Selectboard Regular Meeting Monday, October 16th, 2023 (DRAFT)

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

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

Zoom:  Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), Jane Douglas (Planning Commission), Alex Beck (SeVEDS,) Sara Mc Connell (SeVEDS).

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 adding Katy Buckley’s email to New Business and Manitou’s Status update to Old Business.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

  1. September 5th, 2023, Special Meeting.
    Golob made a motion to accept the September 5th Special Minutes, and Chevalier seconded the motion.
    Motion passed. Fitzpatrick abstained.
  2. September 5th, 2023, BLC Meeting.
    Chevalier made a motion to accept the September 5th B.L.C. minutes, and Golob seconded the motion.
    Motion passed. Fitzpatrick abstained.
  3. September 14th, 2023, Special Meeting

Tabled until November 6th meeting.

  1. October 2nd, 2023, BLC Meeting

Golob made a motion to accept the October 2, 2023, B.L.C. minutes, and Fitzpatrick seconded the motion.
Motion passed. Chevalier abstained.

  1. October 2nd, 2023, Regular Meeting

Golob made a motion to accept the October 2nd minutes, and Fitzpatrick seconded the motion.
Motion passed. Chevalier abstained.

 

ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:

  1. The Pavement project on South Wardsboro is almost complete, and we will have to do some work on the shoulders.
  2. The ditch across from the entrance to the gravel pit on Radway Hill has been repaired and repaved.
  3. The culvert repair done on Depot Rd. where the new box culvert is going has been paved to get us through the winter.
  4. We met with Mike and Allie from NRCS and toured eight locations on Smith Brook, Rock River, RT 30, Browns Rd.
  5. I have ordered a few more road name signs for some that have gone missing.
  6. We now have the bid documents and plans for Loop Rd. Box culvert should be going out to bid soon, with the bids due at the end of November. The work would happen next summer. We will need to have Bob Fisher prepare the easements.
  7. I spoke with Ron Bell today, and he is getting the design and estimate done for Eddy Rd. so we can try to form mitigation money from FEMA.
  8. I have asked Eddie Duncan from RSG to redo the sound study for the gravel pit now that the entrance is not being changed. I am sure there will be an additional charge, but Bill Jewell felt this would make for a better ACT 250 presentation.

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

Johnson-Aplin arrived at 6:07 p.m.

Discussion ensued:

  1. There was a recount of events regarding the visit from NRCS; we have no indication of when NRCS will respond. While they were here, they took photos and measurements and heard concerns from residents.
  2. The emergency repair under Depot Rd. was necessary; the pavement is a winter patch, and the Box Culvert will be installed in the late spring or early summer.
  3. Baker Brook Road must be added to the NRCS site visits.
  4. Litchfield asked Jay to contact Attorney Bob Fisher to provide the easement information for installing the Box Culvert at Loop Rd.
  5. Golob mentioned that the sound study for the gravel pit would benefit the ACT 250 process.

* Johnson-Aplin asked for an update on the Dover Rd. Timson Hill intersection culvert replacement pavement patch. Wilson explained that DMI has had delays due to the rain this summer and will schedule this repair and Grimes Hill simultaneously.

The vote was called. Motion passed.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT: 

  1. On November 8th, at the Stone Church in Brattleboro, there will be a farewell gathering for retiring BCTV Director Cor Trowbridge. I would like to publicly address my appreciation for her support in helping to set up Newfane’s Zoom access during COVID-19 and for her interest in our success. And for the Producers Award I was given, we would not have been as successful without her steady support. Would anyone like to join me in attending this event for Cor?
  2. I have been reviewing the Town’s Insurance Policy for 2024. And for the BCBS benefits for the Town employees. I will have figures for you at the budget meeting starting October 30th.
  3. The Traffic Calming Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 18th at 6 p.m.
  4. Williamsville Hall Community breakfast is Thursday, October 19th, from 8-10:30 a.m.

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

  1. Regarding attending the BCTV event, Litchfield and Golob are unavailable; Johnson-Aplin and Chevalier are TBD.

The vote was called. Motion passed.


COMMITTEE REPORT:
Traffic Calming Committee
No Update –the next meeting is this Wednesday evening.

SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
Social Appropriations Request

SeVEDS-BDCC-Alex Beck – Sara McConnell (Zoom) gave a brief overview of their information and services. SeVEDS helps to meet community development needs by being involved with job support.  They also sponsor a shared workforce meeting for the students at the High School at Leland & Gray; they have been helping this year with meeting the needs of the refugees in Brattleboro, flood recovery support, and being the point person for resources and distribution of funds in our region. Golob asked how the appropriation figures for Newfane were determined. This is based on $3 per person using the 2010 census count for a count of the town population.

UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
None

NEW BUSINESS
Katie Buckley, Director of the ARPA Assistance and Coordination Program at VLCT, emailed all Selectboard members with information on the Municipal Technical Assistance Program (MTAP). This outlined the availability of grant funding opportunities, permit assistance, and project management assistance through the local Regional Commission, which has additional resources available for municipalities to assist with such projects as developing sewer systems, housing, infrastructure projects, and more. Newfane was preapproved for this assistance; Golob recommends that Newfane reach out to Chris Campany and ask for their help with how to get started with assessing our needs for a sewer. Jay Wilson suggested considering the need for more help regarding climate change resiliency. Board members agreed that it is essential to define Newfane’s needs, including housing issues and sewer infrastructure needs, which go hand in hand. Wilson stressed that with the anticipated climate changes, the need to upgrade the size of our culvert capacity to handle the rain run-off with larger box culverts would help to keep the roads from washing out. It was agreed that Golob would send an email to Chris Campany asking for their assistance as part of the MTAP program.

OLD BUSINESS:

  1. Town Beautification suggestions (Chevalier)

The sites for the installation of the benches have been determined. Press releases, application requirements, and design will be packaged and available to be worked on over the winter months with the hope of benches being installed in the late spring of 2024.

  1. FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store (Golob)

Golob received preapproval acknowledgment from FEMA on the acquisition and demolition of the # 393 Dover Rd application.
Golob sent questions to the Vermont Environment Management office to clarify the conditions of the FEMA letter.
It was agreed that the Selectboard would review the two emails that Golob forwarded and would take a vote to accept the FEMA conditions and have the Chair sign the letter.

  1. ARPA Funds Updates (Golob)
    The Town started at $441,000.00 and has a balance now of $201,000; it was previously discussed to hold an amount as a small interest revolving fund for small projects.
  1. Personal Policy Recommendations (Johnson-Aplin).
    VLCT sent a reply late this afternoon. Update at next meeting.

 

  1. Manitou’s Status update -Litchfield
    The town attorney has been contacted and is waiting for the Zoning Administrator to follow up with the attorney and the Selectboard.

CORRESPONDENCE:
Email from Chris Druke regarding a recently approved Zoning application.

Golob and Fitzpatrick attended remotely and left the meeting at 6:53 p.m.

PAY ORDERS

  1. Payroll # 11647                 $    5,826.27
  2. Payroll # 11648                 $    5,761.37
  3. AP # 24009                         $  87,824.32

Chevalier made a motion to approve Pay Orders. Johnson-Aplin seconded the motion.
Motion passed 3/0.

ADJOURN:
Chevalier made a motion to adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 P.M.

Respectfully Submitted,
Wannetta Powling, Administrative Assistant
AG