Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of July 22, 2019
South Hero Town Hall, Monday 7:00 PM
Board Members Present: Jonathan Shaw, Skip Brown (also Board Secretary), Anne Zolotas, David Carter
Board Members Not Present: Sharon Roy
Others Present: Janet Yates, Town Clerk and Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA and Admin. Assistant. Also see sign in sheet.
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called by Chairman Shaw at 7:00 pm
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
– none
3. Minutes:
-David Carter made a motion to accept the minutes of the meeting of July 8, 2019 as written. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. none
5. New Business:
A. David Carter made a motion to set the tax rate at 2.0131 residential (1.6435 School and 0.3695 Town) and 2.0001 non-residential (1.6305 School and 0.3695 Town). The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. The quote to install heat pumps in Town Hall is not ready for this meeting. It will be discussed at a future meeting.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the report on www.southherovt.org or filed with these minutes.
B. David Carter made a motion to approve the Sign Ordinance and have Martha submit the notice in the Islander as well as the Town website and designated places in Town. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. Anne Zolotas made a motion to refund a $180.00 permit fee to Carol Egan for a permit that was withdrawn. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. The VHB+The Johnson Company will test water wells and surface water for PFAS within a 1 mile radius of the old landfill. A packet with info and permission to test the wells will be sent to landowners of the wells.
B. The Grand Isle Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) has received a grant for public education of the pest. An informational meeting will be held in each Town of the County. More info on a date for the South Hero meeting will be discussed at a future meeting.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. See other business
9. Other Business:
A. Skip Brown made a motion to sign orders 20-02 and to pay the bills associated with the orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. David Carter made a motion to approve and sign an Errors and Omissions notice from the Listers. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. The culvert at Tracy Road has failed. Final permits are being obtained, then a new culvert will be installed.
10. Adjournment:
-Skip Brown made a motion to adjourn 7:50pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown Jonathan Shaw, Chairman
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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard July 22, 2019
Discussion Items:
1. The Town did not receive the Vermont Community Development planning grant ($60,000) in June because a septic easement has yet to be finalized. Should the Town want to resubmit for future consideration, the Resolution for Application will need to be re-adapted by the Town, an easement agreement for septic will need to be secured, and a new public hearing will be required.
2. The 5th Monday meeting with the SB, PC, and DRB, scheduled for July 29th will be warned as a special Selectboard meeting. The discussion will include a continuation of the discussion begun on May 1st with Taylor Newton of NRPC regarding opportunities, challenges, and potential funding sources for water and wastewater-related planning and infrastructure in South Hero Village. The agenda will also include a second public meeting of the Old White Meeting House Outreach Committee. In addition, I will have hard copies of the Development Regulations draft updates for all SB/DRB/PC members. I will be sending electronic copies prior to the meeting.
3. I have received information from Joel Behrsing of the Johnson Company regarding contacting owners of wells to test for PFAS contamination within the 1-mile radius of the closed Town landfill on Dubuque Lane. The State has approved the Johnson Company’s plan for testing. There are 10 wells identified. Johnson Company provided sample permission forms. The packet includes information about PFAS and an explanation of the testing procedure. Joel Behrsing suggests that the well owners be contacted by telephone notifying them of the proximity of their wells to the landfill.
4. DRB member Ross Brown has notified the Board that he will be resigning. He has offered to stay on until his house has been sold. DRB Alternate and Board Clerk Jim Brightwell has agreed to become a permanent member of the DRB. I will be advertising for a new Alternate member.
5. The Zlotoff Foundation appealed the DRB’s decision to deny the Foundation’s appeal of 2 notices of violation to Environmental Court (Superior Court – Environmental Division). So far, I’m not aware of any conferences that have been scheduled.
6. The Sign Ordinance was approved by the Selectboard at their June 8th meeting. I was on vacation and did not back return to my office until June 10. I was not told about the sign ordinance approval until June 16, at which time it was too late to put the information in the Islander (required by Statute) to meet the 14-day deadline for notification of the Board’s approval. I am asking the Board to approve the Ordinance again to restart the clock on the required notifications.
7. Carol Egan applied for a conditional use and site plan review with the DRB for a childcare center here in South Hero. The Board approved her application, but her original location had obstacles with wastewater. She had subsequently applied for a review at a different location and paid for a new review before the Board. That application was withdrawn after the fee had been deposited but no preparation for notifications of a hearing date had been made by the Zoning Administrator. I am asking if the Selectboard would approve a full refund of her $180 hearing fee for the second review application.
-Planning Commission: After just one more little tweak, the final draft of the Development Regulations is being formatted and will be forwarded electronically to the Selectboard ASAP. The Planning commission has asked that the Selectboard be ready to discuss the approval process at the July 29th fifth-Monday meeting.
-Development Review Board:
– Hearings scheduled this Wednesday (7/24) include 2 variance requests. The August 14 meeting will include 2 hearings – final plat review for a 6-lot subdivision, and a site plan/conditional use review for the expansion of Keeler Bay Marina. Scheduled for August 28 is a Conditional Use and Site Plan review for RL Vallee for a gas station and convenience store at the intersection of RTs 2 and 314. September’s hearings include a 2-lot subdivision and another variance request. The Board is currently booked completely through the month of September.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, Zoning Administrator and Assistant to the Selectboard