Town of New Haven

Town of New Haven Selectmen’s Public Hearing at 7:00 pm

Selectboard Meeting to follow at

7:30 pm Town Offices

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Public Hearing on the Development Review Board

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

Others: Cris Messerle, Al Karnatz, Tim Bouton, Jim Gallott, Andy Dykstra, John Madden, Susie Leonard, Doug Weber, Jeff Everest, Jim Walsh, Donna Blaise, Fred Napoleon, Barb Torian, Warren Whitcomb, Steve Dupoise, Marcia Dupoise, Roger Boise, Cyrus Levesque, John Evers

Planning Commission Chair, Al Karnatz spoke about the November 2007 meeting between the Selectboard, Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The idea of creating a Development Review Board has been kicked around for several years. He feels this will be an improvement to consolidate all the bodies. Mr. Karnatz said the Selectboard has the authority to make the change, and it is the Selectboard who will choose members for the DRB. The DRB will be made up of a culmination of members from the Planning Commission and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. This coming March some of the PC and ZBA member’s terms will expire, so it is a good time to choose members to form the DRB.  Mr. Karnatz explained that the applications that are already in progress will need to keep going with original application. New applications will go to the DRB. Mr. Karnatz added the DRB actually replaces the ZBA, and the DRB will take on some of the duties of the PC. This frees up the PC to focus on the Town Plan and Zoning Regulations. Al Karnatz said that this doesn’t change the Zoning Regulations it will just be a different way to administer them.

ZBA member, Tim Bouton said when this process starts the current members of the ZBA will need to resign to make it official.

Steve Dupoise – Strongly supports the DRB, feels it will streamline the process keeping it consistent by always talking with the same people on one board.

John Madden – Handed out a pamphlet he made up in regards to the development review board and his view of how the Selectboard should go about dealing with the changes. Mr. Madden feels the Selectboard has no authority to go ahead with this considering he still has a matter before the District Court on a petition he filed in November of 2007. Mr. Madden feels by doing this it will “open a can of worms.” He feels that the language needs to be changed in the zoning regulations to change the bylaws, and that doing this change requires a Town vote.

Al Karnatz – Disagrees with John Madden; according to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns all it takes is for the Selectboard to make a motion to file a one page Resolution giving all authority to the DRB.

Burt Allen – Asked what the process is if one of the members of the DRB isn’t doing the job that is expected of them, does the Selectboard have the authority  to dismiss them?

Tim Bouton – Answered that the Selectboard has to prove that person hasn’t done right by the Town, then the Selectboard needs to show “just cause”, just as the ZBA does now. Mr. Bouton added having alternate members for the ZBA has been extremely beneficial, and is asking the Selectboard to appoint some alternate members to the DRB.

Cris Messerle – Wanted to remind everyone that the boards will still be bound by the zoning regulations. In some instances precedence has been set and future applicants sometimes expect the same.

Jim Walsh – Talked about the new facility at the Junction, and how many times this has gone back and forth between the PC and ZBA. He said there has been a lack of communication between the two boards and it has been frustrating. Going to the DRB will be a definite improvement. He would like to suggest the DRB have 9 members with 3 alternating terms.

Al Karnatz – Would like to suggest a 5 member DRB with 3 alternates, but it is the Selectboard’s choice.

Keith Hall – Asked if Al Karnatz could put together a package to present to the Selectboard.

Al Karnatz – Yes, he will call John Evers and other members to put something together.

Paul Audy – Asking for a list of people from the PC and ZBA who would be interested in serving on the DRB.

Al Karnatz – Hoping for continuity, he will stay on as the PC chair and is hoping John Evers will be the chair for the DRB.

Tim Bouton – Added that the fee schedule may need to be changed when the boards change.

Keith Hall made a motion with the intent to go with a Development Review Board, after a package with more details from the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Adjustment and a Resolution, seconded by Paul Audy. All agreed.

Paul Audy made a motion to adjourn from the Public Hearing and move directly into the regular Selectboard meeting @ 7:23 pm, seconded by Burt Allen. All agreed. 

AGENDA RESULTS:

Read and approve minutes, make corrections if needed.

NEW BUSINESS

Visitors Business:

• Susie Leonard & Doug Weber – Sidewalk Project: Susie Leonard has been the Sidewalk Project Manager since 2005. She gave an overview of the timeline of the project that started with a Feasibility Study in 2003,  which the Selectboard approved; up to the most recent Selectboard  approval of plans in May of 2007. In July 2007, Ms. Leonard found out the Town would need to gain 5’ temporary construction easements along Main St. and the Village Green. Letters were written to the 3 property owners along Main Street; and permission was granted by the Johnson’s & Quinn’s, but not by the Everest’s. VTRANS has said they will need to relocate the sign on the Johnson’s property, which is not an issue.

Doug Weber - There is a need for a permanent location for a sign on Main St. in front of the Everest’s house. One option is that section of sidewalk could be eliminated from the project, but still put in the curb at the corner of South St. and Main.

 Burt Allen raised the question of who is responsible for the maintenance the sidewalk.  Susie Leonard said she would assume the Town would be responsible for all the maintenance, considering it is a Town project. Warren Whitcomb suggested having the property owners where the sidewalk goes maintain them. Discussion on the sidewalk continued and where the idea originally came from. There is a difference of opinion about who thinks the sidewalks are necessary.  Everyone does agree that the kids crossing Main St. need to be safe. A few people at the meeting feel at this point the project should stop and the Town should pay back any money it has received from the state. Others feel it is a safety issue that needs to be addressed, that involves our children. Beeman Elementary School has secured a Safe Routes to School grant that would tie into the sidewalk project and make it safer for the children to walk to and from school, and then the number of kids walking would more than likely increase. Susie Leonard mentioned she heard there was a petition going around against the sidewalk project. Pam Kingman said she had received the petition in the Town Office on January 8, 2008. Warren Whitcomb asked if the Selectboard would put the petition on the warning. Barb Torian and Al Karnatz questioned the legality of the petition, considering the sidewalk project has already been voted on. Keith Hall said that he will run the petition by the Town Attorney before deciding what to do with it. Doug Weber said if the Town waits until Town Meeting in March, because of this petition, then construction won’t happen this year. Keith Hall made a motion to go ahead with the sidewalk project, and eliminate the section on the south side of Main St., seconded by Paul Audy. All agreed.

• Suzy Roorda – Town Hall Applications: 1) Contra Dance on January 26, 2008 from 7-10 pm in the gym; contact is Susan Smiley - approved.   2) Wild Game Supper on February 9, 2008 from 12 – 9 pm using the kitchen and cafeteria; contact is Alan Whitney – approved. 3) Karate/Self Defense class Mondays in the gym from 6 - 8 pm; contact is Travis Paquette – approved. 4) New Haven 4H Dairy Club held on January 12 & 26, February 9, and March 1, 2008 from 9 am – noon in the gym; contact is Cindy Kayhart – approved. 5) Softball Pitching Clinic on January 12 ,

     19 & 26, 2008 in the gym; contact is Lanny Smith – approved.

• Architect, Peter Morris – Keith has spoken with him about doing a presentation on the new Town Office building. This will be to inform the public. Keith Hall will talk to Mr. Morris this week to set up the time for the end of January. Paul Audy made a motion to pay Peter Morris $11,675.00, seconded by Keith Hall. All agreed.

MISC. CORREPONDENCE:

• Ouimette & Runcie RE: Town of New Haven / Rodney Boise – Mr. Boise was supposed to bring his garage on Main St. into full compliance with by July 10, 2007. Mr. Ouimette will file suit after the first of the year. Burt Allen said Rodney Boise plans to take care of the garage this week.
• Addison County Regional Planning Commission – Public Hearing on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 @ 7:30 pm.
• Addison County Regional Planning Commission – RE: VELCO New Haven to Vergennes Line Design Modifications
• Vermont League of Cities and Towns – Delta Dental Rate Realignment to be effective on July 1, 2008.

* AMEND MINUTES FROM DECEMBER 18, 2007:  Paul Audy made a motion to have African Drum and Dance Classes pay $12.50 per class, seconded by Burt Allen. All agreed.

REGULAR BUSINESS:

OLD BUSINESS:

Adjourn: 8:40pm