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Meeting ID:  972 2791 1757
Passcode:  352680

BOARD MEMBERS:
Angela Litchfield, Katy Johnson-Aplin, and Mike Fitzpatrick.
ABSENT: Ann Golob and Jeffrey Chevalier.

OTHERS PRESENT:
Austin Rice (B.C.T.V.), and Wannetta Powling (Administrative Assistant).

ZOOM:
Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), and Henriette Mantell.

CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 6:14 p.m. by Selectboard Chair Litchfield.

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

ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

1. January 21st, Regular Meeting Minutes – Tabled

Litchfield stated that she received an email from the Zoning Administrator and Treasurer regarding the minutes for the 21st and asked the board if she could read at this time, there was no objection. The email is as follows:

“Melissa and I were looking over the meeting minutes from the January 6^th meeting.  We noticed a paragraph in the Administrative Assistants Report that was unsettling…

It states that “Office Coverage” was covered by Wanetta which is implying to the public that Melissa and I were not at work or not accessible to the towns people.  We both were at work that week and the week prior, with one day missed due to illness for each Melissa and I.  We have been able to complete all our tasks on the following day of work.

Could this please be fixed in the minutes as its very misleading and makes it look like its Wanetta picking up all the slack for multiple positions.  She has also been asked in the past not to answer questions, take applications or tax payments.  They are to be left for us to process.  She took payment on the one day I was out from Mike Fitzpatrick, the math was done incorrectly, and the permit was not complete and ended up having to be denied.

Melissa has a slot and a sign on her door for tax payments whenever she is not in the building. She should not be taking tax payments or answering any treasurer questions.

Thank you for your assistance.”

2. January 29th, Special Meeting Minutes.

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to accept the special minutes of January 29^th as amended. Fitzpatrick seconded.
The motion passed.

 ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

1. The weather looks like we are going to make up for the less than snowy January.
2. We received the final Sound Study for the gravel pit.
3. The White Oak for the Covered Bridge deck is available for $18,000.00.
4. The leak in the heat pipes at Williamsville Hall has been fixed. There ended up being two separate leaks because the anti-freeze in the system was weak for the cold temperatures we were having. The insurance adjuster has been in contact with Servpro who is doing the cleanup and drying the building.

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

Discussion:

2. The stormwater permits for the gravel pit are being reviewed by MSK Engineering.
3. Mike Root from Allard Lumber and Renard Brothers found the decking at four Dollars a board foot for three-inch thick lumber; this was found in Canada. Wilson also stated that this is not wood found in our vicinity.

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve the $18,000.00 for the bridge decking for the Williamsville covered bridge, and Fitzpatrick seconded the motion.
The motion passed.

4. The Hall’s heating system has been maintained to prevent freezing. Wilson said that it was discovered that the kitchen’s floor register had been diluting the system with water, thus making the antifreeze ineffective. Wilson reassured the Selectboard that, pending the restoration, the Town Meeting could be held at the Hall on March 4^th. Upstairs was not affected.

Wilson also added that the Depot Road Box Culvert reimbursement paperwork had been submitted, and the reimbursement should be received in a couple of weeks.

Fitzpatrick stated that the town should consider a more permanent replacement for the decking of the covered bridge in the future.

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

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

1. Town Report Preparation:
   After careful review, the Town Report has been sent to the printers.
2. Meetings & Coordination:
   Last week, I spoke with Ryan Sylvestri and Katie Bristol regarding the “Meet with the Assessor,” the New Brook Fire Department would be the ideal place to hold this meeting in preparation for the upcoming town-wide appraisal. This meeting, which should be held four weeks before the start of the process, aims to keep residents informed and prepared. I will contact them to obtain several available dates for an evening meeting and determine what fits the assessor’s schedule.
3. Upcoming Tasks & Considerations:
   Now, the Town Report is out to the printer to proof. I will finalize the Town Report for publication and distribution by editing the voter list and printing the mailing labels. I will coordinate with Rex at the post office on the distribution fees and the paperwork for the bulk mailing.

Please feel free to reach out if any specific concerns or additional tasks need attention.

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

Discussion ensued:
Litchfield mentioned that the point of contact to use the NewBrook Fire Department is Kendra Brooks or Robert Litchfield. Powling agreed to call them and get dates that work for the assessor’s schedule.

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

COMMITTEE REPORTS:
None

 SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

NEW BUSINESS:
None

OLD BUSINESS:

Housing Grant Proposal: (Golob – Gehring)
No updates

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)
Johnson-Aplin mentioned that she would come into the office and take pictures to accompany the officer’s bio on the new website.

CORRESPONDENCE:
None

PAY ORDERS

1. Payroll # 11716     $ 7,573.34
2. Payroll # 11717     $ 9,055.36
3. Payroll # 11718     $ 9,429.63
4. AP #25015             $ 1,091,822.14

 

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

ADJOURN:
Fitzpatrick made a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 6:49 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Wannetta Powling,
Administrative Assistant
A.E.Litchfield  SB Chair