Town of South Hero
Meeting House – Preserve & Revitalize Project
Date: THURSDAY, Jan 23, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM In person at Town Office or via Zoom
Attendees: David Carter-Chair, Michael Carroll, Pamela Surprenant, Sue Arguin-Town Administrator,
Mary Harwood, Andy Julow-LCIEDC, Carol Tremble (via Zoom), Rebecca Arnold-Arnold & Scangas
Architects (via ZOOM), Jenna Lapachinski-Preservation Trust VT (via Zoom), Sandy Gregg
Absent: Sarah Kjelleren,, Terry Robinson, Beth Curtis
Public: Paul Bagger-South Hero Foundation
Recording begun:
Called to order at 3:01 by David C.
Architect’s Report: Rebecca Arnold – Arnold & Scangas Architects, Inc. (A&S) reported:
In wait mode to hear from National Park Service, therefore, no forward movement on preparing specs
or 100% architectural docs.
StructuralEngineering docs will completed by Feb 1st.
Electrical Engineering docs will be completed by end of Feb. OK to move HVAC units to west side &
horizontal slats will be used to screen units and allow for air flow.
Civil Engineering – not heard from them yet. Group discussion followed and concluded with the
following Scope of Work: Perimeter drain, seed (rest of landscaping will be dealt with later, no
sidewalks and no asphalt (both will be dealt with later).
National Park Service (NPS) Review Status – (Reminder from last meeting: Jenna Lapachinski-
Preservation Trust Vermont reported NPS, DHP, & NBRC all agree to the conditional release of the
review and A&S will submit the mechanical information when it’s ready. What this means is they will
continue to review the plans and report back to us…when they are ready. Also, it means they do not
need further drawings of the placement of the HVAC condensers on the west side of the building.
Bottomline: we are still in wait mode from NPS!)
Jenna L. reported:
NPS is waiting for the Tribal consent letter, the timeframe to receive this letter is by the end of next
week.
VT State Historic Preservation/Caitlin Corkins is well aware of time sensitivity and assures us a letter
of concurrence from VSHP.
Jenna L. suggested if we have questions about the process to contact Austin – NBRC.
Financial Report: No report available from Kim Julow-Town Treasurer
Grant Status:
Save America’s Treasures: Mary H. reported we are still waiting for Congress to pass the 2025
budget that contains Congressional Discretionary Spending (CDS) funds that cover our Save
America’s Treasures Grant of $400,000.
Northern Borders Regional Commission Grant – General discussion around this grant. NBRC
required contract between Town of South Hero & Andy J. is completed & uploaded to NBRC Grant
Management online system by Sue A.
NBRC requires “Match Cost-Share” Document. Short discussion about this concluded with
agreement that Andy J., Sue A., Kim J. need to get together and work this out. Mary H. may be
needed as well.
Quarterly Financial Report (form 245) due by Jan 31. Likely all zeroes but still needs to be completed.
Sue A., Andy J., and Kim J. need to finalize so Sue A. can upload by Jan 31st.
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South Hero Foundation (SHF) Report: SHF wishes to thank Paula Bagger for volunteering to help
with Social media around the Meeting House Project.
Publicity:
Sandy & Mary will create Press Release about the Anonymous Community Challenge Grant and run
by the Committee for input. Deadline: Jan 30th.
Old Business:
• Brownfields: Sandy G. reported that NBRC has completed contract with KAS and has given
Jeremy at KAS a notice to proceed. South Hero will not have to pay for the contracted amount
of $17,150.35 as it will be directly paid by NBRC’s Brownfield Funds to KAS. Contract states
Deliverables by March 30th.
• Reminder: The Grannies have use of the old Red Firehouse building for 2 years, therefore,
Granny’s Attic will be open for business in the Red Building and in the container unit(s).
New Business:
Can “Value Engineering” discussion begin? Sandy G. will ask NBRC. Value engineering is modifying
the project to decrease costs. Details such as final trim work, tin ceiling reinstallation etc.can be
postponed until a later date and not affect the anticipated functional use of the project.
Build America Buy America Act (BABAA) compliance will be important. Handouts were distributed.
See: https://www.commerce.gov/oam/build-america-buy-america . Any project receiving Federal
funds over the minimum of $250,000 requires BABAA compliance. Reminder: NBRC Grant is for
$500,000. There needs to be agreement on who will track this compliance. Involvement should
include: Build Committee, Architect, Kim J.-Town Treasurer, Andy J.-LCIEDC at minimum.
Next Meeting: Thursday, FEB 6,2025 at 3:00 PM at the Town Office Meeting Room.
Adjourned at 3:48 PM: Motion to adjourn by Sandy G, second by Michael C., vote was unanimous.
Respectfully submitted by,
Sandy Gregg, Scribe