BOARD MEMBERS: Todd Lawley (Chair), Marion Dowling (Vice-Chair), Katy Johnson-Aplin, Chris Cleverly, Mike Fitzpatrick.
OTHERS PRESENT: Melissa Brown (Treasurer), Ryan Silvestri (New England Municipal Consultants, Ltd), and Alice Ryan (Resident).
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Todd Lawley.
CONFIRM PROPERLY WARNED: Confirmed by Melissa Brown.
ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
- July 23rd, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes
Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the special meeting minutes of July 23rd, 2025. Cleverly seconded. The motion passed.
ROAD FOREMAN & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:
Johnson-Aplin read the report aloud.
- The NRCS EWP project near the Green Iron Bridge in South Newfane has been finished and the final inspection meeting was Friday. The work was approved, and we can closeout that project.
- The sign for the south entrance of River Road has been ordered and Kenolie campground has ordered a sign also.
- We should have two access permits for South Wardsboro Road on either side of Deane Wilson’s. They will be installing a culvert off the road, and no culvert is needed in the town ROW.
- The FEMA Open land assessment has been filled out and pictures taken of four of the town-owned sites from buyouts. This is done every three years.
- The people from KAS will be at the old South Newfane Store site next Friday doing more soil testing.
- The original speed table that was proposed in Williamsville was found to not be adequate for our traffic; I have attached the correct one to see if you want to order that.
- Mike Fitzpatrick was going to go to Alice Ryan’s on Newfane Hill to look at her drainage before the meeting. I have attached the Vermont statutes from Marc Pickering about drainage.
Discussion:
Cleverly made a motion to accept Hannah Wilson and Maxwell Cohen’s Access Permit located at 525 South Wardsboro Road, Newfane, VT 05345. Dowling seconded. The motion passed.
Cleverly made a motion to accept Jessie Couture and James Wilson’s Access Permit located at 495 South Wardsboro Road, Newfane, VT 05345. Dowling seconded. The motion passed.
Cleverly made a motion to accept the new speed table that the Road Foreman, Jay Wilson provided for Williamsville, in the amount of $6,620.00. Dowling seconded. The motion passed.
Fitzpatrick stated that he had gone up to look at Alice’s drainage today. Ryan asked Fitzpatrick if they could divert the water down under a driveway where the access used to be. Mike noted that there was no culvert under Alice’s driveway. Alice had pictures that she presented to the selectboard. Johnson-Aplin asked what’s across the street? What’s above Alice on the hill? Mike explained that there were a couple of driveways, one on the field. There was no way to make the water go the other way because it went uphill and then back down. Alice gave the board pictures that showed her field that gets flooded. Alice explained the there is a culvert at the bottom of Gardner’s driveway then goes under Newfane Hill Road, and then into her pasture. Alice said she’s spent thousands of dollars trying to mitigate the situation but it’s too much to handle now with the increased amount of rain fall. Lawley suggest that Fitzpatrick, Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), and Christopher Williams all get together and look at the drainage issue. Pictures are to be filed with Administrative Assistant.
Cleverly made a motion to accept the Road Foreman & Road Commissioner’s Report. Johnson-Aplin seconded. The motion passed.
SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
Ryan Silvestri – New England Municipal Consultants, Ltd. – Errors and Omission
Silvestri explained the utility values are set every year prior to filing the grand list. Prior to filing the 2025 grand list, the utility values were not changed by mistake. The utility values did decrease from the prior year. This is the first year that the State of Vermont has taken over the valuation of all state utilities, which they change the way they quantify the values of the utilities based on rate payers as opposed to the State and the Towns just accepting the value from Green Mountain Power and Velco.
This will change the grand list which will result in lesser municipal yield for taxes. The Education taxes will be coming off in the true-up in January. Newfane will not be responsible for the education portion. The municipal impact will be $18,649.48 less in tax revenue Brown mentioned. Brown stated that the Town has less expenses in certain areas which will help reduce the overall impact of the shortfall in tax revenue. It was also noted that there is a Budget Stabilization Fund that could assist with the shortfall in tax revenue if needed to pay expenses.
Cleverly made a motion to sign the errors and omissions. Katie Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion. The motion passed.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
Reminder – An in-person Public Information Meeting with Sheriff Mark Anderson has been scheduled to discuss policing in Newfane. The meeting will take place at the NewBrook Fire Station on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend and bring forward any questions, concerns, or topics related to local law enforcement.
Katie and I have been continuing to update the non-employee work agreements and contracts for vendors.
We have been cleaning up and updating forms as needed and putting them online for easy access to the public.
Cleverly asked for an update on the Higher Ground issue. Brown stated that the attorney had sent an email regarding the subdivision and that Mr. Mayer had dropped that off today. Katie was working on the revised access permit.
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve the Administrative Assistant Report, Fitzpatrick seconded. The motion passed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Contract Agreement from WRC for State of VT Agency of Transportation Sidewalk Grant – CA0882
Conflict of Interest Disclosure from WRC for Sidewalk Grant
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to have the Selectboard Chair sign both contracts from Windham Regional Commission. Cleverly seconded. The motion passed.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
CORRESPONDENCE: None.
Pay orders:
- Payroll #11743 $ 5,392.46
- Payroll #11744 $ 7,156.54
- A/P # 26003 $50,229.08
Cleverly made a motion to accept the pay orders. Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion. The motion passed.
ADJOURN:
Cleverly made a motion to adjourn. Dowling seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Melissa Brown
Administrative Assistant