Corrections to the following minutes will be made at the next
meeting of the Selectmen and are unapproved until then. Changes will
be noted in that meeting's minutes.
MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING - NEWFANE SELECTBOARD
MARCH 27, 2006
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE
PRESENT:
Selectmen: Piet van Loon, Priscilla Cotton, Patricia Halloran, and
Joseph Mandell
Absent: Dan DeWalt
Also Present: Brud Sanderson of Stevens & Associates, and Doris
Knechtel, Administrative Assistant
1. CALL TO ORDER
The special meeting was called to order by Chairman Piet van Loon
at 8:02 a.m.
2. MEETING WITH BRUD SANDERSON - STEVENS & ASSOCIATES
DISCUSSION OF SOUTH NEWFANE CORNER PLAN REVISIONS
Piet had previously met at the South Newfane corner (Culhane Corner)
with Brud Sanderson of Stevens & Associates and others the project
and the plans to determine if there are ways to save money on the
project. It was felt that by moving the wall about two feet closer
to the road and eliminating the curbing would help. B. Sanderson went
back to the drawing board. By eliminating the curb, which is currently
specified to be granite, and putting in a paved ditch to take care
of the drainage, would actually cost more in that the wall face will
end up having to have more surface, about two feet, into the ditch
area.
The Selectboard chose the soldier pile wall several months ago as
the type of replacement wall to be used. There will be less disturbance
to the property and it can be installed within a shorter period of
time. It was also the least expensive option. The type of fence requirement
on top of the wall will be further discussed with the Culhane property
owners.
Board members discussed safety, site line improvements, and drainage
improvements that would result from the replacement of a portion the
failing stone wall. Seventy-five feet of the wall is not a part of
this project. The town has received a grant through the Highway structures
program in the amount of $150,000, which pays for the project and
the engineering. Any amount above that is the responsibility of the
town. The project needs to be completed by October 1st to take advantage
of the grant or the town will lose the funds. The contractor is ready
to begin the project.
After further discussion regarding, the pros and cons of whether to
have the curb or the ditch options, motion was made by P. Cotton and
seconded by P. Halloran to continue with the curb design as opposed
to a ditch. Unanimous. It will be discussed with the contractor regarding
any difference in cost between a granite curb and a curb of other
material. The curb may also help with traffic calming by making the
road appear more narrow.
Motion was made by P. Cotton and seconded by P. Halloran to have
Chairman Hendrik APiet@ W. van Loon sign the contract with Zaluzney
Excavating Co. on behalf of the town for the Culhane Corner retaining
wall project. Unanimous.
3. TO TRANSACT ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY LEGALLY COME BEFORE THE
MEETING
A. Special Town Meeting - The Newfane School District is working on
a warning for the purpose of asking the voters about the purchase
of the Valley Lions Club 12.94? acres. They need to warn the meeting
30 days before the actual date. The Selectboard is considering the
inclusion of an article to ask the voters about to reconsider the
vote of 2000 on the covered bridge.
The vote at that meeting was to build a new one-lane covered bridge
rather than build a new two-lane bridge of conventional steel and
concrete on new abutments. If the current bridge were to be relocated
to another site, the estimated cost to the town would be $200,000.
The expense to the town for a new covered bridge or two-lane conventional
bridge would cost the town 20% of the overall expense. The VTrans
Historic Division has determined that the current bridge is to be
rehabilitated rather than replaced. Federal funds in the amount of
$1,600,000 have been earmarked for the rehabilitation, with no expense
to the town. With the recent discussion at Town Meeting and the petition
from citizens regarding the heavy truck use of Baker Brook Road (TH#19)
and Parish Hill Road (TH#26) the Selectmen may revisit the issue to
determine the current sentiment of the voters. Board members discussed
possible wording for an article on the warning for a Special Town
Meeting following the School District Meeting. Example: Shall the
voter of the town continue to retain the covered bridge with same
dimensions but with an increased weight limit to accommodate some
heavier trucks. Chairman P. van Loon will work on the wording and
have Board members review it before the final warning is presented.
4. ADJOURNMENT - Motion was made by P. Cotton and seconded by J. Mandell
to adjourn the Special Meeting of the Board at 9:50 A.m. Unanimous.
