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all corrections to the following minutes will be made at the 07/11/02 Board
of Selectmen's Meeting and are considered unapproved until then. Corrections
will be noted in the minutes of that meeting.
MINUTES - SPECIAL
MEETING - BOARD OF SELECTMEN
JULY 8th, 2002
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE
PRESENT:
Selectmen: Richard Marek, Jesse Anderson, Lynn Bedell, Gary Katz and Piet
van Loon.
Also Present: Planning Commission - John Feifel, David Cotton and Gunther
Garbe.
Zoning Board of Adjustment - Jeff Boyd, Susan Keese Pyatak and David Clarkson.
Conservation Commission - Bruce Hesselbach, David Clarkson, Greg Record,
Bill Guenther, Paula Sagerman, Elizabeth Szczesniak-Johnson, and Tom Bedell.
Administrative Assistant - Doris Knechtel.
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Special Meeting was called to order by Chairman R. Marek at 7:05 p.m.
2. DISCUSSION AND REVIEW THE VARIOUS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AT THE MEETING
Chairman R. Marek indicated that the Selectboard proposed to have this
meeting to discuss with the various board and commissions their roles
and responsibilities and how we can work together for the betterment of
the community.
The first area of discussion, led by P. van Loon, focused around the subject
of having a Development Review Board. If created, the DRB performs all
development review functions that the Board of Adjustment and Planning
Commission currently are responsible for, such as appeals, variances,
site plan review, subdivisions and conditional uses. Currently the only
conditional uses are associated with development within the flood plain.
The creation of a development review board is responsibility of the legislative
body. The legislative body determines the number and terms of office of
the DRB with not fewer than 5 nor more than 9 persons. Alternate members
may be chosen. PC members may serve on the DRB. The ZBA would cease to
exist. The focus of the Planning Commission would then be on planning;
town plan updates, zoning bylaw amendments and other planning and regulatory
bylaws or ordinances. There has been some recent discussion about the
town having subdivision regulations. Such regulations would help in the
case of "spaghetti lots" that end up having a poor access to
the property. Locally, both Brattleboro and Dover have established DRB
for their communities. It was suggested that those interested may want
to attend a DRB meeting. B. Hesselbach has dealt with both the Brattleboro
and the Dover DRB and suggested that it would be the more beneficial to
attend a DRB meeting in Dover. P van Loon will find out when the Dover
DRB will be meeting and arrange for interested Newfane board or committee
members to sit in on the discussion to see how the process works.
The pros and cons of having a Design Review Board were discussed. It would
consolidate and streamline the current multiple review process. There
would be greater consistency in dealing with all applications. If any
Act 250 applications come along, there would be a better impact review.
A downside may be that if the Planning Commission is not involved in any
site plan review, appeal process and the like, they will be planning without
the "hands-on" experience.
There was discussion regarding the current ZBA having a vacancy for more
than two years. The membership is at 7 and there are only 6. Four members
need to be present to have a quorum. ZBA members present felt that the
number should remain at seven.
B. Hesselbach, Chairman of the Conservation Commission, indicated that
the CC would like to work more closely with the Planning Commission to
provide inventory of natural and cultural resources, provide ideas for
ridge line protection, and other ideas to preserve the quality of the
town. The CC worked in conjunction with the PC and the Board of Selectmen
to develop the first draft of the cell town ordinance that was sent to
VLCT for review. The cell tower ordinance was then redrafted by R. Marek
and P van Loon and approved by the Planning Commission before being adopted
as a bylaw by the BOS.
R. Marek indicated that the Board of Selectmen has passed a Junk &
Trash Ordinance, a Litter Ordinance and a Cell Tower Bylaw along with
seeing that the reappraisal was completed. The Listers have completed
their appeals and the process now is for those who are still aggrieved
to go before the Board of Civil Authority.
B. Hesselbach indicated that the Conservation Commission has nearly completed
a third seperate hiking trail at the Town Forest. A grand opening will
be held in August with the Elementary School children coming up with a
suggested name. The CC will also be working on another educational pamphlet.
The pamphlet on "The Word on Our Water in Newfane" was well
received.
There was some discussion about the new septic regulations and what it
will mean for areas that have previously been considered undevelopable.
Those present agreed that this meeting has been productive and informative.
The Selectboard will be inviting other groups to meet with them in the
near future.
3. BOARD OF SELECTMEN - DISCUSSION AND SETTING OF THE 2002 TAX RATE
Board members reviewed the background information provided for the setting
of the 2002 Tax Rate for the FY 2003 budget. There are additional questions
that need to be raised about the education liability portion of the tax
compenent that are not quite clear. R. Marek will contact Frank Rutker
and the Administrative Assistant will contact the Department of Education,
School Finance Team for better understanding and clarification of the
reason for the large increase in the education liability. The proposed
taxe rate at this time is $2.35; $0.46 for the town portion, $0.98 for
the state education tax, $0.91 for the local education tax and $0.01 for
the school capital.
4. ADJOURNMENT - RECESS
Motion was made by P. van Loon and seconded by J. Anderson to recess the
Special Meeting at 9:05 p.m. and reconvene on Tuesday, July 9th beginning
at 4:00 p.m. to further discuss the information for the setting of the
FY 2003 Newfane Tax Rate. Unanimous.
MINUTES - SPECIAL
RECONVENED MEETING
JULY 9th, 2002
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE
PRESENT:
Selectmen: Richard Marek, Jesse Anderson and Gary Katz
Absent: Lynn Bedell and Piet van Loon
Also Present: Doris Knechtel, Administrative Assistant
1. CALL TO ORDER
The reconvened special meetings was called to order at 4:00 p.m. by Chairman
R. Marek.
2. SETTING OF THE TAX RATE - 2002 FOR FY 2003 BUDGET
R. Marek prepared a synopsis of the budgets and revenues comparisons for
education and for the town showing the amount of increase in the budgets
and compared to the amount of decrease in the revenues from last year
to this year. He had also spoken with Frank Rucker, Education Business
Manager about the increase in the education liability. The amount of the
$9,000 for capital was found to be included in the liability to be raised,
so that does not need to be raised separately, as it has in the past,
bringing the proposed tax rate to $2.35. D. Knechtel spoke with Brad James
from the Department of Education School Finance Team about the substantial
increase in the education liability. He faxed the information showing
the comparison of FY 2002 and FY 2003 data which was given to the Board.
The adjusted spending above the state support per pupil is $638 more that
last year. The local share equalized tax rate has increased by $0.146
over last year.
J. Anderson indicated that he feels that the state block grant is low
and should be raised. Board members discussed the information proviced
to come to a better understanding of the education liability and the Act
60 implications. Motion was made by J. Anderson and seconded by R. Marek
to set the tax rate at $2.35 for the year 2002 for the FY 2003 budget
for the town of Newfane. Unanimous.
During the meeting a reporter from the Brattleboro Reformer called about
the tax rate. When they call back tomorrow, they will be refered to Richard
Marek for an explanation.
3. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by G. Katz and seconded by R. Marek to adjourn the Special
Meeting at 4:55 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
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