Any and all corrections to the following minutes will be made
at the next regular Board of Selectmen's meeting and are considered
unapproved until then. Corrections will be noted in the minutes of
that meeting.
MINUTES - REGULAR MEETING - BOARD OF SELECTMEN
JULY 6th, 2006
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE
PRESENT:
Selectmen: Piet van Loon, Priscilla Cotton, Dan DeWalt, and Joseph
Mandell.
Absent: Patricia Halloran
Also Present: Gunther Garbe for the Planning Commission, Ed. Druke,
Bruce Rosow, Todd Lawley, Bea MacFarland, Dick Marek and Robert Litchfield
for the Village Trustees, Daniel Torrey, Christopher Williams as Road
Commissioner, Todd Lawley as Road Foreman and Doris Knechtel as Administrative
Assistant.
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting was called to order by Chairman P. van Loon at
6:30 p.m.
2. ROAD BUSINESS
A. ROAD COMMISSIONER'S REPORT - (See attached
report)
(1) Item #3 - The Newfane Village Sidewalk Project has been in the
planning stages since 1999 when a grant was received by the Village.
Now that the project is well underway, there are areas that need to
be reviewed now so that changes can be made. Areas of concern include:
- Road too narrow for a truck with a plow.
- Turning radius at Court Street (TH#1) and Cross Street (TH# 14)
is too tight for a school bus and/or an emergency vehicle. (Todd will
bring a school bus and fire truck to demonstrate the problem.)
- Areas of pavement on Church Street (TH#55) and on a portion of West
Street (TH#1) next to the island were not included within the project.
(Estimated costs were provided by B. MacFarland.)
- Installation of curbing behind the courthouse to guide traffic away
from the Court Street Abump out@ at the corner.
There is a meeting scheduled at Union Hall on Thursday, July 20th
at 9:00 a.m. to discuss any areas of concern. Some of the Village
Trustees and Kendall Gifford of WRC have walked the project to review
the concerns. There was an adjustment made to include a handicap access
at Union Hall.
(2) C. Williams expressed his concerns about the condition of the
Arch Bridge (BE#12). A letter has been sent to several potential bidders
regarding the repair to the bridge.
2. B. ROAD FOREMAN'S REPORT - (See attached report)
(1) Item #3 - Discussed under the RC Report. All other items were
reviewed but did not require any action by the Selectboard.
2. F. NEWFANE VILLAGE SIDEWALK PROJECT - (See 2. A. (1) above)
2. C. EXCESS WEIGHT PERMITS
There are 17 contractors who have applied and received Newfane Excess
Weight Limit Permit for the period from April 1, 2006 to March 31,
2007 with a maximum weight limit of 80,000#. Motion was made by D.
DeWalt and seconded by J. Mandell to reduce the weight limit to 40,000#
for hauling gravel on Baker Brook and Parish Hill Roads and reduce
the number of axles. After much discussion, the motion was withdrawn
by the makers. More information needs to be gathered before further
consideration of the matter. It would be a change in the current town
policy which the Board may review before the next permits are due
on April 1, 2007.
Motion was made by P. Cotton and seconded by P. van Loon to approve
of the Excess Weight Limit Permit as requested from Bazin Brothers
as follows:
3 axle @ 60,000# Yes Current Certificate of Insurance
4 axle @ 69,000# Yes
5 axle @ 80,000# Yes
6 axle @ 90,000# Denied
In favor: P. Cotton & P van Loon. Denied: D. DeWalt. Abstaining:
J. Mandell Motion fails
After much further discussion, motion was made by D. DeWalt and seconded
by P. Cotton to approve the Bazin Brothers request for an Excess Weight
Permit as stated above. Unanimous.
2. H. OTHER ROAD BUSINESS
(1) The Newfane Baker Brook Traffic Review Committee met on June 20th,
2006. The minutes of that meeting were reviewed by those present.
B. Rosow indicated that even though it was decided at that meeting
to circulate a petition to request the Selectboard to have a special
meeting to vote on rehabilitating the Williamsville Covered Bridge
with a cement slab, it was decided not to do a petition. The Board
may decide on its own motion to have a special meeting for that purpose.
It was decided to send a letter to all of the current Excess Weight
Permit holders to let them know about the changes to the Traffic Ordinance,
truck traffic concerns on Baker Brook, Beetlestone and Parish Hill
roads, and other truck related issues. DOT was posted on Parish and
Baker Brook Roads to check for overweight vehicles. Both vehicles
that were pulled over were legally permitted.
(2) A letter was received from Walter Phelps expressing his concern
about the possibility of the town discontinuing Grist Mill Road (TH#68).
P. van Loon will write a letter to indicate that the town is not going
to discontinue the road.
2. G. PROPOSED GRIST MILL ROAD SIGNS
Motion was made by J. Mandell and seconded by D. DeWalt to purchase
and install signs in the area of Grist Mill Road (TH#68) to read ALandowners
Vehicles Only@ and APublic Access from Sun-up to Sundown Only@. Unanimous.
2. D. ACCESS/RIGHT OF WAY PERMITS
Queries were made about an access on Duke Road (TH#66) that did not
apply for a permit; an access on Wildwood Acres (TH#75) that was denied;
and an access on Woodlands Lane (TH#84) that was supposed to be closed.
Letters will be written to the property owners is each case.
3. SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
A. PLANNING COMMISSION - TOWN PLAN
Gunther Garbe will be holding a hearing on the proposed Town Plan
on July 25th with advisor Sue Fillion of Windham Regional Commission.
If there are no substantial changes made as a result of that hearing
then the Selectboard hold a hearing and adopt the plan if there are
no substantial changes. A panel of three WRC Commissioners do a technical
review the plan. WRC would like to have a joint hearing with the Selectboard
by the end of September so that the Newfane Planning Commission can
apply for a grant to update the Newfane Zoning Bylaw.
4. UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Dan Torrey of South Wardsboro Road (TH#1) was present just to see
how a Selectboard meeting operates.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. (1) PERSONNEL POLICY
P. Halloran will incorporate the notes from P. van Loon, the current
policy, the Mendon policy and prepare a draft Personnel Policy for
the Board to review at a later date.
5. A. (2) WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES BYLAW
P. van Loon is still working on the Wireless Tower ordinance/bylaw
combining information from the VLCT model version and the current
version. D. DeWalt commented that the current bylaw has more detail
and the town should continue with it.
5. B. DISCUSSION OF FY 2006 AUDIT
P. van Loon, P. Cotton and D. Knechtel discussed the questions and
concerns, via speaker phone, expressed by the Board regarding the
Anot to exceed@ costs of the audit and the suggestion to find someone
local to assist the Town Treasurer with the financial program. Anything
that the town can do to expedite the information requested by the
firm for the audit will help to reduce the cost. Motion was made by
P. Cotton and seconded by J. Mandell to ratify the previous decision
to award the Newfane FY 2006 Financial Audit to Mudgett, Jennett &
Krogh- Wisner for an amount not to exceed $9,000. Unanimous. There
was also a discussion about the recent need to borrow funds in anticipation
of taxes. In theory there is no money coming into the town from June
30 until the first tax payment on August 15th. During FY 2006 there
was the extra emergency expense of $120,000 in October and the overage
on the sand and salt budget. The town will be receiving the reimbursement
of 90% of the emergency funds later in July.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion was made by J. Mandell and seconded by P. Cotton to enter into
Executive Session at 9:17 p.m. to discuss a matter of personnel. Unanimous.
Motion was made by P. Cotton and seconded by J. Mandell to come out
of Executive Session at 9:24 p.m. Unanimous. No decision was made
during Executive Session.
5. D. OTHER OLD BUSINESS
(1) Junk Vehicles - E. Darrow reported to J. Mandell that the clean-up
at the Sparks residence is getting better. However, Spark's tenant continues
to be a problem. The Aunsightly@ trailer on South Wardsboro Road (TH#1)
was also discussed. Chairman van Loon read the section from the ordinance
concerning AViolations@. A letter will be sent out by certified mail
to the property owner regarding the steps that need to be taken by them
to correct the situation.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. SET TAX RATE FOR FY 2007
The background information regarding the tax rate and how it was arrived
at, was explained by D. Knechtel. Motion was made by P. Cotton and
seconded by D. DeWalt to set the municipal tax rate for the FY 2007
budget at $0.5137 per $100 of valuation to be combined with homestead
education rate of $2.1165 or the non-residential education rate of
$1.8554. Unanimous. Total homestead rate - $2.6302 (increase of $0.3086/100).
Total non-residential rate - $2.3691 (increase of $0.1289/100).
6. B. APPOINTMENTS
(1) TOWN CLERK - MARCH 2007
Three candidates were interviewed for the vacant position of Town
Clerk due to the untimely death of Janice Litchfield. The recommendation
of those that conducted the interviews is to appoint Jahari Overton.
Motion was made by P. Cotton and seconded by D. DeWalt to appoint
Jahari Overton to serve the as the Newfane Town Clerk until March
of 2007. Unanimous. Training is to done by the two assistants, Sandra
Dowley and Sally Topitzer, who have so capably Astepped up to the
plate@ to keep things going in the Town Clerk's Office.
6. D. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
The sewage control ordinance will need to have the language changed
to allow for the state to do the inspection of the new or replacement
systems. This will be looked into and worked on.
6. D. NEWFANE HILL COMMON - COMMITTEE/OUTLINE OF DUTIES
No action taken.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT'S REPORT - (
See attached
report)
A. Item #1 - The Selectboard is not interested at this time in proposing
an offer to purchase the property adjacent to the Old Newfane Common
currently owned by Lynn and Robin March.
8. MINUTES
Motion was made by J. Mandell and seconded by P. Cotton to accept
the minutes of the Special Meeting of June 22nd as written. Unanimous.
9. CORRESPONDENCE
A. Correspondence has been received from Linda D'Agostino with copies
of information that she has received from Marshall Glickman, Delinquent
Tax Collector. Board members will not be involved as they need to
work out the situation between them.
B. Correspondence had been received from Bahman Madavi regarding the
broadband meeting involving Newfane, Brookline, Marlboro, Putney and
Dummerston. They would like each community to contribute $300 to be
used to conduct a feasibility of potential Access Point locations.
Motion was made by P. Cotton and seconded by D. DeWalt to approve
the one time expense of $300 for the study mentioned. Unanimous. Any
future funding request will be discussed in more detail as cost should
not be borne by the town, but by the subscribers.
C. The town of Dover has asked if Newfane is interested in participating
with them for bulk heating fuel purchase. Their rate for last year
for bulk fuel was more than what Newfane paid. Dover will be contacted.
D. A list of AUnanswered Questions Concerning the Covered Bridge@
was presented by Bruce Rosow. The list will be forwarded to Roger
Whitcomb, Project Engineer for the covered bridge, for his response
and input.
E. Correspondence has been received from Attorney J. Christopher Callahan
for the town on the status of the Environmental Court appeal of W.
White. (New post office.)
F. Notification has been received that P. Lilienthal has filed an
appeal to appeal the Act 250 permit issued to Charles Bergmann.
10. PAY ORDERS
After discussion, Board members will check with the Village Trustees
to determine is they need the $25,000 from the town before August
15th so as not to drawn down the line of credit until tax monies are
received. (Hold check for their response.)
Motion was made by P. Cotton and seconded by J. Mandell to approve
the Newfane Payroll Warrants and the Accounts Payable Warrant for
the following amounts:
06/21/06 Payroll $ 2,354.63
06/28/06 Payroll $ 2,404.68
07/05/06 Payroll $ 2,424.28
07/07/06 Payroll $ 4,721.88
07/07/06 AP Warrant #1 $ 57,404.86 Unanimous.
IRS Electronic Federal Payroll Tax Payments
06/28/06 $ 804.71
07/07/06 $ 825.77
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - IF NEEDED
Executive Session was held earlier during the meeting.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by J. Mandell and seconded by P. Cotton to adjourn
the Regular meeting at 11:00 p.m. Unanimous.
