Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82923623115?pwd=Y8mwXFBz1EXkv5iWbOROTgAAO3PJ6z.1
Zoom Meeting ID: 829 2362 3115   Passcode: 974520

BOARD MEMBERS: Todd Lawley (Chair), Marion Dowling (Vice-Chair), Chris Cleverly, Mike Fitzpatrick.

OTHERS PRESENT: Melissa Brown (Treasurer), Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), Meg Staloff (BDCC/SeVeds), Cristine White, Merideth White, Vince Schuck, Jeff Bodge, Jeff Gouger, Billie Jo Gouger, Sue Berg.

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:

Jonathan Julian is unable to attend. Remove him from Committee Reports.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

1. August 18th, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes

Cleverly made a motion to accept the regular meeting minutes of August 18^th, 2025. Dowling seconded. Fitzpatrick abstained. The motion passed.

ROAD FOREMAN & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

1. Paving on Dover Road is tentatively scheduled for next week.
2. We did some repairs on the grader and got that back together last Friday.
3. The Stormwater permit for the gravel permit has been bounced back and forth between the state and our engineers.
4. Roadside mowing has a few more days left to finish it.
5. Melissa and I met with Colin from WRC today to get a proposal for Newfane Village sidewalk engineering.
6. We have another week or so on Adams Hill finishing the ditching and them we will hydroseed it.

Discussion:

• Lawley asked Wilson if the new truck was ordered and when it was expected to arrive. Wilson replied that delivery is anticipated to be in January or February.
• Cleverly asked if Dover Road would remain open to one lane open during paving, alternating sides. Wilson confirmed it would, and they will have flaggers present.
• Berg suggested that the road crew do not cut the knotweed, as cutting it causes it to spread.
• Wilson explained that it is growing into the road and must be cut. Wilson stated he has had SavATree spray knotweed at the garage and gravel pit and it was successful.
• Bodge suggested cutting the knotweed, in early August, to prevent the seeds from spreading.
• Lawley asked Brown to place “knotweed Removal” under Old Business for further discussion and to incorporate it into the budget.
• Cris White asked Wilson how many hours he has spent covering up graffiti on the roads. Wilson estimated 10-15 hours within the last few weeks.

Cleverly made a motion to accept the Road Foreman and Road Commissioners report. Dowling seconded. The motion passed.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:

Meg Staloff -Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC)

Staloff explained that every year BDCC applies for an appropriation at the town meeting and post before the voters. She explained that they handle economic development, work development, business development, and community development. Staloff invited the Selectboard to complete a survey.

• Cleverly asked for a flier to post at the Town Office.

Bruce Saul – 127 Dover Road, Williamsville (near Williamsville Covered Bridge):

Saul is inquiring about the status of the speed bumps and expressed concerns regarding the speed of the traffic coming out of the covered bridge. He offered to allow the Town to move the “Welcome to Williamsville” sign back from the bridge onto his property. He also suggested additional speed limit signage or painted markings on the roadway

• Lawley reported that the speed bumps are on order will be installed upon arrival, if weather permits before winter. The Board will consult with Wilson to determine what additional signage the State will allow.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

Over the past reporting period, we have continued to support the operations of the town through the following activities:

• Processed an increased number of appropriation requests.
• Cleaned out and organized town files for improved efficiency.
• Scheduled upcoming events for Williamsville Hall.
• Assisted the Town Attorney in reviewing and organizing documents related to several ongoing projects.
• Managed daily communications by answering phone calls and responding to emails.
• Kate Gehring and I completed and submitted all documents for the Bylaw Modernization Grant closeout. (Closeout letter attached)
• Budget preparation – When do you want to start the budget meetings?

Public Notice:
We would like to inform the community that Sheriff Mark Anderson will be presenting his proposal and inviting public discussion on the Regional Policing Initiative on September 22 at 5:30 PM at the Windham County Courthouse. All interested residents are encouraged to attend.

Higher Ground Cemetery Update:

Subdivision application is pending approval until all documents have been received according to the Agreement Order issued by the State of Vermont Superior Court, Environmental Division, dated June 17, 2025. I Reviewed all documents submitted to the Town from Higher Ground Cemetery and discovered several documents missing or they were incorrect. I have discussed this with Attorney Bob Fisher and sent him a list of documents that are missing or incorrect. I also gave the list to Michael Mayer so he could forward me the missing documents and correct the ones with errors. Michael has submitted several of the documents that are missing and corrected the documents with errors. Once all documents are received, I will reach out to Attorney Fisher for further guidance on this matter to ensure we have all necessary documents before the subdivision is approved.

Discussion:

• Discussion ensued regarding starting the budget meeting on October 27, 2025, if everyone is available.
• Cleverly asked Brown what has been corrected on the Higher Ground Cemetery issues. Brown updated the Selectboard of what has been corrected and still needs to be done.
• Cleverly suggested putting a time frame on when everything needs to be submitted otherwise the permits will be pulled due to the extent of hours spent on this along with attorney fees.
• Brown said that there were timelines according to the court agreement.
• Cleverly asked Brown to go through the court order to see what had expired. Brown agreed.

Cleverly made a motion to accept the Administrative Assistant report. Dowling seconded. The motion passed.

COMMITY REPORTS:

Kate Gehring (Planning Commission) Follow-up on the short-term rental registration and ordinance.

• Cleverly reviewed the document and stated he did not see any issues with it.
• Kate explained that it was now up to the Selectboard to decide whether to adopt it or not.

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:

Cris White (Resident) submitted a petition with resident signatures requesting that the Selectboard not allow non-binding articles unrelated to Newfane Town business to be placed on the Town Meeting warning.

• White explained that an international matter discussed at the 2025 Town Meeting took up to two hours, while the town budget was reviewed quickly. She expressed concern that such non-binding articles discourage attendance and participation in discussions directly related to town business.
• Bodge expressed concern about what future non-binding issues may arise, stating that the Town Meeting should not become a platform for political strike.
• Schultz agreed, noting that such articles may cause residents to come in to vote and leave, reducing meaningful participation in town discussions.
• Dowling said this was presented last year to the Selectboard and the Selectboard had allowed this article to be placed on the warning for the Town Meeting. She feels that the Selectboard this year must take this item seriously and their vote will represent the whole town.

 

Cris White asked the Selectboard to deny the social appropriation request from Restorative Community Justice, as the entity has been dissolved by the State of Vermont. She noted that a State funded Restorative Justice system exists in Brattleboro. White expressed concern that the organization had recently focused on staging protest, advocating for writing on our roadways, which is vandalism of public property, banging pots and pans daily at 7:00 p.m., which is disturbing the peace. She also stated that the town tax dollars are being wasted by removing markings from roadways.

• Bodge referenced a recent article in the The Commons in which Dan Dewalt stated, “We need to see every roadway and sidewalk as a blackboard waiting to be filled in with our dissenting opinions.” DeWalt also said, “We need to be beating our pots and pans in our front yards for five minutes every day at 7:00 p.m.”
• Cleverly explained that as a governing body, the Selectboard cannot direct individuals to do one thing or another. Cleverly suggested reporting incidents of graffiti to the State Police and/or the Sheriff’s office. If a civilian is able to obtain a picture of someone committing the act, it can be submitted to the authorities.
• White stated that the Town should not be supporting an organization that is promoting this behavior which she feels is dividing people further.
• Lawley suggested sending the information to the State Police and using game cameras to collect evidence of those responsible for doing the graffiti.
• Fitzpatrick expressed concern that the individual involved is a high school teacher and questioned whether such behavior might be influencing students. He suggested that the School Board be made aware of these concerns.
• Berg suggested writing a letter to the Commons to inform the public that graffiti on roadways costs taxpayer money to remove and creates a roadway safety issue.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

The Newfane Congregation Church requested permission to close West Street and Church Street from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, October 11, 2025, and Sunday October 12, 2025, for the 54^th Annual Heritage Festival.

Lawley also requested approval for the Newbrook Fire Department coin drop, noting that the department has secured the required State permits. He further requested the use of the Town Office to count coins during the event.

Cleverly made a motion to approve the road closing for the Heritage Festival, the Newbrook Fire Department coin drop, and the use of the Town Office for counting coins on Saturday and Sunday. Dowling seconded. The motion passed.

OLD BUSINESS: None.

CORRESPONDENCE: None.

Pay orders:

1. Payroll #11747 $ 5,625.60
2. Payroll #11748 $ 8,334.74
3. Payroll #11749 $ 5,677.70
4. Payroll #11750 $ 5,139.49
5. A/P # 26005 $1,059,222.06
6. A/P # 26006 $27,786.71

Cleverly made a motion to accept the pay orders. Dowling seconded the motion. The motion passed.

ADJOURN:

Dowling made a motion to adjourn. Fitzpatrick seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Melissa Brown

Administrative Assistant