Corrected
Regular Meeting Monday, June 17th, 2024
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BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Angela Litchfield, Katy Johnson-Aplin, (Zoom) Ann Golob, and Mike Fitzpatrick. Absent: Jeffrey Chevalier.

PRESENT: Jane Douglas (Planning Commission), James Bressor (Planning Commission), Austin Rice (BCTV), and Wannetta Powling (Administrative Assistant).
Zoom:  Jay Wilson (Road Foreman).

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:  
Johnson-Aplin requested that the Invasive Plant Treatment be moved from New Business to after the Road Foreman’s Report.
Approved

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

1. June 3rd^, 2024, Regular Minutes

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to accept the June 3rd minutes, and Golob seconded. Fitzpatrick abstained.
The motion passed.

 

ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

1. The adjuster from the Adams Hill Bridge claim decided she needed pictures and a copy of the paid bill, which I resent in the email from January when she already got all of this. I pointed out that she had all these months ago and never got a reply.
2. We submitted the Newfane Village Sidewalk grant. Colin from WRC was very helpful in explaining all the new requirements.
3. The new radar sign for West St. has arrived. When we catch up that will be installed.
4. We are working through easement and detour details with W.W. Building Supply for the Loop Road culvert
5. Ann and I had a meeting with Craig from MSK about the gravel pit phasing plans and discussed a proposal to finish the rest of the work and get the ACT 250 application submitted.
6. The recommendations from Sven Scribner for the South Wardsboro Road Bridge at Grout Road were to either dig up the existing wing wall and either repair or replace it. I spoke with Mike Renaud about it, and he agreed that replacing would give us a better wall.
7. The emergency grant for repairs to Stratton Hill Road slide has been recommended for approval, once the signed grant agreement is received, we can put it out to bid.
8. The paving for Grimes Hill Road is out bid for the next meeting.

 Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the Road Foreman’s Report and Johnson-Aplin seconded.
Discussion:

5.) MSK Consultants Agreement: The Selectboard members and Wilson agreed that the consultants understood Newfane’s needs. The Consultant Proposal of Services Agreement requires completion of the Gravel Pit ACT 250 application and submission of all the required documentation.
Golob made a motion to have Chair Litchfield sign the Agreement and Fitzpatrick seconded.
The motion passed.

 

6.) The wing walls will be replaced on both ends of the bridge. The bids will go out to bid, but FEMA may need to adjust.
Wilson does not have information on who is responsible for the damage to the South Wardsboro Road pavement. He will contact the homeowners to get that information.

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

Invasive Plant Treatment
Invasive Chinese/Japanese Wisteria has been found climbing trees on one of our FEMA buyout lots on Dover Rd. This is one of the lots we are considering to make a public park for river access. Jay and I have been discussing this matter as it is rather urgent for us to eradicate it as soon as possible before it kills the mature trees within the lot. Jay was aware of the wisteria on the property prior to the Irene flooding as decorative planting; it did not suddenly spring up. However, it has been quietly spreading unnoticed for over a decade, the invasive wisteria is tenacious and clipping the bases of the vines alone isn’t enough. Can you tell me more about Vermont laws regarding treatment and removal within so many feet of a waterway? It’s my understanding that within 50 feet is a permit-only situation, and even then, I’m hesitant to use products that can harm our environment. Our waterways’ ecosystems are already fragile with subsequent flash flooding since Irene 13 yrs. ago, which also spread Japanese Knotweed throughout the river corridor, West River watershed at large, and all along parallel roadways where the water flowed. Any information, alternative treatments, etc. will be very helpful. I will be updating the rest of the board regarding this emerging issue in the meantime. Thank you.”

• Chinese and Japanese Wisteria will engulf entire groves of trees and strangle them, killing them rather rapidly. I have seen it in Delaware, repeated over and over again along the main route – 40+ mature trees in a grove enrobed in purple flowers next to abandoned farmhouses.
• Wisteria is in the legume family, so a product like Milestone will effectively kill them, but not the surrounding plant life, from what I understand.
• I am attempting to learn if a permit is necessary for us to do this. In the meantime, we may need to do some manual removal to prevent it from climbing the beautiful, mature sycamore and oak trees on the property. Trying to successfully dig the roots out from the bases of the trees is going to be impossible to do effectively because of their root systems.
• There are other invasive on the property as well. A small amount of Japanese Knotweed and a fair amount of Multiflora Rose. It might be worth our time to request the permit as a test pilot for invasive removal along our roadways which are spreading yearly and with every subsequent flood cycle, hindering lines of sight and overall safety significantly.
• Wilson mentioned that hiring someone from the Power Company or VTrans with a current license to do the treatment will at least start the application process.
  Johnson-Aplin and Wilson will follow up at a future meeting.

 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT: 

1. Angela and Katy, the RSVP was returned to you to attend this Friday, June 21st, Regional Policing Informational meeting at the Sheriff’s Office from 1:30 to 2:30.
2. Carol has approved the Fat Crow Liquor renewal and the Outside Consumption Permit.
3. The recent training for Designated Employer Representatives (DER) was very educational, with new regulation requirements; I would like to ask Jay to help schedule a time for each road crew to complete the online registration document with me by the middle of July.
4. To date, no applications for the Highway position have been received, using the VLCT Classified listing. Do you want me to place the ad in the Brattleboro Reformer?

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

Discussion:
Johnson-Aplin asked for clarification on the D.E.R. program. Powling explained that it is part of the Federal Government Motor Carrier program for CDL Drivers. Wilson will work to complete it by July 12^th.
The employment posting will be added to the Town Website and the Brattleboro Reformer.

Litchfield called the vote to accept the Administrative Assistance Report.
The motion passed.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

     Planning Commission’s Report:

Jane Douglas and James Bressor presented to the Selectboard a draft of the proposed Town Ordinance for Short-term Rental (STR), and they are looking for feedback from the Selectboard to help the Planning Commission move forward. The question is, how does STR impact Newfane?

Discussion ensued:
Fitzpatrick mentioned the struggle to find affordable housing, especially for the younger generation and lower—and middle-income families.

Douglas spoke of the following reasons for registering STR.

• The state of Vermont requires STR to register with a third-party agent.
• Required Building Inspections
• Health and safety concerns for occupants and neighbors of the STR houses,
• Not knowing our community, needing to find emergency help in a crisis.
• Short-term vs. Long-term rental

The Selectboard was pleased with the draft; it is a good beginning. Golob asked for more detailed comparisons with other towns in Windham County, like Putney and Dummerston.

• Including fee structure
• Operational resources: are they available 24/7?
• Enforcement options

Douglas asked if the Selectboard would consider imposing the 1% optional tax on short-term rentals.
Litchfield said that the Selectboard might consider discussing this at a future meeting.
Short Term Rental discussion and updates will be on the agenda.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

NEW BUSINESS
Invasive Plant Treatment – Johnson –Aplin (Amended to follow RD Foreman’s report)

Town Website Design – Golob & Johnson-Aplin
The proposed website changes were shared in a PowerPoint presentation. The board members reviewed and discussed them. Bahman Madhavi will consider the changes and then make recommendations to Johnson-Aplin and Golob.

Updates will be scheduled on the Selectboard Agenda.

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Municipal Planning Service-Climate Change Mitigation & Resilience
   Wilson confirmed for Litchfield that this was no longer needed.
2. Town Beautification (Chevalier)
   The bench committee will meet to review and approve the submitted design application.
3. FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store (Golob)

Documents were signed by the owner accepting the appraised value as an offer for the buyout of the property. Golob mentioned that Vermont Emergency Management will review these documents, and there could be a closing date scheduled for the middle of July.

Golob made a motion to have Chair Litchfield sign the agreement and Johnson-Aplin seconded.
The motion passed.

4. ARPA Funds Updates (Golob) The motion required designating the remaining ARPA funds ($195,425.91) that were moved into the general fund to be restricted for the following purposes
Town Beautification – $15,000.00
Bylaw Match – $3,690.00
Williamsville Hall Generators – $9,500.00
Revolving loan – $167,235.91

Golob made a motion to move the ARPA funds into the General Fund for the purposes discussed above, and Fitzpatrick seconded.
Discussion:
Johnson-Aplin reminded the Selectboard that residents of Williamsville had approached the Selectboard to request funds to improve the existing sidewalks in Williamsville. Julian said that it is difficult to get estimates for smaller jobs.

5. Personnel Policy changes/ recommendation (Johnson-Aplin/Chevalier) – None

CORRESPONDENCE:
None

Fitzpatrick made a motion to have Litchfield and Johnson-Aplin approve Pay orders, and Golob seconded.
The Motion passed.

Fitzpatrick and Golob left the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

PAY ORDERS

1. Payroll # 11684                 $6,124.75
2. Payroll # 11685                 $5,817.10
3. AP # 24029                        $56,626.66

 ADJOURN:

Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:48 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Wannetta Powling,
Administrative Assistant