SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, February 8, 2021
7:00 PM
PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau Jr., Village Manager; Via Zoom: Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager; Elisabeth Nance, Economic Development Coordinator; Betsy Fournier, Heather Buckowski, Don Bourgeois, Gordon Winters; Span Members: Michelle Nordberg, Priscilla Connelly, and Janet Dimick; and Ch. 16.
Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.
- Call to Order:
Neal Speer, Village President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
- Pledge of Allegiance:
Everyone present stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Agenda Review:
Reg Beliveau stated they would like to table Item #8 for Ordinances until their March meeting. Neal Speer said he would like to clarify that the zoom meeting that was held on the Downtown Scoping Study was just a discussion and they were being presented with options. He said there was some public suggestions as well and there were no decisions made on which plan they are going to go with. He said there would be more public hearings in the future regarding this issue. He said tonight is just an update from the Economic Development Coordinator on their last meeting. Adam Paxman stated he would like an Executive Session for real estate and Reg said he needed to discuss personnel as well.
- Public Comment:
Betsy Fournier said she would like to write a grant for safer access to Marble Mill Park. She said this is a VTrans grant and there is no match necessary other than in kind work from the public works department. She is currently working on this and waiting on some clarification from Jim Cota from the State of Vermont on the placement of the flashing beacon. She said she didn’t really understand his response and was unclear whether or not she could proceed or if there was another funding source. Reg said he thought he was eluding to there was another funding source but said at this point he would suggest to Betsy that she move forward with the grant. She said she does have it started and is waiting on a quote or two. She said she’s not sure if they’re going to be able to do all three of the flashing beacons of the price. She said they are extremely expensive but said she would work up a budget and see where they can go. Reg said to apply for what they can and Jim Cota may have an option for the remainder. Betsy said she would proceed with this and make it her top priority.
Heather Buczkowski said she really appreciates Betsy taking the time to do that grant because Marble Mill is a special place for her family and she appreciates her working hard to make it a safer place.
Betsy Fournier also said the Swanton Rec Department is doing a skate day on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. She said the reason it’s at the rec department and not in the Village Green is because if the Governor changed any guidelines they wanted to make sure they could closely monitor that. She said social distancing and wearing a mask is required at all events at the rec department. She said they are also going to be starting basketball for the 4th graders on Tuesdays and Thursdays, following all guidelines. She said the Armory has offered their space for them and they’re excited for that opportunity.
Reg Beliveau stated that Don Bourgeois had an idea on the Downtown Scoping Study and he wanted to show what he is suggesting. Reg said this design looks at making Grand Avenue in front of the library a one way street and redirecting truck traffic onto York Street and down Canada Street. Chris Leach said it should be documented that they discussed a truck route from the west side of Route 78 over to Interstate 89. Gordon Winters stated the Scoping Study is still accepting public comments until February 12th. Reg said he shared it with the public works crew and they liked the alternative #1 and didn’t like alternative #2 because of the sidewalk.
- Approve and Sign Minutes from Monday, January 25, 2021 as presented:
Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, January 25, 2021 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.
- Approve and Sign Warrants through Friday, February 5, 2021 as presented:
Chris Leach made the motion to approve and sign Warrants through Friday, February 5, 2021 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.
- Economic Development Coordinator Update on Downtown Scoping Study and Brella Program:
Elisabeth Nance said she wanted to thank the Trustees and everyone who attended the downtown scoping study meeting. She said there were 33 attendees and she does have the link if anyone is interested in watching it. She said there have been some comments on social media that are not constructive and there is some miscommunication so she’s had some conversations to kind of ease some of the concerns. She said parking is the biggest concern and one thing that was not communicated well is that the green space on the slides does not represent actual green space downtown, it was just the color they chose to show the space that wasn’t going to be utilized. She said Scampers and the laundromat are losing the most parking spaces but they needed to use the safest route. She said nothing is finalized yet and they have applied for funds called the Better Places grant, to test some things out. She said the next meeting will be in late March or early April with VHB. Chris Leach stated somewhere in the report please talk about how a truck route from 78 west to I89 would alleviate the trucks in the Village. He said people need to start talking about this again and he said it seems logical to only mention it. Elisabeth said as she’s said in the past, if you lose the trucks you lose the cars because they will take the truck route to bypass the Village as well. Chris said he thought the idea of this was safety.
Elisabeth said she isn’t prepared to talk about the Brella program tonight in regards to the Riviere property and asked that it be put on the March agenda. She said it has to do with brownfield liability and regulations and would follow the property. She said the Village is applying for $30,000 USDA rural development funds to do the brownfield Phase II work and that deadline has been moved back to March 31st. They also discussed funds available to help remove petroleum and whether or not there is any in the grounds there.
- Adopt New and Revoke Old Swanton Village Ordinances as Presented:
Tabled until a March meeting.
- Any Other Necessary Business:
Adam Paxman said if you’re a snow plow truck driver the speed limit through the Village is 30 mph not 50 mph.
Any Other Business: Chris Leach asked if there was a plan in effect for voting day. Reg stated they would use the same plan as they did with the November election. Elisabeth said if you would like an absentee ballot you need to request one at your Town or Village Clerks office. Neal Speer stated a joint informational meeting will be held on Monday, February 22 via zoom with both the Town and the Village.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated NOTCH held their first COVID-19 vaccine clinic here at the complex on February 4th and vaccinated 90 people. He said the second clinic will be held on February 18th and they are hoping to vaccinate 190 more people. He said they plan on keeping this going until everyone has been vaccinated.
Any Other Business: Eugene LaBombard asked if the Village reports were being mailed. Reg said yes they are. He also asked about the Town report. Elisabeth said they are not yet available and will be ready next week. She said they will be dropped off at local businesses for people to pick up.
Any Other Business: Neal Speer stated he wanted to thank everyone who attended the Downtown Scoping Study meeting as well. He said it was very well attended and he’d like all meetings to be that well attended.
- Executive Session to Discuss a Tax Account, Real Estate and Personnel:
Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session at 7:40 p.m. to discuss a tax account, real estate and personnel. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to exit Executive Session at 7:55 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.
ACTION TAKEN: Adam Paxman made the motion to allow the Swanton Village Delinquent Tax Collector to open an estate on a specific property on the Village’s behalf as requested by the Delinquent Tax Collector. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
11. Adjournment:
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 7:55 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m. Motion carried.
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Neal Speer, Village President Date
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Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date