Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday May 8, 2023 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Ross Brown/Vice Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Anne Zolotas and Chuck Hulse
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA and Sue Arguin, Town Administrator. Also see sign in sheet of in person and Zoom attendees. *Attendance SB 2023-05-08-2023
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Carter at 7:00 pm
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-Add: Review updated policies
3. Minutes:
-Ross Brown made a motion to acknowledge the minutes of May 1, 2023. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motions carried.
4. Public input:
A. David Carter noted that the Conservation Commission/SHLT forum held on May 2 was well attended. Also, thanks to all of the Green Up Day volunteers.
B. Heidi Chamberlin of the Craft Shop was present to ask about the feasibility of having a food truck by the shop. This is a matter for the DRB, not the Selectboard.
C. Joan Falcao asked about mowing the roadside ROW before the poison parsnip goes to seed. If it is not allowed to go to seed for 2 years, then it may not be as much of a problem on the road sides. Ross Brown noted that the Town hires a person to mow and he will discuss this with the road foreman.
5. New Business:
A. Donna Boumil of the LCIEDC is the point person for the South Hero Overland Route Exploration (SHORE) VOREC grant. This is a grant to explore biking and pedestrian opportunities in South Hero. See the power point presentation attached for more info: *SHORE PRESENTATION POWER POINT The main focus is on the roads in town. Mid-week in the summer, approximately 100 cyclists were counted at the South St./West Shore intersection. A planner will be hired and that person/company will be in South Hero in June and July to study potential needs.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the written report filed with these minutes (Below on the website or in Town Hall).
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. Peter Zamore of the Wastewater Committee (WWC) was present to discuss updates. It appears that a grant may be available from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NRBC) (www.nrbc.gov). The quandary that the WWC has is that this grant opportunity is for construction of a possible wastewater system. The issue is that test pits have not yet been dug and a preliminary report won’t be provided by the engineers until sometime in early summer. A letter of interest was sent to the NRBC and South Hero has been invited to apply for the grant. Ross Brown made a motion to allow the WWC to apply for the grant from NRBC. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motions carried.
B. The Town voted for a 1% Local Option Tax (LOT) on meals and alcohol in 2022. The State has sent conflicting information in the past year and the tax has not yet been collected, as it apparently needs legislative approval. The only way to do this is to have a charter change. But, South Hero has never had a charter! It now appears that the Town has to create a charter so that the legislature has a certain document in order to allow the LOT. More info will follow on this matter.
C. Ash trees will be cut on parts of Landon Rd. on Wednesday, May 10.
D. Ross Brown made a motion to approve the wording for a MOU between the Town and Granny’s Attic. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motions carried.
E. David Cater is the animal control officer. He is working on creating a dog complaint form that can be used when there is an issue.
F. The SHVFD received the new fire truck. There is still an issue about a surprise price increase that needs to be worked out. There is an open house at the Fire and Rescue building on May 13, 2023 and the new truck will be on display.
G. The consensus of the Board was to sign the updated policies, as the only change was the date of the past policies.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. None at this meeting.
9. Other Business:
A. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve and sign orders 23-23 and to pay the bills associated with the orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motions carried.
B. Town Clerk/Treasurer updates: none
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: none
D. Road Department update: The Road Dept is working on East Shore Rd. where the pavement has deteriorated.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH) project: An article was placed in the Islander for volunteers to apply for a committee to study the feasibility about moving the Town offices to the Old South Hero Meeting House property. The committee has been formed and the first organizational meeting will be May 15th.
F. ARPA fund updates: The public hearing will be May 22, 2023 during the regular Selectboard meeting.
G. Wastewater (WW) update: see above
10. Adjournment:
-David Carter made a motion to adjourn at 8:30 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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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard April 10, 2023
1. The first Zoning 101 class was held April 27. There were 18 participants. A video of the class by
LCATV will be cablecast on Wed., May 10 at 10:15am, Thursday; May 11 at 6PM; Friday May 12
at 3:15PM; and Sunday May 14 at 10:30 PM. It will also be on the Town website. The next class
will be Thursday, May 25.
2. Updates on traffic study at Featherbed Lane/Apple Island Resort/Sandbar Inn
Planning Commission
2023 Town Plan – The final draft of the 2023 Town Plan will be presented at a public hearing held during
the PC’s May 17 meeting at 6PM. At the Selectboard’s May 22 nd meeting, the SB will consider any
amendments to the Plan. The Selectboard’s public hearing will be on June 26. An informational meeting
is scheduled for July 24, and the vote will be on August 1 st .
Development Review Board
The next DRB meeting will be May 10, with 2 setback waiver hearings. The continuation of the final site
plan hearing for Island Time mini golf on Lot 2 of the Lavin parcel will be May 26, in addition to an
amendment request for lots 4 thru 7. The June 14 meeting will be the final plat hearing for the Keeler Bay
Associates 3-lot subdivision. The DRB approved the site plan for the expansion of Pan’s Pizza into the
old Cedar Ledge Builders space.
Respectfully submitted, Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA.