Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday July 27, 2020 at 7:00 PM
South Hero Town Hall
Board Members Present: Jonathan Shaw, Skip Brown (also Board Secretary), Ross Brown, Anne Zolotas, David Carter
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Janet Yates Town Clerk, Martha Taylor-Varney ZA & SB assist., Peter Delaney and Joe Connolly.
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called by Chairman Shaw at 7:00 pm
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-Add to New Business: Modify Development Regulations
3. Minutes:
-David Carter made a motion to approve the minutes of July 13, 2020. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. none
5. New Business:
A. Peter Delaney and Joe Connolly of Run Vermont were present to discuss holding an Island Vines road race on Sept. 20. They have worked with the State on how to run an event and hope to start runners in staggered “waves”. The race will be 5 miles rather than a 10K and will probably be an out and back along West Shore Rd. More info will be available as the time gets closer. As long as they meet State guidelines in place at the time of an event, it could happen.
B. David Carter made a motion to approve the transfer of $25,000.00 from the judicial fines account and $25,000.00 from the reappraisal fund to the general fund to cover a deficit. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. David Carter made a motion to set the resident tax rate at $2.1127 and the non-resident tax rate at $2.0652. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
D. Per the currently zoning regulations, no “industry” is allowed in the Village districts. The PC and the DRB realize that “industry” can cover many uses. David Carter made a motion to allow the DRB to offer conditional approval with a site plan review for “industrial” applications in the Village districts rather than prohibit all “industrial” uses. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the report on www.southherovt.org or filed with these minutes.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. The Sheriff has begun to issue warnings to cars without parking permit stickers at White’s Beach. No changes will be made this season, but the Recreation Commission should consider what to do in the future about permits and enforcement. The name “White’s Beach” has been in use for many years. The beach is adjacent to the former White’s farm, hence the name. Perhaps the Recreation Commission and the Historical Society can work on an explanation sign of why it is named as it is.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. none of note this meeting
9. Other Business:
A. David Carter made a motion to approve and sign orders 21-02 and to pay the bills associated with the orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. There will not be a Selectboard meeting on August 10, 2020. The primary voting is August 11, 2020.
10. Adjournment:
-Ross Brown made a motion to adjourn 8:00 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown Jonathan Shaw, Chairman
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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard July 27, 2020
Discussion Items:
1. Town Landfill well testing – VHB agreed to edits to access agreements.that were sent to landowners for further testing of wells on their properties that have been identified to be within 1 mile of the landfill. The original drafts included a hold harmless that required the property owners to compensate VHB for time spent or expenses incurred by vhb in defense of any claims against them. The 3 landowners, including the Town, who had responded so far (out of 6 total) had all objected to the clause. I have the edited agreements that have been approved and will be sending copies to the other 2 landowners. I have sent letters to the 3 remaining landowners but have not received the signed agreements yet. One landowner asked if this would require new test wells to be dug. I have contacted vhb and am waiting for their response.
2. The Vermont Community Development Planning Grant requisition for $60,000 for the proposed Senior Housing was submitted on July 23rd. In addition, Cathedral Square also plans to request to VCDP a full implementation grant (as opposed to another planning grant). Both the closeout of the current Planning Grant and the application for the Implementation Grant require public hearings. Warnings for the 2 hearings, scheduled for the August 24th Selectboard meeting, will be in this week’s Islander.
3. The Planning Commission is requesting that the Selectboard approve a change to Table 2.1 (allowed Uses) in the 2020 Development Regulations to require a Conditional Approval with Site Plan review for “industrial” applications, rather than to automatically prohibit them, as the Table currently shows. If the change is allowed, I will have updated copies of pages 7-8 to include in your copies of the Regulations at the next SB meeting.
Planning Commission:
The Planning Commission is meeting at the Town Office with proper social distancing and mask protocols. The Commission members will be conducting site visits related to their current discussion on whether the Town needs a junk ordinance. Other topics of discussion are possible 2021 Municipal Planning Grant or a VTrans 2020 Bicycle and Pedestrian Program grant.
Development Review Board:
– The DRB has scheduled hearings currently through the end of August. I anticipate that this will continue well into the Fall. All hearings are being held via Zoom.
– Recent DRB hearing decisions can be found posted on the Board outside the ZA’s office.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor Varney, ZA and Selectboard Assistant