Town of South Hero
South Hero Meeting House – Renovate & Adaptive Reuse Project
Date: Monday, January 10,2022 – Steering Committee in person & on Zoom
Call to Order: 3:00 PM by David Carter – Chair
Attendees on ZOOM: David Carter-Selectboard, Mary Harwood – Town Consultant, Linda Seavey, Pamela Surprenant, Michael Carroll, Terry Robinson, Carol Tremble, George Harwood, Emily Klofft-NRPC, Sandy Gregg- PC
Absent: Sarah Kjelleran, Beth Curtis-Granny’s Attic, Noni Stuart-Island Stage, Michael Breault, Nate Hayward, Bill Champagne
Public Present: None
1. Introductions
2. Update on Fund-Raising:
• $26,856.83 Town of South Hero General Ledger/White Meeting House as of Nov 2021
• Little Green Light (LGL) has raised a total of $21,153.60
• Please note that the Town report does not include December donations and LGL does. Therefore, it can be concluded the amount in the Town General Ledger/White Meeting House will increase when the December report comes in.
• Procedure for getting invoices paid: This committee needs to approve an invoice in order to get the Town to pay it. A motion was made by Carol Tremble to reimburse George Harwood for costs incurred while setting up the South Hero Foundation Corp. The motion was seconded by Michael Carroll. Vote was unanimous.
3. 501(c)(3) Update: George Harwood reported
Need the following:
• Confirmation Needed: at the last meeting Sarah K. reported that www.SouthHeroFoundation is available so she was tasked with getting that. Sarah please confirm.
• SHF would support historic structures preservation & Community-Building Events.
• Name: Working name: South Hero Foundation
• Next Steps: George will do this and any costs will be reimbursed by the Town from the MH line.
1. Get EIN# (Same as a social security # only for a corporation)
2. Register with the State of Vermont
3. Submit application to the IRS for a Letter of Determination as a 501C3 tax status
4. Grants Mary H. reported
• Paul Bruhn Grant application was well received. Final notice will come in a few weeks.
• Mary noted that who owns the building is a factor in determining what grants would work. In other words, if a municipality owns it that may be a positive in one grant but not work in another.
• Mary has contacted an Anonymous Donor and will follow-up.
• Mary will send a Project Description to the Vermont Community Fund to inspire donors.
5. PR & Outreach
• Beth Curtis is working with Judy Duval to get info on the history of Granny’s Attic and the building in general.
• Terry Robinson is working on an article about the history of it being the Town Garage, she has photos!
• Beth is calling Malcolm Allen who attended when it was a school.
• Terry Robinson will reach out to Frances Robinson for a story.
6. Town Report: Mary, Sandy & David will continue to work on this and have it completed by Thursday, Jan 13th in time to meet the deadline for inclusion in the printed Town Report.
7. Other Business
• Contract: Emily K. scheduled a phone meeting for tomorrow morning with the lawyer she sent the contract to. She will email David C. and Sandy G. with the update.
• A&S Report: Emily K. reached out to Arnold & Scangas (A&S) to be sure they were on track to meet the Feb deadline for the report that is due from them. Rebecca S. replied they were. Emily K. will invite Rebecca to our next meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb 14 at 3:00 PM.
• ARPA Funds: David C. asked if ARPA funds could go toward the Meeting House Project. Emily K. said she would reach out to NRPC’s ARPA wizard. Emily, please share what you find out.
• Tonight’s Select Board Meeting at 6:00 PM will see Joe Flynn in attendance as the guest of Ann Zolotas to speak about his interest in the Meeting House Project.
• Town Meeting Articles: David C. informed the group that two (2) voting Articles will be on the ballot at Town Meeting:
1. Article for the Town to raise up to $150,000 through taxes to cover the gap in funding for the Foundation & Stabilization Phase.
2. Article to implement a “Local Option Tax” that has the potential to raise $7,000 for every $1,000,000 in sales of Meals & alcohol in South Hero. The money raised would be earmarked toward recreation and Town-owned buildings.
Next Meeting: Monday Feb 14th, 3:00 PM via Zoom due to Covid concerns.
7. Adjourned: 3:50 PM
Respectfully submitted by,
Sandy Gregg, Scribe