Town of New Haven

Town of New Haven Selectboard Meeting

7:00 pm Town Offices

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

 

Present: Keith Hall, Pam Marsh, Pat Paquette, Lowell Nottingham, Roger Boise and Pam Kingman

Others: Barb Torian, Michelle Litch, Rick Kehne, Chris Eling, Doug Weber, Joel Perrigo, Mary Pratt, Polly Darnell, Beverly Landon, Jeff Everest, Dale Everest, Tim Bouton, Suzy Roorda and Jerry Smiley

 

 

AGENDA RESULTS:

 

VISITORS BUSINESS:

  1. Michelle Litch – Ancient Roads need to be identified by the town by February 2009. Michelle Litch is willing to work on identifying these class 4 roads, currently she is paid $16 per hour as a Lister. Originally, Donald Johnston was going to volunteer his time on the project, but he could not commit to it after all, although he is willing to help if needed.  Bev Landon said she had a file in the office when she worked as the Town Clerk that was marked Road Right of Way Widths that should help with the Ancient Roads Project. Bev Landon thought maybe the file would be in with the containers for the development of the tax maps. This is one location that has not been gone thru in the search to find this file. Tim Bouton said the legislature just extended the deadline to 2010. Mr. Bouton mentioned that he heard other towns have a group of volunteers working together to find the roads, and this has been a 2 year project for most of the groups. No action taken at this time.  Pam Marsh suggested we put an ad in the newsletter asking for volunteers to work on the project and the Selectboard will revisit the issue in a couple of months.
  2. Chris Eling, Architect – New Town Office / Library: Mr. Eling came on behalf of Peter Morris. He handed out a blueprint of the building as well as the site plan. He was here to reintroduce the plans to the new members of the Selectboard. Mr. Eling explained that it is a basic building, with an eye on low operating costs, including high efficiency lighting and a geothermal heating system. The geothermal heating system is expensive to install, but pays for itself over a short period of time. The geothermal pump will be connected to the old well on site, and uses the earth’s natural heat and or cooling to help fuel the system. The site plan shows the circular driveway around the building. Lowell Nottingham said there is a committee from Beeman Elementary doing a traffic study that will tie in with the Town Office plan. The committee is looking at the way the buses come and go and want to make sure the school is consistent with the Town’s design. Discussion on some of the changes that Jerry Smiley made to the plans that were drawn up by Bud Carpenter, making the building and parking lot more user friendly. Keith Hall said we now need to finalize the plans and dollar amount, and then the board can meet with Peter Morris to go over the final stages then put it out to bid. Mr. Hall thought with construction business slow, maybe building costs will be lower. Barb Torian said there will need to be sufficient cabling in the new office and library to accommodate each work station / office, as well as shelving for storage and books in the vault and she wondered if the Computer Fund could be used towards some of this. She feels a security system should also be considered as we look to the future. The Selectboard thanked Mr. Eling for coming to the meeting. Pam Kingman will contact Peter Morris about attending the May 19, 2008 meeting. Once the project has been approved by the Selectboard, it will have to go to the voters for approval before it goes out to bid.
  3. Sidewalk Project Manager – Amy Diller from Addison County Regional Planning Commission is willing to take on the role of the Sidewalk Project Manager, working through A.C.R.P.C. There isn’t much left of the project, mostly securing right of way easements. The Town paid Susie Leonard $20 per hour for this position. Rick Kehne who also works for ACRPC said it would be $50 per hour for Amy Diller, but the funds would be paid for through the grant. If it did exceed the grant monies, ACRPC would absorb those costs.  Susie Leonard has already done a lot of the work. The only things left to do are: easement for the R.O.W. and procure a contractor before construction can start. Ms. Diller had given Mr. Kehne an Agreement Resolution of Support. The Selectboard agreed they would like to have a cap put on the spending and try to judge the hours spent on the project. Rick Kehne said he would talk to Amy Diller when she returns, and have her amend the Agreement. Pam Marsh made a motion to approve hiring Amy Diller as the Sidewalk Project Manager, fee not to exceed the amount available in grants, seconded by Lowell Nottingham. 3 yes / 2 no

Doug Weber from Summit Engineering – He was here last January / February, project was left with still needing two temporary R.O.W. easements. The one easement on Andrew Johnson’s property is to relocate the Beeman Elementary School sign. Mr. Johnson has been very cooperative. There also needs to be a drafting document written by the Town’s Attorney that would go to Joel Perrigo from VTRANS, and who would then come up with a contractor for the job. Keith Hall asked if the state owned enough R.O.W. on Main St. (Rt. 17) as you head west. Doug Weber said yes, it is a 4 rod road and there is plenty of R.O.W., so there is no reason to get temporary construction easements in this location.             Discussion on why some in Town are not in favor of this project. Many do not like the turning radius coming off of Town Hill Road onto Main St. They are concerned that trucks, buses, fire engines, etc. will have to pull out onto Main St. in a wide sweeping turn forcing them to cross the center line and into oncoming traffic. Doug Weber said this turn meets the national standard of a 35 ft. radius. All agree that trucks aren’t allowed on Town Hill Rd., but many have to make deliveries to the Village Green Market and Packard of Vermont. Keith Hall suggested that the road for trucks be an entrance only traffic coming off Route 17, so trucks would be forced to exit going around the Town Green and out through South St., where there is greater visibility. Another concern was that the sidewalk project was put into the road budget and many people feel they didn’t have a chance to vote on it separately. There were numerous meetings and votes about the sidewalk project for folks to voice their opinions, and the Selectboard had fully supported the project. Keith Hall said a month ago the Board voted 3 in favor and 2 opposed to go ahead with the project, he read the legal opinion from the Town Attorney  in regards to the petition to reconsider the road budget filed with the Town on April 1, 2008.  (See Attached)                              

Lowell Nottingham suggested putting a fact sheet together on the sidewalk project that will go out in the next newsletter. On the fact sheet there will be a place for comments giving towns people a chance to weigh in on the project. The fact sheet can then be returned to the Town Offices for the Board to review. Keith Hall made a motion to put the sidewalk project out for a straw vote through the Town newsletter, seconded by Lowell Nottingham. 5 yes / 0 no

4.   Suzy Roorda – Town Hall Application 1) Private use on July 19, 2008 in the Cafeteria from 9am – 4pm. Pam Marsh made a motion to approve application, seconded by Lowell Nottingham. 5 yes / 0 no

Suzy Roorda – Parks & Rec. would like to remove the pine tree on the south end of the village green. The top of it was lopped off by CVPS a number of years ago, making the tree look unsightly. Keith Hall suggested Suzy Roorda contact Tree Warden, Allen Noble before doing anything.

Suzy Roorda – Gazebo needs to be resealed. She has gotten some quotes from a few people, the cheapest being Lanny Smith at $2000. This would include the park benches and picnic tables. Pat Paquette said Tony Bosnich works for the Northland Job Corps. Mr. Bosnich mentioned the kids there need to do community service. They have agreed to paint the fence at the Evergreen Cemetery, so perhaps they would be interested in staining the gazebo. Pat Paquette said he will get in touch with Tony Bosnich.

Pat Paquette has talked with Tory Palmer about Events Coordinator, Suzy Roorda, making her purchases for events from the Village Green Market. The store can bill the Town. Keith Hall made a motion for the Events Coordinator to make all purchases thru the VGM, seconded by Pat Paquette. 5 yes / 0 no

 

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. ROADS: New Truck for the Road Crew: The 1999 truck burned; they think it was electrical. The cost for towing it to Clarks was $700, and to repair it was another $1700. Both Road Commissioners agreed that it was worth repairing the vehicle, then driving it back to the shed and putting it up for sale. For now the ’99 will only be used for emergency purposes, otherwise it will sit until we can sell it. Roger Boise and Pat Paquette are waiting on some price quotes for a tandem truck.

Roger Boise has been working on taking inventory of everything at the Town Garage, from safety vests to tools and cleaning out a lot of paperwork that will need to be sorted through.

Road Commissioners, Pat Paquette and Roger Boise have                implemented the use of purchase orders for the Road Crew. Previously the Crew could spend up to $1000 without any prior approval. Now they must call the Town Office to fill out a purchase order and call either Mr. Boise or Mr. Paquette to get approval before any purchases are made.

Pat Paquette met with the State Highway people in regards to the yield sign at the intersection of Town Hill Rd. and Route 7. The State guy said the State will put up two larger 48” yield signs. Make one visible as you come down the hill on Route 7 heading north; as you turn onto Town Hill Rd., you must yield to traffic coming off Route 7 heading south.

  1. Ouimette & Runcie – RE: Bev Landon’s concerns about the following were reviewed by the Selectboard and forwarded to the Town Attorney for legal advice. 1. Failure to abide by the $5000 rule. 2. The Reserve Funds and, 3. Town Clerk / Treasurer Compensation. (See Attached for details)
  2. John Madden – Zoning Lawsuit – Three questions were asked of the Town through our Attorney by Mr. Madden in regards to a petition from June 26, 2006. (See Attached)
  3. David Minor – Estimate for roadside mowing –2008 mowing costs have increased to $9720.00 up from $8640 from last year. Pat Paquette and Roger Boise will contact other people who may be interested in mowing, and will get prices.
  4. Tim Goyette – He turned the power off at the King House while they are gutting the inside. He would like permission to install a temporary pole to hook power back up. He is asking for the Town to pay for the power and he will pay for the installation. Keith Hall made a motion to have Tim Goyette install a temporary pole, seconded by Lowell Nottingham. 5yes / 0 no. Roger Boise installed a wooden door on hinges over the open window on the back of the King House garage.
  5. DRB Training – Selectboard is invited on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 @ 7:00 pm, at the Town Hall
  6. VLCT PACIF Presents: Reasonable Suspicion Training for CDL Supervisors – held in Rutland on Friday, May 16, 2008 from 9 –noon. Phil Busier will be attending.
  7. Overweight Permits – Pat Paquette signed
  8. Keith Hall made a motion to approve the minutes from April 15, 2008 and April 30, 2008 meetings, seconded by Pam Marsh. 5 yes / 0 no

 

REGULAR BUSINESS:

  1. Appointments: Planning Commission: Al Karnatz has been in contact with Betty Bell, Glenn Ash and Cindy Kayhart and is waiting to hear back from 2 of them. He will be in touch with the Board with suggestions.  There are still vacancies for the Emergency Management Coordinator and the Transportation Advisory Committee.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

  1. Barb Torian: The Towns emergency cell phone was turned back into the Town for use by the road commissioners.
  2. Received the check from Tim Goyette for payment of the King House. She is questioning how long the Selectboard wants to put it in the bank. Ms. Torian has contacted 3 different banks, she has previously dealt with Chittenden Bank and they are offering the best rate. She added that last year the Town didn’t have to borrow money because of prebate / rebate money that was sent directly to the Town. In previous years the Town has borrowed and has made money on it. Pam Marsh made a motion to allow Treasurer Barb Torian to borrow in anticipation of taxes from the Chittenden Bank Tim Goyette will be deposited at 2.45%, seconded by Lowell Nottingham. 5 yes / 0 no

Pam Marsh asked why the Town has never changed its fiscal year, as this would spread the tax burden. Barb Torian said it has been discussed over the years, but it was decided to leave it as a calendar year, more discussion on fiscal year versus calendar year. No action taken

  1. Payroll – Keith Hall made a motion to approve the payroll, seconded by Pam Marsh. 5 yes / 0 no
  2. Pay Bills – Pat Paquette made a motion to pay bills, seconded by Roger Boise. 5 yes / 0 no

 

MISC. CORRESPONDENCE:

  1. Addison Co. Home Health & Hospice – Thank you for the Towns support of the traffic study along Rt. 7
  2. S T Paving, Inc.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Adjourn: 10:05 pm

Respectfully Submitted: