Newfane, Vermont - Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes

2. H. OTHER ROAD BUSINESS
(1) F.W. Whitcomb Construction Corp. has expressed and interest in the repairs of the Arch Bridge (BE#12). James Hollar will set up an appointment to look at the needed repairs. The town does have the 2004 state bridge inspection report on the bridge condition. There will be a more recent report for 2006 forthcoming.
(2) P. van Loon spoke with J. Alexander about the highway grant that the town has received for Grimes Hill Road (TH#5). J. Alexander indicated that the project does not need to be engineered and it may be done during the 2007 construction season.
(3) The town highway crew has been doing some of the Aweed wacking@ in certain areas along the roadsides. C. Lowe of Jamaica will be doing the regular roadside mowing starting in early September.
(4) The paving of the areas requested on Grimes Hill Road (TH#2) have been completed by Lane Construction. There is some questions about the quality of the repaving job. The town only paid for half of the original job. At a later date, the Board will discuss payment, whole or partial, of the remaining balance.
(5) The easement agreement between the town and the Culhane's for the Culhane Corner wall project is in the hands of the attorneys.
(6) Board members received a copy of a letter sent from Walter Phelps to Dan DeWalt regarding the use of delineators. The matter will be discussed at the August 17th meeting when more members of the Board are present.
(7) G. Katz indicated that Wiswall Hill Road (TH#11) and Bensch Road (TH#13) are in the worst condition that he has seen since he moved here. He would like to know when the highway crew will be scheduled to grade the roads in question. The highway crew has been grading and ditching in other parts of the community. He has left a message at the garage.
(8) The new stop signs have been put up in the areas stated according to the newly amended Traffic Ordinance.
(9) Some trucks are still using the Parish Hill Road (TH#26) between Baker Brook Road (TH#19) and Beetlestone Hill Road (TH#47). There are signs to indicate that trucks should not use that section of TH#26.
3. SCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
A. PLANNING COMMISSION - TOWN PLAN
Gunther Garbe reported on the recent Planning Commission meeting where the proposed Town Plan was discussed with advisor Sue Fillion of Windham Regional Commission and WRC commissioners. There was a positive response from those present about the eventual approval of the plan by WRC. The next step in the process will be for the Selectboard to review the document, hold a hearing and adopt if there are no substantial changes. If there are substantial changes, the document will go back to the Planning Commission to begin the hearing process again. 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. The PC will be meeting with Sue Fillion of WRC on August 8th.
4. UNSCHEDULED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Gary Katz, Newfane's Representative to Rescue Inc., spoke of the recent reports and statistics that he provided the Board from Rescue. G. Katz reported that the calls from Newfane are of a more serious nature because people wait too long before they call for assistance. People could also seek medical assistance from their physicians. Maybe Rescue could educate the public about contacting them for services through the newspaper or other means.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. (1) PERSONNEL POLICY
Selectboard members were each given a draft copy of the proposed Personnel Policy. The information is to be reviewed and discussed at the August 17th meeting of the Board.
6. NEW BUSINESS
D. NEWFANE HILL COMMON - COMMITTEE/OUTLINE OF DUTIES
Ed Druke presented a list of names of residents willing to participate in serving on a committee, with guidance from the Selectboard, to improve the use and work on projects at the Old Newfane Common. He also provided a list of potential projects which included the following:
? The installation of a foot bridge at between 4' - 6' wide to accommodate a mower;
? Clearing away debris and cut unwanted brush in the area of Newfane Hill Road;
? Install a bench or two in the vicinity;
? Assess the condition of all markers and monuments and report to the Selectmen;
? After the logging is done clean up the debris first where walking paths could be made in general and especially to the jail house and Elizabeth Park monument.
The tree growth on the property as been looked at a few months back by P. van Loon, D. DeWalt, and W. Guenther, Town Tree Warden and County Forester, with the idea of removing some of the mature growth. A suggestion was also made that if there was a special tree that could be used to make a bench or something it should be saved for that purpose. Any funds realized from the sale of the timber could be used to make improvements to the property.
Motion was made by P. Halloran and seconded by J. Mandell to appoint a long term Newfane Hill Common Restoration committee to establish a general purpose for the common and to advise the Selectboard on the use and projects for the common with reports to be generated back to the Board on a regular basis. Unanimous.
Motion was made by P. Halloran and seconded by J. Mandell to contact Town Tree Warden and Windham County Forester, William Guenther to assist in the forest management of the town property on Old Newfane Common on Newfane Hill. Unanimous.
2. C. EXCESS WEIGHT PERMITS - No action.
2. D. ACCESS/RIGHT OF WAY PERMITS - No action
5. A. (2) WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES BYLAW
G. Katz asked about the status of the Wireless Telecommunications Bylaw as there is an increase in the use of cell phones. He suggested that a bylaw should encourage an organization to install a tower to improve the communications needs. First responders are having difficulty getting limited or no reception at all. The "dead spots" need to be identified. It was also mentioned that the technology is ever changing and improving in telecommunications.
5. C. OTHER OLD BUSINESS
(1) Broadband - P. van Loon spoke of the effort that is being made by committee made up of representative from the towns of Dummerston, Marlboro, Putney and Newfane to find out how many are interested in have Boardband service in the area. Bahman Madhavi is representing Newfane on that committee. A letter with a post card is to be sent out for voters and property owners to respond.
5. B. SIGNING OF WINDHAM COUNTY SHERIFF'S CONTRACT
Motion was made by J. Mandell and seconded by P. Halloran to have Chairman van Loon sign the Contract for Law Enforcement Services from the Windham County Sheriff's Department for the Town of Newfane for the period of July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 with the addition of the word Alocations@ in item #7 to read A...dates, times, locations, and results...@ Unanimous.
5. C. REVIEW OF NEWFANE ROAD NAME MAP
Suggested corrections to the Newfane Road Map as prepared by Windham Regional Commission were reviewed by the Board. P. van Loon will pass on the corrected information to WRC so that they can update the road name map.
5. D. REVIEW OF JUNE 2006 FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Board members will discuss the June 2006 financial information at their meeting of August 17th when all members are to be present.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. APPOINTMENTS - (2) DRB
The Selectboard has received a letter of resignation from Sarah Dreher as a regular member of the Development Review Board. Motion was made by P. Halloran and seconded by J. Mandell to appoint David A. Cotton to serve as a regular member of the Development Review Board, to replace Sarah Dreher, instead of an alternate member. Unanimous. There are now three alternate member vacancies on the DRB.
6. A. (6) 911-COORDINATOR
There was a brief discussion regarding the appointment of a 911-Coordinator for Newfane. A suggestion was made to maybe combine the role of Emergency Management Coordinator and the 911-Coordinator. No decision was made.
6. C. DISCUSSION NEWFANE PARKING LOT - STAGING AREA
The Village Sidewalk project is near completion and the Board will have to decide how they would like the contractor to leave staging area site. If the roll-off containers are to be placed there, WSWMD indicated that they will need the lot to go back a distance of 35'. There was also discussion about the possibility of putting up a motion detector light, a surveillance camera and additional signs to deter those who leave garbage at the site.
6. E. OTHER NEW BUSINESS
The question was raised about the sign near the Flea Market area that is advertising storage facilities. Contact will be made with the Zoning Administrator to check into the situation.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT'S REPORT - (See attached report)
A. Item #1 - Motion was made by P. Halloran and seconded by J. Mandell to have the Selectboard sign the Errors & Omissions prepared by the Newfane Listers. Unanimous.
B. Item #7 - The light fixture progress will be checked. Also, air conditioning may be possible as central air through the furnace system.
C. Rick Wilson, northerly abutting property owner to the Town Office would like to know if the town can remove the stump in the area along the property line. R. Wilson removed the chain link fence. P. van Loon will discuss the project to add top soil and grass seed and maintenance of a lawn along the property line.
8. MINUTES - No minutes have been completed. The possibility of hiring temporary part-time assistance for the AA will be explored soon.
9. CORRESPONDENCE
A. Board members received a copy of an informational letter from John Spicer that was sent to other members of the Village Enhancement Committee. Their next meeting will be held Thursday, September 28th.
B. A copy of a letter has been received from Kindle Farms to the District Commission responding questions posed by Windham Regional Commission and the Townshend Planning Commission regarding their Act 250 application.
C. The town has received a letter from Property Valuation and Review regarding the Order to Reappraise because the common level of appraisal is below 20%. It was voted at town meeting in March of 2006 to approve this expense.
D. VLCT has issued a Paper regarding concerns on Vermont transportation concerns. There will be more topics written about the upcoming election issues to be addressed by candidates.
E. The VLCT 2006 Town Fair will be held on October 5th in Barre, Vermont
F. The July/August Opinions publication has been received and has information relating to many BCA issues.
10. PAY ORDERS
Motion was made by P. Halloran and seconded by J. Mandell to approve the Newfane Payroll Warrants and the Accounts Payable Warrant for the following amounts:
08/02/06 Payroll $ 3,050.86
08/04/06 Payroll $ 3,927.66
08/04/06 AP Warrant #3 $ 13,367.94 Unanimous.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION - IF NEEDED
No matters came before the Board that required the need of an Executive Session.
12. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by J. Mandell and seconded by P. Halloran to adjourn the Regular meeting at 9:30 p.m. Unanimous.