TOWN OF SOUTH HERO
Conservation Commission Meeting
Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 4:30 P.M.
at the South Hero Town Office
and via Zoom
Members: Bob Fireovid, Cynthia Kelley, Mark Naud, Kathy Magill
- Call to Order – Meeting called to order at 4:50
- Members present – Kathy Magill, Bob Fireovid, Cynthia Kelley, Mark Naud
- Public Input (items not on the agenda) – Guy McGuire present
- Finalize Agenda add town beach discussion to #6
- Approve minutes from March 18, 2025 meeting. Motion to accept by Bob. Kathy seconded. Unanimous.
- Budget update $90.00 ad in paper thanking people for the kestrel project.
- Town Beach discussion with Guy McGuire from South Hero Land Trust. Ann Zolotas reached out to SHLT to improve the Town Beach. The goal is to look for grant funding for bio-engineered shoreline erosion control and trees for shade. Guy is thinking of a dual timeline where plants are planted now as we wait for potential grant money. Ann has some ideas of where she’ll be able to get some money and/or trees to begin planting this spring. See the Vermont Bioengineering Project Tour (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/0087f7a6c18a4dbe9f6e80514045c223) for examples of improved shoreline. Recommended instead of sea walls, bioengineering is living shoreline protection. SHLT is looking for grant funding and believes that some money may be readily available.
- Green Up Day – Bob reports that Green Up Day is moving ahead. Bob, Kathy and Cynthia bundled up the bags by people who have signed up for Green Up Day routes in South Hero. The bags can be picked up from the library. The dumpster, approved by the Select Board, will be placed at Folsom School. Nick will pick up bags on Sunday May 4. Pigasus will donate food to provide breakfast sandwiches for Green Up participants on May 3 at Folsom School from 11:30-1:00. Cynthia will post information on Front Porch Forum for Green Up routes that are still in need of volunteers (info supplied by Bob Fireovid).
- Kestrel Nest Boxes update – Bob has heard that there has been some kestrel activity around the newly built boxes. The Conservation Commission has received a dozen pictures from people who have put up houses. Mark Naud will put together a report by the next meeting.
- Lavin Property Update – South Hero took control of the Lavin property for a community waste water project and other projects. For the Conservation Commission, there is a possibility of a wetland town forest. Looking into where there may be a trail to connect the Landon trail. If the CC wanted to take this on as a project, Guy says it would be a lot of work. We may want to consider a public meeting with Charlie Hancock, the Grand Isle County Forester. This space shows up highly on the Natural Resource project that has recently been completed.The members of the Conservation Commission will be walking the Lavin property. This will require the announcement of a special meeting. The meeting will be held on April 27 at 11:00 at the Landon Trailhead. This information will be posted on the town website. Guy will contact Charlie Hancock to see if the County Forester will be able to attend.
- CC Membership Efforts – Will talk about reach events, perhaps at the Farmer’s Market, at the next meeting
- Next meeting – Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 4:30.
- Adjourn – Cynthia motioned to adjourn at 6:05. Mark seconded. Unanimous.