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https//zoom. Us/join            Meeting ID:  972 2791 1757 Passcode:  352680

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

OTHERS PRESENT:  Chris Cleverly, Austin Rice (BCTV), and Wannetta Powling (Administrative Assistant).

CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Selectboard Chair Angela Litchfield.

CONFIRM PROPERLY WARNED: Johnson-Aplin confirmed the meeting had been properly warned.

ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA:
Johnson-Aplin asked to add the Board of Liquor Control to the agenda. It was determined that a Zoom Meeting for the  Board of Liquor Control meeting would be warned for Friday, January 10th, at noon.

Golob asked to add the email we received from the State regarding the new requirement for an Ethic Committee liaison under New Business.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

1. December 16th, Regular Meeting Minutes
   Golob made a motion to accept the regular minutes of December 16th, and Johnson-Aplin seconded.
   The motion passed.

2. December 23^rd, Budget Meeting Minutes
   Golob made a motion to accept the minutes of December 23rd. Johnson-Aplin seconded.
   The motion passed.

3. December 30^th Budget Meeting Minutes
   Chevalier made a motion to accept the minutes of December 30th, and Golob seconded.
   The motion passed.

 

ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT: (Litchfield read; Road Foreman had a conflicting meeting and could not attend).

1. We were granted the extension for the NRCS project on the Rock River near the Green Iron Bridge.
2. The sound study for the gravel pit has been finalized. I have attached it for your information.
3. I have the size but not the prices for the oak decking for the covered bridge; I should have those by the next meeting.
4. The mileage certificate for the roads is good to sign.

 Golob made a motion to accept the Road Foreman’s report and Johnson-Aplin seconded.
The motion passed.

Discussion:
None

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:  (Litchfield read)

• This is a follow-up reminder that tomorrow, Tuesday, January 7^th, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., is a Town Meeting Prep day for reviewing the basic legal requirements and deadlines related to the Town Meeting. Will any of you be available to attend this training?
• I have started collating the pages for the Town Report. I have not received any feedback on the edited photos, and time is running out. Do you want me to proceed with what I have already edited?
• I am waiting for the Treasurer and Delinquent Tax Collector reports. All others have been received.
• I have attached Michael Lapointe’s email from this afternoon regarding the Emergency Watershed Protection project at the intersection of Dover Road and Parrish Hill Road.

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

Discussion ensued:

Chevalier said that his review of the photos is pending.

Treasurer reports will be forthcoming.

Wilson will respond to the timing of the tree cutting to address environmental implications.

 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:
Golob mentioned that she had received an email from the State to all Selectboard members stating that, as of January 2025, the municipality shall designate an employee as a point of contact for all correspondence from the Ethics Committee.

Golob made a motion to nominate the Administrative Assistant as the point for all communications from the State of Vermont Ethics Committee, and Chevalier seconded.

The motion passed.

Powling was asked to respond to the email and update the information for Newfane’s point of contact.

OLD BUSINESS:

 The Vermont Secretary of State Elections Division- email:

Golob asked Carol Hesselbach in an email to clarify the response from the Secretary of State Election.

Hesselbach mentioned that there were two options for the Selectboard – one given by the Secretary of State and the other by VLCT, and said that neither one would be wrong. The question was whether the resignation could be submitted as of Town Meeting Day or if it had to be immediate. The Board agreed that they would accept the resignation as of Town Meeting Day and place the remaining two years of the three-year term on the ballot.

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to warn a two-year Selectboard position on the ballot for Town Meeting; at the end of the two years, it will revert to the original three-year position, and Golob seconded.

(6:23 pm Selectboard member Fitzpatrick joined the meeting via phone)

Austin Rice commented that the remaining two years of a three-year term would seem less confusing.

The motion passed.
Fitzpatrick abstained from the vote, stating that he came into the discussion late.

Housing Grant Proposal: (Golob – Gehring)

Golob said that she was waiting for the attorney to review the proposal. Litchfield will contact the town attorney about the progress of reviewing the documents.

Golob asked permission to write a press release and have local reporters cover the story, informing the public of this proposed program. This will be an item on the February 3^rd agenda for the public to be given time for comments and questions.

FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store (Golob)

• We are awaiting the report from the Browns Field remediation report. We know there is a small amount of contamination in the dirt areas where the tanks were removed. A little remediation work will need to be done; the money will come from the Windham Regional Commission.

Personnel Policy changes/ recommendation (Johnson-Aplin/Chevalier)

No updates: Litchfield was asked to contact the Town Attorney about his availability to review these documents.

Town Website Design – (Golob & Johnson-Aplin)
Johnson-Aplin gave a follow-up of the continued website work, along with comments and recommendations that were suggested. Bahman has started the process of building the website, and we are finalizing the contents.

CORRESPONDENCE:
Rachel Feldman—Shalom Alliance VT offered her organization’s assistance to help local government address requests for articles to be added to the Town Meeting about the issue in Israel and Gaza. Litchfield requested that the Administrative Assistant reach out to Ms. Feldman and invite her to a meeting.

Historical Society of Windham County—SNGS Signs submitted a letter of interest to hang the vintage South Newfane General Store sign in the Historical gallery. January 21^st is the deadline for submitting interest in the S. Newfane General Store signs.

PAY ORDERS

1. Payroll # 11711 $ 8,796.87
2. Payroll # 11712 $ 8,666.34
3. Payroll # 11713 $ 6,849.28
4. AP #25011 $ 31,166.27

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve pay orders, which Chevalier seconded.
The motion passed.

ADJOURN:
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Wannetta Powling,
Administrative Assistant