Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday July 25, 2022 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Ross Brown/Vice Chairman Anne Zolotas (via phone), and Chuck Hulse
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA + Naomi King, Town Clerk. Also see sign in sheet of in person and active Zoom participants. *Attendance SB 07-25-2022
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:
-Chuck Hulse made a motion to acknowledge the minutes of the meeting of July 11, 2022. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the meeting so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. Tim Maxham thanks all of the Board members, all of the Town Hall employees and especially Martha Taylor-Varney who made the recognition event possible that was held for him on July 22. He was humbled and very much appreciative of the community support.
5. New Business:
A. There have been several accidents and near misses in the vicinity of the old Sandbar Motel and Apple Island Resort. The Town of South Hero has invited VTrans and Fish and Wildlife to the August 8 Selectboard meeting to discuss the possibility of installing 2 crosswalks in area. One will be requested between the LPD Holdings property and across to the Near Coastal Holdings marina, with the other one to be requested near the Apple Island Property and across to Featherbed Lane. Also, it was suggested that the speed limit in the area be reduced to 35mph and that radar signs indicating “your speed is” would be helpful. The Selectboard will also ask that “no parking” signs be placed on the North side of Route 2 between Featherbed Lane and the F&W access, as when overflow vehicles and boat trailers park there then the visibility is severely limited. Employees of Apple Island and some residents of Featherbed Lane were present at this meeting and are also in agreement with these recommendations. More info will be at the next meeting.
B. The next meeting of the Selectboard will be in the lower level of the Worthen Library at 28 Community Lane in South Hero at 7:00 pm.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the written report filed with these minutes (Below on the website or in Town Hall).
B. Ross Brown made a motion not allow an application for a commercial driveway permit from Island Excavating on Sunset View Rd. due to wear and tear, as Sunset View Rd. was not engineered for heavy commercial vehicles. See the letter submitted from Road Commissioner, John Roy. *7-19-2022 Road Commissioner Letter The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. none at this meeting
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. see Other Business
9. Other Business:
A. Ross Brown made a motion to approve and sign orders 23-02 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: The primary voting is August 9. It is hoped that volunteers can help set up the voting booths on Thursday August 4 and/or Monday August 8. The wall to the current Treasurers office does not go to the ceiling. Ross Brown will look into insulating and filling it in to help soundproof it.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: The RC held a reorganizational meeting and a new slate of officers was chosen. The RC plans to meet monthly in the future.
D. Road Department update: An ad to pressure wash and paint the Town Garage and Town Hall will be placed.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH): Nothing new since the last meeting.
F. ARPA fund updates: Nothing new since the last meeting.
10. Adjournment:
-Skip Brown made a motion to adjourn 8:05 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Carter, Chairman
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard July 25, 2022
- I received a Town Highway Access permit application from Island Excavating for a new entrance onto Sunset View Rd. Ross has spoken to John Roy about it and will confer with the Selectboard this evening.
- I asked Deb Jorschick of Camp Hochelaga about the delivery trucks that are speeding on Hochelaga Rd. She said she would speak to them to ask them to slow down. A traffic Study has not yet been scheduled to reduce the speed limit there.
- I have received responses from Apple Island, Sheriff Allen, Mark Naud (Near Costal Holdings, and Pierre Leblanc (LPD Holdings, LLC) that they will be attending the August 8 Selectboard meeting. I have heard nothing from VTrans or Fish and Wildlife.
- The DRB conditional use/site plan review for the proposed Town salt shed on newly acquired land on Hill Rd. will be August 24 at 7PM.
Planning Commission
2023 Town Plan discussion — The Commission has remaining public outreach opportunities August 22, referred to as “Community Cheers and Cheese.” The June 27 event drew over 125 attendees. An additional outreach opportunity will be at the Farmers’ Market on August 17.
The PC’s survey has closed. There were 155 responses. NRPC will report on the results at the August 3 PC meeting.
Development Review Board
- The DRB will have no scheduled meetings until August 24th.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA and Asst. to the Selectboard