Monday, October 7th, 2024
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https//zoom. Us/join Meeting ID: 972 2791 1757 Passcode: 352680
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Angela Litchfield, Ann Golob, Jeffrey Chevalier, Katy Johnson-Aplin, and Mike Fitzpatrick (phone).
OTHERS PRESENT:
Austin Rice (BCTV), and Wannetta Powling (Administrative Assistant).
Zoom:
Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), and Jane Douglas (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 THE AGENDA:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
- September 3rd, Regular Meeting Minutes.
Golob made a motion to accept the regular minutes of September 3rd, and Chevalier seconded.
The motion passed. Johnson-Aplin abstained.
- September 9th, Special Meeting Minutes.
Golob made a motion to accept the Special minutes of September 9th, and Chevalier seconded.
The motion passed. Johnson-Aplin abstained.
- September 16th, Regular Meeting Minutes
Golob made a motion to accept the regular minutes of September 16th, and Johnson-Aplin seconded.
The motion passed. Chevalier abstained.
ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:
- The Box Culvert on Depot Road is complete pending the planting of some shrubs later this week.
- The Box Culvert on Loop Road is completed, and I have called the line stripers to do the lines on Loop Road.
- Would it be Ok for the fire department to use the office for the coin drop again this year?
- The paving on Grimes Hill Road and in South Newfane Village was completed and we just got the side dresser today so will be putting gravel along the shoulders later this week.
- The VSP has a boat they removed from Stratton Hill Road that they want us to dispose of. This is something new, what are your thoughts?
Golob made a motion to accept the Road Foreman’s report, and Chevalier seconded.
Discussion:
#3 Johnson-Aplin made a motion to allow the NBFD to use the Town Office for the Coin Drop during the Heritage Festival weekend, October 12 &13. Golob seconded the motion. The motion passed.
#4 Golob asked for clarification on the “side dresser” and “VSP.”
Wilson explained that the “side dresser” is a term for the small crushed shoulder material on the side of the new
pavement to eliminate a three-inch gap or drop-off. This is placed with a road widener or a box spreader attached to a Truck or a loader.
#5 VSP is the Vermont State Police. Litchfield offered to contact Lieutenant French to get more information regarding the boat that was taken into evidence and will report back to the Selectboard at the next meeting.
Litchfield called for the vote to approve the Road Foreman’s report.
The motion passed.
6:08 pm Fitzpatrick joined the meeting via phone.
South Newfane General Store Demolition Bids:
Litchfield opened the bids.
Crown Point Excavation LLC Chester VT $ 243,000.00
Blue Mountain Trucking & Excavating Ryegate VT $ 110,000.00
Waters Excavation INC Windsor VT $ 138,257.78
Costello Dismantling Comp. Inc Wareham MA $ 149,670.00
Litchfield mentioned that Ann Golob has been working with Alyssa Sabetto (WRC), Jay Wilson, and Melissa Brown on this project and would like to hear from Golob.
Golob mentioned that the four of them had reviewed the bids to determine qualifications and whether they had working experience with FEMA requirements. Of the four bids submitted, two seemed better qualified. Wilson and Brown were asked to check on references.
Blue Mountain Trucking & Exc. had stellar references and FEMA experience; they would be able to complete the job in five days and would be able to start December 2nd. The recommendation to the Selectboard would be to hire Blue Mountain Trucking & Excavating.
Golob made a motion to use Blue Mountain Trucking & Excavating for the demolition work at SNGS. Chevalier seconded the motion.
Discussion:
Fitzpatrick asked why the bids were opened if Golob and the others had already reviewed them.
Litchfield said this was the correct procedure when other members of the Selectboard had not seen the bids.
Golob mentioned that considering the deadline, the bids needed to be reviewed before October 7th; applying for an extension with FEMA might be necessary.
Litchfield called for the vote to approve using Blue Mountain Trucking & Excavating.
The motion passed.
Wilson asked the Selectboard to consider ways of protecting the Covered Bridge in Williamsville. Today, another box truck hit it and damaged it.
Discussion ensued.
Litchfield asked Wilson to put it on his Report for the October 15th meeting to consider protection options.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
- Late last week, Jay provided me with information on the damage to the Adams Hill Bridge. I have contacted the Claims Lead and am working to resolve the matter. The adjuster has filed their report with the carrier, and there should be news very soon. I will keep you posted.
- I have been getting things started for the budget season. Appropriation forms went out two weeks ago. I have also forwarded the budget request forms to elected and appointed officials. I hope to have these back soon.
- I confirmed with Repro (the printing company) that we are in the last year of the remaining two-year contract for printing the Town Reports. Nancy will email me after Thanksgiving with a schedule for submitting the draft to her.
- I have been working on the Insurance material recently, and certain selected information has been updated in the Town Report.
Fitzpatrick made a motion to accept the Administrative Assistant’s report, and Golob seconded.
Discussion:
Golob made a motion to authorize the Chair to sign the Internal Checklist and for the Selectboard to sign the Audit Scope and Objectives from Sullivan Powers & Co. P.C. Johnson-Aplin seconded. The motion passed.
Litchfield called for the vote to approve the Administrative Assistant’s report.
The motion passed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: Jane Douglas – Planning Commission/ DV Fiber
DV Fiber has over 600 paying customers and is now stringing wire in Marlboro.
SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None
UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None
NEW BUSINESS:
None
OLD BUSINESS:
Housing Grant Proposal: (Golob – Gehring)
Finalizing the documents will then be sent to the attorney for review.
Town Beautification (Chevalier)
Dale has finished the construction of the bench for Williamsville Hall. Installation may wait until the spring.
FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store (Golob)
Demolition bids were done during the Road Forman’s report.
We are waiting for the final report on the underground storage tank. If contamination is found, remediation will follow the demolition.
Personnel Policy changes/ recommendation (Johnson-Aplin/Chevalier)
Johnson-Aplin will schedule an appointment with the attorney to review the changes.
Town Website Design – (Golob & Johnson-Aplin)
A recent meeting with Curly Sprout, the website designer, went well. They will review the current website’s contents and begin work on the design during the last two weeks of October.
CORRESPONDENCE: None
Litchfield requested a motion to suspend the Selectboard meeting and open the Board of Liquor Control (BLC) and then the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC).
Golob made a motion to suspend the Selectboard meeting at 6:35 pm and open the BLC. Fitzpatrick seconded.
The motion passed.
The Selectboard meeting was reconvened at 6:39 p.m.
Fitzpatrick left the meeting at 6:40 p.m.
PAY ORDERS
- Payroll #11699 $ 7,380.57
- Payroll # 11700 $ 5,845.20
- AP #2505A $7,200.00
- AP #25006 $731,842.08
- AP #2506A $628.49
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to approve pay orders, and Chevalier seconded.
The motion passed.
ADJOURN:
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wannetta Powling,
Administrative Assistant
AL/AG