Road projects complete
NEWFANE — NEWFANE - The town's current major road projects are complete, Roads Foreman Todd Lawley reported at the Nov. 16 regular Selectboard meeting.
Earlier that day, Renaud Brothers finished repairing the crumbling railings on the Arch Bridge, including putting sealant on the concrete to prevent water from seeping in and causing further damage.
“It looks pretty good,” Lawley said, adding, “Actually, it looks nice.”
The Depot Hill project was also finished that week, with Fitzpatrick Excavating & Crushing replacing three culverts and adding one new one. The company's workers also put concrete headers on the culverts, re-dug the ditch lines along the road, installed drainage, added riprap, and paved the road.
Lawley said this work will keep water “from running down alongside the road.”
He recommended his colleagues on the Selectboard visit the project, noting, “It's pretty impressive.”
Dog fees raised
NEWFANE - The town raised its dog licensing fees to cover increases in costs at its Nov. 16 Selectboard meeting.
Town Clerk Gloria Cristelli said the state recently raised the portion of fees it collects from towns by $1, to $5 per dog. This increase puts a burden on her budget, and on the town's finances. The town hardly breaks even with the fees it charges, Cristelli said, noting her office spent about $100 in postage alone mailing postcards reminding people to license their dogs.
Although the postcards were cost-effective - Cristelli said there are only about five dogs in Newfane that still need to be registered - they took up almost half of the budget.
If the town raised its fees, Cristelli said, the town could increase the animal control budget from $250 to about $1,000 per year, thus allowing Newfane to pay its Animal Control Officer (ACO) a small stipend.
“It would be nice for the Animal Control Officer, who does a lot of work,” Cristelli said, noting most ACOs have only charged the town mileage for their efforts.
“They go out to collect goats, to move animals,” she said.
Cristelli recommended raising the 2016 dog license fees to $10 per spayed/neutered canine if the owner pays before April 1, and $15 afterward; and $15 per non-fixed dogs before April 1, and $21.50 after.
Board member Mike Fitzpatrick made the motion; it passed unanimously. Cristelli said she will spread the word to townspeople via the town's Website and The Front Porch Forum.
Town Clerk urges emergency training
NEWFANE - After Newfane “dodged” Hurricane Joaquin at the end of September, Town Clerk Gloria Cristelli said she was inspired to examine her office's copy of the town's Emergency Management Plan.
She told the Selectboard at its Nov. 16 meeting, according to the plan, “if we had a mass-casualty incident, if we had a public gathering, or if there was civil unrest in Newfane, I could potentially need to take the lead in any kind of emergency plan.”
But, she said, “since I've been Town Clerk [she started in 2009], I've never seen any training on this. If we had another Irene, would we all know what to do?”
She strongly suggested the board perform training exercises. “We've done the exercise,” Board Chair Todd Lawley said, adding, “it was called 'Irene.'”
Cristelli reminded Lawley there are two new Selectboard members who need training. She also pointed out that, in an emergency, Lawley will have his hands full, as will Mike Fitzpatrick, who owns an excavating business.
In addition to being the Selectboard Chair, Lawley also serves as Roads Foreman, Fire Chief, and public information officer (PIO). Although Lawley said Administrative Assistant Shannon Meckle can share the PIO duties, Cristelli suggested the board address this possible strain to the emergency plans.
Lawley said he will address the issue with the emergency committee.
Williamsville Hall closed for season
NEWFANE - The Williamsville Hall has been winterized, Chairperson Todd Lawley announced at the Nov. 16 regular Selectboard meeting.
The hall will reopen April 1, 2016.