Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday November 22, 2021 at 6:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom Attendance SB 11-22-2021
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Ross Brown/Vice Chairman,
Chuck Hulse, Anne Zolotas
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Kim Julow, Town Clerk/Treasurer, Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA via zoom. Also see sign in sheet of in person and active Zoom participants. *
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called by Chairman Carter at 6:00 pm
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-Add: Discuss wastewater grant during Old Business
3. Minutes:
-Chuck Hulse made a motion to acknowledge the minutes of the meeting of November 8, 2021. The motion was seconded, all who were in attendance at the last meeting so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. none
5. New Business:
A. 2022/2023 Budget requests presented:
– Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Dept.:- Sheriff Ray Allen presented the budget of $157,248.00 for South Hero’s portion, which represents an approximate 2% increase from last year. He appreciates the fact that all of the towns in the county support the Department. Right now, the staff is at a bare bones staffing level and he hopes to hire more deputies. See the documents attached. 2022 Budget Sheriff
-South Hero Recreation Commission (REC): COVID 19 has made it difficult to plan for all activities for REC. Assuming that all the programs are able to be run in FY 2022/2023, the total budget is $27,700.00. Some notable changes from this FY are to increase the ski/ride program to also offer it to middle school students and to also reintroduce a basketball program. See attached. 2022 Budget Rec
B. Ross Brown made a motion to reappoint Martha Taylor-Varney to a 3 year term, retroactively beginning on October 1, 2021. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the written report filed with these minutes (below on the website, or filed in Town Hall).
B. There will be a “5th Monday” joint meeting on November 29, 2021 with the Selectboard, Planning Commission and Development Review Board.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. Regarding the EAB, Anne Zolotas met with representatives from DJ’s Tree Service, and ash trees along West Shore Rd. between “Branch’s Hill” and Station Rd. were identified. A proposal will be coming soon for removal of ash trees in the Town ROW.
B. The wastewater study group met and would like to apply for a grant. This will be discussed at the “5th Monday” meeting.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. Due to the latest COVID surge, the State legislature met today and has given each Town Selectboard the option of enacting a mask mandate. While the Selectboard supports any business who would like to require masks, the Board will not mandate a Town wide mandate. But, the Board does support a mask requirement in Town Hall for all visitors. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve the policy written by Chairman Carter attached here. South Hero Covid Policy 11-22-2021 The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
9. Other Business:
A. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve and sign orders 22-11 and to pay the bills associated with the orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Town Clerk/Treasurer updates: Two computers have crashed in the last 2 weeks. The contracted tech company, TCI, has replaced hard drives and is working to recover data. The Town Clerk will be purchasing another desktop PC soon.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: Chuck Hulse made a motion to re-appoint David Hobbs to another 3 year term to the RC. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Dave Hobbs presented a Robinson Trail Scouting map showing a proposed trail from Tracy Rd. to South St., crossing the Island Acres farm, the Wells and the Masonic Lodge properties. More information will be available as the project moves forward.
D. Road Department update: The Road Crew is looking for another employee to replace Martin Jensen. Ads have gone out in various publications. The plows are on the trucks and are ready for snow season.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH): Architects and engineers have done a preliminary walkthrough. An engineering study and cost analysis is supposed to be completed in February. There will be much discussion of next steps once the scope of the project is understood.
F. ARPA fund updates: nothing new since the last meeting
G. The general Town budget was worked on.
H. Anne Zolotas made a motion to go into executive session to discuss a real estate matter and personnel matters at 8:30 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Executive session ended at 9:15 pm. Upon exiting executive session, no action was taken on the real estate matter and the Town employee salary estimates as discussed will be included in the 2022/2023 FY budget.
10. Adjournment:
-Skip Brown made a motion to adjourn 9:17 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown David Carter, Chairman
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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard November 22, 2021
Discussion Items:
1. Scheduled so far for 2023 budget discussion:
November 8, 2021 – Cemetery Commission; SHVFD, South Hero Rescue
November 22, 2021 – Rec.Commission; Sheriff’s Dept.
December 13, 2021 – Highway Department (?)
2. A 5th Monday meeting has been scheduled for the SB with the Planning Commission and DRB at 6PM. Agenda? Who will send out Zoom invitations?
3. All conditions for the Bayview Crossing Implementation Grant have been met and Cathedral Square was notified today that the project can now start drawing funds.
Planning Commission:
The Planning Commission is now meeting in person but continues to provide a Zoom option for those who prefer.
1. The Planning Commission submitted the application for a 2022 Municipal Planning Grant for the 2023 Town Plan update. Deadline was October 31st. We should know by the end of December if the grant will be awarded.
2. Nate Hayward met with the Commission at their Nov. 17 meeting to discuss ideas for a possible town park on a portion of the Fifield property he has recently purchased. The donated land is approx. 3 acres of a 10+-acre parcel behind the Old Meeting House and the Blue Paddle. For details about the discussion, see the Planning Commission minutes from the Nov. 17, 2021 meeting.
3. The Commission is working on language to include an accessibility waiver for structures (ramps, elevators, etc.) to reduce/alleviate the burden of the additional time and expense of having to get a building permit or DRB review for accessibility structures. CIDER supports this proposal. Discussion and review of proposed language will continue at the Commission’s Dec.1 meeting.
4. The Commission is also looking to clarify the language regulating fences (Sec 703 in the Regulations). They are also considering whether fence regulations should remain in the Development Regulations or held separately as an ordinance (much like the rules regulating signs a couple years ago). Does the Selectboard have any thoughts on this?
5. South Hero’s Village Center Designation is up for renewal in 2022. NRPC will be assisting the Planning Commission in preparing the renewal application for the Selectboard to approve. Does the Town want to consider expanding the village center designation in Keeler Bay Village (note** — this is different from the Village Zoning District boundaries).
Development Review Board:
– DRB meetings moved back to in-person meetings at the Town Office on June 23. The Zoom option will continue to be available. The Board agreed to make the meeting time of 7PM, moved in June from 6PM, a permanent change. The earlier time makes it difficult for some members to get there on time.
– The Nov. 22 meeting has been canceled due to the Thanksgiving holiday. 2 hearings are scheduled for the Dec. 8 meeting. There will be no second meeting in December due to the Christmas holiday.
– A notice appeared in the November 17 Islander under ‘South Hero News’ asking f or applicants for the Development Review Board. All members whose terms end on Dec 31st have requested to be reappointed. Any additional applicants will be considered by the Board, also.
– Recent DRB hearing decisions are posted on the Board outside the ZA’s office or can be emailed upon request.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA and Assistant to the Selectboard)