Meeting House – Preserve & Revitalize Project – MEETING-NOTES
Date: MONDAY, OCT 23,2023
Time: 2:00 PM In person at Town Office (no Zoom due to technical difficulties)
Attendees: David Carter, Mary Harwood, Michael Carroll, Pamela Surprenant, Terry
Robinson, Beth Curtis, Sandy Gregg. Sarah Kjelleren by phone (Thanks for your
patience, Sarah).
Absent: Linda Seavey, Carol Tremble
Call to Order at 2:00 by David C.
2. PHASE 1
Updates:
VT Heavy Timber returned for a 2nd visit to confirm what they suspected from their 1st
visit. Miles J. confirmed there are some differences between what he discovered and
A&S Architects plans. Miles will contact Rebecca Arnold – A&S to discuss. Sandy G. will
follow-up with both parties.
Timeline: Spring 2025 for work to begin. Possibly late fall 2024 but doubtful.
3. Grants Report – Mary Harwood
• Mary successfully submitted an on-line Vermont Historic Preservation Grant application
on “Timber-Framing” historic restoration of 1816 SHMH. This is a match grant: Grant
funds = $20,000 + Town match of $20,000 = Project total $40,000. Match funds are
already in-hand…thank you voters! The Town is the Applicant with Town Administrator,
Sue Arguin as grant administrator, and David C. as Authorized Grant Signer.
• Michael C. has called a couple concert contractors and is waiting for their responses. He
will follow-up with both.
• Michael C. has contacted Alex Tolstoi re updated estimate to restore windows and is
waiting for his reply. He will follow-up with Alex.
• Mary H. will renew Welch American Treasures grant fall 2024 now that OWMH is in
queue for National Historic Registry listing which is a requirement.
4. Public Comment & Announcements;
• Funding Idea: Petition to Selectboard due end of December and requires 5% of
registered voter signatures. Sandy G. to confirm that number with Town Clerk.
(Done: current # required is 83 so get at least 93. SG). David C. and Sandy G. to
work on petition wording. “Save South Hero Old White Meeting House” was floated
as possible catch phrase. Include survey support etc. All Committee members will
work on getting signatures in their respective areas. David & Sandy: wording to be
ready for our next meeting Nov 6.
• Granny’s Attic II Idea: Group discussion about the possible location for a new barn-
like structure to be built at the expense of the Grannies east of the Town Highway
Dept.. John Beaulac is okay with it and told David C. it would not interfere with Town
Highway activities. Beth C. will let David C. know when the fall Granny’s Attic
meeting is and David C. will attend to discuss this possibility. Many details need to
be clearly described, written, and agreed upon. Robin Way helped to measure out
the proposed site which would allow for more parking, their own building (at their
cost to construct) on Town land to be allocated to the Grannies as long as the
organization exists etc.
• End of Year Donor Letter: to be discussed at South Hero Foundation meeting
immediately following…
5. Next Meeting: Monday, Nov 6,2023 at Town Office – 2:00 PM. This will be a
personalizing Donor letters session…the more hands the easier the task!
6. Adjourned 2:50 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Sandy Gregg, Scribe
South Hero Meeting House Committee