September 14, 2015

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

 

 

 

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, September 14, 2015

7:00 PM

 

 

 

 

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

 

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

 

 

1.      Call to Order:

 

Neal Speer, Village President, welcomed all to the Regular Board of Trustees meeting and called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.

 

2.      Agenda Review:

 

No changes were made to the Agenda.

 

3.      Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, August 10, 2015:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, August 10, 2015 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

 

4.      Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, September 11, 2015:

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through Friday, September 11, 2015 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman asked what vendor Northrop Grumman Systems for $13,647.50 was for. Reg Beliveau stated he couldn’t remember that one but would find out and let the Board know. Eugene LaBombard asked if warrant #83 was for the Village credit card and also asked if the water line job was on schedule. Reg Beliveau said yes for both. Eugene LaBombard asked about the payment to Prime Electric. Reg Beliveau stated it was for the Hydro Plant during plant shutdown. Motion carried.

 

5.      Franklin Grand Isle Chapter of Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity request for a Coin Drop on Saturday, October 10^th with a Rain Date of Saturday, October 17, 2015:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to approve Franklin Grand Isle Chapter of Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity’s request to hold a coin drop on Saturday, October 10^th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon with a rain date of Saturday, October 17^th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman stated he would like to limit the number of coin drops to three per year. Chris Leach stated he was fine with having one per month and Eugene LaBombard agreed with that. Chris stated people can avoid the coin drop because of where it’s located if they want to. He said this is a very good fund raising event for a lot of charities. Motion carried with two yay’s and one nay.

 

6.      Utility Pole Ordinance Discussion:

 

Adam Paxman stated he asked Reg Beliveau if he could take on the Utility Pole Ordinance that the Village of Swanton was working on last year. He said there are still several utility poles throughout the Village that need to be removed and are not being removed. Adam stated he wanted to draft an Ordinance with help from Reg Beliveau and Chief Stell. He said this Ordinance will expedite the removal of old utility poles. Reg stated he had it drafted last year and Fairpoint came in and did their job. He said Comcast and Fairpoint have equal burden in attaching and removing their services from utility poles. Chris Leach was concerned with how it would be enforced. Adam stated there are about 50 poles that need to be removed and he said he would keep the Board updated on his progress with the Ordinance.

 

7.      Electric Bucket Truck Approval:

 

Reg Beliveau stated the Village of Swanton received a quote from Altec for $207,921 to build the Electric bucket truck that the voters approved back in March. Chris Leach made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton to accept Altec’s electric bucket truck bid for $207,921. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

 

8.      Any Other Necessary Business:

 

Chris Leach stated there is an important JLB meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015 regarding the Town Plan. Brian Savage, local Swanton Representative, stated right now this Town Plan has to be done every 5 years but the House just passed a bill stating it would be done every 8 years from now on. He said they are just waiting for Senate approval of this. Chris Leach stated a Town can amend their Town Plan at any time if they needed to. Adam Paxman agreed and said this is a working document. Eugene LaBombard stated they would also meet on September 23^rd to ratify the Town Plan.

 

9.      Public Comment:

 

Brian Savage stated Act 248 trumps anything to do with the utility industry and said large wind and solar projects are taking over. He said the Rocky Ridge wind project towers being proposed are larger than the ones in New York. Brian stated that he and Marianna Gamache have been working on power projects, in the case of generation, and said they will have to go through local Zoning and Planning Commissions. He said they met with the Governor last week and it went better than he expected.

 

10.  Executive Session to Discuss Legal Matters:

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Legal Matters at 7:30 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

 

Chris Leach made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:27 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

 

ACTION TAKEN: None.

 

11.  Adjournment:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:27 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:27 p.m. Motion carried.

 

 

 

_____________________________________          _______________________________________

Neal Speer, Village President                           Date

 

 

 

_____________________________________          ___________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                               Date

 

 

 

August 10, 2015

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

 

 

 

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, August 10, 2015

7:00 PM

 

 

 

 

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

 

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

 

 

1.      Call to Order:

 

Neal Speer, Village President, welcomed all to the Regular Board of Trustees meeting and called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

2.      Agenda Review:

 

No changes were made to the Agenda.

 

3.      Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, July 13, 2015:

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, July 13, 2015 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman asked for clarification on the Water Fund paragraph. Chris Leach asked when the next JLB meeting was scheduled for. Adam Paxman stated it was scheduled for September 16, 2015. Chris stated they needed to discuss the Methodist Church parking lot issue at that meeting. Eugene LaBombard said they should also contact the Village’s insurance company to see if the liability coverage would be sufficient if the Village were to maintain that parking lot. Adam stated he would talk with Joel Clark regarding this and do some homework before the meeting so they are prepared to discuss it. Motion carried.

 

4.      Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, August 7, 2015:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through Friday, August 7, 2015 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach asked about the St. Albans Police Department payment for $56,429.06. Reg Beliveau stated that was for dispatching services and said that Missisquoi Valley Rescue and Fire pay a portion of that bill. Motion carried.

 

5.      Cogsdale Billing Software Upgrade Quote:

 

Reg Beliveau explained to the Board of Trustees that the Village office needed to upgrade the billing software program that they are currently using at an expense of $25,200. This will include upgrading GP Dynamics and Cogsdale to the latest version of GP2015 with technical upgrade assistance, new feature training and project management. This covers the Village’s annual maintenance and support he explained. Adam Paxman made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton to accept Cosgdale’s quote of $25,200 to upgrade the billing software to CSM/GP2015. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

 

6.      ICloud Online Billing Update:

 

Reg Beliveau explained to the Board that he received the ICloud Online Billing contract and asked them to change it from a 3 year contract to one that states the Village can terminate at any time if not satisfied with the program. Reg also explained that when the Village offers this online billing to their customers the Village will be able to discontinue paying the hackers insurance they now need to carry because the Village holds customer’s credit card information. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton to enter into a contract with ICloud Online Billing to offer online billing services to the Village of Swanton ratepayers. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried. Reg also stated a representative will be at the NEPPA conference so the Board will be able to ask questions then also.

 

7.      Set 2015 Tax Rate:

 

Reg Beliveau stated that Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, estimated the tax rate in the Village Report to be .7427 but because the Grand List increased a bit it actually needs to be .7407 for 2015. Chris Leach made the motion to set the Village of Swanton tax rate at .7407 for the year 2015. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

 

8.      Hungerford Brook Grant Proposal:

 

Reg Beliveau stated he was contacted by Jaime Tibbits from Agrilab Technologies LLC regarding a grant that they applied for along with Friends of Northern Lake Champlain (FNLC) which would entail planting trees on property owned by the Village of Swanton on Route 207 and Woodshill Road. This grant is called the Trees for Streams project and is funded 100% by the Vermont Community Foundation’s Lake Champlain and Tributaries Restoration Fund. As a condition of Agrilab and FNLC covering 100% of the cost of trees and shrubs and coordinating volunteers and planters to implement the project, the trees must be maintained for a minimum of 10 years. By agreeing to this project, the Village agrees there will be no cutting or clearing of these trees/shrubs for farming or views. Reg provided the Board with a map showing a 7.4 acre planting area by Hungerford Brook and another 3.15 acre area off from Woodshill Road. Chris Leach made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton to accept Agrilab and Friends of Northern Lake Champlain’s Trees for Streams grant for trees and shrubs to be planted on property owned by the Village of Swanton by Hungerford Brook and on Route 207, funded 100% by the Vermont Community Foundation’s Lake Champlain and Tributaries Restoration Fund. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

 

9.      Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Task Force Request to hold a Block Party at Flat Iron Park Saturday, September 12, 2015:

 

Reg Beliveau informed the Board that he was contacted by Rev John H.D. Lucy regarding a Block Party. He said the Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Task Force are requesting permission to hold a Block Party on Saturday, September 12 on Flat Iron Park off of Grand Avenue. He said they are hoping to bring the community together as an indirect means for preventing substance abuse and feels York and Second Streets are particularly being targeted as neighborhoods in need of some love and support at this time. He said they will have a banner, a photo booth, games, food and music so will need a sound system set up. He said Turning Point from St. Albans and other church groups will also be there involved as hospitality groups. Adam Paxman made the motion to approve the Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention Task Force’s request to hold a Block Party on Saturday, September 12^th at Flat Iron Park. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

 

10.  Any Other Necessary Business:

 

Adam Paxman asked how Fairpoint was doing regarding taking down old utility poles. Reg Beliveau stated they were doing fine and keeping to their agreement with the Village.

 

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated the Chamber of Commerce held their 6^th Annual Car Show on July 25^th and had 217 cars in the Village Green. He said they had a great day with great support. He said they were able to make three donations this year, one to the Teen Center, the Cub Scouts and the Food Shelf. Adam said next year’s 7^th Annual Car Show will be held on July 24^th. He also said he received an email from a couple who attended stating what a great show it was and what a great place Swanton was to raise a family in. He said he heard a lot of beautiful comments that day.

 

Any Other Business: Chris Leach asked about the new building at the Hydro Plant. Eugene LaBombard stated he went up to see it and it’s almost complete. Reg Beliveau stated it was done under budget so they are putting in a computer screen and camera in which will allow the operators to see everything while they are in that building. Reg stated he would like to hold a meeting there in the near future and also at the sewer plant. Chris also stated he is on the Energy Commission and said he needs some information. He said he has generated some questions he’d like answers to. He said it appears to him they way they are being pressured regarding purchase power they are being set up to fail and he’d like to ease his mind or bring light to it. Reg stated it’s not just here it’s in the whole northeast and NEPPA is looking at price fixing in the New England region. Chris said he is very concerned and Eugene stated he is also. Reg suggested they talk with Dave Mullett at VPPSA and have their questions ready for the NEPPA conference which will be held August 23^rd through the 27^th at Mount Washington in New Hampshire. Reg also said they are not talking about VT Public Power enough and hope to bring it to light at the legislative rally in Washington in March.

 

Reg Beliveau stated he needed an Executive Session to discuss Real Estate.

 

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau informed the Board that the water transmission line job was coming along great. He said six fire hydrants were installed on the Waugh Farm Road. He said there is still landscaping to be done to asked that the residents that live there be patient. He also said they are getting ready to do the directional boring next week.

 

11.  Public Comment:

 

None

 

12.  Executive Session (If Necessary):

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Real Estate at 7:55 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:30 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

 

ACTION TAKEN: None.

 

13.  ADJOURNMENT:

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:30 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Motion carried.

 

 

 

_____________________________________          _______________________________________

Neal Speer, Village President                           Date

 

 

 

_____________________________________          ___________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                               Date