Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday August 8, 2022 at 7:00 PM
At Worthen Library and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Ross Brown/Vice Chairman Anne Zolotas (via Zoom), and Chuck Hulse
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA. Also see sign in sheet of in person and active Zoom participants. *Attendance SB 08-08-2022
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Carter at 7:00 pm
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-none
3. Minutes:
-Chuck Hulse made a motion to acknowledge the minutes as corrected of the meeting of July 25, 2022. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the meeting so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. Ruby Bresinsky discussed the fact that cars are parking on both sides of Featherbed Lane and sometimes even double parking. This causes a safety hazard to the residents of the Lane. Also, boats exiting the State boat ramp sometimes exit using Featherbed Lane. She asks that “no parking” signs be installed on Featherbed Lane and that better signage be installed to advise boaters to not turn onto Featherbed Lane. More discussion to follow below.
B. Penny Cunningham asked if the traffic calming study re: the village center area that was done in approximately 2000 be revisited. More discussion to follow below.
5. New Business:
A. There have been several accidents and near misses in the vicinity of the old Sandbar Motel and Apple Island Resort. The Town of South Hero invited representative of VTrans and Fish and Wildlife to this meeting to discuss the concerns in the area. Selectboard Chairman David Carter One began the discussion to request the possibility of installing 2 crosswalks in area between the LPD Holdings property and across to the Near Coastal Holdings marina, with the other one requested near the Apple Island Property and across to Featherbed Lane. Also, it was suggested that the speed limit in the area be reduced to 35mph and that radar signs indicating “your speed is” would be helpful. The Selectboard has also asked that “no parking” signs be placed on the North side of Route 2 between Featherbed Lane and the F&W access, as when overflow vehicles and boat trailers park there then the visibility is severely limited. See Map:US RT 2 Causeway to F&W parking
Some of the comments and responses regarding the above are as follows:
-Sheriff Ray Allen supports the Selectboard requests and does think that the current 40 mph speed limit is too fast in the area of crosswalks.
-F&W Representative Mike Wichrowski stated that he is not comfortable installing signs on Featherbed Lane since it is a private road. Note that F&W owns the land, and that the Featherbed Lane residents have a right of way/easement over it. F&W Commissioner Chris Herrick said that he would speak with the State legal council to inquire about whose responsibility signs would be.
-VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian official Jon Kaplan stated that no parking on the North Side of Route 2 has already been established and that have apparently been missing for some time. VTrans district representative Ernie Patnoe is in charge of replacing the missing signs. He stated that he is waiting for a formal work order to replace them. They should be installed within 30 days and he will try to get that expedited. He also stated that he will look into a “your speed is” radar sign.
-In order to change the speed limit on a State road, the Vermont Traffic Committee has to be contacted.
– VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian official Jon Kaplan stated that should crosswalks be designated, connecting infrastructure such as sidewalks need to be in place so that there will be a definitive landing spot on both sides of the road. South Hero can apply for a grant to help pay for a study and possibly some of the cost of such infrastructure.
-South Hero DRB member Lisa Kilcoyne feels that since this area is composed of many entities, it needs a designer who will come up with a long term solution.
-Featherbed Lane resident Erin Morse feels that all of the signs in the vicinity should be looked at and reviewed.
– VTrans district representative Ernie Patnoe explained that if South Hero wants more control of Route 2 in the Town, then it can look into taking it over as a Class 1 Town Highway. It will mean that South Hero would have to bear the financial responsibility of the road such as plowing, ditching, culverts etc., save for paving approximately every 20 years.
– Note that a video of the whole meeting can be found here: https://lcatv.org/south-hero
B. Recreation Commission member Carol Tremble was present to discuss the possibility of installing a “pump track” on Town property for BMX bicycles. The area behind Folsom Educational and Community Center is not suitable. More information will be available if an area is deemed possible. She asked if the Road Department can assemble and place a bicycle rack inside the fence at White’s Beach. Ross Brown will speak with the Road Crew to do it.
C. Ross Brown made a motion to approve and sign an Errors and Omissions document from the Listers for Roy and Diane Gates as the wrong value was assigned on a trailer. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the written report filed with these minutes (Below on the website or in Town Hall).
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. none at this meeting
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. see Other Business
9. Other Business:
A. Ross Brown made a motion to approve and sign orders 23-03 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: The primary voting is tomorrow.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: David Carter stated that the White’s Beach area looks great. Tim Maxham suggested that the plantings under the large sign be attended to.
D. Road Department update: The land purchase for the future salt shed is still proceeding slowly.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH): There will be a “Cheese and Cheers” event on August 22, 2022.
F. ARPA fund updates: The Cemetery Commission wants to digitize their records and wonders whether ARPA funds will be suitable for this. It will be looked into.
G. Wastewater update: Peter Zamore discussed that fact that the study is funded with a fully reimbursable loan. Oddly, the State has requested that an underwriter look into the ability of South Hero to repay the loan should wastewater disposal ever be built and the loan then has to be paid back in the future. Otter Creek engineering and NRPC have outstanding invoices. They will not proceed with any more work until their invoices are paid. He asks for the Board to look into paying these invoices in the anticipation that the final loan approval will be granted. More information will follow at the next meeting.
10. Adjournment:
-Ross Brown made a motion to adjourn 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
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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard August 8, 2022
- The DRB conditional use/site plan review for the proposed Town salt shed on newly acquired land on Hill Rd. will be August 24 at 7PM. There will be a subdivision hearing that night prior to the CU/SP hearing, to replace the boundary adjustment application earlier approved by the ZA.
Planning Commission
2023 Town Plan discussion — The Commission has remaining public outreach opportunities August 22, referred to as “Community Cheers and Cheese.” The June 27 event drew over 125 attendees. An additional outreach opportunity will be at the Farmers’ Market on August 17.
NRPC reported on the results of the Town Plan survey at the August 3 PC meeting. A complete copy of the results should be available now on the NRPC website, under ‘South Hero.’
The Planning Commission rece9ved word today that it has been awarded a $40,000 grant by the 2022 VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. This is one of 20 grants awarded State wide. It is a reimbursement grant and not a direct grnt. The Town will be responsible for 20% of the total costs. An Agency project planner will be assigned to this project and an initial project meeting will be scheduled. I will have more information after the next Planning Commission meeting.
The next PC meeting will be August 17 at 6PM, at the Town Office.
Development Review Board
- The DRB will have no scheduled meetings until August 24th.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA and Asst. to the Selectboard