SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, January 26, 2015
7 PM
PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; David Mullett and Brian Callan, VPPSA; Joe Letourneau and Ch. 16.
Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.
Neal Speer, Village President, welcomed all to the Regular Board of Trustees meeting and called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, January 12, 2015:
Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, January 12, 2015 and as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.
2. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, January 23, 2015:
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through January 23, 2015 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman asked about the US Bank payment. Lynn Paradis explained that was for their monthly bond payments. Motion carried.
The Board decided to move to item #4 because Chris Leach was coming in late.
4. Electric Cost of Service Update:
Reg Beliveau stated the Village put Warnings in the utility bills for a public meeting that will be held the first week in March. He said they are waiting for an approval notice back from the Public Service Board. He said this is revenue neutral, the Village is just cost shifting but said this could take several more months to complete. He said this is normal course of business for the PSB.
5. Adopt and Sign 2015 Annual Warning:
Neal Speer, Village President, read the 2015 Annual Warning to the Board members. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to adopt and sign the 2015 Annual Warning as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.
6. 4th Quarter SQRP for Review:
Chris Leach stated he wanted to congratulate the electric crew and the office crew for another great quarter. Eugene LaBombard asked if anyone ever commented on a bill error that the Village had last quarter. Lynn Paradis advised no.
The Board moved back to Item #3
3. 2015 VPPSA Update:
David Mullett and Brian Callan from VPPSA were present for this presentation to try and explain to the Board how they determine Swanton Village’s budget for the coming year. They presented a handout covering some of the topics they look at at the Hydro Plant. The handout included the following:
- Relationship of Market Prices to PS Budget
- Historical Power Supply Budget to Actual Costs
- Highgate Falls Efficiency Gains
- Historical Power Supply $/kWh Relationship to Market Energy Prices (Forecasted View Also Provided)
- Power Supply Cost Actual to Budget Variance 2003-2014
- Avg Daily MWh Production (including Unit 5)/Avg Daily Million Cubic Feet of Water (Swanton Gauge)
- Highgate Falls Average Daily Output Using Different Flow Values
- 2013-2014 Missisquoi River Flows
- 2014 Availability/Online Percentage for Highgate Falls
- Next Steps?
- Suggest technical engineering assessment of Highgate Falls – when to use which unit depending on flow of river in order to maximize value; upgrades needed?
Brian Callan stated that after all their research and data collected VPPSA feels Swanton Village would benefit greatly by having an engineering company come in and study the facility to see how it could run better. He stated over the last year they ran an experiment with running Unit #5 but feels an engineer can better read the collected data. He said the plant would also benefit with needed upgrades. The Board thanked Brian and David for coming in and giving them this presentation.
7. Any Other Necessary Business:
Adam Paxman asked how the Village was doing with collecting their delinquent taxes. Lynn Paradis stated she feels some tax sales are needed at this time and said she is carrying numbers over from year to year and would like to see those cleared up.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau reminded everyone of the upcoming Community Visit being held on Wednesday, January 28th. He said he would be closing the Village office at 2 p.m. so that the employees could attend and he urged all residents to attend these meetings.
8. Executive Session to Discuss Personnel:
Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Personnel at 8:32 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session at 10:43 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
ACTION TAKEN: None.
ADJOURN: Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 10:45 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 10:45 p.m. Motion carried.
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Neal Speer, Village President Date
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Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date