Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday June 10, 2024 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Ross Brown and Anne Zolotas
Board Members Not Present: David Lane/Vice Chairman
Others Present: Kim Julow Treasurer, Sue Arguin TA, Martha Taylor-Varney ZA. Also see sign in sheet of in person and Zoom attendees. *Attendance SB 2024–6-10-2024
1. Called to Order:
– The meeting was called to order by Chairman Carter at 7:00 pm.
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-Sign contracts from Grand Isle Sheriff and NRPC
3. Minutes:
-David Carter a motion to approve the minutes of May 27, 2024. The motion was seconded, Anne Zolotas voted no, the others so voted yes and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. none
5. New Business:
A. Andy Julow of LCIEDC was present via Zoom to discuss the VOREC grant re: The South Hero Overland Route Exploration (SHORE) project. This project states “The LCIEDC has been funded by VOREC to develop wayfinding and pop-up solutions to make cycling in the islands more comfortable and intuitive.” They are holding 2 events. One on Friday June 21 and one on Saturday June 22 to get community input for a conversation about routes, signage and safety on South Hero roads. Visit www.shore.champlainislands.com for more info.
B. The possibility of setting up a reserve fund for South Hero was discussed. This discussion will be tabled until the July 8 Selectboard meeting.
C. Ross Brown made a motion to approve the letter to Granny’s Attic about vacating Old South Hero Meeting House. See attached * Granny’s letter June 10 2024The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
6. Town Administrator and ZA Reports:
A. See the written reports posted with these minutes.
B. Anne Zolotas made a motion to sign the contract with NRPC to administer the approved grant for crosswalk scoping study in the vicinity of Featherbed Lane. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. Anne Zolotas made a motion to sign a mobile vendor application for St. Pierre Delicacy that will be located at the Green Frog on Ferry Rd. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. The salt shed RFP is still being finalized. Ross Brown took a trip to New York to get bids from an Amish company. Estimates are still pending. A RFP will go out for bids for the labor portion of the job.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. Skip Brown made a motion to sign the contract from the Grand Isle Sheriff for services for fiscal years 2024/2025 in the amount budgeted.
B. A check for a tiny grant in the amount of $600.00 from the Vermont Community Foundation for the Conservation Commission’s kestrel project was received. Note that the project was funded in the town budget. Per the treasurer, the check will be deposited in the general fund.
C. Tree Warden Anne Zolotas has received an estimate of $1075.00 to remove a few branches and generally trim an elm tree in the Town right of way on Lakeview Rd. Work will occur soon.
9. Other Business:
A. Ross Brown made a motion to approve and sign the orders 24-25 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: see above
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: A new fence has been installed at the beach.
D. Road Department update: See above re: the salt shed.
-Roadside mowing is beginning.
-Speed warning radar signs are to be installed on Route 2. The exact locations will be verified with VTrans.
-David Carter made a motion to authorize The Road Department to survey the former salt shed site on Route 2 north of Keeler Bay for possible use as a stump dump. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH) project: See above. Also, there are enough funds to begin stage 1. Please see the minutes on the Town website for more information.
F. ARPA updates: none
G. Wastewater (WW) update: No new updates.
H. Town Hall Committee update: The committee will meet every 2 weeks on Tuesdays. Please see the minutes of the meetings on the Town website for more information.
I. Anne Zolotas made a motion to go into executive session at 8:22 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Executive session ended at 8:28 pm. Upon exiting executive session, Anne Zolotas made a motion to set the fiscal year 2024/2025 rates of pay for Town employees and elected officials as budgeted. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
10. Adjournment:
-Skip Brown made a motion to adjourn at 8:40 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Carter, Chairman
June 10, 2024 ZA’s report to the SB
1. There is one mobile vendor license application for the Boards approval and
signature tonight. It is for St. Pierre Delicacy, which will be operating at the Green
Frog on Ferry Rd.
2. The SB was sent a draft copy of the 2024 Traffic Ordinance to review. This is an
update to the 2013 ordinance, with changes affecting some speed limits and stop
sign locations, and mobile vendor rules. A notice for the June 24 public hearing was
published in the Islander last week (June 6). If the draft ordinance is adopted that
night, it will become effective on August 10. A copy of the ordinance is posted on
the town website or contact the Town Administrator.
3. John Beaulac and I met with Krystal Sewell of VT DEC Wetlands at the Martin Rd.
location last Monday (June 3 rd .) She confirmed that it is a Class II wetland there with
encroachment in both the wetland (1041sf) and the buffer (2048sf). An after-the-fact
permit doubles the impact fee for the wetland encroachment, from $.75/sf to
$1.50/sf. The impact fee for the buffer remains at $.25/sf (no increase). I recall in
discussion with Brock Frier, the previous Wetlands person, that he said he would not
apply the penalty since the road was widened for safety reasons (i.e. parking). Ms.
Sewell had no knowledge of that and said she’d look through Brock’s notes to see if
she could find anything. The difference between the impact fee for the wetland is
$780.75 without the penalty, and $1561.50 with the penalty. She hasn’t gotten back
to me about whether the penalty will apply. Additionally, John was able to ask her
about restrictions on maintaining ditches. If there is an existing ditch within a
wetland or buffer, the ditch can be maintained without a permit as long as it is not
made any deeper. However, new ditches will require one (this is where the Town ran
into trouble).
4. The door of the Town Office bathroom will no latch or longer lock (building settling in
the NE corner, I guess). The Clerk installed a hook and eye to keep it closed while
in use.
Planning Commission
A. The next meeting is not until July 17 at 6PM.
B. Planning Commission Chair Sandy Gregg attended her last meeting on June 5 th .
She had tendered her resignation from the Commission effective at the
conclusion of the June 5 meeting. The PC members wish to thank her for her
leadership and tireless work on behalf of the Town. I will be putting an ad in the
Islander and a notice on Front Porch Forum for 2 new members.
C. Commission member Don Bedard’s 3-year term expires on June 30 th . He has
asked the Selectboard to re-reappoint him to another term, to expire June 30,
2027.
Development Review Board
1. There will be no meeting on June 12. The next DRB meeting will be June 26 th .
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA
TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT FOR JUNE 10 TH , 2024
1. The Grant that was awarded from the State of Vermont for the Featherbed
Lane Scoping Study is moving forward as planned. The Selectboard will
need to sign the contract hiring Northwest Regional Planning Commission to
manage the process. Please see in your packet a copy of the Grant
Agreement.
2. I sent out RFPs for the Local Hazard Mitigation Process and had not heard
back from any of them as of the due date of May 30 th , 2024, so I extended the
due date to June 17, 2024. I have heard back from one of the three and
expecting to hear back from one more. I will hand out what I have at the next
meeting 6/24/2024.
3. There are a few handouts in your packet that are just for informational
purposes only. One was about the Knotweed at Whites Beach. The other,
the Flyer about the South Hero Grand Tour about the Bike Ride and the last,
the Recreation Commission’s Agenda for this Wednesday’s meeting.
4. In the Listers Department, we have just sent out the change of value notices
on May 30 th and are scheduling Grievances for Tuesday, June 18 th from 9-4.
There have been a few people that have scheduled a time to meet with us.