SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, November 25, 2019
7:00 PM
PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau Jr., Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Amy Brewer and Crystal Lampman, Franklin County Caring Communities; and Ch. 16.
Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.
- 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.
- Agenda Review:
Adam Paxman stated Item #7 can be taken off agenda as the Police Chief has a prior commitment.
3. Public Comment:
None.
4. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, October 28, 2019 Meeting:
Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from the Monday, October 28, 2019 meeting as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach asked when the Stop Sign Ordinance would take effect. Reg Beliveau stated in January 2020. Motion carried.
5. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through November 22, 2019:
Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through November 22, 2019 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach asked about the payment made to the Town of Highgate for $373,590.12. Reg Beliveau stated that was for property taxes and that figure is based on generation at the Hydro Plant. He also asked about the payment made to Paul Nolan for $10,620.78. Reg stated he is the attorney working on relicensing the Hydro Plant. Motion carried.
6. Crystal Lampman & Amy Brewer – Franklin County Caring Communities Presentation:
Amy Brewer from Franklin County Caring Communities and FGI Tobacco Prevention Coalition explained to the Board that they are working on Healthy Communities for Healthy Kids. She said according to recent surveys alcohol and tobacco use is up in Franklin County and this is a problem because an adolescents brain isn’t fully developed until approximately age 25. She said adolescents who use alcohol during adolescence, are 5 times more likely to develop a substance abuse disorder. Crystal Lampman, Executive Director at Franklin County Caring Communities, stated they have been working on looking at local retailers in the area looking at advertising placement. She also mentioned the vaping problem and how the assorted flavors entice young people to try it. Chris Leach mentioned all the negative ads against smoking but said they should try using someone kids can identify with to say don’t smoke and don’t drink. He suggested maybe an athlete or music star. Crystal stated they met with the surgeon general last year and said they really enjoyed his message. Amy talked about a kid walking to school along First Street and said they walk by 8 stores. She said the sign placement is a real problem and said some communities are putting restrictions on businesses as to what and where they can place ads. Neal Speer stated that may be a good idea but said area business owners are trying to make a living and he wouldn’t want to place anymore restrictions on them. They also discussed the Iceland program that will be introduced to MVUHS. Crystal said they started this program 20 years ago and have had a 90% reduction in substance use. She said participants have family dinners together, spend time together and do recreational activities together. Adam Paxman stated they’ve talked about students and the community having an affect on substance use but said what kids see at home is more powerful than that. Crystal and Amy continued to provide the Board with information on alcohol and tobacco use. The Board thanked them for their presentation.
7. Swanton Village Police Department Update:
Tabled until next meeting.
8. Any Other Necessary Business:
Chris Leach asked if the Village had any more information on Champlain Housing Trust. Reg Beliveau stated he and Lynn gave them recommendations, background and history information on the property but haven’t heard anything back as of yet. He also said he received the latest financials from Lynn and asked how the electric department was doing. Reg stated their generation is catching up. Chris said he would like to see a graph on the generation so he could track it daily. He said people don’t realize how important the electric department is to this community. He said he would like to be able to set their own rates because there are no breaks for high users. Chris also stated the flags in the park are beautiful and wished they could do more than the 110 flags there now. Adam Paxman said it was a lot of work to put up the 110 flags and said volunteers are needed for this job. Chris also asked about the BB gun issue shooting windows at local businesses and also asked about Butch Patch’s river wall issue. Reg said he believed that was taken care of.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau informed the Board that the new F350 being purchased for the electric department will come from EJ Barrette Ford. He also said relicensing is progressing at the Hydro Plant but he is concerned with the issue Morrisville is having with the Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Reg said during their relicensing ANR and DEC wanted to increase Morrisville’s minimum flows to protect fish and also for canoeing. Morrisville said these minimum flows wouldn’t make them any money so appealed this to the Supreme Court. He said the court upheld the original request by ANR and DEC and now Morrisville doesn’t know what they’re going to do.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau informed the Board he has been working on the general permit for their storm water permits because they need to conform to the new storm water rules. He said he had a meeting with Pomerleau regarding property management and wetlands. He said they will need to do something with the Hannafords parking lot and they are trying to work together with Pomerleau, the Town of Swanton and the Village. Chris Leach stated the state should be more concerned with farmers fields and how they drain. Eugene LaBombard said manure spreading is supposed to stop the first of November but the state has relaxed the rules this year. Reg said the Green Mountain Water Environment Association (GMWEA) has put together a brochure explaining to people what can be flushed down the toilet and what can’t be like drugs and personal care products. He said this was done thanks to a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program, with project support from VLCT. He said wastewater treatment plants can only handle the three P’s: Pee, Poop and Paper!
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau informed the Board that he received a letter from Northwest Access TV stating they’ve had an 8% decline in revenue and they are asking for $1193 yearly for filming the Board meetings. He said he would split this amount amongst the electric, water and sewer departments. The Board agreed to this.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau read a thank you letter from Vermont Electric Coop for the mutual aide they received during the latest wind storm. The letter stated Daren Plouff and Brendan Hurley were a tremendous help to them. Reg Beliveau stated he would need an Executive Session to discuss personnel and real estate.
Any Other Business: Neal Speer, Village President, said he attended the Swanton Town Selectboard meeting last week and said there was a presentation on the Town purchasing the Teen Center which is located in the old Wayside Furniture building. He said the Village of Swanton supports this as well as Betsy Fournier. He said the Town has his support for this because the community needs it and they don’t want to let it go by.
9. Executive Session if Necessary:
Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel and real estate at 8:21 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
Chris Leach made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:40 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
ACTION TAKEN: None.
10. Adjournment:
Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:40 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:40 p.m. Motion carried.
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Neal Speer, Village President Date
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Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date