Newfane Selectboard Minutes September 17, 2009 PDF Print E-mail

NEWFANE SELECTBOARD MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE

PRESENT: Selectboard: Gary Katz, Jeff Gouger, Christopher Williams, Dennis WiswallAlso Present: Maureen Albert-Piascik, Treasurer, Gunther Garbe, Virginia Grabowski, Dick Hickey, Jaime Cone,

1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Gary Katz, Chair.

2. MINUTES A motion was made by Jeff Gouger and seconded by Dennis Wiswall to approve the minutes of September 3, 2009 as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 3. FINANCIAL REPORT Maureen went through the budget with the board. She mentioned that when she points things out to the board, it isn’t for reprimanding anyone, but to point out weak areas of the budget. The board asked Shannon to invite Richard Dudman and David Cotton to the next meeting. Maureen initiated discussion with regarding a newspaper article reporting recent VOSHA inspections. She noted that the current electrical situation at the Town Office is a problem and recommended that even if it’s not in the budget, to look into fixing this. A Request for Proposals would need to be sent out. A motion was made by Dennis Wiswall to put out request for proposals for a needs assessment and a cost estimate and to include air conditioning circuits. The motion was seconded by Christopher Williams. The motion carried unanimously. Jeff noted that didn’t feel that the electrical situation was necessarily dangerous as it was out-of-date. No one should feel unsafe working in the building. The board asked whether Maureen had a best estimate for how the previous fiscal year turned out. Maureen noted that without the auditors report she wasn’t positive, but didn’t feel that the capital fund was in the black quite yet. Jeff asked about Newfane School and how it’s budgeted. A short discussion ensued.

Road Foreman/Road Commissioner’s Report: Christopher Williams gave the report in Todd’s absence. See attached report.

Traffic Ordinance Amendment: Dennis Wiswall reported that he’d done some research on his own and with VLCT, and noted his findings. A discussion ensued regarding research done at the time of the enactment of the portion of the Traffic Ordinance, and the merits of the ordinance. The board set a date for the Special Town Meeting. Dennis Wiswall made a motion to hold the Special Town Meeting on October 20, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The motion was second by Jeff Gouger. The motion carried unanimously. After a short discussion, a motion was by Jeff Gouger and seconded by Dennis Wiswall to use the Newfane School for the special town meeting. The motion carried unanimously. Shannon will contact Bruce Garrow to reserve the school. Gary and Dennis will work on the wording for the warning together.

Williamsville Covered Bridge: Gary updated the public and the board on the latest information. No further action was necessary.

5. SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC Steve Levine presented a proposal for closing the hall from Friday, December 4 to February 22, which would be 81 days. A motion to that affect was made by Jeff Gouger and seconded by Dennis Wiswall. Jon Julian noted that he thought it would behoove the town to have the antifreeze checked. The motion carried unanimously.

5. UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC Gunther questioned whether the process of forming the Williamsville Hall Preservation Association should begin before town meeting so that it’s ready at town meeting for approval, or do they wait to begin until the town approves it. After a short discussion the Hall Committee agreed to come back November 5 with more information.

6. NEW BUSINESS Landfill Bids: Gary opened the bids and read them into the record as follows:

DB Environmental Consulting: 1 year - $2,200 - Three Years - $6,600

Ross Environmental Associates: 1 year - $5,050 - Three Year - $15,150

Lincoln Applied Geology, Inc.: 1 year - $5,916.55 - Three Year - $17,749.65

Green Mountain Engineering, Inc.: NO Bid

Stantec: 1 year - $6,100 - Three Year - $18,700

Waite Environmental Management: 1 Year - 8,000 - Three Year - $23,500

Heindel & Noyes: 1 year - $9,351.50 - Three Year - $27,585.05ECS: 1 Year - $3,870.00 - Three Year - $11,610.00 After reviewing the bids and discussion the quality of work done by DB Environmental in past years, a motion was made by Christopher Williams to award the bid to DB Environmental for the three years, recognizing that the pricing holds unless state fees go up and that the town would absorb the additional fees. Jeff Gouger seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

7. OLD BUSINESS

Planning Commission: There was no update.

Junk Ordinance: After a short discussion the board asked Shannon to invite Rich Perra, to the next Selectboard meeting for his advice on leaving the lien in place vs. foreclosure.

Upper River Road: Gary gave an over view of the site visit held earlier in the evening, noting that no decisions have been made at this point. There are some people for closing the road and there are some people against closing the road.

9. CORRESPONDENCE: Letter received from Richard Dudman regarding the bylaw and upcoming discussions.No action Taken.

10. PAY ORDERS

Pay Orders: $ 67,695.23

Pay Orders: $ 338.00

Payroll $ 3,618.72

Payroll: $ 3,587.13

EFTPS:

9-16-09 - $ 1,048.10

09-23-09 - $1,054.62

A motion was made to approve the pay orders by Christopher Williams. The motion was seconded by Dennis Wiswall. The motion carried unanimously.

11. ADJOURNMENTA motion was made by Jeff Gouger to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. and was seconded by Christopher Williams. The motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted,

Shannon Meckle Posted:

Town Clerk's Office, Newfane Store, W.W. Building Supply, Williamsville Hall, S. Newfane/Williamsville Post Office and the South Newfane General Store & Deli. www.newfanevt.com (after approval)

NEWFANE SELECTBOARD MINUTES

SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE

PRESENT: Selectboard: Gary Katz, Jeff Gouger, Christopher Williams, Dennis WiswallAlso Present: Maureen Albert-Piascik, Treasurer, Gunther Garbe, Virginia Grabowski, Dick Hickey, Jaime Cone,

1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Gary Katz, Chair.

2. MINUTES A motion was made by Jeff Gouger and seconded by Dennis Wiswall to approve the minutes of September 3, 2009 as presented. The motion carried unanimously. 3. FINANCIAL REPORT Maureen went through the budget with the board. She mentioned that when she points things out to the board, it isn’t for reprimanding anyone, but to point out weak areas of the budget. The board asked Shannon to invite Richard Dudman and David Cotton to the next meeting. Maureen initiated discussion with regarding a newspaper article reporting recent VOSHA inspections. She noted that the current electrical situation at the Town Office is a problem and recommended that even if it’s not in the budget, to look into fixing this. A Request for Proposals would need to be sent out. A motion was made by Dennis Wiswall to put out request for proposals for a needs assessment and a cost estimate and to include air conditioning circuits. The motion was seconded by Christopher Williams. The motion carried unanimously. Jeff noted that didn’t feel that the electrical situation was necessarily dangerous as it was out-of-date. No one should feel unsafe working in the building. The board asked whether Maureen had a best estimate for how the previous fiscal year turned out. Maureen noted that without the auditors report she wasn’t positive, but didn’t feel that the capital fund was in the black quite yet. Jeff asked about Newfane School and how it’s budgeted. A short discussion ensued.

Road Foreman/Road Commissioner’s Report: Christopher Williams gave the report in Todd’s absence. See attached report.

Traffic Ordinance Amendment: Dennis Wiswall reported that he’d done some research on his own and with VLCT, and noted his findings. A discussion ensued regarding research done at the time of the enactment of the portion of the Traffic Ordinance, and the merits of the ordinance. The board set a date for the Special Town Meeting. Dennis Wiswall made a motion to hold the Special Town Meeting on October 20, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. The motion was second by Jeff Gouger. The motion carried unanimously. After a short discussion, a motion was by Jeff Gouger and seconded by Dennis Wiswall to use the Newfane School for the special town meeting. The motion carried unanimously. Shannon will contact Bruce Garrow to reserve the school. Gary and Dennis will work on the wording for the warning together.

Williamsville Covered Bridge: Gary updated the public and the board on the latest information. No further action was necessary.

5. SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC Steve Levine presented a proposal for closing the hall from Friday, December 4 to February 22, which would be 81 days. A motion to that affect was made by Jeff Gouger and seconded by Dennis Wiswall. Jon Julian noted that he thought it would behoove the town to have the antifreeze checked. The motion carried unanimously.

5. UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC Gunther questioned whether the process of forming the Williamsville Hall Preservation Association should begin before town meeting so that it’s ready at town meeting for approval, or do they wait to begin until the town approves it. After a short discussion the Hall Committee agreed to come back November 5 with more information.

6. NEW BUSINESS Landfill Bids: Gary opened the bids and read them into the record as follows:

DB Environmental Consulting: 1 year - $2,200 - Three Years - $6,600

Ross Environmental Associates: 1 year - $5,050 - Three Year - $15,150

Lincoln Applied Geology, Inc.: 1 year - $5,916.55 - Three Year - $17,749.65

Green Mountain Engineering, Inc.: NO Bid

Stantec: 1 year - $6,100 - Three Year - $18,700

Waite Environmental Management: 1 Year - 8,000 - Three Year - $23,500

Heindel & Noyes: 1 year - $9,351.50 - Three Year - $27,585.05ECS: 1 Year - $3,870.00 - Three Year - $11,610.00 After reviewing the bids and discussion the quality of work done by DB Environmental in past years, a motion was made by Christopher Williams to award the bid to DB Environmental for the three years, recognizing that the pricing holds unless state fees go up and that the town would absorb the additional fees. Jeff Gouger seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

7. OLD BUSINESS

Planning Commission: There was no update.

Junk Ordinance: After a short discussion the board asked Shannon to invite Rich Perra, to the next Selectboard meeting for his advice on leaving the lien in place vs. foreclosure.

Upper River Road: Gary gave an over view of the site visit held earlier in the evening, noting that no decisions have been made at this point. There are some people for closing the road and there are some people against closing the road.

9. CORRESPONDENCE: Letter received from Richard Dudman regarding the bylaw and upcoming discussions.No action Taken.

10. PAY ORDERS

Pay Orders: $ 67,695.23

Pay Orders: $ 338.00

Payroll $ 3,618.72

Payroll: $ 3,587.13

EFTPS:

9-16-09 - $ 1,048.10

09-23-09 - $1,054.62

A motion was made to approve the pay orders by Christopher Williams. The motion was seconded by Dennis Wiswall. The motion carried unanimously.

11. ADJOURNMENTA motion was made by Jeff Gouger to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. and was seconded by Christopher Williams. The motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully Submitted,

Shannon Meckle Posted:

Town Clerk's Office, Newfane Store, W.W. Building Supply, Williamsville Hall, S. Newfane/Williamsville Post Office and the South Newfane General Store & Deli. www.newfanevt.com (after approval)