Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of August 12, 2019
South Hero Town Hall, Monday 7:00 PM
Board Members Present: Jonathan Shaw, Skip Brown (also Board Secretary), Anne Zolotas, David Carter, Sharon Roy
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Janet Yates, Town Clerk and Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA and Admin. Assistant. Also see sign in sheet.
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called by Chairman Shaw at 7:00 pm
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
– none
3. Minutes:
-David Carter made a motion to accept the minutes of the meeting of July 22 and July 29, 2019 as written. The motion was seconded, Sharon Roy abstained, the others in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. Cathy Sheffield questioned why there was a deficit line on the 2019 tax bill. The Town ran a deficit in FY 2018/2019 due to several factors. Income was less than expected and expenses were more than budgeted for. In addition, the Town installed new computer software programs, and the change in practices re-arranged how some line items and funds are labeled/accounted for. Per State statute, the Town must cover a deficit in the next fiscal year.
-She also asked about the emerald ash borer (EAB) and what the Town will do about trees on Town property. The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is in the County and is about 100% fatal to ash trees. Anne and David have completed an inventory of trees in the Town right of way (ROW). There are 744 Ash trees counted and approximately 10% of them are over 24” diameter. Dead trees will have to be removed and there will be a significant cost associated with removing these trees over the next several years. The voters approved setting up a separate EAB fund. This fund was started with an article in the amount of $10,000.00. The plan is to add to this fund yearly.
B. Alex Frank is completing an 8th Grade community service project. He received a $1000.00 grant from RiseVT and is building 3 bike racks. He asks the Selectboard’s permission to install the bike racks at Town Hall, Worthen Library and White’s Beach. David Carter made a motion to accept the bike racks with appreciation and the recognition of the hard work in making them. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried with the understanding that they will be installed with input for the exact location of each rack.
5. New Business:
A. Joe Connelly of RunVT was present to discuss the Island Vines 10K run that will begin at Snowfarm Vineyard. Skip Brown made a motion to approve and sign a letter of support from the Selectboard so that Run Vermont can apply for permits and hold the race. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Ray Mitchell, President and Darren Lawrence, Chief of Grand Isle Rescue (GIR) were present to discuss some concerns that GIR has with South Hero Rescue (SHR). Anne Zolotas recused herself from the Selectboard for this discussion since she is a member of SHR. See the attached two page document Grand Isle Rescue document 8-12-2019 filed with these minutes for some background, but the main concern seems to be that in 2018/2019 South Hero had 188 calls and was unable to provide a sufficient crew for about 40 requests for aid. Due to mutual aid, GIR had to respond to most of the 40 calls that SHR did not cover due to not enough personnel. This is putting a strain on GIR. There is no one solution for SHR, but some possibilities are more volunteers, a merger with another rescue squad, or for the Town to hire out its rescue service.
The State can help the Town design a solution for the Town. The South Hero Selectboard thanks all SHR, GIR and 1st Responders who volunteer their time. The Board will meet with SHR at the Sept. 9 meeting to discuss this further.
C. Anne Zolotas made a motion to accept the quote of $14,500.00 from Jack’s Heating and A/C to install heat pumps in Town Hall. There will be 3 compressor units and 6 interior head units. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the report on www.southherovt.org or filed with these minutes.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. The Grand Isle Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has received a grant for public education of the pest. An informational meeting will be held in each Town of the County. More info on a date for the South Hero meeting will be discussed at a future meeting.
B. David Carter made a motion to apply for a Municipal Planning Grant to study water and wastewater for the Town. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. See other business
9. Other Business:
A. David Carter made a motion to sign orders 20-03 and to pay the bills associated with the orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. David Carter is working on agreement between the Town and the Library. He will attend a library board meeting and will report back to the Selectboard with an update.
C. Skip Brown made a motion to establish a reserve fund for the restoration and preservation of recording documents. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
D. David Carter made a motion to approve and sign the liquor license for Chefwerks, LLC for the period of
Sept. 15, 2019-March 15, 2020. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
E. There a many cars that park on both sides of Martin Rd. near the entrance to the State fishing access/Island Line bike path. Perhaps no parking on one side of the road signs should be considered in the future.
10. Adjournment:
-Skip Brown made a motion to adjourn 7:50pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown Jonathan Shaw, Chairman
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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard August 12, 2019
Discussion Items:
1. I sent letters to all the landowners identified as having one of ten wells within the radius of the capped Town landfill. I have received responses from 6 homeowners – 2 are on the Fire District #4 system and no wells exist. Homeowners of 3 other wells and the pond have given permission for testing. 2 of the remaining landowners have not responded but I have confirmation from the Fire District that these properties are on their water system. This leaves 3 landowners who have yet to respond. The deadline for responses had been August 9. One landowner is from out of town and may not have had time yet to respond, another gave me the names of two local contacts (from whom I have yet to hear), and a third lives here but has not yet responded. Joel Behrsing of Johnson Company had hoped to conduct the tests this week. How would the Board like to proceed?
2. The grant application by Cathedral Square to the Northern Border Regional Commission for upgrading the water service to the area of the proposed senior housing on Carter Lane was not selected for funding. This was a highly competitive grant round Only 28% of the applications were funded.
3. The Zlotoff Foundation appealed the DRB’s decision to deny the Foundation’s appeal of 2 notices of violation to Environmental Court (Superior Court – Environmental Division). An initial phone conference has been scheduled for 11:30 on August 26th.
4. The Sign Ordinance has been posted at the Post Office, Town Offices, Library, Robinson’s Hardware, and Keeler Bay Variety. It will become effective on September 21st unless a petition of at least 5% of the voters (77) is filed with the Town Clerk by September 4, 2019.
5. Northwest Regional Planning Commission is preparing an application for a 2020 Municipal Planning Grant for the Town of South Hero. This grant would pay for a feasibility study for water and/or wastewater infrastructure for South Hero. As discussed at the 5th Monday meeting at the Library on July 29, the Selectboard needs to decide the scope of the study before the application can be completed. Does the SB want the study to encompass just the villages or Town wide? Do you want to include water or wastewater, or both? The Planning Commission recommends the Board authorize a Town-wide study for both water and wastewater.
-Planning Commission: The Planning Commission is scheduling their public hearing for the final draft of the updated Development Regulations for Wednesday, Oct 2, 2019 at 7PM. Should this hearing not result in substantial changes to the document, a Selectboard public hearing can be scheduled. Right now, suggested dates are October 28, November 11, or December 9, or by a special meeting scheduled by the SB. I would like the document posted on the Town website.
-Development Review Board:
– Hearings scheduled this Wednesday (8/14) include a final plat review for the Lavin 6-lot subdivision and a conditional use and site plan review for an expansion of the marina at Keeler Bay campground and Marina. Scheduled for August 28 is a Conditional Use and Site Plan review for RL Vallee for a gas station and convenience store at the intersection of RTs 2 and 314. September’s hearings include a 2-lot subdivision and another variance request. The Board is currently booked completely through the month of September.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, Zoning Administrator and Assistant to the Selectboard