Selectboard Corner Archive

Community Hall Transferred to North Hero Historical Society

 

On July 31, 2007, the North Hero Select Board and the North Hero Historical Society completed the transfer of the North Hero Community Hall, also known as the Town Hall, to the North Hero Historical Society.  Voters approved the transfer of the Community Hall to the Historical Society on April 28, 2007.  Final action awaited the voters’ decision not to rescind the previous town vote and the completion of all preliminary preparations to the satisfaction of attorneys for the town and the historical society.   Attorney approval came on July 26, and, on July 30, Walter Page, acting as agent appointed by the select board, signed the deed to transfer title.  On July 31, Tracy Giroux, co-president of the North Hero Historical Society and agent appointed to act on behalf of the historical society, added her signature to necessary paperwork and submitted fees to complete the historical society’s part in the transaction.  Eileen Mitchell, co-president of the historical society, was present for the signing on July 31.  Town Clerk Ruth Miller notarized and accepted the warranty deed for recording, thereby completing the transactions needed to transfer the Community Hall to the North Hero Historical Society.

 

 

Update of the

Proposed Transfer of North Hero Town Hall

To North Hero Historical Society

 

This is an update on the progress of the Select board’s unanimous vote to title the Town Hall and its property, with deed conditions, to the North Hero Historical Society.

 

  1. The Select board warned the proposed conveyance according to state statue on February 13th. This included a warning in the Islander.

 

  1. The Select board is now working on collecting information in regards to the transfer. The information collected will be discussed at the March 5th regular Select board meeting.

 

  1. The Select board is anticipating scheduling a public informational meeting during the 2nd or 3rd week in March and will present, among other things, the conditions that we believe best satisfy the town’s interest.

 

 

The board also conducted a site visit on February 12th of property on Station Road as a potential suitable site among others for Town offices that may be used as a joint location with the North Hero Fire department or others. Fire Chief Mike Murdock briefed the Select board at our meeting on Monday the 5th of February on this site. The North Hero Fire Department reported that they had already spent much time and discussion on this site as a potential location for them.

 

Our meeting times are the 1st and 3rd Monday of the Month at the North Hero School at 6:30 pm. If you have the opportunity, please join us.

 

Details of our Select Board Meeting(s) can be found on our North Hero web site WWW.NorthHeroVT.com or stop by the Town office.                                              

 

Proposed Transfer of North Hero Town Hall

To North Hero Historical Society

 

At its meeting on January 29, 2007, the North Hero Select board voted unanimously to title the Town Hall and its property, with deed restrictions, to the North Hero Historical Society.  This action is the step that the board chose to take to resolve the issue about the future of the building.  Numerous attempts to reach a consensus have resulted in committee recommendations and multiple town votes that have failed to lead to action.  In the meantime, the issue over time has served to divide the townspeople, and the building itself has had minimal maintenance while the town struggles to determine its future.

 

The North Hero Historical Society has consistently offered to rehabilitate the Town Hall for use as a community center on its own if it were deeded the building and property.  The Society has taken preliminary steps to assess the extent of the work needed on the building and to draft a plan for a phased-in rehabilitation effort.

 

In order to implement the Select board’s decision to title the Town Hall and property to the North Hero Historical Society, the Select board will need to warn the proposed conveyance according to state statute.  A 30-day period must follow the warning. During this 30-day period the voters of North Hero have the ability to petition the Select board to hold a public vote on this subject. As this process moves forward, the board will work on deed restriction language and communications to you, the voters, through mailers and informational meetings.

 

The board also agreed upon the concept of attempting to find a suitable site for Town offices that has the potential to be used as a joint location with the North Hero Fire department or others. 

 

Our meeting times are the 1st and 3rd Monday of the Month at the North Hero School at 7:00 pm. If you have the opportunity, please join us.

 

Details of our Select Board Meeting(s) can be found on our North Hero web site WWW.NorthHeroVT.com or stop by the Town office.                                                  

 

 

The Selectboard participated in a joint meeting on June 19th at 6:30 PM with members of the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment for a Public Hearing to approve the revised zoning bylaws.

 

Members of the Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment formed an ad hoc subcommittee to address the state required revisions of the North Hero zoning by-laws.  The subcommittee met biweekly over the course of a year preparing the final document.  The subcommittee membership included Shauna Hauser, Jeanine Pratt, Mary Jane Healy, Paul Healy, Chip Porter and Pete Johnson.  The ad hoc subcommittee submitted their recommendations to the full Planning Commission, who subsequently held two public hearings and approved the bylaws.  The Planning Commission submitted the final revisions to the North Hero Selectboard, who unanimously approved the zoning by-laws.

 

Following the Public Hearing, the Selectboard had its regularly scheduled meeting with approximately 15 citizens in attendance.

 

The Selectboard presented Doug Robertson a plaque from the community for his town service from 1995 through March of 2006 on the Selectboard, Water Board and Planning Commission.  Doug and his wife, Carolyn, are moving to Belize to enjoy their retirement.

 

Public Works projects discussed and authorized include back dragging of the parking lot  between Hero’s Welcome and the Town Hall and assessing culvert concerns on Bridge Road for appropriate action.

 

Ethan Pearson, Chair of the North Hero Recreation Committee, addressed the Board expressing difficulties in filling vacant positions on his Committee.  The Recreation Committee recommended reducing the Committee from nine to five members.  The Selectboard is researching the legal process for implementing their recommendation and will address it further at the next meeting.  The Selectboard expressed gratitude to the Recreation Committee for their work, which results in wonderful recreational opportunities in the Town of North Hero.

 

Town Hall Survey results were read into the record.  However, little discussion occurred as the full Board was not in attendance.   It is expected the full Board will be in attendance at the next meeting and an in depth discussion will be warned.

 

Due to the first Monday in July being part of the July 4th holiday weekend, the next meeting of the Selectboard will be scheduled to occur on July 10th.   Normal meeting times for the Selectboard are the 1st and 3rd Monday of the month at the North Hero School at 7 PM.  All are welcome to attend.  Minutes of the Selectboard meetings can be found on the North Hero web page (www.Northherovt.org) or are available for public review at the Town Office.