to have the drop box temporarily installed at the most suitable location, seconded by Keith Hall. All agreed.
• Sidewalk Petition – Town attorney, Jim Ouimette has looked over the petition and suggested to the Selectboard that they are not required to put this petition on the ballot at Town Meeting.  Jim Ouimette also referred the Selectboard to Title 19, Section §905 in the State Statutes, “The legislative body of a municipality may construct and maintain suitable footpaths, bicycle paths or sidewalks, or any combination of these, within the limits of town highways where they do not conflict with travel on the highway.”   Jeff Everest expressed concern about the sidewalk area around the Village Green. He said that many people in Town have issues with the way the Green will be changed to accommodate the new intersection of Main Street and Town Hill Road.  Mr. Everest said he has watched the flow of traffic from his fathers place at the corner of South Street and Main and he has concerns about traffic turning left at the newly created intersection. He would like to see the Town unified in this sidewalk project, but feels the project should not have been voted on under the highway budget, that it should have been a separate article. Mr. Everest said in the Town Report, the total summary page on the budget is confusing and that the numbers don’t seem to add up. Keith Hall said Mr. Everest should have brought that up at Town Meeting and said that the Sidewalk Project was in the Town Report as a line item. Discussion on maintenance of sidewalks once they are installed and the possibility of getting the state to lower the speed limit on Main Street in the future. The Selectboard would still like to go forward with the project.
• New Town Office Presentation – Barb Torian explained that Jerry Smiley had come to the town office last week about doing a presentation on the new building at Town Meeting. The Selectboard feels strongly that they will ask the architect, Peter Morris to do a presentation on the new office building after town meeting. Anything that involves the King House will be done by Australian ballot that is what the Town voted on last year at Town Meeting. Keith Hall said he is prepared to talk about the King House situation at Town meeting.

 ROADS BUDGET:

• Burt Allen spoke with Phil Busier about road salt for the winter. Mr. Busier feels the Town should be in good shape to get through the rest of the season.
• Chloride prices are on the rise, up $.10 per gallon.
• Discussion about buying a new truck compared to fixing up the truck we are using now that may require a new dump box. Burt Allen and Keith Hall will go and look over the truck and see what it needs.
• Discussion of wages for Road Crew:

Road Foreman - Phil Busier - salary - $48,250.00 per year

           Road Manager - Scott Busier - salary - $39,850.00 per year

           Scott Warner – $12.50 - $14.00 per hour

           Assistant to the Road Crew - Katie Reilley - $16.00 per hour

GENERAL FUND BUDGET:

• See attached sheet
• Discussion of wages for Town Office Employees:

Town Clerk – Salary - $ 21,000.00 per year

Town Treasurer – Salary - $26,000.00 per year

Selectboard Assistant - $17.00 per hour

Asst. Clerks / Asst. Treasurer - $16.00 per hour

Zoning Administrator - $16.00 per hour

Lister’s -$16.00 per hour

Events Coordinator - $15.00 per hour, 12 hours per week

      Auditors - $16.00 per hour

      Planning Commission and ZBA minute takers - $12 -$16 per hour

      Custodial $15.00 per hour for 40 hours per month

      Constable stipend - $300.00 per year

MISC. CORRESPONDENCE:

• Vermont Department of Taxes Division of Property Valuation and Review 2008 Annual Report
• Tetra Tech (Northern Ecological Assoc., Inc.) – Third party inspection summary report on VELCO.
• Vermont League of Cities and Towns – Municipal Support for Vermont Coalition of Municipalities’ Call for Resolution Regarding Finance and Property Tax Reform.
• Addison Co. Home Health and Hospice – Second request to District # 5 for a sign on Route 7. Home Health is awaiting a response from the State on having a sign installed to warn motorists of the possibility of left hand turns along the passing lane.
• Bristol Family Center board of Directors – Looking for input from area Selectboard’s. They are holding a meeting on Thursday, January 24, 2008 @ 5 – 6:15 pm in the Bristol Town Offices.
• Road Crew Application – Damon Bushey – not hiring at this time

REGULAR BUSINESS:

TREASURER’S REPORT:

·        Sign pay orders

OLD BUSINESS:

Adjourn: 9:45 pm