Regular Meeting, Monday, November 4th, 2024

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BOARD MEMBERS: Angela Litchfield, Jeffrey Chevalier, Katy Johnson-Aplin, and Mike Fitzpatrick (phone). Absent: Ann Golob

OTHERS: Austin Rice (BCTV), and Wannetta Powling (Administrative Assistant).

Zoom:  Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), Kate Gehring (Planning Commission), and Jane Douglas (Planning Commission).

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Selectboard Chair Angela Litchfield.

CONFIRM PROPERLY WARNED: Powling confirmed the meeting had been properly warned.

ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA:
Powling asked to move the Planning Commission up on the agenda.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

1. October 21^st, Regular Meeting Minutes.
   Johnson-Aplin made a motion to accept the regular minutes of October 21^st, and Chevalier seconded.
   The motion passed.

2. October 22^nd Budget Meeting Minutes. Tabled

ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

1. The roadside mowing is mostly complete, and we are doing leaf blowing to clean out the ditches.
2. The Covered Bridge: I sent out the VTrans Covered Bridge Collision Prevention Measures. It had some good ideas in it. I have also forwarded some other correspondence that shows the existing signage.
3. DMI is supposed to be coming this week and doing a few more pavement repairs.
4. I have filled out more paperwork for the Storm-water Pollution Prevention Plan for MSK. This is part of the permit they will file for ACT250.

Chevalier made a motion to accept the Road Foreman’s report, and Johnson-Aplin seconded.

Discussion:

2. Johnson-Aplin stated that $25,000 for the flashing red light sign for the covered bridge might be a wise investment.
   Wilson said that it could be located back away from the bridge.
   Litchfield asked if the area around the signs could be trimmed so that they do not obstruct the view of the signs.
   Johnson-Aplin asked about a truck route at the Parrish Hill Bridge, indicating that there is a route over the green iron bridge.
   Litchfield asked how to get Google Maps to update warnings for bridges.

3. Chevalier asked about the repairs that DMI was making. Wilson said they were in front of the Williamsville Post Office, Dover Road, and the culvert across from the Williamsville Hall at the intersection for Timson Hill.

Wilson indicated that all the repairs on Stratton Hill Road had been completed and that VTrans had reviewed the work today.
Litchfield called for the vote to approve the Road Foreman’s report. The motion passed.

Amendment to the agenda

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Proposed Zoning Bylaw Amendment – Kate Gehring (P.C) Jane Douglas.

Update: The P.C. voted last week to submit the Drafted Zoning Bylaws changes that the Windham Regional Commission has helped work on. For Newfane to get a smaller percentage from the state grant, this adoption process must be completed by January 31, 2025.

Discussion ensued:
Litchfield asked Powling to research the process for postings and warnings to adopt the Zoning Amendments.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

1. A settlement check has been received for the damages to the Adams Hill Bridge.
2. I have started to receive the completed appropriation applications. This morning, I sent an email to the past recipients as a reminder that the application submission deadline is December 4^th.
3. New England Municipal Consultants have submitted a revised contract for the town reappraisal and a computer program upgrade for the Listers office, which was previously discussed.
   Ryan said he would be available for the November 18^th meeting if you have any questions.
4. I have included Attorney Fisher’s email and Bristol & Walker’s appeal for the Selectboard to review and consider. This information was also sent to Tessier for his records.

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to accept the Administrative Assistant’s report, and Fitzpatrick seconded.

Discussion:

Litchfield called for the vote to approve the Administrative Assistant’s report.
The motion passed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Amendment to the agenda

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

NEW BUSINESS:
None

OLD BUSINESS:

Housing Grant Proposal: (Golob – Gehring)
No updates

 Town Beautification (Chevalier)
Dale Stevens’ bench is finished. It will remain in storage for the winter and be placed at Williamsville Hall in the spring.

FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store (Golob)
No updates.

 Personnel Policy changes/ recommendation (Johnson-Aplin/Chevalier)
No updates

Town Website Design – (Golob & Johnson-Aplin)
After discussing the Town’s goals for the modern design, further development of the website’s content was realized. The website designer has submitted a detailed outline, including a list of items in the proposed scope of work. Descriptions on each page start with history, population, department responsibilities, office duties, committee meetings, and the information from the community.

This new proposal for the design and setup is for 27 hours at $55.00, for a total of $1,485.00.

Fitzpatrick made a motion to move forward with the New Website design, and Chevalier seconded.
The motion passed.

CORRESPONDENCE:
None

The Selectboard meeting was suspended at 6:30 p.m.
Litchfield called the Board of Liquor Control to order at 6:31 p.m.
The Board of Liquor Control adjourned at 6:32 p.m.

Fitzpatrick, who attended remotely, left the meeting at 6:32 p.m.

PAY ORDERS

1. Payroll #11704        $ 6,269.67
2. Payroll # 11705       $ 6,840.99
3. AP #25008               $ 1,188,298.72

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve pay orders, and Chevalier seconded.
The motion passed.

ADJOURN:
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Wannetta Powling,
Administrative Assistant