Regular Selectboard Minutes Monday, September 18th, 2023

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BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:   Angela Sanborn, Mike Fitzpatrick, Katy Johnson-Aplin, and Ann Golob (Zoom).
Absent: Jeffrey Chevalier.

OTHERS PRESENT:  Merle Tessier (Zoning Administrator), Michael Mayer, Gordon Bristol, John Walker, Kate Gehring (Planning Commission), Peter Kelleher (BCTV) and Wannetta Powling (Administrative Assistant).

Zoom:  Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), Jane Douglas (Planning Commission), David Cotton (Development Review Board), and Alyssa Sabetto (Windham Regional Commission).

CALL TO ORDER:  The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. by Selectboard Chair Angela Sanborn.

CONFIRM PROPERLY WARNED:   Powling confirmed the meeting had been properly warned.

ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA:  

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

  1. September 5th, 2023, Special Meeting.  (Tabled until the October 2nd  meeting.)
  2. September 5th, 2023, BLC Meeting. (Tabled until the October 2nd meeting.)

 ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

  1. The pavement project on South Wardsboro Road should be starting next Monday.
  2. Nothing new on Depot Rd. Box culvert.
  3. Nothing new on the Sand/Salt shed.
  4. The new generator installation was completed this last week.
  5. I haven’t heard from anyone on the Emergency Watershed program.
  6. The mowing tractor should be delivered on Wednesday.
  7. We are waiting for DMI to finish the pavement patching on Grimes Hill, the drain in Williamsville, and the ditch line on Radway Hill.
  8. We are still in search of a trailer to move the excavator.

Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the Road Foreman & Road Commissioners report, and Johnson-Aplin seconded.

Discussion ensued:
Golob recommended having Powling contact the NRCS to confirm that the application the Town submitted was received and to try to schedule a day when they will be inspecting the damage in Newfane. The vote was called.
Motion passed 4/0.


ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT: 

  1. Steve Levine has submitted two names for appointment to the Williamsville Hall Committee; they are both from Williamsville. Eben Viens & Austin Rice.
    Would you consider making a motion for an appointment this evening?
  1. Sullivan and Powers spent a day and a half here conducting the audit for the Town. It appears that things went very well. Their information will be available in the Town Report.
  2. The VLCT Town Fair 2023 is September 26 & 27 in Burlington. Katie Johnson-Aplin is registered to attend. Is there anyone else that would like to be registered?
  3. A reappointment for the Zoning Administration is due; Merle Tessier is willing to accept a reappointment. Would the Selectboard like to do that this evening?

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

Discussion ensued:

  1. Golob made a motion to appoint Eben Viens and Austin Rice to the WHC, and Fitzpatrick seconded.
    Motion passed 4/0.
  2. Johnson-Aplin mentioned that she would share a presentation of both trainings at a future meeting in October.
  3. Fitzpatrick made a motion to reappoint Merle Tessier for a three-year term, Johnson–Aplin seconded.  Motion passed 4/0.

The vote was called.
Motion passed 4/0.

COMMITTEE REPORT:
Zoning Administrator-Report Update
Merle Tessier summarized the Thursday, September 14 inspection at the Higher Ground Natural Burial on Sunset Lake Road. Road Foreman Jay Wilson and abutting landowner John Walker accompanied Tessier.  Present at the site were the contractors for Woody’s Excavating and Son and Michael Mayer.

The purpose of the site visit was to inspect the twenty-foot access off Sunset Lake Road and to respond to a complaint that the work being done was not in compliance with the conditions of the environmental court.

Discussion ensued:
The Selectboard heard comments from Michael Mayer, John Walker, Gordon Bristol, and Jay Wilson.

Fitzpatrick made a motion to withdraw the access permit until an engineer amends the site plan, and it is approved by the Act 250 compliance officer and is agreed to by the abutting landowners; Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/1.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
None

OLD BUSINESS:

  1. Town Beautification suggestions (Chevalier)
    No update
  2. FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store (Golob)
    No update
  3. ARPA Funds Updates (Golob)
    No update
  4. Personal Policy Recommendations (Johnson-Aplin).
    No update

Powling asked if the items under Old Business could be removed until there was information to update.
Sanborn felt that it was essential to leave them as a reminder that there were still unresolved issues that the Board was dealing with.

NEW BUSINESS
 Vote on the Flood Plain River Corridor By-Law proposed changes.

Discussion ensued:
No changes were made to the proposed Flood Plain River Corridor By-Law.
Golob made a motion to sign the Flood Plain River Corridor By-Law, and Fitzpatrick seconded.
Motion passed 4/0.

CORRESPONDENCE:
None

Fitzpatrick made a motion to have Chair Sanborn and Selectboard member Johnson-Aplin approve pay orders. Golob seconded; Motion passed.

Golob and Fitzpatrick attended remotely and left the meeting at 7:46 p.m.
PAY ORDERS
Payroll # 11643 $ 5,637.76
Payroll # 11644 $ 5,238.68
AP # 24007 $ 136,967.34

ADJOURN:
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,
Wannetta Powling, Administrative Assistant