Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday May 24, 2021 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, Chuck Hulse
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Erin Morse/Town Clerk. No others attended
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called by Chairman Carter at 7:00 pm
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-Add to Other Business: Policy for Delinquent Taxes and Sign FY 2021/22 Sheriff Contract.
3. Minutes:
-Chuck Hulse made a motion to acknowledge the minutes of May 10, 2021. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. none
5. New Business:
A. Joe Farnham would like to resign as the South Hero Rep. to NRPC. Peter Zamore has agreed to complete the term. Ross Brown made a motion to appoint Peter Zamore to complete the term of Joe Farnham, and to thank Joe Farnham for the service to the Town. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. No local groups or individuals have agreed to volunteer to organize a 4th Of July Parade in South Hero. An article will be written in the Islander and put on FPF to see if there is interest.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the written report filed with these minutes in Town Hall or www.southherovt.org.
B. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve and have the Chairman sign the mobile vendor licenses for the following: North Country Specialty Foods (at Snow Farm Vineyard and Goulet Farm), Blooming Onion (at Goulet Farm) and BRM Famous Fries (at Goulet Farm). The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. The position of Constable is still in flux and it is unclear if the Town needs one. If the Town does need one, then Ross Brown will speak to Steve Robinson, who has expressed some interest, about accepting the position,.
B. Town Hall building updates: The old furnace room is being converted into an office. The old furnace and ducting were removed and sheet rock repair has begun. PACIF (Town insurance) did an inspection and has made a few recommendations that will be addressed.
C. Closed landfill updates: VHB hopes to drill the test wells in the near future.
D. Town Website updates: An update is in the works and a few technical details still need to be worked out.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. none at this meeting
9. Other Business:
A. Skip Brown made a motion to approve and sign orders 21-24 and to pay the bills associated with the orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve and have the Chairman sign a Delinquent Tax Policy and to approve a list of warrants for late taxes. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. Ross Brown made a motion to sign the contract for the Grand Isle County Sheriff for $154,400.00 for 54 hours of service to the Town as approved in the Town Budget. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
D. Recreation Commission (RC) update: Chuck Hulse reported that GMCS will begin to monitor the parking at the White’s Beach area beginning on Memorial Day for weekends and holidays through Labor Day. The Selectboard supports the Recreation Commission.
E. Road Department update:
-The 2009 International truck is having electrical/wiring harness issues. It will be taken in for repair, but a new truck has been looked into as it appears to be known problem for this model. A new truck with a plow and salt spreader is about $135,000. The old truck is estimated at $20,000.00 when it is in working order. When the new FY starts, there will be $107,895.00 in the equipment replacement fund. Ross Brown made a motion that John Beaulac can negotiate for a new truck. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
-An area behind Town Garages for a salt shed is being looked into. The Consensus of the Board is that this should be pursued and would like to thank Nate Hayward for his help.
F. David Carter attended a webinar about Federal Relief Funds that the Town may receive. It is estimated that South Hero may receive about $163,000.00. There are still many questions as to how they may be spent. As of now, the Town should have up to 2024 to designate how to spend it and up to 2026 to actually complete any plans. More info will follow as it becomes available.
10. Adjournment:
-Ross Brown made a motion to adjourn 8:40 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 May 24, 2021
Discussion Items:
1. Anne was able to secure the final 3 access agreements for VHB to be able to drill test wells for further PFAS testing at the closed Town and fill on Dubuque Lane. VHB signed the agreements, and each landowner was mailed a copy. Drilling is estimated to be in mid-June but VHB will firm up the date as it gets closer.
2. The Old White Meeting House committee has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for architectural and environmental services. On Friday (5/21) interested architects visited the site. Deadline for proposals is May 27. Is there a SB member who will be acting as MAO for this project?
3. The Sheriff’s Department has asked for copies of all Selectboard approved Town highway ordinances. County Court has said that no speed limit violations can be enforced unless the Department has copies of the signed ordinances specifying speed limits on Town roads. I am compiling those ordinances and plan to meet with the Sheriff’s Department to go over them.
4. There are 3 mobile vendor licenses for the Board to review and approve this evening.
Planning Commission:
The Planning Commission continues to hold meetings via Zoom.
A. The Planning Commission has changed the date for its public hearing for amendments to the Development Regulations from June 3 to June 17. The hearing warning will be in the May 26 issue of the Islander. The warning, amendment report, and amendments to Table 2.1, Sec 302, and Sec. 701 have been sent to Skip to post on the Town website. The amendments are changes to Table 2.1, regulations regarding Accessory Dwellings, industry in the Village Zoning Districts, and Accessory commercial uses in all districts. A Selectboard hearing will be scheduled after the PC hearing, once changes, if any, are made to the proposed amendments. Substantial changes resulting from the 6/16 PC hearing will require a second Planning Commission hearing before moving on to the Selectboard.
B. The Commission has received 3 letters of interest to fill the seat vacated when Jonathan Shaw resigned. 2 candidates attended the May 19 PC meeting. The 3rd was unable to attend and will hopefully attend the 6/2 meeting. The SB will be asked to appoint a new member at its June 14 meeting.
Development Review Board:
– I am scheduling DRB hearings into early June 2021. All hearings are being held via Zoom for the foreseeable future.
– A CU/SP review for the Zlotoff Foundation’s Car museum was conducted on May 12, and the decision will be finalized at the Board’s May 26 meeting. Once this review is complete, the Foundation’s current notice of violation will be resolved.
– 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))