Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of December 11, 2017
South Hero Town Hall, Monday 7:00 PM
Board Members Present: Jonathan Shaw, Skip Brown (also Board Secretary), Anne Zolotas, George Rice, David Carter
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Sharon Roy, Town Clerk and Martha Taylor-Varney, Admin. Assistant. Also see sign in sheet.
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called to order by Chairman Shaw at 7:00 pm.
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-Delete from New Business: Fire/Rescue Communications
3. Minutes:
-Anne Zolotas made a motion to accept the minutes of the meeting of November 27, 2017 as written. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. A special BCA meeting was held on December 6, 2017. Listers, Cecile Gove and Ted Nelson were in attendance to discuss the issue with the Community Health Center real estate tax determination that apparently was not appealed in a timely manner. The State has just recently issued a decision that they should be tax exempt. A possible way to remove them from the current grand list is for the Listers to issue an “errors and omissions” request before December 31. More information will be at the next Selectboard meeting.
B. Tim Maxham enjoyed the Grand Isle County Chorus concert last weekend, and thanked Board member David Carter for participating.
C. Janet Yates, current assistant Town Clerk, announced that she will be running for Town Clerk/Town Treasurer in 2018.
5. New Business:
A. Sheriff Ray Allen presented the budget request for FY 2018/2019. The Town currently contracts for 52 hours/week. The hourly rate will increase $2.00/hour, making a total of $127,088.00 for South Hero. Also, the Grand Isle County Sheriff Department is planning to purchase land + building in Grand Isle where the current Vermont Nut Free Chocolate factory is located.
B. David Hobbs, Chair of the South Hero Recreation Commission, presented a budget request of $12,000.00. After several years of level funding, this reflects a $1000.00 increase due to the increased enrollment to the swimming lesson program.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. A written report was submitted. A hard copy with discussion points can be seen in Town Hall filed with these minutes or on www.southherovt.org.
B. George Rice made a motion to appoint Doug Patterson and Gareth Hunt to 3 year terms on the Development Review Board beginning January 1, 2018. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. The Emergency Services Building (ESB) construction is underway and roof trusses should be installed in the near future.
B. The condo association fees for the ESB were discussed and will be added to the Town Budget.
C. The Road budget was discussed including the possible health care benefits for the road crew. David will speak with the Road crew and a decision will be made at the next meeting.
D. The general Town budget was worked on.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. The latest landfill monitoring showed little changes from past inspections. There was letter stating that if the levels remain similar, then monitoring may not be necessary after 2 more yearly tests.
B. Lister Una Ro submitted a letter of resignation that will be effective March 6, 2018. Petitions for this and other elected positions will be due on January 26, 2018.
C. The State “PILOT” for properties owned in South Hero is $12,144.59.
9. Other Business:
A. Anne Zolotas made a motion to sign orders 18-12 and pay the bills associated with these orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Skip Brown made a motion to allow the Chairman to sign paperwork to get the Town set up on a payroll service with the company PayData. The expected cost will be approximately $1300.00/year. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. Anne Zolotas made a motion to go into executive session for personnel matters at 9:37. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Executive session ended at 9:40. R. J. Smith III has been with the Road crew for approximately 6 months and is a conscientious employee. Upon exiting executive session, Anne Zolotas made a motion to allow the Road Foreman to raise the probationary pay for Mr. Smith.
The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
10. Adjournment:
-Anne Zolotas made a motion to adjourn 9:42 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown Jonathan Shaw, Chair
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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard December 11, 2017
Discussion Items:
1. There are 3 DRB members with initial terms of 1 year that began on January 1, 2017. Gareth Hunt and Doug Patterson have requested re-appointment to the Board for full 3-year terms. Awaiting a letter from Jim Brightwell to be appointed for another 1-year term as an Alternate. Need a second Alternate. Would like to advertise to fill the position.
-Planning Commission: Continued discussion with the SB and DRB re the draft updates to the Development Regulations. Next meetings is 20. The Commission also feels it is important to meet with the Selectboard after the current review is completed, and SB budget discussions are finished, to discuss whether to keep driveway standards and fire department access approvals in the document.
-Development Review Board: Dec. 13 – continue Site Plan review begun on November 8 and Variance request. There will be only one DRB meeting in December. Recent decisions are posted on the Board outside the Zoning Office.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA and Asst. to the Selectboard