Tuesday, February 22nd, 2022 Masks are required by those attending in-person / if unable to do so; please use the Zoom Link provided
Zoom Meeting https//zoom.us/join Meeting ID: 972 2791 1757 Passcode: 352680
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:
Angela Sanborn, Ann Golob, Shelly Huber, Katy Johnson- Aplin, and Mike Fitzpatrick (phone)
OTHERS PRESENT:
(In-Person) Henriette Mantel, Sue Berg, Austin Rice, – B.C.T.V. and Wannetta Powling
(Zoom) Jay Wilson, Cris White, Walter Dadik, Bill Gunther, Steve Meyer, Bucky Pelsue, Marion Dowling, Mary Carson, Casey Hayes, Jamis Hall, Ingrid Scholz-Longo, Jane Douglas, Kate Gehring, and Melissa Brown
CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:02 pm by Selectboard Chair Angela Sanborn.
ADDITIONS/AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
- February 7th, 2021, Regular Meeting.
Ann Golob made a motion to approve the February 7th regular meeting minutes.
Shelly Huber seconded the motion. – Motion passed 5/0.
ROAD FOREMAN’S & ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:
- The board should have the contract for WRC to be the Municipal Project Manager for the Newfane Village Pedestrian Scoping Study. That will need to be signed.
- Sand/Salt shed is headed for a final review with VTRANS and hopefully, it will go out to bid in a couple of weeks.
- Renaud Bros. is planning on doing some work under the Arch Bridge in the next week or two and it looks like everything is on schedule weather permitting.
- The board has a copy of the proposal from William Jewel and Company to begin the permit process for the gravel pit.
- Depot Road Depot Road Culvert condemnation is up today, I am waiting to hear from Attorney Bob Fisher.
Shelly Huber made a motion to authorize Angela Sanborn (Chair) to sign the Jewel Contract. Ann Golob seconded. Roll called- Motion passed 5/0
Shelly Huber made a motion to authorize Angela Sanborn (Chair) to sign the contract for Windham Regional Commission to assume the project manager for the Village Scoping Study. Ann Golob seconded.
Roll called -Motion passed 5/0
Katy Johnson- Aplin made a motion to accept the Road Forman’s Report. Ann Golob seconded. Roll called -Motion passed 5/0
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT:
- I will review the Newfane Ordinances & Policies and have them ready for the New Selectboard to read & review. I will edit any changes or recommendations and have them available to re-adopt at the March 14th
- I was notified on 2.17th that there was a possible dog bite that is currently being investigated by Ashley Pringer of the WCSD / Animal Control. I will keep the Board informed of this ongoing investigation.
- The Organizational Meeting for the New Selectboard will be on Thursday, March 3rd at 6 p.m.
- The Newfane mask mandate may be readopted for another 30 days; the State’s rule allowing towns to adopt mask mandates will expire on April 30, 2022.
Shelly Huber made a motion to approve the Administrative Assistant’s Report. Ann Golob seconded. Roll call-motion passed 5/0.
Ann Golob made a motion to extend the mask mandate for another 30 days, at Town-owned buildings (This will be until March 24th) Katy Johnson- Aplin seconded.
Discussion
Roll called motion passed 4/1 Shelly Huber opposed.
- PRE -TOWN MEETING INFORMATIONAL-Moderator Deborah Luskin 6:11 p.m.
WARNING FOR THE 2022 NEWFANE TOWN MEETING VOTING BY AUSTRALIAN BALLOT
@ NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE, NEWFANE MARCH 1, 2022
The legal voters of the Town of Newfane, Vermont, are hereby notified and warned that pursuant to Title 17 V.S.A. Section 2655, they are to vote by Australian ballot due to COVID 19.
Masks are required by those voting in-person
Voting will take place from 9:00 AM until 7:00 PM at the NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE, Newfane to act upon the articles below.
ARTICLE 1: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane elect the following Newfane Town Officers as required by law for the ensuing year?
Constable 1-year term
Collector of Delinquent Taxes 1-year term
Lister 1- year term (until 2023)
Lister 2- year term (until 2024)
Lister 3-year term
Moderator – Town 1-year term
Selectboard Member 3-year term
Selectboard Member 1-year terms (Two Positions)
Town Clerk 1-year term
Town Treasurer 1-year term
WRMUED School Board Member 3-year term (One Position)
ARTICLE 2: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane pay taxes for the ensuing year on a quarterly basis, due on the 15th of August, October, January, and April; late charge for interest being at the rate of .50% per month for the current fiscal year and .75% per month for each month thereafter until paid?
ARTICLE 3: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane authorize the Treasurer to collect current taxes, pursuant to 32 VSA §4791?
ARTICLE 4: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane authorize the Selectboard to sell or otherwise convey property acquired through tax sale proceedings?
Bucky Pelsuo – General question, was there a time when the public could have input on these articles?
Moderator Answer- the public is welcome to come to all of the Selectboard meetings; budget season starts in October and that is where these items are discussed.
Bill Gunter –Article #1 Are the current Listers not running for re-election?
Wannetta Powling, Answer- Beckley Gaudett is the only candidate who turned in paperwork for the two-year Lister position, any others can be write-ins.
ARTICLE 5: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $500.00 to American Red Cross?
ARTICLE 6: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $250.00 to Aids Project of So. VT?
ARTICLE 7: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1500.00 to the Incorporated Village of Newfane Union Hall?
Bill Gunther – Is this a new request?
Shelly Huber Answer – Yes this is a new request, for maintenance of Union Hall any of these appropriations had to make an appointment and explained to the Selectboard and the public about how they serve the residents of Newfane. The town has never been charged for the use of the Hall for Town Meetings.
ARTICLE 8: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $3500.00 to Grace Cottage Hospital?
Bill Gunther – Would like to show support for Grace Cottage Hospital, a very worthy cause.
ARTICLE 9: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $400.00 to Green Mountain RSVP?
ARTICLE 10: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1000.00 to Groundwork’s Collaborative?
Shelly Huber stated that all the appropriations made an appointment, and explain to the Selectboard & public how they serve the residents of Newfane.
Ann Golob added that these requests include a written report summarizing the activities of the organization and are included in the Town Report.
ARTICLE 11: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1850.00 to Health Care & Rehabilitation Services?
ARTICLE 12: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1000.00 to Leland & Gray Education Foundation?
ARTICLE 13: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $2,700.00 to Moore Free Library?
ARTICLE 14: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1000.00 to Restorative Community Practice of S. Vermont?
ARTICLE 15: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1150.00 to Senior Solutions?
Janis Hall – from Senior Solutions spoke regarding service numbers that were provided to Newfane residents.
Bill Gunther – Would like to show support for appropriations, very worthy cause, including the Vet-to-Vet program where people get buddied up with other Vets.
ARTICLE 16: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1600.00 to SEVCA?
ARTICLE 17: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $5178.00 to SeVEDS?
Casey Haynes- from the SeVEDS spoke regarding services that is provided to Newfane residents.
ARTICLE 18: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $600.00 to SE VT Watershed Alliance.
ARTICLE 19: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $2000.00 to S. Newfane Community Association?
ARTICLE 20: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1000.00 to The Timson Hill Preschool?
ARTICLE 21: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1000.00 to The Gathering Place?
ARTICLE 22: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $750.00 to The Moover?
ARTICLE 23: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $2675.00 to Valley Cares?
Bill Gunther – Would like to show support for Valley Cares, very beneficial to have such a facility in the valley. They loaned out equipment during my recovery from surgery at no cost. I have done some volunteer driving and residents are very grateful for the assisted living in our area.
ARTICLE 24: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $220.00 to Vermont Center for Independent Living?
ARTICLE 25: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $400.00 to Vermont Adult Learning?
ARTICLE 26: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $100.00 to Vermont Green Up?
ARTICLE 27: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $4500.00 to Visiting Nurses Alliance & Hospice for VT /NH?
Bill Gunther – Would like to show support for Visiting Nurses Alliance very worthy cause they helped him recover after his surgery, they came right to my house, wonderful service.
ARTICLE 28: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1000.00 to Williamsville School Preservation Society?
ARTICLE 29: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $250.00 to Windham County Historical Society?
ARTICLE 30: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $720.00 to Windham County Humane Society?
ARTICLE 31: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1000.00 to the Women’s Freedom Center?
ARTICLE 32: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $1660.00 to Youth Services?
ARTICLE 33: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane appropriate the sum of $250.00 to WinDart?
End of Special Appropriations, See Town Report for Details – Total $ 39,753.
ARTICLE 34: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane authorize General Fund expenditures for Town and Highway operating expenses of $ 1,599,996, of which $1,299,799 shall be raised by taxes and $ 300,197 by non-tax revenues?
Bill Gunther – Question, Page 15 under General- the Windham County Tax is the figure used based on a per capita basis? Melissa Brown – Yes this is based on a per capita basis.
Bill Gunther -What does this do to the Windham County Sheriff when they move to Brattleboro?
Shelly Huber – Answer, none that we know of at this point, will not have an effect on these figures.
ARTICLE 35: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane authorize Capital Fund expenditures of $ 316,345.00, of which $ 315,345.00 shall be raised by taxes and $ 1,000.00 by non-tax revenues?
ARTICLE 36: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane raise by taxation the amount of $28,634 for the annual Excavator lease payment?
ARTICLE 37: Shall the voters of the Town of Newfane approve the transfer of surplus funds, in the amount of $125,000 to the Capital Reserve Fund?
OTHER DISCUSSION:
Buckey Pelsue– General question If we are not satisfied with the amount and it is voted down, does that mean that the organization can come back and request a different amount?
Angela Sanborn – that is not an option.
Melissa Brown if it is voted NO, by a majority vote It is taken out of the budget.
Bill Gunther – I want to give my annual thanks to the Highway Crew, I haven’t had to walk up the hill this year. Thank you
Deborah Luskin – At one Town Meeting I asked for money for a PA system I was granted $750.00 and hope to use it when we reconvene in-person town meetings.
END OF PRE-TOWN MEETING INFORMATIONAL 7:00 p.m.
Mike Fitzpatrick – I would like to thank the other members of the Selectboard who have done an excellent job this year and in particular for helping to acquire the gravel pit for the town. We should be able to start getting sand and gravel from the pit later this year which will be a tremendous boom for the town. I also would like to thank Shelly Huber for her work on the Board; she has had the Town’s interests at heart.
Shelly Huber – I want to thank you all – it has been fulfilling and rewarding to serve these past five years; others wanting to serve should do so.
PAY ORDERS
- Payroll Warrant No #11554 Amount $ 4,969.54
- Payroll Warrant No #11555 Amount $ 5,088.67
- Account Payable No # 2217 Amount $ 69,775.01
- Account Payable No # 2217A Amount $ 881.19
Katy Johnson- Aplin made a motion to approve Pay Orders. Ann Golob seconded. Motion passed 4/0 (Attending remotely, Mike Fitzpatrick withdrew and left the meeting.)
ADJOURN: Ann Golob made a motion to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 7:17 pm
Respectfully Submitted,
Wannetta Powling, Administrative Assistant