Town of South Hero
Meeting House – Preserve & Revitalize Project
Date: THURSDAY, February 20, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM In person at Town Office or via Zoom
Attendees: David Carter-Chair, Michael Carroll, Pamela Surprenant, Mary Harwood, Andy Julow-
LCIEDC, Sue Arguin-Town Administrator, Sandy Gregg.
Rebecca Arnold-Arnold & Scangas Architects-via ZOOM.
Absent: Sarah Kjelleren, Terry Robinson, Beth Curtis, Carol Tremble, Jenna Lapachinski-
Preservation Trust VT
Public: Michael Frett – The Islander
Recording began at 2:12
Called to order at 3:03 by David C.
Architect’s Report: Rebecca Arnold – Arnold & Scangas Architects, Inc. (A&S) reported:
All final architecture & engineering docs will be completed by end of March. No civil engineering docs
received as of today. Rebecca will contact them.
DuBois & King electric docs complete. Rebecca continues to work on specs.
2 artist renderings of what the interior 1st floor meeting space would look like will be completed by
Feb 27th in time for Town Meeting. Cost is $1,400.
Capacity of meeting room @ 88 maximum capacity.
• Specs Info:
Invitation to Bid: Bidders will be required to pay for architectural docs & specs either hard
copy and/or electronic copy.
Bidders will be asked for lump sum bid.
April 11,2025 deadline for bid docs specs.
Friday, April 18th at 9:30 AM required Pre-Bid conference & site visit at the project site.
May 9,2025 deadline to receive bids at the Town Office by noon.
B. Info for Bidders:
Bidders buy either electronic and/or hardcopy, non-refundable. Comes out of project reimbursable.
Bids will be addressed to “David Carter”-Chair.
Contract #1 – Paul Bruhn Grant Funding: Foundation & Stabilization ($100,000).
Contract #2 & #3 – NBRC requirements ($500,000, reimberseable), include BABAA.
C. Project Directory: Names of those in each project position with contact info. Will be
supplied by General Contractor and Build Committee.
Attachment A – Paul Bruhn Grant
Attachment B – NBRC Grant Agreement
Attachment C – SAT Grant Agreement
Attachment D – BABAA
Owner Rep – Michael Carroll
Summary: Owner installs equipment (security cameras, TV monitor). Historic Park Service required
signage will be handled by the Town.
Rebecca A. suggests we contact General Contractors, as many as possible, to give them a heads up
this project is coming. Tasked to Build Committee.
Michael C. stated the bid docs and bid process will give the Town a better idea if the project estimate
is reasonable.
2
Updates – Jenna L., Preservation Trust VT reported by email (Feb 19,2025, 3:08 PM) read into the
minutes by Sandy G. as follows:
NPS and the Division for Historic Preservation have signed off on the plans, which means you are
officially done with the Bruhn Section 106 and NEPA reviews.
Here are the outstanding items on the Bruhn checklist:
-PTV needs to review the Bid Docs to confirm they are consistent with the NPS review*
-PTV needs to sign off on the contracts before they are executed*
-Project sign: the project sign template is attached, but given your funding stack, you may be better
off doing a custom sign and just including the NPS required language. At a minimum, the sign must
include the following statement:
[Project Name] is being supported in part by a Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the
Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior
-Easement: Meg Campbell will be in touch (if she hasn’t been already) about the easement. We’ll
postpone finalizing the draft until the FY25 budget passes, as the SAT CDS award will extend the
easement term.
*These items come out of PTV’s responsibility as the Prime Grantee in the federal sub-award
process. We stand in for the federal agency and sign off on these times.
3
Town Financial Report: $225,243 (includes designated ARPA funds & Voter allocated $150,000).
Grant Status:
Save America’s Treasures: Mary H. reported she spoke with Welch’s office and they are holding to
the 2025 Congressional Budget being passed that contains Congressional Discretionary Spending
(CDS) funds that cover our Save America’s Treasures Grant of $400,000.
Northern Borders Regional Commission Grant – Tasked to Andy J. to check with NBRC about who
is in charge of BABAA sign-off for their Grant? Perhaps they have wording to include in bid contracts?
Plan B: Anne Zolotas – Selectboard asked, at the last SB meeting, what is our ‘Plan B’ if grant
funding does not happen. Our Plan B is to continue fundraising. The South Hero Foundation firmly
believes in our community and its willingness to financially support this important community project.
To date the SHF has privately raised over $80,000. Additionally, an Anonymous Community
Challenge Grant (ACCG) has been presented through the SHF. This grant’s written promise is for a
total of $100,000 over 4 years starting with 2025. The first $25,000 is hopefully matched by March
30th. This grant offer was received Dec 11,2024.
South Hero Foundation (SHF) Report: SHF wishes to thank all Donors in support of preserving the
1816 Old White Meeting House and making it usable for generations to come. Call 802-372-4565 or
email Sandy G. for details how you can donate or visit: wwww.SouthHeroMeetingHouse.org
4
Publicity:
FPF posts will continue and others need to post, please. Sandy G. is limited to 2/month.
Sue A. said there is a large Misc file in her office. Sandy G. will review contents over the weekend
and report back.
Anyone know who can read the old 1856 hand-script Deed? Mary H. would love to get the Deed
transcribed so it is legible. Contact Mary if you know someone.
Old Business:
• Brownfields: Work scheduled by KAS for 2/27/25 & Deliverables by end of March per contract.
New Business:
David C. reported that a public vote for a Bond would take some months to set up. David will
investigate a Bridge Loan possibility. It would still require going before the public with warned SB
meetings and much SB discussion but does not require a vote. Such a Loan would act as real funds
towards the required matches. The Town would not have to draw on the loan at all if private funding
and all Federal grants come through. Reminder: the NBRC $500,000 grant was awarded by
Congress in 2024. It is the SAT Grant $400,000 that may be in question.
Next Meeting: Thurs, MAR 6,2025 at 3:00 PM at the Town Office Meeting Room or via ZOOM
Adjourned at 3:55 PM: Motion to adjourn by Sandy G, second by Michael C., vote was unanimous.
Recording ended.
Respectfully submitted by Sandy Gregg, Scribe