Any and all corrections to the following minutes will be made at the 03/16/00 Board of Selectmen's Meeting and are considered unapproved until then. Corrections will be noted in the minutes of that meeting.
MINUTES - SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
APRIL 3rd, 2000
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE
PRESENT:
Selectmen: Mike Rohan,, Richard Dowley and Carter Van Iderstine.
Absent: Jesse Anderson and Lynn Bedell
Also Present: William A. Noyes, District #2 Technician, Robert Stevens of Stevens & Associates, Bea MacFarland, Earle Stebbins, James Gray, Road Foreman and Doris Knechtel, Administrative Assistant.
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Special Meeting was called to order at 1:07 p.m. by Chairman Mike Rohan.
2. ANNUAL MEETING - DISTRICT #2 TECHNICIAN
The preliminary figures for the Annual Highway Financial Plan for Newfane Fiscal Year 2000 were prepared by D. Knechtel according to 19 VSA S 306(e). The figures were compiled from the highway budget passed at the recent Town Meeting and the Capital Budget and plan.
The amount to be received from the state for the Newfane Class 2 and Class 3 roads is expected to be $119,873.48. The amount to be raised in taxes for the town highways is $307,601.52, plus $1,000 from the Capital budget for a total amount of highways expenditures for Fiscal Year 2001 of $428,475. Motion was made by M. Rohan and seconded by R. Dowley to have the Board members present sign the Annual Financial Plan for Newfane Town Highways. Unanimous.
3. OTHER ROAD BUSINESS
A. STATE FUNDING PROGRAM
In the state Retreatment Program for Class 2 roads the town is on a three year rotating schedule for funds. This is a two-for-one program. Newfane is eligible to receive $50,000 in FY 2001 through the resurfacing program. Motion was made by M. Rohan and seconded by R. Dowley to have the Board members present sign the grant application between the Town of Newfane and the state AOT for $50,000 for the Class 2 Town Highway Resurfacing Program. Unanimous.
Newfane is not eligible for the Bridge and Culvert Program this year. This program is also on a three year rotating basis with a 90 state/10 town - split.
The Town Highway Bridge Program is for the assistance for the repair, reconstruction or replacement of bridges with a span of six feet or more. The town is required to pay 10% of the total project costs for reconstruction and 5% for rehabilitation projects. Currently Newfane has three bridges on "the list" through this program; Bridge #14 by the South Newfane General Store, the Williamsville Covered Bridge (CB#17) and the Brookline/Newfane Bridge #19. According to a recent letter from Roger Whitcomb of VAOT the bid letting will be in February 2003 for BR#19 and December 2004 for CB#17. The conceptual plans for BR#14 have been received and were briefly reviewed by those present. It was noted that the current sewer line is not shown on the plans and the road name for TH#3 is incorrect. It should be Auger Hole Road. The Board needs to respond to the state by April 28th with any comments on the conceptual plans. The total estimated cost for
this project is $647,000 with the town being responsible for 5% or $32,350. The full Board will review the conceptual plan for Bridge #14 more throughly at an upcoming meeting. The construction will be phased with one-lane of the bridge at a time being replaced to keep traffic open without the need for a detour or temporary bridge. The intersection is not included in the project. The plans are in metric measure. To convert measurement to inches multiply by 0.04 and to feet multiply by 0.0033 and the result will be close. The Arch Bridge (BR#12) also appears to need major work. This bridge is not on the state list for repair or replacement. J. Gray indicated that the concrete is falling away on the underside.
B. RIVER ROAD (TH#15)
The two narrow sections of River Road (TH#150 were discussed. The areas have also been viewed by Fred Nicholson of Stream Alterations, who indicated that if the project does not extend into the river, no permits will be needed from ANR. It has been suggested that stone be laid up along the sections in question to help stabilize the road bed and the bank as has been done by Fitzpatrick some time ago. W. Noyes suggested that, in order the tie in the ledge that is present on one area, a concrete wall be built with stone behind it. J. Gray suggested paving that section of road and upgrading the culverts. To go into the bank or relocate the road would be very costly. The width of the road is a problem. Another suggestion was to make the road one way from Radway Hill (TH#4) to the stables and the rest of River Road (TH#15) two-way with a turn around just to the north of the stables. It was noted that there is $40,000 in the Capital Plan for this FY 2000 for road engineering and construction for River Road (TH#15) and Depot Road (TH#2). Wm. Noyes suggested that Board make a decision to do something for those sections of River Road (TH#15).
C. OTHER ROAD BUSINESS
(1) J. Gray indicated that in the past some bridge inspections reports, which are done every two years on bridges over twenty feet in length, included the weight limits. Now this does not seem to be included on the report. Wm. Noyes stated that the information on the weight limits is not generated by the inspection teams but by the sign that is posted at the bridge.
(2) The question was raised about the new 72 foot length tractor trailers approved recently by the legislative session. Wm. Noyes indicated that it was for certain highway routes only.
(3) J. Gray indicated it has been difficult to enforce the Canadian logging trucks that are overweight and do not have Excess Weight limit permits from the town. They also do not seem to pay attention to the posted roads, in particular, South Wardsboro Road (TH#1).
(4) The deck on the covered bridge (CB#17) is still loose from the nails not holding. The bridge is solid underneath.
4. OTHER BUSINESS
(1) Wm. Noyes presented the Vermont Rapid Response Plan form that needs to be completed, adopted and signed by the Board. When it has been completed it is to be returned to Vermont Emergency Management.
(2) M. Rohan discussed the appeal that has been received at the Vermont Supreme Court that has been filed by Donald and Linda Miller regarding the recent decision issued by Property Valuation, through appraiser Michael Bailey, as a result of their appeal to the state on the value of their property in Newfane. M. Rohan has contact the Supreme Court clerk about the process. He would like to contact Attorney T. O'Connor, attorney for the Miller's, to ask some further questions about the status of the process and the need for the town to have an attorney. C. Van Iderstine indicated that he is uncomfortable having M. Rohan contact Mr. O'Connor at this time.
The meeting was recessed to Newfane Village by Church Street (TH#55) and West Street (TH#1) to meet with R. Stevens and representatives from the Village Trustees to discussed proposed drainage changes.
5. ROBERT STEVENS OF STEVENS & ASSOCIATES
DRAINAGE PROPOSAL FOR WEST STREET (TH#1)
Robert Stevens explained the sketch plan for the proposed drainage improvements in the Village of Newfane in the area of the church and the driveway into the Four Columns Inn. Water ponds in a section by the church and during the winter months causes icing problems. The driveway needs to be narrowed and crowned to help with proper drainage. Mr. Stevens indicated that the area is very flat and it was difficult to design a plan to take care of the ponding issue. The proposal shows three concrete drop inlets, one on the Four Columns property, one on the church property and one in the street which connects to a drop inlet diagonally across West Street (TH#1) near its intersection with Court Street (TH#1). Wm. Noyes suggested that the inlet on the Four Columns property could be metal to save some money as no vehicles would be driving over it. The one by the church would need to be concrete as the area is used for parking. It was questioned as to why the drainage didn't go to the drop inlet at the far side of the grass area between Church Street and West Street. R. Stevens explained that there would be more of a pipe run, increasing the cost. The estimated cost for the project is $15,000, which includes the sidewalk repair. The town has $7,500 budgeted of which $2,000 is being used for the plan prepared by Stevens & Associates. Wm. Noyes suggested that a 15" squashed culvert be installed across the street instead of a 12" pipe as shown on the plans. Mr. Stevens will break out the various costs and present drawings so that the town can put the project out for bid. He expects to have the plan completed in two weeks. Wm. Noyes will assist with the process. The town will pay the costs for the work to be done within the highway area. It was suggested that the church and the Four columns pay for the work to be done outside of the town right of way.
6. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by M. Rohan and seconded by C. Van Iderstine to adjourn the Special Meeting at 2:35 p.m. Unanimous.
Doris A. Knechtel
Administrative Assistant
Newfane Board of Selectmen
Posted: Town Clerk's Office, Newfane Store, Patsy's County Seat Market,
Lessing's Family General Store and South Newfane General Store & Deli and www.webwerk.com/newfane
Town Offices:
Route 30, P.O. Box 36, Newfane VT 05345, Tel. (802) 365-7772
Please send all comments, suggestions and questions to info@newfanevt.com
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