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.