Selectboard Meeting Minutes

DRAFT NEWFANE SELECTBOARD

 Regular Meeting Monday, July 15th, 2024

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97227911757#success (copy and paste the link into your web browser)   https//zoom. Us/join            Meeting ID:  972 2791 1757   Passcode:  352680

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

PRESENT: Tim Jones, Don Mills (GMP), Austin Rice (BCTV), Merle Tessier (Zoning) and Wannetta Powling (Administrative Assistant).
Zoom:  Jay Wilson (Road Foreman) 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 AGENDA:   Litchfield asked to move Scheduled Members of the Public (Green Mountain Power) to follow approval of the minutes. Board members agreed.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
July 1st, 2024, Regular Minutes

Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the July 1st minutes, as amended, and Johnson-Aplin seconded.
The motion passed.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
Green Mountain Power-Tim Jones, Field Ops Project Coordinator, and Field Supervisor Don Mills discussed reviewing the proposed line rebuild projects within Newfane Town Right of Way.

Discussion ensued:
Wilson will meet with GMP representatives at the work site to discuss procedures, concerns, and preferences.

ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

  1. I have another tree company coming this week to look at Williamsville Hall trees.
  2. We had a meeting for the Sand/Salt shed and it was decided to terminate the contract with Bell Engineering and to get guidance from the town attorney on the process. The state then has a list of pre-approved engineers to try and move us forward with a different design.
  3. Nothing new on Adams Hill Bridge
  4. MSK were going to send out one of their people to the gravel pit to figure out the spots to check the ground water depth.
  5. I put up new No Parking signs on Grimes Hill at the pull off and they lasted two days and were thrown over the bank.
  6. I read the letter about the Carroll Trail; I was on the trail a couple years ago searching for a lost child. I can confirm that there is no way to access the Dover side of the trail.

Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the Road Foreman’s Report and Golob seconded.

Discussion:
Wilson asked permission to speak with the Town Attorney regarding the Bell Engineering contract. Permission was granted.
Board members discussed the pullover on Grimes Hill and the “No Parking” signs that were removed.
Wilson asked the Selectboard to schedule a Special Meeting for August 29th to solicit bids for three bridges that need work.

Litchfield called for the vote to approve the Road Foreman’s report.
The motion passed.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

  1. Emerald Ash Bore follow-up (Tree Warden): Bill Guenther is still waiting to hear back from someone from the State as well as the power company. He had caught a time when folks were out on vacation. 
  2. In response to a dog bite report from GCH, the Town Clerk has verified the dog’s up-to-date license and vaccinations, ensuring the safety of our community. Animal Control Officer Ashley Pinger has contacted the owner, and the dog is in 10-day in-home rabies quarantine.
  3. Carol has forwarded an email from Erik Rosenbauer, VP of Operations & Government Relations from the Brattleboro Retreat, regarding a piece of property they wish to donate to the Conservation Commission/ Newfane. Would you like me to contact Erick via the email that Carol forwarded?
  4. WCHS has sent a letter to express its heartfelt thanks for the town’s generous support in appropriating $900.00, a testament to our community’s spirit of giving.
  5. Green-Up Vermont has volunteers and finances available to help towns recently affected by the floods. While Newfane was not affected this time, this information reminds us that the agencies that Newfane supports with Social Appropriations are available during a crisis.
  6. Tomorrow at 6 pm is the DRB’s Green Burial Hearing.
  7. This Saturday, July 20th, the coin drop for Ruck-Up for veterans will be near the Newfane Common.

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to accept the Administrative Assistance Report, and Fitzpatrick seconded.

Discussion ensued:
3. Powling was instructed to check with the Listers regarding the effect of the Grand List and to research the procedures to accept the offer. Permission was given for Powling to contact Mr. Rosenbauer at the Brattleboro Retreat regarding the offer to donate the land on Dover Rd.

Golob asked for an update on the video recordings on July 1st. Powling mentioned that screen protectors were ordered for the monitors. “Private Office” signs will be purchased for the employee’s offices.

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

 COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Zoning
Chair Litchfield presented a framed Resolution to Merle Tessier for his many years of service.

Planning Commission’s Report:
 Jane Douglas briefly updated Short Term Rentals research from neighboring towns.

Discussion ensued:
The P.C. will continue to work with the ideas discussed and present the changes for additional Selectboard feedback.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC: (SEE- Motion to amend the agenda)
Green Mountain Power-Tim Jones, Field Ops Project Coordinator

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

NEW BUSINESS
None

OLD BUSINESS:
Town Beautification (Chevalier)Tabled

FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store (Golob)

  • Closing is proposed for August 1st.
  • Brownfield remediation work will begin in the middle of August.
  • (7.15.2024) Zoom meeting with representatives from the State of Vermont, Alyssa Sabetto (Windham Regional Commission), Melissa Brown (Treasurer), and Ann Golob (Selectboard) to discuss and follow FEMA guidelines.
  • Request for Proposal (RFP)


ARPA Funds Updates (Golob)
No update

Personnel Policy changes/ recommendation (Johnson-Aplin/Chevalier)
Pending Town Attorney review

Town Website Design – Golob & Johnson-Aplin
Board members met with Bahman Mahdavi today. Additional work still needs to be done.

  • We will meet on July 29th with Echo-pixel to discuss website design options.
    Follow up at future meetings.

Litchfield moved to suspend the Selectboard Meeting at 7:19 pm and open,

The Newfane Board of Liquor Control.

The Selectboard meeting was reconvened at 7:20 p.m.

CORRESPONDENCE:
(Discussion part of Road Foreman’s Report)
Regina Werner –Request to discontinue Carroll Trail, located off Hunter Brook RD.

Golob made a motion to have Litchfield and Johnson-Aplin approve Pay Orders and Fitzpatrick seconded.
The Motion passed.
Fitzpatrick and Golob left the meeting at 7:20 p.m.


PAY ORDERS

  1. Payroll #11687                 $5,661.63
  2. Payroll # 11688                $6,049.37
  3. AP #25001                        $50,557.95

 ADJOURN:
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Wannetta Powling,
Administrative Assistant