December 6, 2021, Newfane Selectboard Minutes

Zoom Meeting   https://zoom.us/joinameeting     Meeting ID: 972 2791 1757   Passcode: 352680

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:  Angela Sanborn, Ann Golob, Shelly Huber, Katy Johnson- Aplin, and Mike Fitzpatrick (phone).

OTHERS PRESENT:  (In-person) Russell Bartell, Richard Marek, Joseph Runge, Peter – BCTV, and Wannetta Powling. (Zoom) Jay Wilson, Cina Friend, George Friend, Chris White, Timothy Taussig, Thomas Abbotts, Melissa Brown, Hilary Davis, Hal Moore, Kate Albergh, Jon Mack, and  Diana Urbaska.

CALL TO ORDER:  The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by Selectboard Chair Angela Sanborn.

ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA:    Shelly Huber made a motion to discuss Tuesday’s Special Town Meeting in terms of the call for masks or not as part of Old Business.  Katy Johnson- Aplin seconded. Roll called 5/0-  Motion passed.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

  • November 15, 2021, Regular Meeting.

Ann Golob made a motion to approve the Minutes of November 15, regular meeting.  Katy Johnson- Aplin seconded the motion.  Roll called – Motion passed 5/0.

  •  November 18, 2021, the Special Meeting.

Mike Fitzpatrick made a motion to approve November 18, Special Minutes. Ann Golob seconded. Roll called-Motion passed 4/0 with 1 abstention from Katy Johnson- Aplin.

  • November 18, 2021 Board of Liquor Control.

Shelly Huber made a motion to approve November 18, Board of Liquor Control Minutes.  Ann Golob seconded. Roll called-Motion passed 4/0 with 1 abstention from Katy Johnson- Aplin.

  •  November 23, 2021, Special Meeting.

Katy Johnson- Aplin made a motion to approve November 23, Special Minutes. Mike Fitzpatrick seconded. Roll called-Motion passed 4/0 with 1 abstention from Shelly Huber.

  • November 29, 2021, Budget Meeting.

Ann Golob made a motion to approve the Minutes of November 29, regular meeting. Mike Fitzpatrick seconded the motion.  Roll called – Motion passed 5/0.

 ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

  1. The Arch Bridge detour signs are being installed this week and will be covered until March when they close the road.
  2. We have been meeting weekly with the representative from FEMA to get reimbursed for the July 29, 2021 storm. On Wednesday, I will be showing him all of the roads that had damage.
  3. The 254 Depot Rd. culvert condemnation is being worked on by Michael from Fisher’s office and Matt Colburn from VTRANS. We are on hold with our portion until we get approval from them.
  4. I met today with Chad, the resident engineer on the Arch Bridge project, and John from Renaud Bros. They will leave an area next to our sandpile open for the residents of Duke Rd. to back into and turn around.
  5. Congratulations to Dave Bertram for getting his Class B CDL today.

Mike Fitzpatrick made a motion to approve the Road Foreman’s Report. Ann Golob seconded. Discussion ensued-

Russell Bartell, a resident of Duke Road, was present to express his concerns about the placement of the construction trailer now at the old garage.  Residents on Duke Road have used this location to turn their 20′ utility work trailers and 30′ travel trailers; around to access the main road and return to their residence.   It was mentioned that even emergency vehicles such as rescue and fire trucks could not make such a sharp turn on and off Duke Road, and they also have to use the turnaround.

Mike Fitzpatrick asked if the winter sand could be at a different location, near the trailhead parking or at the Town Garage.  Jay Wilson responded that the proposed site at the trailhead parking would be extremely muddy.  And that the site engineer felt that it would be possible to move the current winter-sand location closer to the bank and guardrail. Turning around should not be too tricky with the Arch bridge being closed to traffic.

Katy Johnson –Aplin asked how the children would get the school bus?

Jay Wilson agreed to get the additional information and share it with the Selectboard at a future meeting.  Roll called -Motion passed 5/0.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:  (Amended)

  • Ten (10) appropriations are scheduled for the December 20 Selectboard meeting; this could finish up the appointments.
  • I have received a few reports and am currently organizing the pages. If you are to provide things for the Report, please get those to me ASAP. I would ask that the officer send the reports to my email by January 7.  (Selectboard, DRB, Lister’s, Zoning Administrator, Road Foreman – Road Commissioner, Planning Commissioner, Conservation Commission, Treasurer-Tax Collector, Town Clerk, Fire and Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid, and DV Fiber.)
  • I have an appointment and will be out of the office on Tuesday, December 14.

Ann Golob made a motion to approve the Administrative Assistant’s Report. Katy Johnson- Aplin seconded.  Roll called -Motion passed 5/0.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: The following organizations gave an in-person (or Zoom) presentation regarding their appropriation request.  They also provided an Informational Statement as part of the 2021 Town Report.

  1. Windham Historical Society -Richard Marek
  2. Timson Hill Preschool- Kristina Wright
  3. Visiting Nurse & Hospice for VT & NH – Hilary Davis
  4. Vermont Adult Learning – Kimberly Sizelove – Missed the appointment
  5. HCRS – Hal Moore & Mary Morgan
  6. Green-Up for Vermont – Kate Albergh
  7. Newfane Hall /Incorporated Village of Newfane – Diana Urbaska

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None.

OLD BUSINESS: 

Tuesday’s Special Town Meeting regarding mask requirement.

Discussion ensued with input from several town residents regarding their feelings about a possible mask requirement for the meeting. Information from VLCT provided the Selectboard vital guidance; we can suggest, request, etc. we can’t enforce a mask mandate at this time. Ann Golob asked VLCT whether we could vote on enacting a mask mandate per the new state law, S.1, that would be in effect for Tuesday’s meeting. We were told we could not because the discussion had not been adequately warned.

A motion was made to go forward with the meeting but do everything possible to separate the room between those who are masked and those who are not. Since it is a large room, those who are wearing masks can sit on one side and those without on the other. We will create a barrier in between using some tables. Everyone agreed that this is an imperfect compromise and that some people who would want to be there will not feel comfortable attending under these circumstances. But it was agreed that it was essential to the town’s long-term future to vote on the gravel pit proposal.

Ann Golob made a motion to set up the room into two different areas, using both doors, one for people wearing a mask and the other for unmasked.  The Selectboard would like to suggest that the public wear masks. Katy Johnson- Aplin seconded.  Roll called -Motion passed 5/0.

NEW BUSINESS: 

Beaver Dam Flooding Wiswall Hill Rd – Residents from Wiswall Hill Road, Xilia Faye, Ben Luce & Timothy Taussig, spoke to the Selectboard about their efforts and concerns for the potential flooding on Wiswall Hill caused by the rising level this year at the Beaver pond on the property of John & Emily Long.

Mike Fitzpatrick made a motion to allow Wannetta to contact Attorney Bob Fisher to see if the Long’s could be held financially responsible for damages to the Town Road.  Ann Golob seconded.   Roll called- Motion passed 5/0

Economic Development Consultant –Newfane is looking for a Consultant to assist the town with developing a plan and filing paperwork for the ARPA funds. Ann Golob spoke with Steve Neratko, who submitted his resume and application for the position. Ann felt that Steve could be a perfect match for what Newfane needed.  She recommends inviting Steve to a Selectboard meeting to meet the entire Selectboard; the Administrative Assistant will make the appointment for a meeting in January 2022.

CORRESPONDENCE: None

PAY ORDERS:

  1.      Payroll Warrant No #11541                       Amount $    4,482.46
  2.     Payroll Warrant No #11542                       Amount $    4,634.87
  3.      Payroll Warrant No #11543                       Amount $    4,080.93
  4.      Account Payable No # 2211A                      Amount $    197.84
  5.      Payroll Warrant No #11544                       Amount $    4,578.04
  6.      Account Payable No # 2213                        Amount $    125,927.94

 Ann Golob made a motion to approve pay orders. Shelly Huber seconded the motion. Motion Passed.4/0 (Mike Fitzpatrick had withdrawn from the meeting) 

ADJOURN:   Katy Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:12 pm

Respectfully Submitted, Administrative Assistant  Wannetta Powling