Selectboard Minutes
Special Meeting of Monday January 15, 2024 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 and Chuck Hulse
Board Members Not Present: none
Other Staff Present: Sue Arguin, Town Administrator and Kim Julow, Treasurer. Also see sign in sheet of in person and Zoom attendees. *Attendance SB 2024-01-15-2024
1. Called to Order:
– The meeting was called to order by Chairman Carter at 7:00 pm.
2. Business:
A. Chairman David Carter was asked to go the State Legislature to testify about the proposed 1% local option tax for South Hero. As background noted previously, the Town voted and approved to enact a 1% Local Option Tax for meals and alcohol in South Hero in 2022. The Tax department approved that tax and was ready to begin to collect it. Unbeknownst to the Tax department (or the Town!), it appeared that there were more steps to be taken, as it was discovered that State Legislature needed to approve it. After further investigation, it was also determined that the Town needed to enact a Town Charter. This was voted on and approved by the Town in 2023. Now that the Town has voted and approved a Charter and enacting the local option tax, Chairman Carter will meet again at the Statehouse to testify. Hopefully, this local option tax will be able to be collected in 2024.
B. The general Town budget was worked on in anticipation of having it completed by the next meeting to be included in the Town Report. There was a discussion about the Grand Isle County Tax that has been assessed for South Hero’s portion. It has increased over $21,000.00 from last year. The public hearing to explain this tax will be held on January 31, which is after the Town report will be sent to the printers. Also, the highway budget was discussed.
C. Ross Brown made a motion to go into executive session for real estate matters at 8:17 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Executive session ended at 8:50 pm. Upon exiting executive session, the consensus of the majority of the Board is to allow Anne to pursue a possible real estate opportunity for the Town.
3. Adjournment:
-Skip Brown made a motion to adjourn at 8:52 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Carter, Chairman