Town of South Hero
Wastewater Committee
Minutes of a Meeting on October 7, 2024
Present: Sue Arguin, Bob Buermann, Bob Krebs, Peter Zamore; Greta Brunswick, Emily Hackett, Achouak Arfaoui, Dave Carter, Robert Fireovid.
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm.
On motion of Bob Buermann and second of Bob Krebs, the minutes of the August 8, 2024 meeting were approved.
Peter Zamore reported that the potential ARPA $800,000 grant and Agency of Commerce $239,000 grant have been approved and that the associated grant agreements have been signed. He also reported that we are awaiting archeological approval to dig test pits on an alternative Allenholm site, located in one of the areas that is excluded from the conservation easement. In addition, the other exclusion area must be reserved for potential future school use.
Peter then described the September 25 meeting he attended, along with Nate Hayward, Bob Buermann, Marty and Pat Lavin and Jeff Sikora, to explore potential use of the 100 acre Lavin parcel on Route 2 for wastewater disposal. Marty described several areas on the parcel that are promising for that purpose. He also generally described the various lots on the property and their current status. The parties agreed to continue discussions concerning test pits on the property and the potential for acquisition of all or part of the property. In that regard, Peter indicated that the selectboard has appropriated $2500 to facilitate test pits on the Lavin property, since using grant funds would have required a lengthy archeological review process before test pits could be completed.
Dave Carter expressed his support for exploration of the Lavin property for wastewater disposal and indicated that others on the selectboard also seemed to be supportive. There was a general discussion concerning the match funding requirements under the grants and related issues. Emily offered to set up a meeting involving the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Commerce agency to address this and related issues.
Peter indicated that, despite suggestions to the contrary, Allenholm remains under consideration as a wastewater disposal site. But that the distance from the village service area and constraints under the Allenholm conservation easement are challenges that do not apply to the Lavin property.
Peter stated that the previously circulated draft revisions to the committee’s pages on the South Hero web site would be uploaded soon.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.