Newfane briefs

Digitized mapping deadline extended

NEWFANE — NEWFANE - At Planning Commission member Doris Knechtel's request, the Selectboard approved a deadline extension for the municipal digitized mapping project.

At the May 1 regular Board meeting, Knechtel explained the reason behind the change. The town is finishing up its reappraisal process, and extending the deadline will allow the new information to get included in the new maps. This will make them more accurate, she said.

The digitized mapping will provide users with property contours and boundaries, wetlands, flood plains, village designations, rural resource areas, and more, Knechtel said.

The Selectboard voted unanimously - minus the absent Gary Delius - to change the deadline from May 31 to July 15 for the digitized mapping project.

Town Office painting bids awarded

NEWFANE - The Selectboard awarded bids for the interior and exterior painting at the Town Offices at their May 1 regular meeting.

Town Office Committee member Doris Knechtel gave Board members her committee's recommendation: to hire Momaney Painters for both jobs.

Momaney Painters will paint the building's interior for $11,600. The exterior job - for $15,900 - elicited some discussion at the meeting.

Knechtel and Town Office Committee member Frank Suponski commented on Momaney Painter's bid, noting the firm's workers will hand-scrape the clapboards down to bare wood, replace rotting boards, paint the exterior with brushes and rollers (not sprayers), and start with an oil-based primer before putting on two finish coats of paint.

The company's owner “claims it'll last 15 years,” said Suponski, who added, “if it lasts for 12, I'll be a real happy guy."

The Selectboard awarded both bids to Momaney Painters in a 4-0 decision, with the absent Gary Delius not voting.

Townwide reappraisal project status

NEWFANE - Board of Listers Chair Doris Knechtel provided the Selectboard with an update on the townwide reappraisal project at the May 1 regular Board meeting.

The appraisal company will mail information booklets to homeowners on 2017-2018 property values, she said.

The tentative dates for homeowners to make informal grievances is May 24-27. “People can call the Listers' office for an appointment,” Knechtel said.

Formal grievances with the Listers will happen in the third week of June.

Afterward, the Listers will print the grand list's abstract at the end of June, which will allow the Selectboard to set the municipal property tax rate.

Tax bills should go in the mail before July 15, Knechtel said.

Town wins River Road bridge grant

NEWFANE - Roads Foreman Todd Lawley announced the Agency of Transportation has awarded the town a $175,000 grant to pay for repairs to the River Road Bridge.

Earlier this year, AOT officials notified the town they were reducing Bridge 38's legal load limit from 16,000 pounds to 8,000 after discovering rotting I-beams. Estimates for replacing the I-beams are between $125,000 and $200,000. Newfane is responsible for 10 percent of the costs.

During the Road Foreman's and Roads Commissioner's Report at the May 1 regular Selectboard meeting, Lawley said he, Selectboard Administrator Shannon Meckle, and AOT District 2 Administrator Marc Pickering worked on the request for proposals for the project.

But Lawley cautioned that AOT officials “made it very clear to not do any work until we hear back from them.” The Selectboard can put the project out for bid once they get the OK from the AOT.

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