Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday March 28, 2022 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Carter/Chairman, Skip Brown/Board Secretary, Ross Brown/Vice Chairman,
Chuck Hulse,
Board Members Not Present: Anne Zolotas
Others Present: Naomi King, Town Clerk, Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA. Also see sign in sheet of in person and active Zoom participants. *Attendance SB 03-28-2022
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called to order by Chairman Carter at 7:12 pm (after the VTrans construction meeting ended)
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-none
3. Minutes:
-Chuck Hulse made a motion to acknowledge the minutes of the meeting of March 14, 2022. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. Sandy Gregg asked that a link to the VTrans Route 2-Route 314 construction project be put on the Town website. Skip will add it to Community Link header on the website.
5. New Business:
A. Kim Lord of GMAA was present to discuss the 40th Clarence Demar 5K race. Clarence Demar was a part time South Hero resident and won the Boston Marathon several times in the 19 teens and 20’s. Chuck Hulse made a motion that the GMAA may run the Clarence Demar 5K race on South Street at 8:30 on July 4, 2022 and may use the parking lot at Folsom Educational and Community Center. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Heidi Chamberlain was present to discuss the lease from the Town to the Island Craft Shop. Currently the lease runs for one year. The shop is interested in a longer term of 2 or 3 years so they can plan for the future. More information will be at the next Board meeting.
C. Chuck Hulse made a motion to appoint George Rice to the Fiberworx board. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
D. Ross Brown made a motion to approve and have the Board sign a Balanced Budget Policy as presented by the Treasurer. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the written report filed with these minutes (Below on the website or in Town Hall).
B. Ross Brown made a motion to approve and sign the resolution to renew the Village Center Designation. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried. SB Resolution
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve and sign the proposal regarding the engineering study for the future recreation park. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. The job description for the delinquent tax collector was discussed. Martha will place the ad.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. See other business
9. Other Business:
A. Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve and sign orders 22-20 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: none at this meeting.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: The Red Cross and YMCA are not doing on site swimming lessons. The RC will look into hiring someone local who is certified.
D. Road Department update: The possible purchase of land behind Town Garage for sand/salt storage and future salt shed is progressing pending more info about possible wetlands. The Road Dept. is still looking into the purchase of a road sweeping brush and equipment to go on the loader. Ross Brown made a motion to approve and sign the Annual Financial Plan: Town Highways document to send to the State. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH): The engineering studies are proceeding.
F. ARPA fund updates: The ARPA committee is working on parameters on what uses are allowed for the money.
G. David Carter made a motion to appoint Steve Robinson as Town Constable. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
H. Skip Brown made a motion to approve and sign the following liquor license applications:
-Two Heroes Public House: inside and outside consumption.
-Ribbit, Ribbit, LLC./DBA the Green Frog.
-Roving Feast, LLC: 1st Class and 3rd Class.
The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
10. Adjournment:
-Chuck Hulse made a motion to adjourn 8:15 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown David Carter, Chairman
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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard March 28, 2022
Discussion Items:
- Doug Allen from vhb updated me on the status of the State’s review of the closed landfill. As you ‘ll remember, the previous State Solid Waste rep from DEC, Buzz Surwillo, with whom the Town and vhb were working, passed away about a month ago. Doug said that a new State Solid Waste rep is being brought up to speed and that vhb had sent the most recent testing report. I was subsequently contacted by Dennis Becker, who introduced himself as the new contact at the State. He is reviewing the report and will be sending a letter suggesting next steps. He anticipates that further investigation, including testing in the bedrock, will be needed. He said that right now the ball is in their court and he will contact us soon.
- VHB sent out letters on March 22nd to the names suggested by the Town of those who may have more knowledge or memories of the operation of the landfill prior to its closure. He hopes to meet with some for a conversation as part of their continued investigation.
- I’m starting to get calls about cannabis cultivation in South Hero. The cultivation of cannabis falls under “Agriculture: the production , keeping, or maintenance of plants and animals useful to man, for sale or lease in accordance with State Dept. of Agriculture guidelines and regulations as defined by applicable VSA provisions.” Municipalities cannot prohibit the operation of a cannabis establishment within the municipality through an ordinance or bylaw. This is also covered under Sec. 301.E in the Development Regulations re the exemption of agricultural structures.
Planning Commission
The Commission continues to meet with stakeholders for the 2023 Town Plan. Discussion at the March 16th meeting included Water Quality. The April 6 meeting will include a discussion on equity and inclusion, in addition to beginning to plan public outreach opportunities.
Development Review Board
- The next meeting will be April 13 (2 hearings).
- Board member Bill Rowe has resigned his position on the DRB. The SB approved ‘promoting’ DRB Alternate Mike Welch to a regular member of the Board and I placed a notice in the Islander for an Alternate member. I received a letter of interest from Ellie Reid of 39 Phelps Lane. I suggest that she be invited to attend the DRB’s April 13 meeting to introduce herself to the Board and watch the proceedings. There will be 2 hearings that night so it will be an active meeting.