This page is maintained by Swanton Village, Inc and is intended to be the official online posting of public meetings and minutes in accordance with Vermont’s Open Meeting law (Amended July 1st, 2014).

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

October 27, 2014

 

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

 

 

 

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, October 27, 2014

7 PM

 

 

 

PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reg Beliveau, Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; and Ch. 16.

 

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

 

Neal Speer, Village President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Tuesday, October 14, 2014 Meeting:

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from Tuesday, October 14, 2014 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman requested Kyle Bouchard’s last name be added to his name. Reginald Beliveau informed the Board that vendor AW Chesterson was used for gaskets for the penstock at the Hydro Plant. Motion carried.

 

2. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, October 24, 2014:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants #104-109 through Friday, October 24, 2014 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman asked about IMS Real Estate vendor for $2,743. Reg Beliveau stated he couldn’t remember but would look that one up for the next meeting. Chris Leach asked about the refund to a customer on Warrant #105, we explained Swanton Village owed her money when she closed her account. Motion carried.

 

3. VPPSA Project 10 Dispatch Agreement Update:

 

Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager, stated that Swanton Village employees have always dispatched for VPPSA’s Project 10 site but stated they have never had a formal agreement in place. He stated they have now come up with a formal agreement and VPPSA has agreed to pay the Village of Swanton a one-time payment of $19,500 to construct an addition to the Highgate Hydro Plant to help with the dispatching of Project 10. Adam Paxman asked Reg if he was comfortable with this agreement and Reg stated he was. Eugene LaBombard asked when the construction of the addition would begin. Reg stated they were supposed to start two weeks ago but didn’t. He said it would be an 8x8 addition with a garage door on it with heavy duty flooring.

 

Chris Leach made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton’s Manager Reginald Beliveau to enter into a formal dispatching agreement with VPPSA’s Project 10 site. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

 

4. Electric Cost of Service Update:

 

Reginald Beliveau informed the Board he received a draft today from the Class Cost of Service Study to make sure the burden was appropriate across all categories. Chris Leach asked if Swanton Village could do a comparison of what a farmer pays on Swanton Village rates compared to Green Mountain Power or VEC. Eugene LaBombard asked if there was anything controversial here and Reg stated no he didn’t believe there was. Adam Paxman said they should have Lynn Paradis come in and explain it to them one more time before it is approved. All Board members agreed to this.

 

5. Hydro Improvement Line of Credit:

 

Village Clerk Dianne Day presented the Board with the Hydro Plant Improvement Line of Credit documents to be signed which were approved at their October 14, 2014 meeting. The Line of Credit was approved for $850,000 at a rate of 1.05% with People’s United Bank. The Board members signed all necessary documents.

 

 

6. Water Line Project Line of Credit:

 

Village Clerk Dianne Day presented the Board with the Water Line Project Line of Credit documents to be signed which were approved at their October 14, 2014 meeting. The Line of Credit was approved for $500,000 at a rate of .97% at the Union Bank. The Board members signed all necessary documents.

 

7. Any Other Necessary Business:

 

Chris Leach stated he lives adjacent to the Sewer Plant and said he has been hearing a lot of shooting taking place out there. He asked if anyone has been hunting out there. Reg Beliveau stated he didn’t think so but said he would look into it. Chris also stated that the Brown Foundry property has been cleaned up. Adam Paxman stated that David Fosgate purchased it and will be doing light industrial business there.

 

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated that the Chamber of Commerce will be holding Christmas in the Park on November 29, 2014 with a tree lighting ceremony, horse drawn carriage rides, etc. He said they plan on purchasing a banner that says “Merry Christmas” and hanging it on the swan pond. He said Reg Beliveau contacted VLCT regarding this and they suggest a banner being hung on Village owned property shouldn’t state this. The Board suggested his banner state “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays.” Adam stated that if there was a complaint the Chamber of Commerce takes full responsibility and said this has nothing to do with the Village of Swanton. He said because VLCT cautioned the Village his banner will state both on it. He said the event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. with music, food, Santa, a memorial tree where folks can buy a ribbon for a memory of a loved one that’s passed away and they will hold a moment of silence. He also stated that this Friday they will hold Halloween in the Park. There will be pumpkin carving, candy, storytelling, a DJ, costumes, etc. He said 20 businesses have signed up to participate and the event is from 5 to 8 p.m. He also said the Abenaki’s are having a dance on Grand Avenue at their building with a haunted garage in the back.

 

Any Other Business: Chris Leach asked about the basketball hoops down at Marble Mill. Reg Beliveau stated that they are looking into it and said they are now 3 to 4” too short because they re-surfaced the court.

 

Any Other Business: Eugene LaBombard stated it was time to start working on budgets soon. Reg stated that Lynn has been working on them. He asked if they have been working on appraisals yet and Reg said they have just begun that process. Chris Leach stated he would rather see a dollar amount this year instead of a percentage. The Board agreed they should start working on budgets soon.

 

Any Other Business: Chris Leach stated he would be stepping down from the Solid Waste District Board of Directors early next year. He said they are in a very good place and it’s time for him to get done so if anyone is interested in joining their Board of Directors to contact him and step forward.

 

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated he needed an Executive Session to discuss real estate. He also stated he is still working on the Storm Water Grants for Marble Mill. He said they are still trying to acquire some property on Webster Terrace but are having some difficulties. He said there is another area they are looking at to reduce phosphorus entering the river and lake.

 

8. Executive Session (If Necessary):

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Real Estate at 7:50 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:36 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

 

ACTION TAKEN: None.

 

ADJOURN: Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:36 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:36 p.m. Motion carried.

 

 

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Neal Speer, Village President                           Date

 

 

 

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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                               Date