Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of November 18, 2019
South Hero Town Hall, Monday 7:00 PM
Board Members Present: Jonathan Shaw, Skip Brown (also Board Secretary), Anne Zolotas, David Carter, Sharon Roy
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Janet Yates, Town Clerk/Treasurer. Also see sign in sheet.
1. Called to Order:
-The meeting was called by Chairman Shaw at 7:00 pm
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
– Add discuss changing hours of Selectboard meeting to New Business
3. Minutes:
-David Carter made a motion to accept the minutes of October 14, 2019 as written. The motion was seconded, Skip Brown abstained, the other in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. Members of the Chagnon family were present to discuss traffic on Dubuque Lane. There have been disputes between them and many people who drive down to the former landfill. Dubuque Lane is a private road, but the Town has traditionally had access to the former landfill property. The Dubuque Lane residents may put up signs since it is a private road. It was suggested that the Sherriff be consulted to make sure that the wording on any signs will be enforceable. The Selectboard does not know if that has happened. According to Mrs. Samantha Chagnon, the Right of Way (ROW) wording in the deeds is worded that the ROW is for a “municipal Government ROW”. Her interpretation is that this is for municipal employees only. The Chagnons also stated that Dubuque Lane ends at the cul-de-sac/turn around and does not go to the end of the road as shown on surveys. Also, members of the abutting Straight family and hunters who had permission to hunt on their property were present to see if they were restricted to access to their land. More info will be required to see if there are restrictions to the right of way on the road to the landfill, so the Town has decided to hire an attorney to clear up the ROW questions.
5. New Business:
A. Members of the South Hero History Museum presented the budget request. The proposed budget is level funded at $6200.00.
B. Members of South Hero Rescue were presented the budget request. The proposed Town portion of the budget is $33,895.00.
C. A draft of a proposal for a South Hero Rescue Consultant job description was presented. See the proposal on www.southherovt.org or filed with these minutes Proposal for South Hero Rescue Consultant-11-18-2019. David Carter made a motion to accept the proposal and to hire a consultant. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
D. Employees of Wrenegade Sports were present to discuss the Farm to Fork Fondo bike event that will start at Snow Farm Vineyard on July 19, 2020. Last year there were some issues and the organizers have agreed to make some changes, including:
-Staggering the start so there won’t be a big “wave” of bikes all at once.
-Add law enforcement on Route 2 and eliminate one way station.
-The Sheriff will stress rules of the road and may ticket violators.
-Riders will have numbers on their back as well as on their bikes.
-Increase community notifications.
David Carter made a motion to approve and have the Chairman sign a letter of support of the event with the changes as noted above. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
E. Anne Zolotas made a motion to establish winter hours for the bi-weekly meetings. Starting on November 25, 2019, all regular Selectboard meetings will be at 6:00 pm (rather than 7:00 pm) on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month until the first meeting after Town Meeting Day. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
6. Administrative Assistant Report:
A. See the report on www.southherovt.org or filed with these minutes.
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. The 2020/2021 budget was worked on.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. See other business
9. Other Business:
A. David Carter made a motion to sign orders 20-10 and to pay the bills associated with the orders. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. The Board discussed hiring an attorney to clear up the ROW issues on Dubuque Lane.
10. Adjournment:
-Skip Brown made a motion to adjourn 9:10pm. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Graham Brown Jonathan Shaw, Chairman
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Administrative Officer’s Report to Selectboard November 18, 2019
Discussion Items:
- I attended the meeting in Burlington on October 27 hosted by FEMA to discuss the upcoming Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) Discovery meeting for the Lake Champlain Watershed. They are at the beginning of the process of updating the FEMA maps for the Lake Champlain Watershed (Vermont side only) to produce fully digital maps that will be far more complete than the current paper maps available (dated June 1978). Risk MAP is a FEMA program that helps communities identify, access, and reduce their flood risk. There is an online questionnaire about what individual communities have done (grading/culverts/etc.) that I still need to fill out. Contact Martha for additional information on the mapping in addition to general information on flood damage mitigation technical assistance and fact sheets on flood insurance provided by FEMA. Responses on local concerns or issues regarding flood mapping in South Hero are due Dec. 13, 2019.
- I was not able to attend the FEMA NH Floodplain Management Program review class on November 7 in Lancaster, NH. due to weather. I’m still hoping that a Floodplain Managers exam will be held in Northern New England or NY during the winter months.
- Terms for Development Review Board members expire on Dec. 31st on a rotating basis. Tim Maxham’s and Nate Hayward’s terms are up this year and each has requested to be reappointed to another 3-year term. Alternate members are reappointed every year. Jim Brightwell would like to continue. Bob Krebs has asked to be replaced if there is another candidate interested in his Alternate position. Alternates generally stay busy since they are replacing full-time members who are either away or must recuse themselves from a particular hearing. Shall I advertise for full-time and alternate members to see if we get any additional interest?
- I got an email from NRPC with a more complete job description for the Clean Water Advisory Committee and have given it to Janet.
- Ordinance Enforcement Training seminar on Dec 4, 2019 in Montpelier – how to draft, adopt, and enforce ordinances. I have too much on my plate to attend. Is there a need for someone else to go?
- Email from Joel Behrsing of VHB re: recertification of landfill and additional PFAS testing and analysis. Copy sent to SB members and given at this meeting. How to proceed?
- NRPC Zoning Roundtable in St. Albans on Dec 12 from 9:30 to 3. I will be attending.
–Planning Commission: The PC has nearly completed a final draft of the proposed Development Regulations, reflecting the issues and changes resulting from of the October 2nd public meeting. Martha will email the final draft to SB members as soon as she has made the changes to the document. The Commission hosted the Northern Lake Champlain Tactical Basin Study public meeting at their November 6th regular meeting. The meeting was held at the Worthen Library and was attended by about 25 members of the public.
–Development Review Board: There will be no second DRB meeting in November due to Thanksgiving. December 11 will have a sketch plan review for a 2-lot subdivision, a site plan amendment, and another variance request. As with November, there will be no 2nd DRB meeting in December due to the Christmas holiday. Another site plan amendment has already been scheduled for January 8th , in addition to a 3-lot subdivision. Recent decisions can be found posted on the Board outside the ZA’s office.
Respectfully submitted, Martha Taylor-Varney, Zoning Administrator and Assistant to the Selectboard