Selectboard Meeting Minutes

NEWFANE SELECTBOARD

(Amended) Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, July 1st, 2024

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BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Angela Litchfield, Katy Johnson-Aplin, (Zoom) Ann Golob, Jeffrey Chevalier, and (phone) Mike Fitzpatrick.
PRESENT: Doris Knetchel (Lister), Peter Putnam ( Assistant Town Clerk), Austin Rice (BCTV), and Wannetta Powling (Administrative Assistant).


Zoom:  Jay Wilson (Road Foreman) Kate Gehring (Planning Commission).

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:
Golob requested that the Energy Grant Information be added to the agenda.
Golob requested an update on the Windham County Sheriff’s Department meeting on regional policing be added to the agenda.
Johnson-Aplin requested that the Invasive Plant Treatment follow the Road Foreman’s Report.
Approved 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
June 17th, 2024, Regular Minutes
Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the June 17th minutes, and Johnson-Aplin seconded. Chevalier abstained. The motion passed.

ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

  1. We had the meeting at Williamsville Hall to look at the trees; the consensus is that they should be removed. I am getting prices to remove the ash tree as soon as possible so Emmett can replace his retaining wall. The silver maple will require a crane and does not affect the wall, so that will be done later. I am getting prices for that as well.
  2. We need to move Contracted Services Bridges to the capital for all the bridge work we need to do. The balance is $48,845.
  3. After several emails back and forth with the insurance company from Adams Hill Bridge last week, a different person than I had been dealing with is going to review it and get back to me.
  4. I have contacted Bill Jewell, and he is willing to send his information to MSK for them to do the application.
  5. We should have paving birds to open tonight.
  6. I did find out it was Longview Forest that damaged the pavement on South Wardsboro Road. I reached out to them, and Logan would come over and look and said they will make it right.

Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the Road Foreman’s Report and Golob seconded.
Discussion:
Fitzpatrick made a motion to authorize the transfer of funds from Contracted Bridge Services into the Capital fund, which Johnson-Aplin seconded. The motion passed.

Wilson asked if the Board would approve him putting it out to bid to replace the Backhoe, and the funds have been set aside in the Capital Fund. Wilson was permitted to pursue research into cost and replacement.
Litchfield called for the vote to approve the Road Foreman’s report.
The motion passed.

Paving Bids for Grimes Hill Road:
No other bids were submitted.

  1. Springfield Paving  $ 286,003.20
    Wilson said he had figured $276,000 for the work he felt was in range.

Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the Springfield Paving Bid, and Golob seconded.
The motion passed.

Invasive Plant:
Johnson-Aplin and Wilson have spoken with members from Green MT Power Company and VTrans with a current license to do the treatment. Someone needs to be selected to be placed on the application. Henry Carr mentioned that he is licensed to do the treatment by midsummer. Wilson will follow up and see what his availability is to do the work. Wilson mentioned hiring someone with a license to do the controlled removal of the Wisteria from the Town property on Dover Road.

Follow-up at a future meeting

 ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:

  1. People are asking about the progress on the Beautification benches.
  2. The Fire Alarm Inspection at Williamsville Hall was completed last Wednesday; I will share the documentation with Steve Levine when I get it.
  3. VTrans will take care of the graffiti on RT 30 on the wall and under the bridge in the next few weeks, thanks to the reminder of one of our residents in that area.
  4. I have scheduled Tim Jones, GMP’s Field Operations Project Coordinator, to attend the July 17th SB Meeting. He will review GMP’s work in the Newfane Town ROW.
  5. This is a reminder that in the Freedom Act of 1983, two men with cameras visited the Town Office this afternoon.
    1. Offer to be of assistance.
    2. Be friendly.
    3. Do not try to prevent them from recording –
    4. Close your computer and cover your documents.
  6. The Animal Control contract is ready for your approval and signature. On page two, section two is the annual fee of $4,236 that was approved in the budget.
  7. I have not heard back from Bill Gunther (Tree Warden). I will contact him next week and ask for updates on the Emerald Ash Bore (EAB).

Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the Administrative Assistance Report, and Johnson-Aplin seconded.
The motion passed.
Discussion ensued:
Powling was asked to contact VLCT for additional guidance on filming and publishing videos on media websites. She will update the Selectboard when she has news.
Golob asked for an update on FEMA insurance. Newfane does not need to change the Insurance coverage for the Capital Buildings and content. Bridges and Roads are not required under the FEMA-required coverage.

Town Beautification (Chevalier)
The bench committee has approved Dale’s design application, which will be moving forward. The remaining five benches will be constructed in Collaboration with Johnny Swing and Jeff Chevalier.

Litchfield called the vote to accept the Administrative Assistance Report.
The motion passed.
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to authorize Litchfield to sign the ACO contract, and Fitzpatrick seconded.
The motion passed.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Zoning- Appointment of Assistant Zoning Administrator
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to appoint Merle Tessier as Assistant Zoning Administrator, Golob seconded.
The motion passed.
Tessier has plans to wrap up several open projects before his departure, ensuring a seamless transition for the town of Newfane.
Golob made a motion to adopt the resolution for Merle, Johnson-Aplin seconded.
The motion passed.

The Selectboard plans to present a Resolution of his service, which will be framed and presented to Tessier at the next SB Meeting.

Treasure & Lister Office- Set the New Tax Rate

Doris Knechtel was in attendance to answer questions regarding the figures used to set the Town Tax rate. Knechtel mentioned that the Education rate has not come down from Montpelier. This could delay the mail of the new tax bill, which is scheduled to go out on July 15th, with the first quarterly payment due on August 15th.
Taxes Needed                                                  2,027,321
Anticipated Revenue                                         335,340
Total Revenue                                                 2,362,661
Total Expenses                                                 2,362,661

Grand List
$2,027,321.00
$2,558,389.00

2024-2025 FY Newfane Municipal Tax Rate 0.792421
Compared to last year, the 2023-2024 FY Newfane Municipal Tax Rate was 0.7323

Discussion ensued:
Golob made a motion to adopt the Newfane Municipal Tax Rate of 0.792421, and Fitzpatrick seconded.
The motion passed.

 Planning Commission’s Report:
Kate Gehring was present to answer questions from the Selectboard about the draft of the proposed Town Ordinance for Short-term Rental (STR).

Discussion ensued:
Gehring asked the Board to make highlighted suggestions on the draft and submit them to Jane Douglas. The Planning Commission will continue to work on the changes.

Gehring mentioned projects the PC is working on. WRC is expected to finalize Zoning By-Law changes, and then the PC will schedule hearings for this fall. A “Housing Committee” to focus more directly on support is needed.

Chevalier left the meeting at 7:05 pm.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

NEW BUSINESS
None

OLD BUSINESS:
Town Beautification (Chevalier) Discussed under Administrative Report

FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store (Golob)

  • Hopefully, there will be a closing around August 1st.
  • Phase II remediation of storage tank removal.
  • Finalizing the RFP for site demolition must be done within 90 days from closing.

ARPA Funds Updates (Golob)

Personnel Policy changes/ recommendation (Johnson-Aplin/Chevalier)
Progress is being made and is ready to be reviewed by the Town attorney.

Town Website Design – Golob & Johnson-Aplin
A meeting is scheduled with Bahman on July 15th to review the proposed designs.

Energy Grant:
Information was sent to Kim Freeman, Town Energy Coordinator, and the application deadline is August 3rd.

Regional Policing:
Litchfield said it was remarkably like the presentation attended last fall. The Council of Government (COG) requires state legislation to proceed. The option for the program would not be available until 2026.

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 7:12 p.m.

PAY ORDERS
Payroll #11686                         $ 5,298.05
AP #24030                                 $28,701.19

 ADJOURN:
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Wannetta Powling,
Administrative Assistant