Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday March 23, 2026 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Steve Robinson, David Lane, Anne Zolotas
Board Members Not Present: none
Other Town personnel + public present: Sue Arguin, TA, Kim Julow Treasurer, Ross Brown, Bob Cain in person and Connor Remington from VHB on Zoom
1. Called to Order:
– The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Carter at 7:00 pm.
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
– none
3. Minutes:
-Steve Robinson made a motion to approve the minutes of March 9, 2026 and March 16, 2026. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. None
5. New Business:
A. Connor Remington of VHB was present on Zoom to discuss the changes in PFAS testing and new levels in Vermont. Note that the former landfill was closed over 35 years ago and the State only mandated PFAS testing in the last few years. In January of 2026 the State changed the standards of the allowable levels of PFAS from a cumulative of 20 parts per trillion to lower individual parts per trillion levels that will initiate an action level. To date, one property on John Stark Rd. has show raised levels after multiple tests. Ross Brown owns a property on Peters Farm Rd and states that his well is not registered and would like it tested by the Town. The Board agreed that continued testing will be done including Ross Brown’s well. Connor stated that testing will resume in April or May and the Town will coordinate the testing between VHB and the landowners. Should levels be higher than the state allows, then remediation steps will be discussed; such as POI treatment systems like filters and a reverse osmosis system.
B. Treasurer Kim Julow was present to discuss the Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) for the new Town Hall. The +/- $2,750,000.00 Bond will be applied for in May with funds distributed in August. Because of this, money is necessary to make payments to the contractor in the meantime. She has researched applying for a $1,000,000.00 BAN. David Lane made a motion to allow the Treasurer to complete the application process for a $1,000.000.00 BAN at an interest rate of 4.85%. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
-A Grant Anticipation Note (GAN) for the OSHMH was discussed at the last meeting. She is still looking into the terms for that loan.
C. Thomas Chagnon sent an email and a video of a driver in a pick-up truck on Dubuque Lane. Dubuque Lane is a 50’ Right of Way (ROW) and it is allowed to be used to access the former Town landfill property and the parking area abutting it. The Town has recently hired an attorney to research this and the ROW is not restricted access even though it is a private road. The attorney’s decision has been sent to the Chagnon family. It appears in the video that the road was blocked by cars in the ROW blocking the truck driver. The diver stated that he wanted to access the abutting Sue Straight property. There is no direct access easement to the Straight property from Dubuque Lane. But the road should not be blocked either. Mr. Chagnon was contacted and should he find someone trespassing on his own property, then he should contact the Grand Isle Sheriff.
D. The mowing of Town properties was discussed. Since the Town Hall and the Old South Hero Meeting House areas will be a construction zone this year, they may not need to be mowed. The Recreation Commission hires Butch Maxham to mow the Town beach and he will be tasked to also mow the new Town Park. An RFP will go out to consider mowing the other Town areas.
6. Town Administrator (TA) and Zoning Administrator (ZA) Reports:
A. None at this meeting
B. Sue Arguin has just received the Featherbed Lane/Route 2 scoping study. See Attached * Featherbed Lane_Final The Town will look into having “your speed is” signs installed.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. none at this meeting
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. none at this meeting
9. Other Business:
A. Anne Zolotas made a motion to sign the orders 26-20 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: none at this meeting
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: https://southherovt.org/rec/ for more info.
D. Road Department update:
-The new office in the Town Garage is almost complete.
-The dumpster used by the Blue Paddle is on Town property. The Road Dept. will move it to an area behind the restaurant.
-The Town is a 1/8th abutter of the Dubuque Lane ROW. The Road is in bad condition and the other landowners do not appear to have an agreement to be maintaining it. The Town will look into some remediation to eliminate potholes.
E. Lister Updates: Appraisals are starting up again.
F. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH) update: Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve and sign a contract from Buermann Engineering to work on site plan work to present to the DRB not to exceed $2900.00. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. The money will come from the OSHMH funding.
G. Lavin Property update: Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve and sign a contract from Fitzgerald Environmental for wetlands delineation of the Lavin Property in the amount of $11,500.00. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. The money will come from the remaining ARPA funding.
H. Town Hall Committee update: See https://southherovt.org/town-office-building-committee/ See above. Plus:
– There will be bi-weekly construction meetings.
– Demo of the former rescue station was completed
– See above re: the BAN
– A ground breaking ceremony will be looked into.
I. Tree Warden Update: none at this meeting
J. New Town Park updates: See above
K. Liquor License applications:
– Anne Zolotas made a motion to approve the Class 2 liquor license applications from Apple Island Resort(AIR Devel) for the Store, Marina and Golf Club. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
10. Adjournment:
-Steve Robinson made a motion to adjourn at 8:32 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Carter, Chairman
For a video of the meeting, see: www.lcatv.com