Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday December 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Steve Robinson, Anne Zolotas, David Lane
Board Members Not Present: n/a
Other Town personnel Present: Sue Arguin, TA, Naomi King, TC. Also see sign in sheet. attached*
1. Called to Order:
– The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Carter at 7:00 pm.
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
– none
3. Minutes:
-Steve Robinson made a motion to approve the minutes of November 24, 2025. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. None
5. New Business:
A. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve the change order for the future Town Office building to include a dry fire suppression system for the vault. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Nate Hayward was present to sign the deed for the new 1.8 acre Town Park. Work is scheduled to begin in the Spring of 2026.
C. Northwest Regional Planning (NRPC) submitted a budget request for FY 26/27 in the amount of $2123.00, which is base on $1.268 per capita for South Hero. The general Town budget will be reviewed at the next meeting.
D. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve and sign the letter of support from the Selectboard for a grant opportunity from T-Mobile Hometown Grant. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
E. David Lane made a motion to allow Karen Greenman from Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) to work on writing up an easement for the Town to be co-held by VHCB and Preservation Trust of VT. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
*Note that the budget requests will be included on the Town report and will voted on Town Meeting Day.
6. Town Administrator (TA) and Zoning Administrator (ZA) Reports:
A. See the written report from the ZA attached below with these minutes.
B. Anne Zolotas made a motion to re-appoint Nate Hayward to 3 year term to the DRB. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. VHB has submitted a letter regarding the landfill property testing. More information will be in the Spring when VHB coordinates with the State DEC.
B. Steve Robinson made a motion to pay the bill for the asbestos abatement from Environmental Hazards Management, Inc. with the funds coming from the 1% LOT. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. The next Selectboard meeting will be on December 15. There will not be a meeting on December 22, 2025.
9. Other Business:
A. David Lane made a motion to sign the orders 26-11 and 26-12 and have the Treasurer pay the bills as presented on the orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Town Clerk/Treasurer updates: none at this meeting
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: The RC submitted a proposal to develop a Town Park and parking on land owned by Lighthouse Estates (the Vanderer family) in Keeler Bay that would then access the old railroad berm. The estimate presented by the RC of $34,000.00-38,000.00 seems very low for such a proposed project. At this time, the Selectboard has decided to table this idea awaiting more information. See above and https://southherovt.org/rec/ for more info.
D. Road Department update: The former SHVFD fire truck has been advertized and sealed bids are being requested by December 15. Bids will be opened at the next meeting. The work done to the by Elite Construction is still under review, as a few items may have been left undone. Anne and Butch Maxham have sealed a hatch to save energy.
E. Lister Updates: The Town wide re-appraisal process has begun soon and letters have been sent to homeowners when inspections will begin in their area. There will not be any inspections in December. Now that the deed for the Town Park has been signed, the Listers should assign a value to the property that was conveyed and consider and E&O for the taxes paid.
F. Lavin Property updates: none at this meeting
G. Town Hall Committee update: See above and https://southherovt.org/town-office-building-committee/
H. Tree Warden Update: Steve Robinson made a motion to approve the estimate of $3000.00 to remove ash trees on Whipple Rd. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
I. Steve Robinson made a motion to go into executive session at 8:00 pm to discuss personnel and salary issues with a representative from Acrisure. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. A motion was made and executive session ended at 8:50 pm. After the executive session ended, the consensus of the Board was to wait for the data from Karen Tierney of Acrisure for more guidance.
10. Adjournment:
-Skip Brown made a motion to adjourn at 8:52 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Carter, Chairman
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For a video of the meeting, see: www.lcatv.com
December 8, 2025 ZA’s report to the SB
1. Attorney Peter Raymond of Sheehey Furlong & Behm has entered an
appearance on behalf of the Town of South Hero to Environmental Court (VT
Superior Court – Environmental Division) regarding the appeal by Joanne Naas
of the Zoning Administrator’s approval of a boundary adjustment between
Chippen Point and Wright Family Partnership on West Shore Rd. Peter tells me
that the parties (Chippen Point and Naas) are talking and we hope they will come
to an agreement soon.
2. A recent denial by the DRB of an application by Mitchel Richardson for a site
plan amendment and renewal of an expired conditional use approval has been
appealed by Mr. Richardson to Environmental Court. Mr. Peter Raymond has
entered an appearance to the Court on behalf of the Town. There has been no
further movement on this.
Planning Commission
The commission has finalized clarifications in the Development Regulations
related to “average natural grade” and “pre-construction grade.” These are now being
passed on to the DRB for their comments. In addition, the definition for measuring
setback distances is under reconsideration. The DRB has asked the Planning
Commission to redefine setbacks measurements from the structure’s walls rather than
the dripline, while giving the Board the option to measure from the eaves when
reviewing setback waivers.
The PC has cancelled their December 17 meeting.
Development Review Board
1. DRB Chair Tim Maxham will be retiring at the end of his current term, on
December 31 st . Tim has served on the ZBA/later DRB for 53 ½ years. I am
making arrangements for a celebration in January for the DRB, Planning
Commission members, the Selectboard, and the Town Office staff to thank Tim
for extraordinary contributions to South Hero his many years of service to his
town.
2. Nate Hayward’s current 3-year term on the DRB expires on December 31 st . He
has asked that the Selectboard reappoint him for another term.
3. The Board’s next meeting is Wednesday, December 10, and will not meet again
until January 28, 2026.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA