Town of South Hero
Meeting House – Preserve & Revitalize Project
Date: THURSDAY, May 22, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM In person at Town Office or via Zoom Recording started
Attendees: David Carter-Chair, Michael Carroll, Pamela Surprenant, Sue Arguin- Town Administrator,
Mary Harwood, Sandy Gregg.
Via ZOOM: Jenna Lapachinski – Preservation Trust Vermont (PTVT),
Absent: Andy Julow – LCIEDC, Sarah Kjelleren, Terry Robinson, Beth Curtis, Carol Tremble,
Rebecca Arnold – Arnold & Scangas Architects
Public: Anne Zolotas-Selectboard, Ross Brown (arrived 3:10 & left 3:30)
Called to order at 3:00 by David C.
Architect’s Report: Rebecca Arnold – A&S reported: A..Bid
Docs will be emailed to Michael by July 30th. Michael will distribute to the Build Committee
and this Meeting House group as well.
B. Email from Rebecca A. to Sandy G., “ I’ll be on vacation tomorrow and will not be attending the
meeting. I don’t have much to report. I have talked with D&K and Bob Neeld about the revisions to the
project. They will prepare fee proposals to make the changes.
D&K did say that the electrical panel on the second floor will be disconnected and that they
recommend that the new electrical panel be installed with temporary lighting until the second floor is
set for renovations in the future. They will make the necessary infrastructure for future mechanical
and electrical work so that the first floor renovations will not be disturbed.
Engineering Ventures and VTHT did have communications for developing the construction
documents. I mentioned to Bob Neeld that the two attic beams where the siding is missing have been
damaged and will need repairs. This will be added to the revised documents.
Let me know if you have any questions.”
Question from Ross Brown about the stone foundation: What is needed must be structural. Therefore,
a decorative veneer cannot be used.
3. Bruhn Grant Status Update – Jenna L., Preservation Trust VT: Jenna L. stated there has been
no recent notification about the grant. “No news is good news”. The Committee agreed to have Jenna
swop projects as an administrative task. This will add time to allow our Project to happen.
4. Town Financial Report: $223,073.31 (includes designated ARPA funds & voter’s $150,000).
5. Other Grant Status Reports:
Mary H. reported the Town was contacted by Senator Welch’s Office about applying for next year’s
round of Save America’s Treasures Grant. Sue A., welch’s office said they would just use the same
application but they did have a few new questions. Sue, Mary and Sandy pulled together the answers
to these new questions and Sue emailed them to the contact at Welch’s office meeting the deadline
with 30 minutes to spare.
2 of 2
6. Northern Borders Regional Commission (NBRC) Grant Update; PRIORITY: get the
Amendment in to NBRC that describes the Scope of Work for the revised Project. This can be done
by end of next week The revised budget.is also needed and this presents a challenge. Both David C.
and Anne Z. stated their concern about the amount the Selctboard will commit to the project as
“Regular Employee Hours”. Sandy G. asked a meeting be held with David, Anne, John Beaulac,
Michael C. and Sue A. All need to be on the same page and agree before it is taken to the
Selectboard. Look for an email from Sandy G. to meet next week.
7. South Hero Foundation (SHF) Report: Michael C. reported the SHF expects to hear from the
Anonymous Donor Community Challenge Grant folks by the June 15th deadline for reporting
the funding stack to NBRC.
EVENT: SAT, JULY 12, 9-1 Paint-A-Panel Community event to paint the plywood panels for
temporary installation when the windows are removed from the Meeting House prior to
moving it. Working group will be formed to plan this.
JULY 4th Parade : Any interest in doing a Meeting House float? Any volunteers to work on this?
Somebody tackle this please! Could advertise the Paint-A-Panel event!
8. Project Updates: Build Committee: The meeting held o the 14th with Rebecca A. and the Build
Committee was productive. The group needs to identify more contractors to send the bid
package to. Rebecca will help with where the bid is required to be posted.
Bid Out Target Date: Aug 1st.
9. Old Business:
A. Brownfields: Town Maintenance
Lead ground water testing: Greta Brunswick – NBRC has approved funding to cover the 3rd round
of testing. Reminder: there are no Federal or State clean-up funds available as they have been
exhausted.
Greta has set a ZOOM meeting for May 28th at 1:00 PM. Attending: David C., Anne Z., Sue A.,
Michael C., Sandy G.
Asbestos clean-up: Sue A. has still NOT heard from the 3 places she contacted for estimates.
10. New Business: Public, Ross B. asked about the status of a Business Plan for the Project. Sandy
G. will send Draft #1 to David C..
11. Next Meeting: Thurs, June 5,2025 at 3:00 PM at the Town Office Meeting Room or via ZOOM
12. Adjourned at 3:58 PM: Recording ended.
Respectfully submitted by,
Sandy Gregg, Scribe
802-372-4565