Newfane Selectboard Special Meeting Agenda Monday, April 21st, 2025, 5:30 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82923623115?pwd=Y8mwXFBz1EXkv5iWbOROTgAAO3PJ6z.1
Zoom Meeting ID: 829 2362 3115 Passcode: 974520
BOARD MEMBERS: Todd Lawley, Marion Dowling, Katy Johnson-Aplin, and Chris Cleverly.
Absent: Mike Fitzpatrick
OTHERS PRESENT: Jay Wilson (Road Foreman), Mel Martin, Jane Douglas (Planning Commission), Rob Wright, Katie Bristol (Zoning Administrator), and Austin Rice (B.C.T.V.).
ZOOM:
Ann Golob, Nolan Edgar, Planning Commission, Angela Litchfield.
CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Selectboard Chair Lawley.
Dowling made a motion to go into Executive Session, and Cleverly seconded. The motion passed.
The Selectboard entered Executive Session at 5:31 p.m.
Executive Session
1 VSA ~313 (a) (3) Employment matter of a public officer or employee.
The Selectboard left Executive Session at 6:04 p.m.
No decision was made.
CONFIRM PROPERLY WARNED:
Wilson confirmed that the meeting had been properly warned.
ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA:
The Treasurer’s update was removed from the agenda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
April 7th, 2025, Regular Meeting Minutes.
Dowling made a motion to accept the amended minutes of April 7th, adding the names of Gordon Bristol, John Walker, and Sheriff Mark Anderson. Cleverly seconded.
The motion passed.
ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:
- I had a message today at the garage that the bench for Williamsville Hall is ready to be installed, do you know where the bench is to be placed at the hall?
- We should have bids to open for the Rock River repair near the Green Iron Bridge.
- We should have bids to open for Bridge #10 on South Wardsboro Road.
- We are still working on trying to get funding for the (Box Culvert) Eddy Road.
- The contractor for GMP started work this morning, changing poles on Depot Road.
- The state has accepted the ACT 250 permit for the gravel pit, and we are waiting for the next step. To schedule a hearing.
The following bids were opened.
The Bridge #10 project will be completed by October 1st.
- Amedon Construction $35,000.
- S. Clark $29,700.
- Fitzpatrick Excavating $ 7,300.
Rock Riverbank Stabilization 362 Dover Road
- Amedon Construction $ 160,000
- S. Clark $ 24,700.
- Fitzpatrick Excavating $ 76,300
The bids were tabled till the May 5th Selectboard meeting, pending review by the Road Foreman and the project engineer, at which time they will provide a recommendation to the Selectboard.
An access permit was approved for Grimes Hill Road at the April 7th meeting, and it is pending inspection by the Road Foreman and the Road Commissioners.
Cleverly made a motion to approve the Grimes Hill access permit, with the Road Commissioners and Foreman’s recommendation, and Dowling seconded. The motion passed.
Mel Martin from Pound Road, a private road that leads into a town trail, off Timson Hill Road, was present to ask for help regarding maintenance of the trail to help with the water runoff. Given the trail’s condition, the appeal is for the increased culvert size from 18” to 36” in diameter.
Cleverly made a motion to accept the Road Foreman’s report, and Johnson-Aplin seconded.
The motion passed.
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT: (Read by Johnson-Aplin)
- The Hall Committee has approved Alex Lotz to join as a new member. The Selectboard may consider appointing Alex Lotz as a new member.
- It has been brought to the attention that, by federal law, we are not allowed to post. As this was previously voted on as an official posting location, I request that the area be changed to
Notice of posting only on the Front Porch Forum
Town of Newfane Website
Moore Free Library
Town Office Building
Discussion ensued:
Cleverly made a motion to accept the appointment of Alex Lutz as a member of the W. Hall Committees, and to table item number two until the May 5th meeting, and Dowling seconded.
The motion passed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Zoning Administrator – Updates
Katie Bristol said that she was here to update a couple of things.
- There have been seven Zoning permits in April; this is great news.
- Junk / Outdoor Storage Ordinance: A few conflicting things happened at the April 7th meeting.
- Understanding all the roles in Ordinances, Ordinances are governed by the Selectboard, not Zoning. Zoning must follow a 65-page By-Law Book, from which I cannot bend. The Selectboard needs to send a certified letter to the landowner with a notice of violation of the ordinance.
This is not the first time this ordinance has been acted upon. The last two cases I can remember were Loop Road and Glebe Road. The Selectboard made an error when they referred to a damaged greenhouse near the larger greenhouses owned by Dutton’s. An apology is owed to the Dutton Family. They do not own this property.
- Understanding all the roles in Ordinances, Ordinances are governed by the Selectboard, not Zoning. Zoning must follow a 65-page By-Law Book, from which I cannot bend. The Selectboard needs to send a certified letter to the landowner with a notice of violation of the ordinance.
Johnson-Aplin made a motion to have the Administrative Assistant work with the Zoning Administrator to draft a letter for the Chair and Vice Chair to review and sign, and Cleverly seconded. The motion passed.
Planning Commission: Jane Douglas informed the Selectboard that this Thursday’s meeting with officials from the VT NRC will take place at the Rock River location at 4:00 p.m.
Golob wanted to be sure of the development possibilities; examples include sitting areas, parks, garden spaces, and access to the Rock River water.
Discussion ensued:
SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
None
UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC:
Discussion Ensued:
NEW BUSINESS:
None
OLD BUSINESS:
Housing Grant Proposal – Jane Douglas and Ann Golob shared information about the two-year work that the previous Selectboard and Planning Commission had done. Two years ago, Ken Estey and the P.C. sent out a survey of how the residents would like to make use of the ARPA money. One of the recommendations was to create more housing. Options were not feasible for the Town of Newfane.
Golob would like to request that the current Selectboard continue the Housing Grant program. If not, enough interest is shown after efforts, the current Selectboard could find something else to use the money. The program first started in February 2025. The program is first-come, and it meets all the requirements.
Golob offered to review any documents and provide her comments via email.
Cleverly made a motion to schedule the discussion until another meeting, allowing for further review of the Selectboard, and Dowling seconded the motion.
The motion passed.
FEMA buyout of South Newfane General Store – Ann Golob (Former Selectboard Member). One of the processes still needs to be completed, which is the testing that needs to be completed to determine if there needs to be clean-up remediation of the site.
Personnel Policy changes/recommendations – No Updates
Town Website Design – No Updates
CORRESPONDENCE:
The Planning Commission will host a meeting on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. to review the Zoning By-Law changes. The State of Vermont members from the Natural Resources Conservation Service will join them.
Cleverly made a motion to go into Pay Orders, and Dowling seconded the motion.
The motion passed.
PAY ORDERS
- Payroll # 11727 $ 5,771.53
- Payroll # 11728 $7,183.99
- AP #25020 $91,350.72
ADJOURN:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wannetta Powling,
Administrative Assistant