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, Michael Fitzpatrick
OTHERS PRESENT: Melissa Brown (Treasurer/Admin), Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), Avarie Fitzpatrick (Admin), Jon Van Oene (BCTV), Jane Douglas (Resident), Greg LoPiccolo (Planning Commission), Henriette Mantel (Newfane Cemetery Assoc.), Emily Long (VT Representative), Kate Gehring (Resident).
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Lawley.
CONFIRM PROPERLY WARNED: Confirmed by Melissa Brown.
ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA: None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
- April 20th, 2026, Draft Regular Meeting Minutes
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to table the April 20th, 2026, Regular Meeting Minutes. Cleverly seconded the motion. Motion passed.
ROAD FOREMAN & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:
- The covered bridge deck replacement is going to start this week.
- Beardsley that does the work on the fuel pumps is working to address the problems the state identified. They are looking for an overfill alarm, a different vent and a fill tube without a flapper valve inside.
- We had less Greenup bags than usual; we picked up 102 bags and 42 of them came from River Road.
- Do you want to move forward with the shed at the town garage?
- The Newfane Village sidewalk engineering will get started this week.
Fitzpatrick made a motion to build the storage shed. Marion seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Cleverly made a motion to approve the Road Foreman and Road Commissioner’s Report. Dowling seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Discussion:
Johnson-Aplin asked Wilson for an update on the knotweed. Wilson stated that they may have Carr at SavaTree spray a section along Grimes Hill Road, but they are unsure how long the treatment will suppress the knotweed and noted that spraying can only occur within the town right-of-way. Fitzpatrick suggested increasing the frequency of mowing in the area.
SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
Newfane Cemetery Commission member Henriette Mantel submitted photos to the Selectboard showing the condition of the stone wall along Cemetery Hill Road near the steps. Mantel stated that the wall is in disrepair and falling down. Lawley suggested that the two Road Commissioners, Michael Fitzpatrick and Christopher Williams, inspect the wall and discuss the matter further at the next meeting.
Vermont State Representative Emily Long stated that Act 181 is intended to help ease the restrictions associated with Act 250. Long stated that she will be voting “yes” for the reappeal. Act 181 is intended to encourage housing and development in designated growth areas while increasing protection for forests and wildlife habitat. The law establishes a tiered development system, with Tiers 1 through 3 determining the level of permitting and environmental review required. Village centers and designated growth areas will generally have fewer permitting requirements to help promote development.
LoPiccolo asked Long if the Legislature is going to look at Act 250 and all its restrictions. Long stated that Act 250 has been around for about 50 years and has served its purpose.
UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
Jane Douglas, South Newfane Cemetery
Discussion ensued that there is a lot of conversation among residents in the town about the lack of care in the cemetery. Douglas had asked the Selectboard if there was any interest in taking over the cemetery. Cleverly stated that having another committee formed for the cemeteries would not be a bad idea so that these places are cared for and maintained with all the historic sites and the overall maintenance for year-round. Lawley asked Douglas if she could get people interested in bringing them to the next meeting to share their input on what needs to be done to keep up maintenance.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
April 13th, 2026, Williamsville Hall Meeting Minutes
Discussion ensued that there was a committee formed for the outside lighting issue at the Williamsville Hall. Cleverly ask that the committee members join the next Selectboard meeting to come together to find a solution for the lighting.
Cleverly made a motion to accept the April 13th, 2026, Williamsville Hall Meeting Minutes. Dowling seconded the motion. Motion passed.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
- We posted the Road Crew job opening in the Brattleboro Reformer, The Commons, VLCT, Front Porch Forum, and the Town website.
- We posted the reappraisal information on the website with help from Bahman.
- We sent all board members the reappraisal documents.
- We finished the list of appointed positions and sent them to the appropriate organizations.
- The school vote will be held by Australian Ballot on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the NewBrook Fire House.
- Bahman has asked if we still want to register domain names that we are not currently using, Newfanevt.net, Newfane.net, and Newfane.org
The only reason for keeping them would be so nobody else could register them and use them for inappropriate content. These cost $25/year each.
Cleverly made a motion to register the five domain names used. Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion. Motion passed.
- We can apply through VTrans for a scoping study grant to evaluate the feasibility of sidewalks and pedestrian lighting in Williamsville. Does the Board want us to move forward with this application?
- A complaint has been received regarding a homeowner on Railroad Lane allegedly harassing pedestrians. We have been researching the status of the roadway and confirmed, through Jeff Nugent at Windham Regional, that only a portion of Railroad Lane is designated as a legal trail. Currently, it does not appear to be a Town issue unless the activity is occurring on the legal trail.
Cleverly made a motion to accept the Administrative Assistant report. Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Re-Adopt for the Control of Litter
Cleverly made a motion to readopt the Litter Control Ordinance. Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Approval of letter for ordinance violation
Cleverly made a motion to send ordinance violation letter. Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion. Motion passed
DISCUSSION:
Conversation about the scoping study for the Williamsville Sidewalks & Pedestrian Lighting took place. The Selectboard expressed interest in applying for the grant to complete the study. Katy Johnson-Aplin asked whether the study would prohibit installing any lighting before the study is completed. Cleverly stated that one idea discussed was having Green Mountain Power install lighting on existing utility poles to hang over the roadway. Fitzpatrick stated that if sidewalks are installed, shorter pedestrian lighting could be used that would still provide adequate illumination without being mounted so high that it would disturb nearby residents.
Brown briefly spoke regarding the complaint on Railroad Lane. She stated that, after researching the matter, it does not appear to be a Town issue because that section of Railroad Lane is a private road. Brown stated that the State of Vermont map does not list that part of Railroad Lane as a town road.
NEW BUSINESS:
Christopher Cleverly publicly acknowledges Mike Winot for his dedicated service to the Town of Newfane.
OLD BUSINESS:
Follow-Up Items (10 Minutes per topic)
- FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store- None
- Knotweed Removal-None
- Covered Bridge Repairs-None
- Green Iron Bridge Repairs- None
Correspondence
Letter regarding Morris Dancers
Fitzpatrick made a motion to approve the Morris Dancers Annual performance. Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion. Motion passed.
PAY ORDERS:
- Payroll #11182 $ 7,142.12
- Payroll #11783 $ 6,753.51
- A/P # 26021 $ 1,240,224.39
Cleverly made a motion to approve the pay orders. Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion. The motion passed.
ADJOURN:
Cleverly made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Dowling seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7:39 P.M.