Any and all corrections to the following minutes will be made at the 02/17/05 Board of Selectmen's meeting and are considered unapproved until then. Corrections will be noted in the minutes of that meeting.

MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING - BOARD OF SELECTMEN
FEBRUARY 3rd, 2005
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE

PRESENT:
Selectmen: Piet van Loon, Carleton Chaffee, Gary Katz and Chris Williams.
Absent: Priscilla Cotton
Also Present: David Clarkson, Marc Gray of the Culhane Estate, John Spicer, Ed Druke, and Doris Knechtel as Administrative Assistant.

1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting was called to order by Chairman P. van Loon at 6:31 p.m.

2. ROAD BUSINESS
A. ROAD COMMISSIONER'S REPORT - (See attached report)
G. Katz reviewed the contents of his Road Commissioner's report. None of the items required any action by the Selectboard.
2. B. ROAD FOREMAN'S REPORT - (No report submitted)
The Road Foreman was unable to attend the meeting. No major items to be covered with the Board.
2. C. EXCESS WEIGHT PERMITS
There was discussion on two logging operations that need to be looked into regarding excess weight limit permits: The logging operation on Newfane Hill Road (TH#20) being done by Wright Construction and the one further up on Newfane Hill Road (TH#20) on the Palmer property. It was suggested that these two logging operations was well as other excess weight permit holders be sent renewal applications for submission as the current permits expire on March 31st.
2. D. ACCESS/RIGHT OF WAY PERMITS - No action taken.
2. E. LOOP ROAD (TH#76) - DRAINAGE
A note was received from Larry Armirault about the possibility of having the town clean some inadequate drainage on Loop Road (TH#76) in Rolling Meadows. Chairman P. van Loon will write a letter to Mr. Armirault regarding the responsibility of the town and the responsibility of the Rolling Meadows as it has to do with drainage and road maintenance.
2. F. OTHER ROAD BUSINESS
(1) P. van Loon spoke with Hank Lambert of Vermont Local Roads regarding the reflective strips to be installed in the sign post channels of stop signs and 25 mph and 35 mph speed limit signs. Mr. Lambert suggests red for stop signs and possibly yellow for 25 mph zones. He does not recommend any wording be used as it confuses people when trying to read it, especially vertically. P. van Loon will order the amount needed to be bolted on. The cost is expected to be $500 for the number needed. (See AA report Item #5)

5. OLD BUSINESS
A. NEWFANE TRAFFIC ORDINANCE
The current stop sign information is to be added to the Traffic Ordinance as well as some other changes that have been previously discussed. It was also suggested that the speed limit be changed on Dover Road (TH#2) in the easterly direction from the covered bridge. More specifics as to the measurement will be obtained and inserted into the ordinance before the Board acts on it. A survey of the speed has previously been done by WRC.

4. UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
A. David Clarkson spoke of the meeting held by the Planning Commission recently in which Sue Fillion of WRC spoke of the changes to Chapter 117 and how it will effect the towns. Several members of the new Development Review Board, which begins on March 1st and the Zoning Administrator also attended. The DRB will have more responsibility that the ZBA, which it replaces. At that meeting, the Planning Commission proposed that their membership be increased from 5 to 7, and the Selectboard has received a memo to that affect. The Selectboard would like to invite the PC or a representative to the PC thinking on the matter. P. van Loon reminded that BOS that they are ex-officio members of the Planning Commission.

3. SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
A. CULHANE CORNER - UPDATE ON NEW DESIGN SELECTION
The Selectboard received a letter from Brud Sanderson of Stevens & Associates comparing the steel sheet pile approach to replacing the Culhane Corner wall with the soldier pile wall with wood lagging. The cost for the latter is to be an estimated savings of $28,500. Before making a decision, the Board invited the property owners involved to review the new proposal. There would not need to be as much excavation with the soldier pile wall approach. Marc Gray, representing the Culhane estate agreed with the new choice. C. Ross called G. Katz and asked about the possibility of planting something that would grow over the wall such as ivy. Motion was made by C. Chaffee and seconded by C. Williams to ask Stevens & Associates to prepare Request for Proposals for the Soldier Pile Wall with Pressure Treated Timber Lagging approach for the Phase I replacement of the Culhane Corner retaining wall. Unanimous. The town does have the funds for the engineering and a portion of the cost to replace the current wall from a state grant. When the town finds out the actual cost, the Board will determine where the additional funds will come from. Phase II of the project relates to the first 75' of the stone wall which consists of the reconstruction of the existing stone wall using stones salvaged from existing walls.

4. UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC - (cont.)
B. E. Druke brought up a few instances he reported to the Windham County Sheriff's Department and the lack of follow-up response from the department. Others present also remarked about various incidents where there was also a lack of response or follow-up from the WCSD.
Piet van Loon mentioned that, on a related note, Windham Regional Commission will be putting together a Cross Town Talk about law enforcement in March or April.

5. OLD BUSINESS
A. NEWFANE TRAFFIC ORDINANCE - (cont.)
G. Katz mentioned at one of the recent workshops that he attended the idea of borrowing a radar guns from law enforcement and having citizens record the speed and registration numbers of speeders with the WCSD following up with a letter to the offender.
5. B. PERSONNEL POLICY
Board members were asked to review and comment with suggestions on the Mendon Personnel Policy. It seems to be straight forward and covers what is needed for Newfane.

6. B. SCHEDULE MEETINGS WITH BOARDS, TOWNS AND AGENCIES
Johanna Gardner would like to have the Newfane School Board, the Selectboard and Rep. Richard Marek meet on a Monday evening within the next couple of weeks. Board members are agreeable. D. Knechtel will contact J. Gardner and R. Marek to determine a date and time for the meeting. DAK will warn the special meeting. (See AA report - Item #4)

6. C. TOWN REPORT

The Selectboard will be given the specific information for the Town Meeting that pertains to the articles that the Selectboard will speak to relating to the budget and capital plan for the meeting of February 17th. The Board expects that the articles for the National Guard (Article 7 ), Rescue Inc. (Articles 10 & 11) and Grace Cottage (Article 15) may take up a lot of discussion at the meeting. The articles just mentioned will be spoken to by the people or organizations requesting the articles.
6 A. APPOINTMENTS
(1) LELAND & GRAY NEWFANE REPRESENTATIVE - No action.

7. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT'S REPORT - (See attached report)
The items on the report were reviewed by the Board. None of the items required any action by the Selectboard.

8. MINUTES - No minutes were available for the Selectboard to review and approve. (See AA report Item #3)

9. CORRESPONDENCE
A. Yearly, the Selectboard must complete the Certificate of Highway Mileage for the town. No changes have been made to the highway mileage within the last year. Motion was made by G. Katz and seconded by C. Chaffee to have the Selectboard sign the Certificate of Highway Mileage for the year ending February 10, 2005 having 16.90 miles of Class 2, 47.05 miles of Class 3, 5.662 of State Highway and 0.660 Class 4, for a total of 69.612 miles, excluding the Class 4 amount. Unanimous.
B. An agreement between Windham Regional Commission and the Town of Newfane for WRC to provide Newfane with the clerical production and professional planning support to update the Newfane Town Plan has been received. The agreement covers the period from 02/01/05 to 04/30/05 for the amount of $1,750. Motion was made by G. Katz and seconded by C. Chaffee to have Chairman Hendrik W. APiet@ van Loon sign the agreement on behalf of the Newfane Selectboard. Unanimous. The funds for this agreement are to come from the PC Planning CD.
C. A copy of a letter sent to the Brattleboro Area Community Land Trust on behalf of the Newfane-Dummerston Housing Rehabilitation Committee from Jack Manix, N/D Rehab. Com., Chair. The letter supports the proposed regional rehab oversight program.
D. Notification has been received from District #2 Environmental Commission regarding a minor application for Kenneth and Gianna Robinson, d.b.a. Kengia Enterprises for the construction and operation of a 2,400 square foot building for fabrication of window screens, sun screens and doors as well as retail sales of window and door products. No hearing will be held unless, on of before February 14, 2005, a party notifies the Commission of an issue requiring the presentation of evidence at a hearing.
E. A memorandum of decision has been received from the District #2 Environmental Commission for Eagle River Mining, Inc. Special emphasis was placed on conforming to the Town and regional plans with regards to rehabilitation.

10. PAY ORDERS
Motion was made by G. Katz and seconded by C. Williams to approve the Newfane Payroll and Accounts Payable Warrants for the following amounts:
01/26/05 Payroll $ 3,695.70
02/02/05 Payroll $ 4,164.40
02/04/05 Payroll $ 2,295.63
02/04/05 Acct.'s Payable #15 $ 327,977.24 Unanimous.

IRS Electronic Federal Payroll Tax Payments
01/26/05 $ 1,360.37
02/02/05 $ 1,250.86

11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - IF NEEDED
No matters came before the Selectboard that required the need of an Executive Session.

12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by G. Katz and seconded by C. Williams to adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Board at 8:47 p.m. Unanimous.

Doris A. Knechtel
Administrative Assistant
Newfane Board of Selectmen

Posted: Town Clerk's Office, Newfane Store, Williamsville General Store, and South Newfane General Store & Deli.
www.newfanevt.com

General Matters
1. No major road issues this time.
2. The winter has been generally kind to us so far. The main point to note is that we have been using lots of sand, given the thawing and re-freezing conditions.
3. The crew has been focusing on getting and keeping the equipment ready so we'll be prepared to deal with future storms.
4. Kurt won't be able to make the Selectboard meeting on Thursday. He had no major items to cover with the Board.

Gary Katz, Road Commissioner

1. The Town Report finally made it to the printers this afternoon after much delay. I am hoping that it will be back from the printers by the 15th or 16th of February. It is to be in the hands of the voters 10 days before the March 1st meeting and will need to be mailed by February 18th. I may need some assistance with the labeling, taping and inserts from the Conservation Commission.

2. I did have to purchase a new printer for about $200.00 from Staples. It was getting so that I have to had feed the paper and it was not giving a clean copy, which I needed for the Town Report.

3. I do not have any of the minutes done as listed on the Agenda for this evening.

4. Johanna Gardner called about having a special meeting between the Elementary School Board, the Selectboard and Rep. Richard Marek on a Monday evening within the next couple of weeks.

5. Hank Lambert of Vermont Local Roads called about the reflector strips in sign post channels. There are different colors available. He would suggest red for stop signs and possibly yellow for 25 mph zones. He does not recommend any wording be used as it confuses people when trying to read it, especially vertically. That is why more symbols are being use on signs rather than wording.