Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday August 26, 2024 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, David Lane/Vice Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Anne Zolotas, Steve Robinson
Board Members Not Present:
Others Present: Town Personnel: Sue Arguin/TA and Martha Taylor-Varney/ZA. Also see sign in sheet of in person and Zoom attendees. *Attendance SB 2024-08-26-2024
1. Called to Order:
– The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Carter at 7:00 pm. New Selectboard appointee Steve Robinson was introduced.
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-none
3. Minutes:
-David Lane made a motion to approve the minutes of August 12, 2024 and August 19, 2024. The motion was seconded. Steve Robinson did not vote as he was not a member then. The others in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. Joan Falcao asked if the Granny’s Attic were being “evicted” from the Town owned properties. They are not be being evicted, but have been given notice that they do have to remove items from the Old South Hero Meeting House, as it is planned to undergo restoration and has to be empty in order to do this. They have know about this for many months. They are still able to use the former red fire station and have asked to continue using that. More information about use of that building will be at the next meeting.
B. Ron Phelps asked who the new liaison between the Selectboard and road department will be since Ross Brown has resigned from the Board. Currently, Anne Zolotas is doing that task.
5. New Business:
A. Amy Kittiver of the South Hero Volunteer Fire Dept. Auxiliary was present to discuss the Halloween “Trunk or Treat”. David Lane made a motion to allow the use of the Folsom Educational and Community Center parking lots for Trunk or Treat on October 31, 2024 from approximately 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Peter Zamore of the Wastewater Commission was present to discuss any updates. Due to deadline constraints for the use of ARPA funds, the commission is under discussion to see if any potential design, engineering and possible land acquisition is possible to be done within the timeframe and funds available. Note that the Vermont Land Trust has not approved the site that was previously surveyed, but will allow use of 2 acres that were previously carved out when the property was conserved. The consensus of the Board is to appoint Steve Robinson to as the liaison between the Wastewater Commission and the Selectboard. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve and sign an application to have Town Administrator Sue Arguin as the Authorized Representative for the Wastewater Commission. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. Regarding the remaining ARPA funds:
-Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve the Resolution to obligate and expend SLFRF funds in an amount up to $265,169.33 for the purpose of municipal workforce retention to pay for payroll expenses for the period 01/04/2024 through 05/23/2024. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
-Skip Brown made a motion to approve and sign the Resolution 25-01 “Resolution for American Rescue Plans Act (ARPA) Allocation” document. See Attached * ARPA Res_South Hero The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
D. The State noted and error in the School tax rate for the homestead bills. The tax bills were already printed. New tax bills had to be ordered and printed. This caused more time and expense to the Town. An invoice to the State was presented, but it needs to be reviewed at the next meeting.
E. David Carter read a resolution honoring Keeler’s Bay Variety (KBV) for 50 years in business in South Hero. See attached* KBV Resolution. Anne Zolotas made a motion accept said resolution for KBV. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
6. Town Administrator and ZA Reports:
A. See the written reports posted with these minutes.
B. Skip Brown made a motion to approve the Mobile Vendor license application for Wood and Fiber Trends submitted by Carrie Beauregard (to be sited at Allenholm Orchard). The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. Steve Robinson made a motion to appoint Brooke Dee Scott to the Planning Commission to complete the term of Sandy Gregg until June 30, 2026. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
D. David Carter made a motion to quit claim release any land outside of the Martin Road right of way between 67 Martin Rd. and 41 Lake Dr. as noted on the Button Professional Land Surveyors, PC draft of 7/30/2024. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
E. Sue Arguin stated that there were energy assessments done at the Town Garage and the South Hero Museum for the MERP grant process. Apparently the Town is not eligible for grants as South Hero is not a “high energy burden” town. More info will follow after the assessment report is completed.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. Tree Warden Anne Zolotas noted that DJ Tree Service has examined trees at the Town’s beach and found that there are dangerous trees that may need removal. A quote is forthcoming. Also, a large ash tree is dying on Keeler Bay Rd. DJ Tree Service gave a quote of $2900.00 to remove it, but it is near power lines so VEC will be contacted to see if they will take action on it.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. none at this meeting
9. Other Business:
A. Skip Brown made a motion to approve and sign the orders 25-04A & 25-05 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: See above.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: See above re: White’s Beach. The RC should be involved in any tree replacement when the other trees are removed.
D. Road Department update: Millbrook has sent in submittals for materials for the salt shed roof and lumber has been delivered for the salt shed roof structure.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH) project: Read the OSHMH minutes for updates.
F. ARPA updates: See above
G. Wastewater (WW) update: See above
H. Town Hall Committee update: Read their minutes for updates
10. Adjournment:
-Anne Zolotas made a motion to adjourn at 8:07 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Carter, Chairman
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
August 26, 2024 ZA’s report to the SB
1. I have 1 mobile vendor license application for the Boards approval tonight –
Wood and Fiber Trends (Carrie Beauregard).
2. Fitzgerald Engineering has submitted the wetlands permit application to ANR and
an email was received this morning asking for payment of the $2313.50 fee.
When Kim Julow returns from vacation, she will pay the fee through ANR’s portal.
Hopefully this will conclude the Town’s wetland issue on Martin Rd.
3. Renewal applications are no longer required for the Northwest Region’s state-
designated village centers. Municipalities no longer need to renew their state
designations. Previously, designations were required to be renewed after 8
years of the original designation.
4. An interesting FYI – On Sunday, August 25 th , Everett Dubuque counted 96
bicycles that went by his house on South St. between 1:30 and 2:30 in the
afternoon.
Planning Commission
A. Planning Commission Chair David Roy is asking the Selectboard to appoint
Brooke Dee Scott to the Planning Commission to serve the remainder of Sandy
Gregg’s term, ending June 30, 2026. Brooke met with the PC at last week’s
meeting and received an enthusiastic endorsement from the group. If Brook is
appointed, there will still be one position to be filled on the Commission.
B. Peter Zamore has been elected new chair of the Board of Commissioners at
Northwest Regional Planning Commission. Bob Buermann will serve as Chair
for Personnel.
C. The Planning Commission will hold a special meeting and community discussion
on September 11 at Worthen Library at 6:30 regarding sidewalk options on South
St. between RT 2 and the school. The Commission members are looking for
information and feedback from residents. Invitations were mailed to South St.
residents, but the session is open to the public. This will be the only meeting of
the Planning Commission in September. Their regular September 4 and 18
meetings have been canceled. The next regular meeting will be October 2 at
7PM at the Town Office.
Development Review Board
The DRB is asking for the Selectboard to weigh in on the jurisdiction of an approx. 250sf
area of land at the corner of Martin Rd. (Town road) and Lake Dr. (private road — see
hash marked area of the survey). A survey of the boundary between 41 Lake Dr. and
67 Martin Rd. was created for a proposed boundary adjustment between the 2
properties, but the surveyor could not identify who owns this piece. It borders but is
outside of the Martin Road right-of-way. Would the Town agree that it has no jurisdiction
OVER
over this piece, to allow the abutting property owners to decide among themselves its
ownership? The DRB fundamentally agrees to the boundary adjustment but is hesitant
to formally approve while there is still no clear title to this piece.
The next meeting is this Wednesday, August 28. Hearings include an amended site
plan for a new home construction on Phoebe Lane and an amended site plan at Two
Heroes Brewpub to expand parking behind the restaurant/pub.
Recent DRB decisions are posted on the Town website.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA