Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82923623115?pwd=Y8mwXFBz1EXkv5iWbOROTgAAO3PJ6z.1
Zoom Meeting ID: 829 2362 3115 Passcode: 974520
BOARD MEMBERS: Todd Lawley (Chair), Katy Johnson- Aplin (Vice-Chair), Marion Dowling, Chris Cleverly, Mike Fitzpatrick.
OTHERS PRESENT: Avarie Fitzpatrick (Administrative Assistant) Melissa Brown (Treasurer/ Administrative Assistant), Katie Bristol (Administrative Assistant), Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), Cindy Levine (Resident), Michael Miller (Resident), Ken Estey (Resident), Martha Stitelman (Conservation Commission) Ron Stieger (Resident).
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Todd Lawley.
CONFIRM PROPERLY WARNED: Confirmed by Avarie Fitzpatrick.
ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
- June 15th, 2026, Draft Regular Meeting Minutes
Cleverly made a motion to approve the Draft Regular Meeting Minutes of June 15th, 2026. Dowling seconded. Motion passed, one abstained.
- June 24th, 2026, Draft Special Meeting Minutes
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve the Draft Special Meeting Minutes of June 24th, 2026. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.
ROAD FOREMAN & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:
- We had trees and wires down on River Road last week and someone had cut the trees and was driving over the downed wires. The wires were not completely dead and they were very lucky. We need to let people know that they need to stay away from trees and wires until Green Mt. Power takes care of them.
- DuBois & King has until July 30th to give us a proposal for the sand/salt shed. Hopefully they will be willing to take on the job.
- I met with GMP about replacing poles through the village and they are going to wait on RT 30 poles until there is a sidewalk design, so the poles don’t interfere with the sidewalk.
- I met with GMP for getting electricity for the over height warning device at the Covered Bridge.
- No updates on the Newfane Village sidewalk project, they are waiting for the final drawing from the surveyor’s
- Have you given any preference to VTrans for the Green Iron Bridge rehab or replacement?
Cleverly made a motion to accept the Road Foreman and Road Commissioners Report. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.
Follow-Up on Grader Bid: Wilson reviewed the grader bids and confirmed with both companies that John Deere offers the required steering at no additional cost of the already given amount of $372,000, less than the 672D Grader of $40,000 giving a total cost of $332,000, while Caterpillar does not. He stated that John Deere meets all the bid specifications.
Cleverly made a motion to accept the bid for the John Deere Grader. Fitzpatrick seconded. Motion passed.
SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
- Cindy Levine Interest in appointment for Conservation Commission
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to appoint Cindy Levine to the Conservation Commission. Cleverly seconded. Motion passed.
- Ron Stieger Interest in appointment for Green-Up Coordinator
Fitzpatrick made a motion to appoint Ron Stieger to Green-Up Coordinator. Cleverly seconded. Motion passed.
- Ken Estey Interest in appointment for Fence Viewer
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to appoint Ken Estey to Fence Viewer. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.
UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
- Martha Stitelman- Representing Newfane Conservation Commission wanted to Welcome Cindy Levine to committee upon appointment.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
- June 22nd, 2026, Planning Commission Draft Regular Meeting Minutes
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
- We had a surveyor who reached out regarding a property on Dover Road for his client near the storage area that the Highway Dept. uses. I have enclosed the email along with the map of the area that he provided. I had reached out via email and phone and just heard back with a bit more information. I advised that I’d bring it up tonight and let him know when our next meeting was so that he could attend.
Discussion ensued that the Administrative Assistant’s would follow up and report back to the board.
- I wanted to follow up to see if you had looked at the ordinances that I gave to you at the June 15th meeting to see if you had anything you wanted to change on it or if you thought that it was ready to be re-adopted. If all is good with everyone, I can get the final draft ready for the next meeting.
- We sent thank you letters to the companies who had bid on the jobs as well as letters for the companies whose bids were accepted.
Cleverly made a motion to accept the Administrative Assistant’s Report. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.
Cemetery Mowing Discussion: Discussion ensued that the Administrative Assistants went around the cemeteries and checked all of them after a complaint came through, they reported to the board that the cemeteries looked great and well taken care of.
Kate Gehring- Planning Commission funds for FY27: Gehring reached out to Brown and asked that the board make a motion to carry over the remaining $10,562.00 in FY26 Planning Commission funds to FY27 because the town plan grant was delayed.
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to extend the use of the budgeted funds for the Planning Commission’s Town plan into FY27. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS:
- Late filing for Homestead Declaration
Brown informed the board that they are to decide annually whether to impose local penalties for late filings. Board members expressed that additional fines were unnecessary, noting the state will assess a penalty after October if filings remain incomplete.
Fitzpatrick made a motion to keep the Homestead Declaration the same and not apply penalties to late filers. Cleverly seconded. Motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS:
- FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store- None
- Knotweed Removal-None
- Covered Bridge Repairs- Repairs have been completed.
- Follow up on the Regional Policing Discussion with a decision made to meet the July 15th deadline
Cleverly made a motion to join the Regional Policing and appoint Katy Johnson-Aplin as the representative. Dowling seconded. Motion passed, one abstained.
CORRESPONDENCE:
- Email from Jessica Perron-Hall from the Windham County Sheriff’s Office
- Town Forest Fire Warden Designation; Act 162 Letter
Cleverly made a motion to write a rebuttal letter to the State expressing being against Act 162. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.
- The Gathering Place- Thank You Letter
- Center for Solace- Thank you Letter
Discussion:
Lawley explained that Act 162 automatically designates the fire chief as the town fire warden and extends those responsibilities to all towns served by the department. He recommended that the board send a letter to the state expressing concerns that the change was not well publicized and opposing the additional responsibilities placed on Fire Chiefs.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
- Follow up discussion regarding a Personnel Matter: Employee Review Pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 313 (a) (3)
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to enter executive session at 6:47 P.M. Cleverly seconded. Motion passed.
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to come out of executive session at 7:14 P.M. with a motion to match pay with the Assistant Town Clerk pay for the time being for the part time Assistant to the Selectboard. Cleverly seconded. Motion passed, one abstained.
Pay orders:
- Payroll #11790 $6,123.54
- Payroll#11791 $7,141.62
- A/P #26025 $101,620.06
- A/P #27001 $25,283.06
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve the pay orders. Cleverly seconded. Motion passed.
ADJOURN:
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn. Cleverly seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 7:24 P.M.