Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday November 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, Anne Zolotas, and Chuck Hulse
Board Members Not Present: none
Others Present: Kim Julow, Treasurer. Martha Taylor-Varney, ZA (via Zoom). Also see sign in sheet of in person and Zoom attendees. *Attendance SB 11-28-2022
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:
-Ross Brown made a motion to acknowledge the minutes of November 14, 2022. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the meeting so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input:
A. none
5. New Business:
A. Grand Isle Sheriff, Ray Allen, presented the proposed budget for FY 2023/2024. Due to increases in costs, the hourly rate will be $58.50 and the Town will stay with 54 hours/week of coverage for a total of $164,268.00, as there is not enough man-power to contract for more hours.
B. Patrick Robinson and Matt Reed of the South Hero Volunteer Fire Dept. presented the proposed budget for FY 2023/2024. The yearly total for the SHVFD will be $157,100.00 and the yearly total for the Fire/Rescue building will be $184,108.00 ($146,335.00 of which is the bond and interest payments for the building).
C. South Hero Rescue Chief, Mike Wickenden, presented the proposed budget for FY 2023/2024. The proposed budget is level funded from last year at $115,000.00. $90,000.00 of which is budgeted for paid personnel when there is not enough volunteer coverage.
D. The Delinquent tax collector Jonathan Shaw’s term ends in April. He has expressed interest in extending his term for another year. The Treasurer would like to see continuity in the position as it takes a while to learn the intricacies of the job.
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 have been distributed and more discussion will be at the next meeting.
B. Ross Brown made a motion to approve and sign GIS Mapping contract as presented by the Listers. The motion was seconded, all in attendance at the meeting so voted and the motion carried.
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. See other business
9. Other Business:
A. Skip Brown made a motion to approve and sign orders 23-11 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: see above
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: no report
D. Road Department update: There is confusion if Kibbe Point Rd. is 2 rods or 3 rods wide. Most public roads are 3 rods wide. This will affect if it is able to ditched and/or paved. The consensus of the Board is to hire someone to research the matter. More info will follow as it becomes available.
E. Old South Hero Meeting House (OSHMH) project: none
F. ARPA fund updates: none
G. Wastewater update: none
10. Adjournment:
-Ross Brown made a motion to adjourn 9:05 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 28, 2022
- At this point, the remaining schedule for FY2024 budget discussion is: November 28 – Sherriff Dept. (postponed from November 14); 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.
- I will be attending, via Zoom, a Zoning Administrator’s seminar offered by VLCT this Wednesday, November 30. I’m hoping that these trainings will begin to be offered in person again soon.
- I am waiting for a response from Ernie Patnoe of VTrans for the proper procedure or paperwork needed to apply for a pedestrian study for crosswalks in the area of Apple Island Resort, Featherbed Lane, and the new development at the Sandbar area.
- I will be setting up an appointment for a demonstration of NEMRC’s zoning module. I’m interested to see if there would be a benefit to using this program. I’m aware of several other towns’ zoning offices who use and recommended it. I’m curious to see how/if it could benefit my office.
Planning Commission
2023 Town Plan discussion — The Commission’s next meeting will be Dec. 7. 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 has begun the process of compiling and fleshing out the body of the 2023 Town Plan. NRPC expects to spend part of the winter writing the draft plan, with public hearings expected to begin in late February or March.
Development Review Board
- The DRB’s next scheduled meeting is December 14. This meeting will include a hearing for a setback waiver. The Christmas holiday will allow for only one meeting in December.
- As of now, there are no hearings yet scheduled for January 11.
- DRB Alternates’ 1-year terms end on December 31st each year. Where applicable, DRB regular members’ 3-year terms also end on Dec. 31st. 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 each. An ad has been placed in the Islander for anyone else who may be interested in the Selectboard’s consideration. Deadline for letters of interest is Dec. 12.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha Taylor-Varney
ZA and Asst. to the Selectboard