Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday November 14, 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, Anne Zolotas, and Chuck Hulse
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA and Kim Julow, Treasurer. Also see sign in sheet of in person and Zoom attendees. *Attendance SB 11-14-2022
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called to order by Chairman David Carter at 7:00 pm
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
-The Grand Isle County Sheriff is ill has postponed the budget request until the next meeting.
3. Minutes:
-Ross Brown made a motion to acknowledge the minutes of October 24, 2022. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the meeting so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. Thanks to Tim Maxham and Sandy Gregg for decorating the planting area in front of Town Hall.
B. The Bayview Crossing senior housing building sponsored by Cathedral Square had its ribbon cutting today. It was well attended.
5. New Business:
A. Terry Robinson and Ron Phelps of the South Hero Bicentennial Museum presented the budget request. They asked for level funding at $6200.00 unless they begin a fund to run a water line into the building that is estimated at $4000.00. More info will follow. See attached: Museum Budget July 2023- July 2024
B. Phil Scott and Dylan Degree of the Recreation Commission presented the budget request. The amount presented is $29,000.00. See attached: Rec Comm 23-24 Proposed budget Skip Brown made a motion to re-appoint Carol Tremble to the Recreation Commission. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the meeting so voted and the motion carried.
C. Jeff Parizo and Steven Robinson of the Isle of Patmos Masonic Lodge 17 were present to request support for a holiday parade, as VTrans has to give permission to close Route 2 for a short time. Ross Brown made a motion to support a holiday parade from Community Drive proceeding on Route 2 to South Street, then down to the Folsom Educational and Community Center parking lot. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the meeting so voted and the motion carried. They also submitted a letter stating that they will make a PILOT to the Town for the municipal portion of the taxes.
D. The delinquent tax collector term is up in May. If the current delinquent tax collector does not wish to continue, there is another person who has expressed interest. More info will follow.
E. The Board with the help of Treasurer Kim Julow began work on the general FY 2023/24 Town budget.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the written report filed with these minutes (Below on the website or in Town Hall).
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. The possible Town Administrator position was discussed. Sample draft job descriptions were distributed and more discussion will be at the next meeting.
B. Ross Brown made a motion to approve the recommendation for continued landfill testing from VHB Inc. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the meeting so voted and the motion carried.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. VEC recommended changing the lighting of the 3 streetlights from halogen to LED. $300.00 of the approx. $525.00 cost will be covered by an Efficiency Vermont rebate. The conversion will take place.
B. The issue with the Local option tax that was voted on and passed last Town Meeting day will be taken up by the State legislature when their session begins in January. Letters from the Tax department and VLCT have been received.
9. Other Business:
A. Chuck Hulse made a motion to approve and sign orders 23-10 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: There were 1120 voters last Tuesday which is an impressive approximate 70% turnout.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: 2 Porta-Potties were vandalized with explosives at the Beach. The vandals have made restitution to the Town.
D. Road Department update: Site work for the salt shed property needs to be completed soon to satisfy Army Corps stipulations.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH) project: To date, approximately $500,000 has been raised through grants and donations. More grants are being looked into. There will be an article for up to a $1,200,000 bond vote to renovate the building. A bond attorney will be necessary to help the Town secure such a bond through the Vermont Bond Bank. Ross Brown made a motion to hire attorney Tomas Meloni of Paul Frank + Collins PC. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the meeting so voted and the motion carried.
F. ARPA fund updates: none
G. Wastewater update: none
10. Adjournment:
-Ross Brown made a motion to adjourn 8:35 pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown, Secretary David Carter, Chairman
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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard November 14, 2022
- Resulting from the traffic study of RT 2, from Chimney Corners in Colchester to Landon Rd. in South Hero, VTrans has voted to retain the existing speed limits on RT 2 within the Town of South Hero. Double-yellow lines will be painted over the causeway (removing the existing marked passing zone) and will add signage improvements in the vicinity of the Fish and Wildlife boat ramp and parking areas, and Featherbed Lane. As for pedestrian crossings in the area of Apple Island Resort and Featherbed Lane, additional accessible pedestrian infrastructure will need to be added before crosswalks can be added. I will be drafting a letter to VTrans to inquire about available grants for a pedestrian study there.
- On a related note the VTrans speed cart that was requested for use in the Apple Island/Featherbed Lane area back in September is still sitting at the Town garage. Is it going to be set up or shall I contact VTrans to return it?
- So far, the schedule for FY2023 budget discussion is: Nov. 14 – Sheriff Dept. and Museum; November 28 – Fire Dept. and Rescue; Dec. 12 – Highway Dept. and Town Office.
- Kim Julow and Martha Taylor-Varney are registered to attend a Grants Management Symposium on Dec 8th in Montpelier, hosted by Vermont Dept. of Housing and Community Development.
- Kurt Muller of VHB sent me a proposed work plan for the next steps in attempting to determine the source of PFAS chemicals that have been identified at the closed Town landfill on Dubuque Lane. Concentrations continue to remain high in a couple of the landfill test wells. Testing of area residential wells has remained negative. VHB has proposed next steps that will involve testing the groundwater within the bedrock and VT DEC is anxious to move forward with this as soon as they have reviewed and approved the plan. Because of the nearly 3-week delay between receiving the proposed plan and tonight’s meeting, DEC asked if the plan could be sent on to them prior to the Board’s Nov. 14 meeting in order to keep moving forward and get an approved plan in place. Since I had received no comments or concerns from the Board, last week I authorized VHB to send the plan on to VT DEC for their review. If the Board has any concerns about the proposed plan I can contact Kurt Muller at VHB in the morning.
Planning Commission
2023 Town Plan discussion — The Commission’s Nov. 16 meeting will include a revised ‘road map’ for the completion of the Town Plan. Northwest Regional Planning is compiling the results from various public meetings, a survey, Community Cheers and Cheese, and a table at the South Hero Farmers Market this past summer and will begin the process of compiling and fleshing out the body of the 2023 Town Plan. A sample Table of Contents will be presented by NRPC this Wednesday. NRPC expects to spend part of the winter writing the plan, with public hearings expected to begin in late February or March. I will have a more concrete schedule after this week’s meeting.
The November 16 meeting will be Zoom only. There will be no one at the Town Office for this meeting.
Development Review Board
- The DRB’s next scheduled meeting is December 14. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays will allow only one meeting each for November and December.
- The Board approved a change of use for 334 US RT 2 from a retail establishment to professional services at their November 9th
- Alternates’ terms end on December 31st each year. Regular members’ terms are 3 years. These are staggered, with 2 to 3 members finishing terms in December each year. Alternates Sherry Corbin and Ellie Reid have each asked to be re-appointed for 2023. Regular members Nate Hayward and Tim Maxham have also asked to be reappointed for another 3-year term. Do you want me to advertise the open positions before the Board appoints DRB members at their Dec. 12 meeting?
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA and Asst. to the Selectboard