TOWN OF SOUTH HERO
Conservation Commission Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 4:30 P.M.
In person at South Hero Town Office
And via Zoom
Members Present: Bob Fireovid, Joan Falcao, Bridget Kerr, Mark Naud,
Guest: Molly Varner, GICNRCD; no Zoom attendees.
Call to Order: Meeting called to order at 4:30 pm.
Public input: NA
Finalize Agenda: Agenda items reordered to switch M. Varner’s presentation with
Approval of Minutes.
Presentation by Molly Varner, Grand Isle County Natural Resource
Conservation District: M. Varner has worked for the GICNRCD since 2020. She
started part-time and has been their full-time District Manager for about 2 years.
She works closely with Franklin County, but the GINRCD is an independent GI
County entity. Conservation Districts were started in 1939. There are over 3,000
conservation districts nationally; there are 14 districts in Vermont. Conservation
districts operate similarly to a nonprofit. GINRCD is mostly state-funded but
receives some grants from the Lake Champlain Basin Program Clean Water Fund.
GINRCD collaborates with the Lake Champlain Committee and Friends of
Northern Lake Champlain on water quality monitoring and testing. GINRCD is
“locally driven” and “non-regulatory”; they educate and assist with voluntary
projects; they also assist farmers and property owners in navigating various
governmental and nongovernmental natural resource programs. GINRCD is
currently involved in several projects in South Hero having to do with the Keeler
Bay Action Plan. This includes ongoing erosion control work for the stream
between Two Heroes Brewery and the Worthen Library. They are also partnering
with the South Hero Land Trust on the town beach project and with the Farm to
School Program. M.Varner explained that GINRCD has recently received more
funding, which has “refreshed” their responsibilities. CC members expressed hope
for future collaboration with GINRCD, including, perhaps, assistance with getting
the word out to other conservation entities that the SHCC exists, is seeking
additional members, and that it’s the only CC in GI County. M. Varner shared that
the AVCC has recently reached out to GINRCD to encourage their collaboration
with municipal CCs; she will look into the possibility of including the SHCC in an
upcoming conference on improving regional and county-wide conservation
collaboration. M. Varner said she will add the SHCC to her regular contact list so
the CC is always informed in advance about GINRCD events and projects,
especially those happening in the Champlain Islands.
Approval of Minutes: J. Falcao moved, and B. Fireovid seconded approval of the
June 23 minutes. B. Kerr moved, and J. Falcao seconded approval of the July 28
minutes.
Lavin Parcel Visioning process updates – Community gathering workshop,
Steering Committee meeting updates: CC members shared their individual
experiences hearing community members’ ideas at the workshop at Folsom School
on the evening of August 18. While some workshop groups discussed a need for
affordable housing, CC members’ shared experience (spread across 4 groups)
seemed to demonstrate a that having more recreational opportunities in town was
top of mind for most participants. The scaling back of the “town park” planned
adjacent to the old meeting house on Route 2 was discussed; it is now envisioned
as more of a quiet town green (with a large parking lot and pavilion) rather than as
an active recreational park. CC members also discussed the potential impacts
around town on traffic, etc., of the several housing subdivisions recently approved
or now under consideration by the Development Review Board.
VINS and kestrel updates: B. Kerr has been talking with VINS and Vermont
Electric Coop about ways to reduce predation of kestrel eggs in nest boxes. VINS
now recommends putting kestrel boxes on poles rather than in living trees or
structures to reduce predation. Vermont Electric Coop offered to donate and install
2 used power poles to be used for kestrel nest boxes in South Hero. VINS will
assist the CC with selecting the best location for these donated poles. VINS
biologists will join a CC meeting this fall to update us on this season’s work with
VT kestrels, and discuss pole placement for nest boxes.
Annual Board Organization: Board organization had to be postponed because B.
Fireovid had to leave to attend another meeting. M. Naud will recommend CC
reappointment of B. Fireovid to the Selectboard.
Next Meeting October 20: Possible recreational uses of town-owned Lavin
Property will be discussed with guest Phil Scott, chair of the S. H. Recreation
Commission. CC annual board organization. B. Kerr will share town forest stories
from recent AVCC workshops. Town offices will be in disarray, so an alternate
location is needed. Possibly the library?
Adjourn: 6:15 pm
Submitted by B. Kerr, CC Clerk
These minutes are unofficial until approved at the next regularly scheduled
meeting. All motions were unanimous unless otherwise indicated.