ZoomMeeting 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, Mike Fitzpatrick, Chris Cleverly (Via Phone for Bid Opening)

OTHERS PRESENT:  Avarie Fitzpatrick (Administrative Assistant) Melissa Brown (Treasurer/ Administrative Assistant), Katie Bristol (Administrative Assistant/ Zoning Administrator), Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), Michael Miller (Resident), Wannetta Powling (Town Clerk), Prisicilla Cotton (Resident), Geoff Van Kirk (DRB), Cristine White (DRB), David Brown (DRB), David Cotton (DRB)

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Todd Lawley.

CONFIRM PROPERLY WARNED: Confirmed by Katie Bristol

ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA:

Move bid opening to the beginning of the meeting and move DRB discussion after Road Foreman and Road Commissioners Report.

• Bid Opening-

Bridge #5 S. Wardsboro Road Stream Bank:

-Fitzpatrick Excavating & Trucking, LLC: $8,100.00

– A.S. Clark & Sons: $8,900.00

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to accept Fitzpatrick Excavating’s bid of $8,100.00. Dowling seconded. The motion passed with one abstained.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

• July 20^th, 2026, Draft Regular Meeting Minutes

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve the July 20^th, 2026, Draft Regular Meeting Minutes. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.

ROAD FOREMAN & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

1. DuBois & King has submitted their proposal for the Sand/Salt shed. The VTrans Municipal Assistance bureau, who oversees this project, has approved this proposal and recommends accepting it.

Fitzpatrick made a motion to approve DuBois & Kings submittal for the salt shed. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.

2. The over-height warning device for the Covered Bridge has been delivered, and we are waiting for the power to be installed.
3. Nothing new on the Newfane Village sidewalk project.
4. The Depot Road paving project is scheduled to start tomorrow morning at 6:00am. When we replaced the culverts, the pavement was 15” deep so they are going to mill 6” off before reclaiming the rest.
5. We had to replace a couple O-rings in the mower head to fix a hydraulic leak and that is back out mowing.
6. The New Road ditching and culvert replacement has been finished.

Discussion:

Another proposal was submitted regarding the salt shed exploring the possibility of using a fabric-covered building. This option may provide a more affordable alternative to the original design that was proposed.

The design for the new sidewalk work will be developed during the summer and fall, with the town pursuing the necessary easements next year. This will allow construction to begin in July 2028 and will provide the opportunity to have crosswalks installed as part of the project.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:

• Gravel Pit Discussion with DRB:

Cotton explained that the Town of Newfane is the applicant for the zoning permit for the town’s gravel pit. The DRB has held two meetings with abutters to hear their concerns regarding the potential operation of the pit. During the hearings, questions were raised about the town’s bylaws, truck traffic, material quantities, costs, and the anticipated schedule of operations.

Cotton requested that Wilson also attend the next hearing to help answer questions on behalf of the town, as the engineer had previously participated by Zoom but could not address all the town-specific concerns. The current proposal would involve approximately six months of activity at the gravel pit, along with two weeks of crushing.

Bristol explained that administrative permits are required before the town can proceed with an Act 250 permit application. Fitzpatrick suggested reviewing and simplifying the bylaws, noting that the gravel pit could be a long-term benefit to the town. He also clarified that the town is proposing a gravel bank, not a quarry, and emphasized the importance of addressing the abutters’ concerns and building trust with them.

The board also discussed information gathered from other towns with municipal gravel pits. Bristol reported that Townshend had not experienced changes in surrounding property values related to its gravel pit. Fitzpatrick stated that if the town cannot get the gravel pit approved and operational, the town should investigate the potential of it being used for residential development to keep this piece of land from going to waste.

Board of Liquor Control:

New Liquor License Approval

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to pause the regular meeting and open the Board of Liquor Control at 7:00 P.M. Fitzpatrick seconded. Motion passed.

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve the First, Second, and Third-Class License for Big Boy Bagels LLC/DBA at the Williamsville General Store. Dowling seconded. Motion Passed.

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn the Board of Liquor Control and resume the Regular Selectboard meeting at 7:02 P.M.  Fitzpatrick seconded. Motion passed.  

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: None

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

• Williamsville Hall Committee July 13, 2026, Meeting Minutes
• Planning Commission July 27, 2026, Meeting Minutes

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

1. We no longer have IT services. We reached out to VLCT, and they have given us a wide range of servers that can be used. We are reviewing the list so we can reach out and get quotes from the companies as well as what services they provide.
2. September 7^th is a holiday; would the board like to move the regular scheduled meeting to September 8^th instead?
3. I have sent the documents that were forwarded to me from Joe DiBernardo off to the attorney to look over. I am waiting to hear back currently.
4. I have sent out the Social Appropriation application with a deadline of September 30^th.
5. Would the board like to meet with VLCT regarding a tune-up on Open Meeting Law? It would be an hour presentation and then some discussion afterwards. If everyone agrees and wants to do this, the board will need to agree on a time and date for it to happen.
6. We had someone reach out with concerns about the visibility from Dover Road and Augerhole intersection due to the weeds growing on the Old South Newfane Store Property. I let them know we would let the board know the concerns. I also informed them that we would have to look at the restrictions for this parcel of land since it’s supposed to be kept as a “Green Space.”

Brown spoke to the Road Crew about the grass overgrowth at the intersection of Augerhole Road and Dover Road. The Road Crew will work to trim the area back for better visibility.

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve the Administrative Assistant’s Report. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.

NEW BUSINESS:

• RFP’S

1. Painting the front of Town Office
2. New flooring for the Listers & Town Clerk’s Office
3. Assessors Contract- Expires December 31^st, 2026

The Selectboard members agreed to have the RFP’S advertised to the public.

OLD BUSINESS:

• FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store- None
• Speed Table Discussion-None

CORRESPONDENCE:

• Letter from the Development Review Board
• WRC Notice of Hearing for proposed Windham Regional Plan on August 18^th, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.
• Letter from Green Mountain Power
• Letter Regarding Knotweed & Speed Table

Pay orders:

1. Payroll #11795 $5,554.52
2. Payroll#11796 $8,481.30
3. Payroll#11797 $5,473.22
4. Payroll#11798  $6,578.30
5. A/P #27003     $81,977.48
6. A/P #27004       $35,304.83

Fitzpatrick made a motion to approve pay orders. Dowling seconded. Motion passed.

ADJOURN:

Fitzpatrick made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dowling seconded. Meeting was adjourned at 7:38 P.M.