Selectboard Minutes
Public Hearing + Regular Meeting of Monday February 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Ross Brown/Vice Chairman, Anne Zolotas and Chuck Hulse
Board Members Not Present: none
Other Staff Present: Sue Arguin, Town Administrator, Naomi King Town Clerk, Martha Taylor-Varney ZA. Also see sign in sheet of in person and Zoom attendees. *
1. Called to Order:
– The meeting was called to order by Chairman Carter at 7:00 pm.
2. Public Hearing re: proposed Livestock Running at Large ordinance:
-Joan Falcao was present and stated that she thought that the gist of the proposed ordinance is reasonable, but that too much emphasis in the verbiage pertains to the impoundment of livestock should they roam. She suggested some edits that would place less emphasis on this action. Chairman Carter suggested that she present these edits and the Board will consider them. The public hearing is recessed until the next meeting on February 26, 2024.
3. Adjustment to Agenda:
-Remove Granny’s Attic and Greta Brunswick from “New Business”. Also, there will not be an executive session.
4. Minutes:
-Ross Brown a motion to approve the minutes of January 22, 2024. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
5. Public input:
A. none
6. New Business:
A. Chris Meyer of Keeler Bay Rd. was present to discuss a drainage issue that occurs in the right of way adjacent to his property in the at the lower end of the road. The road is higher than the ground and there is a minimal ditch, so the water runs under his cottage as it flows out of his driveway culvert. Installing a longer culvert does not seem feasible. It was suggested that he coordinate with the Road Foreman and they will dig out the ditch as best as possible to try to redirect the water.
B. The proposed Livestock Running at Large ordinance will be discussed at the next meeting.
C. The Town Hall was discussed. After the engineering work done in 2023, it appears that the current building is not viable so save. The Board discussed the pros and cons of the location. See Attached * Chuck Hulse made a motion that the concept of locating a new Town Hall building across the street in the vicinity of the former red fire station be explored pending land acquisition, all necessary engineering studies, permit approvals, financing and a Town vote. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Also, a enacting a 5 member Town Hall building committee will be explored.
7. Town Administrator and ZA Reports:
A. See the written reports from the ZA filed with these minutes (Below on the website or in Town Hall).
B. The Consensus of the Board is that Stearn Rosen boat repair on Ferry Rd. may come back to the DRB regarding boat storage and not have to pay another permit fee.
C. Sue Arguin discussed a Northern Border Regional Commission grant. If the Town applies for 2 grants for 2 different projects, then the chances of getting any grant is reduced. The Wastewater Commission and the Old South Hero Meeting House committees are both interested in applying. Since the possible wastewater project is dependent on getting land trust approval, it was thought that the meeting house project should take precedent in applying for the grant. Anne Zolotas made a motion that the Old South Hero Meeting House committee apply for the Northern Borders Regional Commission grant. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
8. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. see below
9. Announcements and Communications:
A. David Carter will testify before the State senate regarding the South Hero Town Charter on Friday, February 16.
B. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve and have the Chairman sign a contract between Mary Harwood and the Town of South Hero for grant writing and consulting. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. DJ’s Tree Service will be cutting some ash trees behind Folsom Educational and Community Center.
10. Other Business:
A. Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve and sign the orders 24-16 & 24-17 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 Town report book is back from the printer and is being readied to mail. It is also on the Town website.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: none.
D. Road Department update: Anne Zolotas made a motion to allow the Road Dept. to look into acquiring a snow blower and sander for the skid steer loader with the amount not to exceed $12,000.00. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH) project: see above
F. Wastewater (WW) update: See above. Plus, there will be a public hearing at the Worthen Library regarding current progress.
11. Adjournment:
-Chuck Hulse made a motion to adjourn at 8:45 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Carter, Chairman
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
February 12, 2024 ZA’s report to the SB
1. Rebecca Pfeiffer, State Floodplain Manager and VT NFIP Coordinator with the VT Agency
of Natural Resources will be a guest speaker at the February 29 Zoning 101 class. Due to
record water levels on Lake Champlain for this time of the year, there has been a lot of
concern about possible flooding this spring. Since I suspect that there may be a lot of
interest, I have tentatively reserved the use of the downstairs room at the South Hero
Congregational Church on South St. to guarantee enough room for attendees and
parking. Would the Selectboard agree to the $60 fee for the use of the church hall?
Planning Commission
The PC is currently discussing adding to the performance standards in Sec. 508, used by the DRB
in Conditional Use reviews by the DRB rather than attempting to define “small, low-impact
industry”. Also included in the discussion was updating the definition of storage and adding
marine (boat) storage and repair to Table 2.1 (Allowed Uses).
Development Review Board
-The DRB’s September 27, 2023 decision approved a conditional use and site plan application
by Rosen Marine to operate a boat repair business at 50 Ferry Rd., which is in the Keeler Bay
Village zoning district. The Applicant, Stearn Rosen, had also wanted to provide winter storage
for boats, but was denied. That denial was based on the Board’s misinterpretation of Table 2.1
(Allowed Uses) which does not allow storage in either village zoning district (it is allowed only in
the rural residential zoning district with conditional use/site plan review). However, the
definition of storage in Article 10 is a storage facility within a “structure or structures…”. The
Planning Commission confirmed that the intention of the regulations was only meant to
prevent additional mini-storage units within the 2 village districts. The DRB feels that the
Applicant should come back before them to review the request for boat storage. This will give
the public an opportunity to comment on that part of the application. Would the Selectboard
agree to waive the hearing fee for Mr. Rosen to come back before the DRB for a conditional use
and site plan review for boat storage, since the regulation was applied incorrectly in September
2023?
– No hearings are scheduled for February 14. The next meeting will be February 28 and will
include the amended site plan review for parking at Pest Pro and a site plan review for a
maintenance building at Camp Ta-Kum-Ta.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA