Selectboard Minutes
Regular Meeting of Monday October 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM
At South Hero Town Hall and via Zoom
Board Members Present: David Lane/Vice Chairman, Steve Robinson, Anne Zolotas
Board Members Not Present: David Carter, Chair, Skip Brown/Board Secretary
Others Present: Sue Arguin, Janine Bellinghiri, Michael Frett/Newspaper, Michele Gammal & Samantha Chagnon. No Zoom attendees.
1. Called to Order:
– The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman David Lane at 7:00 pm.
2. Adjustment to Agenda:
– Eliminate #8
3. Minutes:
-Steve Robinson made a motion to approve the minutes of September 22, 2025 and the minutes for the Special Meeting on October 6th, 2025. The motion was seconded, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
4. Public input: There was none.
5. New Business & Invited Guests:
A. Janine Bellinghiri was present to ask permission for the SHVFD Auxiliary to use the Folsom School Parking lot for the Trunk or Treat Annual Event. Motion was made by Anne Zolotas to allow use and Steve Robinson 2nd. All in favor, motion carried.
B. Samantha Chagnon from the Northwest Unit for Special Investigations was present to request $1000 for future training for her staff for the next 2026 budget year. David Lane explained to her the process and said we would be back in touch soon to let her know what our answer is. Meanwhile, she handed out booklets about the program.
C. Michele Gammal from Friend of Northern Lake Champlain was there to present a request for $1000 from the Town’s 2026 budget.
D. Kim Julow/Treasurer was present to ask for the selectboards permission on hiring a part time bookkeeper and to advertise for such a position. She said she hopes to find someone to work 6-7 hours on Mondays. She said the position would be between $20-$22/hour. She said she did not think there would be any problem covering those costs. Anne Zolotas motioned to allow Kim to hire a new part time bookkeeper and Steve Robinson seconded. All in favor, motion carried.
E. Naomi King/Town Clerk was present to request $6500 from the leftover Capital Funds money to cover the unexpected cost of new computers needed for her office. She said the past few weeks have been difficult due to their computers not functioning as they should. Anne Zolotas motioned to have the town spend up to $6500 on new computers for the Clerk’s office and it was seconded by Steve Robinson. All in favor, motion carried.
F. Anne Zolotas started the conversation with the Town Highway Department about clearing a path on the Roy Marsh Trail. She said it was to determine the suitability of their equipment to widen the traveled way. More discussion with Guy McGuire of the Land Trust and Vermont Fish and Wildlife needs to take place to make sure proper guidelines are followed.
6. Town Administrator (TA) and Zoning Administrator (ZA) Reports:
A. No ZA report attached this week, however Martha left a letter regarding Conditional Use/Site Plan Review for the Municipal Office and said there will be a public hearing on Wednesday, October 22nd, 2025, at 7PM at the Town Office.
B. Sue Arguin gave out the letter from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation regarding the landfill. (See attached). The Donation Agreement was also handed out to each of the selectboard members for the town park for informational purposes only. (See attached).
7. Old and Ongoing Business:
A. none at this meeting
8. Announcements and Communications:
A. none at this meeting
9. Other Business:
A. Anne Zolotas made a motion to sign the orders 26-08, 26A-08 and have the Treasurer pay the bills as presented on the orders. The motion was seconded by Steve Robinson, all in attendance so voted and the motion carried.
B. Town Clerk/Treasurer updates: Naomi said the Arborvitae Trees were dropped off at the Highway Department and will be planted soon.
C. Recreation Commission (RC) update: See https://southherovt.org/rec/ for more info. Next Meeting 10/14/2025.
D. Road Department update: Just finished up some driveways after paving. There will be reviews starting this week for the staff at the highway department and lastly, they are starting to haul sand for the winter. Work on the town garage is coming along nicely also.
E. Lister Updates: Town wide reappraisal still moving along well.
F. Lavin Property updates: See a letter attached from Peter Zamore giving an update.
G. Town Hall Committee update: See https://southherovt.org/town-office-building-committee/
H. Tree Warden Update: Anne Zolotas mentioned she had spoken to an arborist, Jeremy Tinker from Vermont Electric Co-op regarding the Poplar Trees at the end of South Street. Due to trees being entangled in the power lines and that they are in the town right of way and seeing their present condition, the power company may request some financial assistance cutting them down. They think the costs to remove would be around $20,000 but intend on getting some firmer numbers.
10. Executive Session:
-Anne made a motion to go into Executive Session for legal/personnel matters at 8:00 pm. The motion was seconded by Steve, all in attendance voted and the motion carried.
11. Results of Executive Session:
David Lane made a motion to recognize Kim Julow’s 4 years of service as an elected treasurer and being that she is in the same position but now an appointed position she has been granted additional 4 days of vacation per year. Anne seconded this motion. All in favor, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted, Approved by,
_______________________________ ________________________________
Susan Arguin, Temp SecretaryDavid Lane, Vice Chairman
For a video of the meeting, see: www.lcatv.com