Selectboard Minutes
Public hearing + Regular Meeting of Monday July 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter: Chairman, David Lane: Vice-Chairman, Skip Brown: Board Secretary, Steve Robinson, Anne Zolotas
Board Members Not Present: none
Other Town personnel + public present: Sue Arguin, TA, Kim Julow, Treas. and Martha Taylor Varney, ZA. + Public: Ron Phelps
Public Hearing for Road Naming:
A. David Carter opened the Public hearing at 7:00 pm
B. Names were presented for a new road off of Route 2. After discussion of some choices of names, it was determined some of the names presented were too similar to other road names in Town. Sandy Side Lane was chosen. David Lane made a motion to approve the name Sandy Side Lane for the new private road. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. The public hearing was closed at 7:06 pm
1. Called to Order:
– The meeting was called to order by David Carter at 7:06 pm.
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
– Add to Treasurer discussion: Sign Bond paperwork and set 2026/2027 tax rates
– Add to new Town Hall discussion: Add AES/Matt Reed consultation during weekly meetings
3. Minutes:
-Steve Robinson made a motion to approve the minutes of June 22, 2026. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. none
5. New Business:
A. none at this meeting
6. Town Administrator (TA) and Zoning Administrator (ZA) Reports:
A. See the written report with these minutes
B. Martha explained the DRB decision for the Old White South Hero Meeting House. See attached *. Some points brought up was that this decision is for the Phase 1, 1st floor decision only. Since no plumbing is planned for this phase, the limit of days for portable toilets was discussed. Parking will be shared with the new Town Park and an MOU will be developed on how to share the spaces.
C. Sue Arguin noted that well testing at the former landfill was completed and testing of private wells will be done soon.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. None at this meeting
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. The Board acknowledges the receipt of emails from T. Chagnon regarding the Dubuque Lane ROW. Note that the Town has hired an attorney to review the documents regarding this ROW and the attorney’s decision have been presented to the Chagnon family.
9. Other Business:
A. Anne Zolotas made a motion to sign the orders 26-26C, 27-01 and 27-02 and have the Treasurer pay the bills as presented on the orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Town Clerk/Treasurer updates: Town Clerk/Treasurer updates:
-Treasurer Kim Julow presented the documents for the new Town Hall Bond in the amount of $2,875,000.00. David Lane made a motion to approve and sign the following Bond documents: Resolution and Certificate (General Obligation), the General Obligation Bond, and the Loan Agreement. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
-The Treasurer has received the school tax rate from the State. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve and sign the Setting the Town and School Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 document with a Homestead Rate of $2.8257 and a non-Homestead rate of $2.7599. See Attached *. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Note that this is about a 4.7% increase from last the fiscal year rate.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: https://southherovt.org/rec/ for more info.
D. Road Department update:
-Closing out the DRB permit for the salt shed has been ongoing slowly. There are still conditions that have to be met. These include remediation of the soils under the former salt pile, planting trees for screening and fencing installed. Note that a estimate for the fence is in the works and that remediation of the former salt pile may be pervious gravel and is being studied.
-A culvert on West Shore Rd. by the Roy March Trail is being replaced
-Prices for the doors and walls to enclose part of the Salt Shed will be presented at the future meeting.
E. Lister Updates: Appraisals are ongoing
F. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH) update: The building has been moved to the north to fix the foundation. A new foundation is excavated and will be poured soon. David Lane made a motion to approve the GRANT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION EASEMENT document. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
G. Lavin Property update: Wetland mapping is continuing. There is a steering committee meeting on July 14. See the info on the Town Website.
H. Town Hall Committee update: See https://southherovt.org/town-office-building-committee/
-David Lane made a motion to approve hiring Matt Reed from AES Architects to attend the weekly meetings and walkthroughs with a maximum amount of $10,000.00 to be billed. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
I. Tree Warden Update: Dying ash trees along East Shore Rd. behind the mailboxes at Windridge Lane are outside of the Town ROW.
J. New Town Park updates: The parking area has been staked out.
K. Liquor License/Mobil vendor applications: none at this meeting
10. Adjournment:
-Steve Robinson made a motion to adjourn at 8:30 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Lane, Vice Chairman
For a video of the meeting, see: www.lcatv.com
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
July 13, 2026 ZA’s report to the SB
1. I received a summary of the 2026 Legislative session from the VT Dept. of
Housing and Community Development related to legislation covering housing,
economic development, climate, and community development. Among the
issues important to South Hero were the changes to Act 181 repealing both the
Tier 3 areas and the “road rule.” I will attach the full document to my report on
the Town website for those who would like to read the entire summary.
https://outside.vermont.gov/agency/ACCD/ACCD_Web_Docs/CD/CPR/Resources-and-Rules/DCHD-CPR-2026-Legislative%20Summary.pdf?_gl=1*eua3ua*_ga*MTYxNzg0MTY3Ni4xNzc2MTg2MzM0*_ga_V9WQH77KLW*czE3ODM2MjQwODEkbzEyMCRnMSR0MTc4MzYyNDczNSRqMSRsMCRoMA
2. I will be working remotely from TN from July 24 through August 4. I will be
available via email and phone. Phone messages left at the office are forwarded
to my email. I will attend meetings via Zoom, if necessary.
Planning Commission
The Commission currently has 3 members. An interested candidate is meeting with the
Commission on Wednesday.
The Commission has forwarded draft definitions and clarifications of measuring
setbacks, measuring building height, and natural grade/pre-construction grade to the
Development Review Board for their comments. The DRB had requested the Planning
Commission clarify these for them. DRB members discussed the proposed definitions
at their June 24 meeting and will continue this discussion. Since there are 5
Wednesdays in July, the 2 Boards may have an opportunity to meet together that
evening (TBD).
The Commission enjoyed a night off from their scheduled July 1 st meeting. Their next
meeting is Wednesday, July 15 at 6PM.
Development Review Board
The upcoming schedule has picked up considerably through the next couple of months,
with 2 hearings each at their July 22 nd , August 12th and 26th meetings. The number of
hearings scheduled per meeting is limited to 2.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA