Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday February 28, 2022 at 6:00 PM
via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Ross Brown/Vice Chairman,
Chuck Hulse, Anne Zolotas
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Kim Julow, Town Clerk/Treasurer, Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA. Active Zoom participants are named below
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called to order by Chairman Carter at 6:00 pm
2. Informational Meeting re: Town Meeting Articles 1-13
Each Article was read by the Chairman, briefly explained, and questions were asked where noted:
-Article 1: no comments
-Article 2: no comments
-Article 3: Bob Buermann asked if the proposed land purchase for a future salt shed was included in the Highway budget. No money is included in the budget. If the land is purchased, surplus highway funds will be used. Sandy Gregg asked how much the land may cost. It will cost approximately $60,000.00. Bill Bingham asked why owners of private roads do not get a tax credit since the Town does not maintain their road. It was suggested that possibly this issue be discussed with the listers.
-Note that the Zoom meeting was hacked at approximately this point and the Zoom recording was ended. The meeting was suspended and restarted a few times to clear the hackers. It resumed within about 2 minutes. LCATV did not have a Zoom feed and kept filming the meeting.
Article 4: no comments
Article 5: no comments
Article 6: no comments
Article 7: no comments
Article 8: Judy Stacey asked how the Selectboard feels about this article and article 9. These articles were included in the Town report due to a petition of 5% of the voters. The consensus is that the Board plans to vote no.
Article 9: Mike Domenic asked for clarification of the Village Center Designation (VCD) and the Village Zoning Districts (VZD). The VCD is a State Designation that will aid the Town in receiving grants and other funding. The VZD is a separate zoning district as outlined in the Town development regulations. Phil Reynolds is dismayed that the Town did not vote for the last Development regulations 2 years ago. Should Article 9 pass, then they Town will vote for any minor or major changes to the regulations in the future. Bridgett Kerr was a member of the Planning Commission when the regulations were written. She heard a comment the last regulations were “thoroughly vetted”. The explanation is that there were several public meetings by the Planning Commission and the Selectboard at the time. There are often tweaks to a 100+ page document to clarify language, but the bones of the document were fleshed out by the Planning Commission with help from NRPC over several years before it was finalized and adopted.
Article 10: no comments
Article 11: Ray Kirk asked why the Town would only receive 0.7% of the extra meals and alcohol tax revenue is 1%. The tax money is collected by the State and they keep 0.3% for administration fees. i.e. for every $1,000,000.00 in sales, 1% is $10,000.00. The Town would net $7,000.00. Kathy Magill wondered if her Airbnb would have collect any more taxes. No, as this proposed tax is only for meals and alcohol.
Article 12: no comments
Article 13: no comments
3. Adjustment to Agenda:
-none
4. Minutes:
-Ross Brown made a motion to acknowledge the minutes of the meeting of February 14, 2022. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the last meeting so voted and the motion carried.
5. Public input:
A. none
6. New Business:
A. none at this meeting
7. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the written report filed with these minutes (Below on the website or in Town Hall).
B. Doug Patterson submitted his resignation from the Planning Commission (PC). Ross Brown made a motion to appoint Fred Bartle to complete Doug’s term ending on June 30, 2022. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
8. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. VHB has submitted a proposal and estimate for a desktop review, work plan and continued testing for the closed landfill. Chuck Hulse made a motion to accept and have the Chairman sign the proposal and $9905.00 estimate. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Note that landfill inspections and testing is already budgeted.
B. Anne Zolotas made a motion to extend the existing mask policy for another 30 days. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
9. Announcements and Communications:
A. none at this meeting
10. Other Business:
A. Skip Brown made a motion to approve and sign orders 22-18 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: Voting is March 1, 2022.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: none
D. Road Department update: The Town Garage may need a new furnace. More info will follow.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH): The outcome of Article 7 for funding will determine next steps.
F. ARPA fund updates: The ARPA committee is working on parameters on what uses are allowed for the money.
G. Note that the next meeting is the re-organizational meeting and the start time will be 7:00 pm.
11. Adjournment:
-Ross Brown made a motion to adjourn 7:35 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown David Carter, Chairman
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard February 28, 2022
Discussion Items:
1. Annabelle Dally, a communication and public involvement consultant working with VTrans for the South Hero Intersection Improvement Project (RTs 314 and 2) has confirmed March 28th for her presentation to the public about the project, to include the purpose, the design, construction schedule and impacts, and ways to stay informed through the project. The public will be able to ask questions.
Planning Commission:
1. The Planning Commission’s meeting on March 2nd will continue planning for the 2023 Town Plan. The agenda includes discussions on housing, complete streets, and transportation. The 2023 Town Plan website is now online — https://www.nrpcvt.com/south-hero-town-plan-2023. The link is on the Town website under ‘Planning Commission.’ It is also on the NRPC website — https://www.nrpcvt.com/south-hero-town-plan-2023. The Commission encourages community members to participate.
2. PC Chair Doug Patterson resigned from the Planning Commission at the beginning of February. I placed an ad in the Islander and on the Town website for a new member. The Commission received one applicant – Fred Bartle. Fred attended the PC’s February16 meeting and introduced himself to the members. The Planning Commission recommends the Selectboard appoint Fred Bartle to complete Doug Patterson’s term, which ends on June 30, 2022.
Development Review Board:
3. The DRB’s next meeting will be a short business meeting followed by a deliberation for a subdivision hearing that concluded on Feb. 23rd. At this time there are no hearings scheduled until April.
4. Recent DRB hearing decisions are posted on the Board outside the ZA’s office and now on the Town website.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney (ZA and Selectboard Asst.)