Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday September 25, 2023 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Anne Zolotas and Chuck Hulse
Board Members Not Present: Ross Brown/Vice Chairman
Other Staff Present: Sue Arguin, Town Administrator and Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA. Also see sign in sheet of in person and Zoom attendees. *Attendance SB 2023-09-25-2023
1. Called to Order:
– The meeting was called to order by Chairman Carter at 7:00 pm.
2. Public Hearings:
A. Public Hearing to name a private road at 17 Ferry Road as proposed by Robert and Kathleen Swanson,
“Swan Hill Rd.”. There were no comments about the name from the public in attendance. Skip Brown made a motion to approve the name “Swan Hill Rd.”. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Public Hearing to name a private road at 464/466 US Rte. 2 as proposed by Keeler Bay Assoc., “Stranny Hill Rd.”. There were no comments about the name from the public in attendance. Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve the name “Stranny Hill Rd.”. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
3. Adjustment to Agenda:
-Change the order of the meeting to allow John Beaulac to go first to discuss the salt shed project.
4. Minutes:
-Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve the minutes of September 11, 2023. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
5. Public input:
A. Don Bedard asked why the pedestrian crossing lights on Rte. 2 at South St. were duct taped over. Apparently the blinking lights were stuck on, so they were taped. The lights are now repaired and the tape has been removed.
6. New Business:
A. John Beaulac, Road Foreman, was present to discuss the new estimate for the salt shed. The final figures are more than anticipated at $658,740.00. See attached* Road Dept. Salt Shed estimate There is currently $350,000.00 in the budget for this project, plus approximately $125,000.00 in the road department surplus fund and $26,000.00 left in the ARPA fund. There may be more money in the road department coffers and the total surplus will be determined. Note that the land, engineering and some stone supplies have already been paid for. The concrete work will cost $289,000.00. Anne Zolotas made a motion to authorize the road department to proceed with the project and to get the concrete work done this fiscal year before the winter. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Janine Bellinghiri was present to discuss the Halloween tradition of “Trunk or Treat” sponsored by the SHVFD Auxiliary. Anne Zolotas made a motion to allow the use of the Folsom Educational and Community parking lot from approximately 4:30 until 6:30 for the Trunk or Treat event. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve and have the Board sign the Errors and Omissions document as presented by the Listers for properties EM001 and CL010. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
7. Town Administrator and ZA Reports:
A. See the written reports filed with these minutes (Below on the website or in Town Hall).
B. Anne Zolotas made a motion to waive the zoning permit fee for the South Hero Land Trust who will be building a small greenhouse at Folsom School. The greenhouse will be owned by the Town. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve Municipal Planning Grant application for the feasibility study of moving the Town Hall for $20,500.00 with a 10% match by the Town, if it is approved. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
8. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. A structural engineer for the current Town Hall was discussed. More information will be necessary and it will be discussed at a future board meeting.
9. Announcements and Communications:
A. none at this meeting
10. Other Business:
A. Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve and sign the orders 24-07 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: none
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: none at this meeting.
D. Road Department update: see above
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH) project: David Carter made a motion to approve and have the Board sign an application for a Historic Preservation Grant for Timber Framing of the OSHMH. See Attached * 2023 Historic Pres. Grant letter Anne Zolotas voted no, the others in attendance voted yes, and the motion carried.
F. ARPA fund updates: none
G. Wastewater (WW) update: no updates as there have been no test pits dug yet.
H. Town Hall Feasibility study committee: Read the minutes from that committee for more info.
I. Anne Zolotas made a motion to go into executive session for real estate matters at 8:10 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Executive session ended at 8:45 pm. After the executive session, the consensus of the Board is to offer the South Hero Benefit Shop d/b/a Granny’s Attic approximately 30’ x 80’ of land at the east side of the Town garage property in order to erect a building. Details will have to be discussed between the Town and the Granny’s Attic board.
11. Adjournment:
-Chuck Hulse made a motion to adjourn at 8:50 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Carter, Chairman
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT FOR 9/25/2023
1. AFLAC Representatives would like to come in and present their products. Does the Selectboard
want to hear their presentation at an upcoming meeting? (NOTE: Selectboard does not need to hear a presentation if this is only geared to Town employees and no Town money would be spent.)
2. I have submitted the 2 permits to VTRANS for the water hook up from Rte. 2 to the Museum and
am just waiting for a check to send to them for that one. The other is a permit necessary for the
speed limit feedback signs to be installed coming into town at both ends North & South. At this
time, we are waiting now for the Safety Division to come out and look at both places.
3. We have had little interest in the ad I ran for the Lister Position but do have a gentleman coming
in tomorrow to talk with us.
4. I would like the selectboard to vote on moving forward with the Municipal Planning Grant for
the Feasibility Town Office Committee.
September 25, 2023 ZA’s report to the SB
1. I approved a permit submitted by the South Hero Land Trust for a greenhouse at the
school for use by students as part of the curriculum. Will the Selectboard agree to
waive the permit fee ($115) since the greenhouse will be owned by the school?
2. Zoning 101 will return on September 28.
Planning Commission
-Now that the 2023-2031 Town Plan has been approved by the voters, the Planning
Commission is beginning to consider what changes/edits are needed in the Development
Regulations. Priority will be given to legislated changes (i.e. applicable sections of the H.O.M.E
Act; accessory
dwellings) which won’t take long. Although these updates are mandated, the same procedure
for amending Regulations is required – PC and SB public hearings, approval by the voters, etc.
The Commission would like to complete this process for the mandated changes in time for
Town Meeting in March 2024 (deadline for articles to be included at Town Meeting is around
the third week in January). The Commission does not want to limit the time needed for village
zoning district discussions and has chosen to begin them before the end of the year, if possible,
but aim for completing the required hearings and writing an Article for the August 2024 primary
election.
-The Planning Commission’s September 20 meeting on Class 1 Highways was well attended.
Development Review Board
The DRB hearing schedule remains busy. The hearing for Pest Pro’s appeal to a notice of
violation was completed on September 13. The Board has 45 days to finalize their decision.
Upcoming hearings on September 27 include a 2-lot subdivision at 269 US RT 2, the completion
of a conditional use/site plan review for boat repair at 50 Ferry Rd., and a residential PUD on
Station Rd. There are no hearings scheduled yet beyond September 27.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA