Reorganizational + Regular Selectboard Meeting
Minutes of Meeting of March 10, 2025
South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom, Monday 7:00 PM
Board Present (via Zoom and in person after swearing in): David Carter, Steve Robinson, David Lane, Graham “Skip” Brown, Anne Zolotas
Board Not present: none
Others Present: Naomi King: Town Clerk, Sue Arguin: Town Administrator (TA) and Martha Taylor-Varney: Zoning Administrator (ZA)via Zoom, Also, see sign in sheet of in person and Zoom attendees. Attendance SB 2025-03-10-2025
1. Called to Order: The meeting was called to order by Naomi King at 7:00 PM.
2. Board Reorganization and appointments:
A. The meeting was opened by the Town Clerk, Naomi King, for reorganization. Skip Brown, Steve Robinson and Anne Zolotas were sworn in and signed documents.
B. Naomi King asked for nominations for the Chairperson of the Selectboard. David Lane made a motion to nominate David Carter as Chairman of the Selectboard. The motion for David Carter as Chairman was seconded. The nominee did not vote, the others voted for the nominee and the motion carried. The meeting was then turned over to David Carter.
C. David Carter made a motion to appoint David Lane Vice Chairman to the Selectboard. The motion was seconded. The nominee did not vote, the others voted for the nominee and the motion carried.
D. David Carter made a motion to elect Skip Brown as clerk to the Selectboard. The motion was seconded. The nominee did not vote, the others voted for the nominee and the motion carried.
E. Anne Zolotas made a motion that the regular Selectboard meetings will continue to be at 7:00 pm at Town Hall and via Zoom on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month, unless otherwise noted. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
F. David Carter made a motion that the postings of agendas and other official posting locations will continue to be the Town Hall, the Post office, The Worthen Library and the Town website. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
G. David Lane made a motion that the Islander will continue to be the paper of record for legal notices. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
H. The following appointments were made:
– David Lane made a motion that Jim Benson will be Animal Control Officer.
– Steve Robinson made a motion that Anne Zolotas will be the Tree Warden.
– Anne Zolotas made a motion that John Roy will be the Road Commissioner.
The above motions were seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motions carried.
I. Steve Robinson made a motion that David Carter will be the Emergency Management Officer. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
J. Skip Brown made a motion that one Selectboard member may sign orders for payment in a timely matter. The full orders will be reviewed at the next Selectboard meeting. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
K. Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve the FY2025/2026 Selectboard Rules of Procedure. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. The printed copies will be signed at the next meeting.
3. Adjustment to the Agenda:
-none
4. Minutes:
-David Lane made a motion to accept the minutes of meeting of February 24, 2025 as written. The motion was seconded. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
5. Public input:
A. Doug Patterson mentioned that the Town Report stated that the Salt Shed was complete. While the building is up and is being used, the equipment storage is not being utilized and the landscaping work is not complete. The project will be completed when the weather becomes more favorable to finish the job.
B. Steve Robinson noted that a private cemetery is located on the property of Eagle Camp. A descendant of someone who is buried there wants a headstone installed and has sent several legal documents with State Statutes about old cemeteries on private property. More information will follow.
6. New Business:
A. As was brought up at the last meeting, Anne Zolotas gave the Road Dept. feelings of the possibility of purchasing 2 new 10 wheel dump trucks at a cost of about $614,000.00. The Road Dept. feels that 10 wheel dump trucks would require fewer trips to the gravel pits to buy stone and winter sand compared to a single axle truck. Also, 2 of the same trucks would require less of different spare parts. The consensus of the Board seems to be that possibly one new truck may be necessary, but not two. John Beaulac will come to the March 24 meeting to discuss this further. Also, Doug Patterson has knowledge of road work from his “past work life”. He feels that 10 wheel trucks are overkill for the 22 road miles this town has. If the main reason for larger trucks is to haul stone with fewer trips, rather than snow plowing, would it make sense to hire out the stone/sand hauling to save wear and tear on Town trucks? Figure Town costs of roughly $50.00/ hour per man + fuel+ time and truck wear and tear, how much would this cost in relation to hiring it out? This will be brought up at the next meeting.
-Anne also brought up the issue of paving the remaining 2.7 miles of gravel roads in Town. The estimated cost is $500,000.00 and with the new budget passed, the paving and new construction roads money available will be $546,000.00. Some advantages will be: no more grading necessary, no polluting chloride will have to be spread (and the Town does not have a chloride truck at this time), future plowing and maintenance will be more efficient.
This matter will be discussed at the next Selectboard meeting on March 24.
B. David Lane made a motion to allow the Road Commissioner and/or Road Foreman to sign road permits and postings. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. The Town voted to appoint a Treasurer rather than elect one. The Board has 45 days to work this out. It will be discussed at the next meeting.
D. Steve Robinson made a motion to re-appoint Jonathan Shaw as delinquent tax collector. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
E. Hiring a handyman for small projects at the existing Town Hall was discussed. Some names were referred and Steve Robinson will look into it.
F. There will be a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the mowing of Town properties advertised. Sue Arguin will work on this.
7. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. Martha presented a report. See the written report available in Town Hall or on the Town website for all of discussion points.
B. Martha advised the Board about the Pest Pro/DRB appeal that went before the Environmental Court, as was mentioned in previous meetings. The Court decided that an amended site plan for changes in the size of a parking lot could move forward. Also, since the last decision in 2014, the zoning district where the business is located has changed.
8. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. Steve Robinson made a motion to approve the Liquor License application for the Little Red Truck/DBA the Rest Stop. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Steve Robinson made a motion to approve the Mobile Vendor license for the Rest Stop. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
C. Steve Robinson made a motion to approve the Liquor License applications for AIR Development/DBA Apple Island General Store and Apple Island Resort. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
9. Other Business and announcements:
A. Skip Brown made a motion to sign orders #25-19. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Town Clerk/Treasurer update: Town meeting and the election went well.
C. Recreation Commission update: none
D. Road Dept. update: See above
E. Lister Updates: Inspections are ongoing for new permitted properties
F. Wastewater update: See below
H. Tree Warden updates: none
I. David Lane made a motion to go into executive session for legal/real estate matters at 8:15. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. Nate Hayward and Peter Zamore of the Wastewater Committee were also present via Zoom. Executive session ended at 8:25 pm. Upon exiting executive session, David Lane made a motion to approve the purchase of Lot 4 and its wastewater allotment at the Lavin Property for $175,000.00 (in addition to the other lots previously contracted for) and to perform a Phase 1 environmental assessment of Lot 4. Once the contract is printed, the Chairman may sign it. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
10. Adjournment:
-Anne Zolotas 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 David Carter, Chair
March 10, 2025 ZA’s report to the SB
1. Still waiting for final notices of approval from the Agency of Natural Resources for either
the Martin Rd. wetlands permit or the reclassification of the wetlands at the RT 2 quarry.
2. There’s one mobile vendor license for the SB to approve and sign tonight (The Rest
Stop).
Planning Commission
The PC meeting was cancelled on March 5 th due to the lack of a quorum (illness). The planned
public meeting to get public input on NRPC’s regional future land use mapping re Act 181 was
originally scheduled for March 19. The new date will be discussed at the Commission’s regular
March 19 meeting.
Development Review Board
The DRB continues its extended vacation. The site plan hearing to amend Pest Pro’s parking
area wilk be held on May 14.
No further meetings or hearings are on the schedule at this time.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA