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 COVERED-BRIDGE MEETING - NEWFANE SELECTBOARD
APRIL 27, 2006
NEWBROOK FIRE DEPARTMENT

PRESENT:
Selectmen: Piet van Loon, Priscilla Cotton, Dan DeWalt, Patricia Halloran, and Joseph Mandell
Also Present: Roger Whitcomb - VTrans Covered Bridge Project Coordinator, Doris Knechtel, Administrative Assistant, Gunther P. Garbe, Elsie Garbe, Gary Katz, Carol Hatcher, John Flores, David Dreher, Sarah Dreher, George Moser, Paul Bower, Pamela Mandell, Jennifer Stanchfield, Judy Egan, Carolyn Coleman, Fred Bacon, Laura Wallingford-Bacon, Christina Perugini, Fred Homer, Deborah Feiner, Marcia Hylan, Virginia Grabowski, Tony Fratino, Edward Mello, Joe Wright, Greg Record, Jon Julian, Bob Lyons, Eleanor Applegate, Carol Ross, Chris Triebert, Steve Jones, Joan Jones, Betsy Hall, Walter Phelps, Cherrie Schreiber-Betts, Phyllis Mandell, Fred Lawrence, Myra Fassler, Clifford Rey, Ann C. Landenberger, Paul Dedell, Susan Dedell, Thomas Colligan, Charles ABud@ Bergmann, Peter J. Rysz, Peter W. Rysz, Nancy A. Rysz, Jesse Anderson, Patricia Johnson, David Kolkebeck, Chris Williams, George Childs, Leon Knapp, David Berrie, Mike Fitzpatrick, Stephen Brown, Todd Lawley, Edward Druke, Sr., Emily Long, John Long, Corwin R. McAllister, Bea MacFarland, Miriam Crispe, Cindy Lawley, Stephen Lawley, Kathy Moore, Norm Lawley, John Spicer, Targ Spicer, Norma Shakun, Mel Shakun, Chris Petrak, Nissa Petrak and Matt Mann of Windham Regional Commission.

1. CALL TO ORDER
The special covered-bridge meeting was called to order by Chairman Piet van Loon at 7:03 p.m. at the NewBrook Fire House. Chairman van Loon introduced the Board members and Roger Whitcomb from VTrans to those present.

WILLIAMSVILLE COVERED BRIDGE

2. DISCUSSION OF REHABILITATION OF COVERED BRIDGE
The Board prepared two handouts containing information relating to the covered bridge. The first one lists chronological events from 1991 through 2006 relating to the bridge. The second is a spread sheet comparing cost, funding, time line and other information for current bridge, rehabilitation and new two-lane concrete bridge.
At the town meeting in March of 2000, the vote of those present was to replace the current covered bridge with a new covered bridge. At a subsequent meeting in early June of 2001, discussion was held about dismantling and relocating the covered-bridge to another location, possibly the town garage property. In late June of 2001, the Selectboard met with the State Covered Bridge Committee to discuss rehabilitation of the current covered bridge rather than replacement. It was ultimately decided a few times in 2001 and again in 2003 to rehabilitate the covered-bridge to have a weight capacity of 40,000#.
Various questions, comments and suggestion were made by members of the public, Roger Whitcomb of VTrans and the Selectboard throughout the meeting. Some of the highlights included the following:

• Enforcement of overweight vehicles and excess speed vehicles.
• Rehabilitated covered bridge to have a 40,000# weight capacity versus 20,000# current.
• Weight of a fire truck - estimated to be 35,000#.
• Traffic counts on Baker Brook Road (increased truck traffic) and on Dover Road (bridge weight capacity could shift the traffic load).
• Town Plan Policy - The Williamsville Covered Bridge should be maintained as an historic structure in its current alignment if structurally feasible for school transportation, emergency vehicles and highway maintenance vehicles.
• Weight capacity of the Green Iron Bridge (BR#49) on Parish Hill Road with roads posted at 24,000#. (Town policy - maximum weight with an excess weight permit for BR#49 is 60,000#).
• Use of the covered bridge as a traffic calming measure.
• Different signage - AStop@ signs at the bridge location.
• Have private citizens monitor the truck traffic.
• Wooden deck needs continued maintenance, currently a cost to the town.
• Extra maintenance required for truck detour (Baker Brook Road/Beetlestone Road/ Parish Hill Road).
• Other communities may have alternate truck routes that are within the more immediate area.
• Alternate route for trucks other than detour to go to points in Dover would be an extra 30 miles one way.
• Current height limitation of the bridge is 11'2". May be a slight increase with the rehabilitated bridge.

3. DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

• Limited services for property owners and businesses due to the alternate route.
• Build a bridge to today's standards to accommodate vehicles used by town for road maintenance, emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, and the like. The alternate route is narrow and steep in some areas. (Safety concerns)
• Put in a concrete deck instead of a wooden deck to accommodate heavier weight vehicles and increase the life expectancy of the bridge deck.

Two letters have been received by the Selectboard regarding the covered bridge, both in favor of rehabilitating the covered bridge, one from George Weir and one from Bruce Rosow, which was read at the meeting.
A member of the public reminded others present that the Selectboard has 50+ bridges to worry about in Newfane, this is just "one piece of the pie".
The Board thanked the members of the public and Roger Whitcomb for their input. The matter will be discussed at the next regular meeting of the Board on May 4th.

4. ADJOURNMENT - Motion was made by P. Cotton and seconded by J. Mandell to adjourn the Special Covered Bridge Meeting of the Board at 9:00 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