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

MINUTES - ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING - BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MARCH 8th, 2007
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE

PRESENT:
Selectmen: Ellen Darrow, Dan DeWalt, Joseph Mandell, Peter Rysz, and Guy Wachtel.
Also Present: Hendrik W. “Piet” van Loon, Edward Druke, Sr., Greg Record, Caroline Katz, Chris Petrak, Gunther Garbe, Jim Goodnow (Guest from Texas), Christopher Williams, Todd Lawley, Road Foreman, and Doris A. Knechtel, Administrative Assistant.

1. CALL TO ORDER
The organizational meeting was called to order by Administrative Assistant, D. Knechtel at 6:30 p.m. Members of the Board were recently elected to serve the following terms: Ellen Darrow (2008), Guy Wachtel (2008), and Peter W. Rysz (2010). Ms. Darrow, Mr. Rysz and Mr. Wachtel were sworn into office by Notary Public, D. Knechtel before the meeting began.

2. ELECT: CHAIRMAN, VICE-CHAIRMAN AND CLERK
CHAIRMAN - D. DeWalt nominated Joseph I. Mandell to serve as the Chairman of the Newfane Selectboard. Nominations were closed. In favor of Joseph I. Mandell as Chairman of the Newfane Selectboard: E. Darrow, D. DeWalt, P. Rysz, and G. Wachtel. J. Mandell abstained.
Chairman J. Mandell conducted the meeting from this point on.
VICE-CHAIRMAN - D. DeWalt nominated Ellen Darrow to serve as the Vice-Chairman of the Newfane Selectboard. Nominations were closed. In favor of Ellen Darrow as Vice-Chairman of the Newfane Selectboard: D. DeWalt, J. Mandell, P. Rysz, and G. Wachtel. E. Darrow abstained.
CLERK - D. DeWalt nominated Administrative Assistant Doris A. Knechtel, as Clerk of the Newfane Board of Selectmen. Nominations were closed. All in favor and so voted.
Joseph I. Mandell Loon elected as Chairman of the Newfane Selectboard.
Ellen Darrow elected as Vice-Chairman of the Newfane Selectboard.
Doris A. Knechtel elected as the Clerk of the Newfane Selectboard.

Board members agreed that most of the remaining decisions for the appointments and such will be made by consensus of the Board rather than a motion unless necessary.

3. MEETING SCHEDULE
The regular meetings of the Newfane Selectboard on the first and third Thursday of each month beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Newfane Town Office. Agreed.
Any meetings of the Board of Health and Local Board of Liquor Control Commissioners will be held, as needed, on the first and third Thursday of the month. Agreed.

4. LOCATION FOR POSTING OF NOTICES & MINUTES
Notices be posted at the following locations: Town Clerk’s Office, Newfane Store, Williamsville General Store, South Newfane/Williamsville Post Office, The South Newfane General Store & Deli and the website, www.newfanevt.com. Agreed. and to further note that the minutes are available to the public, in note form, at the Town Office. There will be further discussion regarding the status of the minutes at the meeting of March 15th.

5. OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER FOR POSTING OF NOTICES & ADVERTISEMENTS
The Brattleboro Reformer will be the official newspaper for the posting of regular and special notices, legal notices and advertisements. Agreed.

6. APPOINTMENTS
A. ROAD COMMISSIONER
Motion was made by D. DeWalt and seconded by P. Rysz to appoint Christopher Williams to serve as the Road Commissioner for the Town of Newfane. Unanimous.
B. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Board members agreed to appoint David Moore, Todd Lawley, Steve D. Jones, Jay Wilson and Greg Record to serve as members of the Emergency Management Committee.
C. DELEGATES TO WINDHAM REGIONAL COMMISSION
Board members agreed to appoint Hendrik W. van Loon and Jodi P. French to serve as the Delegates to Windham Regional Commission from Newfane.
D. ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER - Board members agreed to appoint the Constable Kevin Behan to serve as the Animal Control Officer for the Town of Newfane.
E. POUNDKEEPER - Board members agreed to appoint the Windham County Humane Society to serve as the Poundkeeper for Newfane.
F. FENCE VIEWERS - Board members agreed to appoint Larry C. Robinson, Gregory L. Record and Theodor E. Schreyer to serve as the Fence Viewers for the Town of Newfane.
G. INSPECTOR OF LUMBER, SHINGLES, & WOOD
Board members agreed to appoint Carleton Chaffee to serve as the Inspector of Lumber, Shingles & Wood for the Town of Newfane.
H. WEIGHER OF COAL - Board members agreed to appoint Carleton Chaffee to serve as the Weigher of Coal for Newfane.
I. REPRESENTATIVE TO RESCUE, INC. - Board members agreed to appoint Robert Holden to serve as the Newfane Representative to Rescue Inc.
J. TOWN ENERGY COORDINATOR
Board members agreed to appoint Edward J. Druke, Sr. to serve as the Town Energy Coordinator for Newfane.
K. TOWN SERVICE OFFICER - Board members agreed to appoint Barbara Williams as the Town Service Officer for Newfane.
L. TREE WARDEN - Board members agreed to appoint William C. Guenther as the Tree Warden for Newfane.
M. SEWAGE CONTROL OFFICER - It was agreed by Board members to appoint John J. Feifel, Sr. to serve as the Sewage Control Officer for the Town of Newfane until July 1st, 2007, at which point the state is to take over.
N. COUNCIL ON AGING REPRESENTATIVE
No one to date has shown any interest in serving as the representative from Newfane on the Council on Aging. No action.
O. WINDHAM SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
Board members agreed to appoint Doris Knechtel to serve as the Supervisor from Newfane on the WSWMD Board. An Alternate Supervisor will be appointed at a later date.
P. VERMONT GREEN-UP - Board members agreed to appoint Lisa Ash, Laura Bacon, and Thanice “Nissa” Petrak to serve as the Co-Chairmen for Vermont Green-Up for Newfane. L. Bacon was asked about having an additional person and she indicated that it would be fine.
Q. VILLAGE ENHANCEMENT COMMITTEE
It was agreed by Board members to appoint Lisa Ash, Charles A. Bergmann, Edward J. Druke, Sr., Chris Petrak, Thanice Petrak, John T. Spicer and Margaret Spicer to serve as members of the Village Enhancement Committee until March 2008.
R. TRAFFIC CALMING COMMITTEE
Board members agreed to appoint Paul Dedell, Judy Egan, Peter Lilienthal, Chris Petrak and Guy Wachtel to serve as members of the Traffic Calming Committee.
S. REPRESENTATIVE TO CONNECTICUT TRANSIT
No one has shown any interest in this position to date. No action.
T. PLANNING COMMISSION
It was agreed to appoint Chauncey Berdan and Kenneth Robinson to serve as members of the Newfane Planning Commission until March of 2010. Agreed.
U. DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD
The Selectboard has received information that John A. Pyatak has resigned his position on the DRB as of 03/08/07. Board members agreed to appoint David Cotton and Edward Nelson as regular members of the DRB to serve until March 2010, to appoint John J. Feifel, Sr. as a regular member to serve until March 2008, and to appoint Susan Keese to serve as an alternate on the DRB until 2010. Agreed. The Board will be seeking four interested citizens to serve as alternates to the DRB to serve the following terms; one term until 2010, one term until March 2009 and two terms until March 2008.
V. CONSERVATION COMMISSION - There are three position open on the Newfane Conservation Commission for terms until March 2010. The Selectboard agreed to appoint Lisa A. Ash, Sylvia Kinney and Thanice "Nissa" Petrak to serve on the Newfane Conservation Commission until March of 2010. Agreed.
W. ACTING ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
The Board agreed to continue having John J. Feifel serve as the Acting Zoning Administrator for the Town of Newfane. However, the PC may need to make a recommendation first.
AA. NEWFANE HILL COMMON COMMITTEE
The following people were appointed to serve on the Newfane Hill Common Committee: Kelli Warriner-Crego, Edward Druke, Sr., Alicia P. Field, Scott E. Heller, David B. King, Burlyn L. Keller, CarleenO. Pelsue and Thomas D. Russell. Agreed.
Each of the people appointed to the above positions will be sent a letter asking if they accept their individual appointments. Vacant positions will be posted and advertised.
X. ASSISTANT TOWN CLERK - Town Clerk, Jahari Overton, will appoint her Assistant Town Clerk(s).
Y. ASSISTANT TREASURER - Town Treasurer, Maureen Albert-Piascik, will appoint her Assistant Treasurer(s).
Z. ELECTED OFFICIAL POSITIONS OPEN - TOWN AGENT - No action
If anyone knows someone who may be interested they should contact the Selectboard.

7. SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC - No one scheduled.

8. UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
A. Traffic Calming - Chris Petrak indicated that the function of the Traffic Calming Committee is to work with the Selectboard to do the "homework" for ideas to be brought to Board for consideration.
B. Newfane Hill Common - E. Druke indicated that Bill Guenther, Tree Warden, will be looking at into the invasive plants on the "Common" property before any logging is done. The logging operation is for the purpose of thinning out some of the mature tree growth and the poor quality trees. Historic site will be emphasized on the property. It was suggested that the 6th grade may be interested in assisting with some of the historic site work.
C. School Land - There are surveys circulating to inquire about what the townspeople would like to see the newly acquired land to be used for. J. Mandell indicated that there is a good stand of oak that the School Land Committee would like the Tree Warden to look at.

9. ROAD BUSINESS

A. ROAD FOREMAN'S REPORT - No written report
• Snow banks have been pushed back.
• The Mack is at Stateline Equipment for repairs from the sander mishap.
• Todd met with representatives from Daniels Construction regarding the Stratton Hill Road Bridge (BE#35).
• Frozen culverts are causing drainage problems on Newfane Hill.

9. B. EXCESS WEIGHT LIMIT PERMIT
Motion was made by P. Rysz and seconded by E. Darrow to approve the Excess Weight limit permit for Barrett Equipment for: 4 axle @ 69,000# and 5 axle @ 80,000#, with 6 axle weights of 90,000# and 108,000# being denied. Unanimous.
9. C. ACCESS/RIGHT OF WAY PERMITS - No action.
9. D. OTHER ROAD BUSINESS
(1) T. Lawley is keeping informed through WRC and VT Local Roads about bulk purchases with other communities.
(2) New Board members were given copies of a recent letter from Peter Lilienthal regarding snow being put onto his property on Dover Road (TH#2) in South Newfane. P. Rysz will go to look at the site and report back to the Board at the next meeting.
(3) There was some discussion regarding drainage coming onto Depot Road (TH#2) from certain driveways and causing ice build-up on the road.

10. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT’S REPORT - No written report
• A notebook containing most of the town Policies, Ordinances and Bylaws has been given to the new members. A few additional items will be added at the next meeting.
• A new 2007 Selectmen’s Handbook will be ordered from VLCT for each members to have on hand for their term of office.
• A folder with each Board members name will be on file with the information pertaining to the next meeting for Board members to pick up and review before each meeting.
• The new list of Selectboard members with addresses, e-mail addresses and phone numbers was updated and copied for each member.

11. OTHER BUSINESS
Board members discussed the following topics for general information:
• Change in the that septic applications are handled through the state and not the towns as of July 1st.
• Review of Traffic Calming suggestions to make it more palatable for all concerned; Board, Highway Maintenance and Committee.
• Discussion of current Excess Weight Limit Policy and areas that may be considered for change. May ask the replacement for DMV, Dick Cooke, to come to a meeting to find out what can be done.
• A brief discussion of the Radway Hill Road (TH#4)/River Road (TH#15) intersection.
• Review of Junk Ordinance ticket that was sent for the trailer on South Wardsboro Road (TH#1) and the follow up step to have the Sheriff’s Department sent out additional tickets.
• As things develop, the Chairman plans to delegate various items for Board members to look into, such as making Peter Rysz be the point man for the Lilienthal matter.

15. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by P. Rysz and seconded by G. Wachtel to adjourn the Organizational Meeting of the Board at 8:55 p.m. Unanimous.
D. DeWalt left the meeting at 7:00 p.m. and E. Darrow left the meeting at 8:00 p.m.

Doris A. Knechtel
Administrative Assistant
Newfane Board of Selectmen

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

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