MINUTES
- SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
SEPTEMBER 9th, 2003 - MORNING
NEWFANE TOWN OFFICE
PRESENT:
Selectmen: Piet van Loon, Gorty Baldwin, Priscilla Cotton, and Gary Katz
Absent: Chris Williams
Also Present: Carlton “Red” Chaffee, Edward Druke, Sr. and
Doris Knechtel, Administrative Assistant.
1. CALL
TO ORDER
The Special Meeting was called to order at 8:50 a.m. Chairman Piet van Loon.
2. SITE VISIT - HOBBY HILL ROAD - RED CHAFFEE
Red Chaffee had asked that the Board look at more than just Hobby Hill Road,
he would like the Board to review all of TH#19, the longest road in town
comprised of Grout Road, Hobby Hill Road and Baker Brook Road to point out
what he feels are maintenance deficiencies involving culverts, ditches,
stones in the road and the lack of a good gravel base.
The following situations were pointed out by C. Chaffee and E. Druke along
TH #19:
- Ditches that need to be cleaned out where water is pooling.
- Culverts that are too short and should be extended.
- Two culverts that have raised up and need to be reset.
- Areas where more gravel needs to be added above rocks or ledge that
is showing.
- Erosion on the edge of the road that is occurring from water coming
off the roads.
- Areas where the road is not properly crowned to allow the water to
run off into the side ditches.
- Run-off areas where gravel and debris are building up unnecessarily.
C. Chaffee indicated that this road is not unique to these types of problem
in Newfane. He feels that the same situations are on other roads within
town highway system. He did say that the Williamsville end of TH#19, Baker
Brook Road is in better condition.
There was also discussion about the storage of crushed gravel at the town
garage, rather than being brought right to a project site, the product gets
handled twice. The matter of the proper application of crushed gravel and
bank run gravel was also discussed.
To get more familiar with how roads should be constructed and maintained,
it was suggested that the Board members read the Town Highway specifications.
(P. Cotton had to lave the meeting at 9:25 a.m.)
It was noted that a large maple tree by the Hull property (small A-frame)
is split and should be looked at for possible removal.
C. Chaffee thanked the Board for taking the time to view and listen to him
about the maintenance needed for TH#19. He expects something to be done.
The Selectboard continued from the Chaffee residence along Hobby Hill Road
and Baker Brook Road to the intersection with Dover Road (TH#2) in Williamsville.
Other road conditions were observed along the way.
TO TRANSACT ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY LEGALLY COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF
SELECTMEN
No other business was brought before the Board at this time.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made by G. Katz and seconded by G. Baldwin to adjourn the Special
Meeting at 10:00 a.m. Unanimous.
