Selectboard Meeting Minutes – September 17, 2018

TOWN OF NEWFANE
SELECTBOARD MEETING
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Marion Dowling, Mike Fitzpatrick, Shelly Huber, Christopher Williams
OTHERS PRESENT: Jay Wilson, Lynn Forrest, Bob McCandless, Shannon Meckle

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Marion Dowling, Chair.
ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA
Shannon requested that Development Review Board membership be added to New Business. The Board had no objection and the discussion was added to the agenda.

MINUTES
August 20, 2018: A motion was made by Mike Fitzpatrick and seconded by Shelly Huber to approve the minutes. The motion carried unanimously.
August 20, 2018 Board of Liquor Control: A motion was made by Mike Fitzpatrick and seconded by Shelly Huber to approve the minutes. The motion carried unanimously.
August 24, 2018 Special Meeting: A motion was made by Mike Fitzpatrick and seconded by Shelly Huber to approve the minutes. The motion carried unanimously.

ROAD BUSINESS
Road Foreman’s & Road Commissioner’s Report: See attached.

Excavator Discussion: Jay reported that he didn’t have success in renting an excavator with the required attachments as it’s too costly for the companies for a short-term rental.

Mike Fitzpatrick handed out information on a used excavator he found for sale. Discussion ensued. Mike and Jay will coordinate to go look at the excavator. They will come back to the Board if it is something they think the town should purchase.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT

See attached report.

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
There were no unscheduled members of the public.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC

Planning Commission: Lynn Forrest, Chair of the Planning Commission was present to request that the Selectboard sign a letter seeking assistance from Windham Regional Commission for work on the enhanced energy plan. Bob McCandless noted that rather than duplicate efforts by the Planning Commission writing the section for the Town Plan, it made sense to apply for assistance from Windham Regional Commission.

A motion was made by Shelly Huber and seconded by Mike Fitzpatrick to request assistance from Windham Regional Commission in working on the enhanced energy plan.

Discussion: Shelly inquired about whether the solar fields would be included in the energy plan. Lynn confirmed they would be.

The motion carried unanimously.

Vermont Community Leadership Summit: Lynn asked whether there was anyone attending the summit. She explained that the town can nominate one person to attend for free.

A motion was made by Christopher Williams and seconded by Shelly Huber to nominate Lynn Forrest to attend the Vermont Community Leadership Summit on October 1. The motion carried unanimously.

Planning Grant: Lynn requested that the Chair of the Selectboard work with Shannon to request the first portion of funds on the current Planning Grant. Marion will work with Shannon.

Zoning Bylaw Amendment: Lynn reported that a letter was received from an attorney regarding the Mayer Property (Manitou) requesting bylaw amendment to allow conditional use of green burial. Lynn noted that it would take at least six months to amend the bylaws. Also, there is a limit of use in the resource district, meaning each use needs five acres. Lynn has contacted Rich Carroll and is waiting for a return call. Mike noted his concern with legal expenses.

OLD BUSINESS

Traffic Calming: Lynn reported that there will be a Community Forum on traffic issues on October 14 at the Williamsville Hall.

Discussion ensued regarding the dissolution of the S. Newfane/Williamsville Fire Department. As there appeared to be confusion about what the questions were before the Board, a motion was made by Shelly Huber and seconded by Mike Fitzpatrick to authorize Shannon to call Attorney Fisher to discuss the issue and invite them to a future meeting. The motion carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS

Development Review Board: Shannon reported that the Development Review Board has requested that the Selectboard appoint David Lucido to the DRB, which would bring them up to a full board. A motion was made by Mike Fitzpatrick and seconded by Christopher Williams to appoint David Lucido to the Development Review Board. The motion carried unanimously.

CORRESPONDENCE

• A letter was received from Rick Rickards regarding noise pollution. Discussion ensued. Mike Fitzpatrick noted that each business had to go through Act 250 and address issues such as lighting, noise, pollution. All conditions need to be met.
• VLCT News – Available for review at the Town Office.
• A letter was received from Peter Novick regarding Daniels Hill Road- – The consensus of the board was to review the letter on their own time in preparation for the hearing on September 24.

PAY ORDERS

A motion was made by Shelly Huber and seconded by Mike Fitzpatrick to approve pay orders as follows:

• Payroll Warrant No. 11358 in the amount of $4,381.79
• Payroll Warrant No. 11359 in the amount of $6,658.46
• Payroll Warrant No. 11360 in the amount of $4,467.39
• Payroll Warrant No. 11361 in the amount of $4,451.72
• Accounts Payable Warrant No. 19005 in the amount of $93.15
• Accounts Payable Warrant No. 1905A in the amount of $207.00
• Accounts Payable Warrant No. 19006 in the amount of $828,122.69
• Accounts Payable Warrant No. 19007 in the amount of $95,430.99

The motion carried unanimously.

ADJOURN

A motion was made by Mike Fitzpatrick and seconded by Shelly Huber to adjourn the meeting at 7:26 p.m.. The motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted,
Shannon Meckle

ROAD FOREMAN’S AND ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT
September 17, 2018

1. The power and cable have been relocated on the new pole at River Rd. bridge, we are now waiting the telephone company.

2. We have been ditching and replacing culverts.

3. There was a meeting on Jones Hill Rd. and we will be doing some drainage work over the next few weeks.

4. We salvaged about $1,000 worth of oil from Williamsville Hall and it will be used to heat the Town Garage.

5. The pavement milling is scheduled to begin Wednesday.

6. The wooden decks on two little bridges on Hunter Brook Rd. need to be replaced.

7. There is a bank along the Hunter Brook Rd. that’s been eroding to the point I think it needs to be stabilized.

8. The sand bids will be going out this week so that the Board can open them at the October 1 meeting.

Thank You,

Jay Wilson, Road Foreman
Christopher Williams, Road Commissioner

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT
SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

FEMA: For the Tropical Storm Irene disaster, the town received a check for $226,190.37 representing the federal share of two remaining projects and the state share of seven remaining projects. They have also authorized an additional payment of $86,181.88 because the town spent more than the maximum local share. This check will conclude the Irene FEMA work.
TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES GRANT: The State has approved the Selectboard’s request to name me as the Municipal Project Manager for the box culvert project. I now need to form a small committee for the purpose of sending out and receiving proposals. I would choose (along with me), Jay as Road Foreman and one Selectboard member. Are there any volunteers?
STRUCTURES GRANT: The covered bridge repairs are completed. I submitted the request for reimbursement and we received that last week, so that file is closed.