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).

Monday, January 30, 2012

BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488




MINUTES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPECIAL MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, 2012
7:00 PM



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

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

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

1.      Adopt and Sign 2012 Annual Warning:

The Village of Swanton 2012 Annual Warning was read to the Board of Trustees. Chris Leach wanted to note that Article 7 covers all Village owned Parks and suggested they explain that at the Informational Meeting to be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.

Chris Leach made the motion to Adopt and Sign the 2012 Village of Swanton Annual Warning as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. All Board members signed Warning.

2.      Any Other Necessary Business:

Adam Paxman requested the Burn Out Competition request be added to the February 13, 2012 agenda. Chris Leach also requested the Informational Meeting Preparation be added to the February 13, 2012 agenda.

3.      Executive Session to Discuss Contracts:

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter Executive Session to Discuss Contracts at 7:15 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded.

Chris Leach made the motion to exit Executive Session at 9:25 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded.

ACTION TAKEN: None.

ADJOURN: Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Special Meeting for Monday, January 30, 2012 at 9:25 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the Special meeting at 9:25 p.m.


_____________________________________                      _______________________________________
Neal Speer, Village President                                       Date



_____________________________________                      _______________________________________
Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                           Date


Monday, January 23, 2012

Trustee Meeting Minutes - January 23rd, 2012

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488


MINUTES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 2012
7:00 PM



PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reg Beliveau, Village Manager; Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Mark Rocheleau, Chamber of Commerce; Tim Smith, FCIDC and Channel 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 p.m.

1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, January 9, 2012 Meeting:

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, January 9, 2012 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Chris Leach asked if any customers had called with questions regarding the 2012 budgets, Lynn advised no they had not. Motion carried.

2. Approve and Accept the following Warrant: Warrant #368 for $65,816.83; Warrant #369 for $44,050.92; Warrant #370 for $379.64; Warrant #371 for $187,438.65; Warrant #372 for $913.00; Warrant #373 for $193,021.28 and Warrant #374 for $3,713.30:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Warrants #368 through #374 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Chris Leach asked how often we were billed from VPPSA for purchase power? Lynn explained we were billed monthly.

5. Any Other Necessary Business:

Mark Rocheleau from the Chamber of Commerce requested use of the Village Park on Saturday, July 28, 2012 for their annual Car Show, with a rain date of Sunday, July 29, 2012. He said the hours would be from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and would have everything cleaned up and out by 4 p.m. He said he expected to have approximately 150 to 170 cars in the park. He also asked the Board for permission to hold a “Burn Out” competition. He showed the Board a video of other car shows doing this and showed what safety precautions they put in place when doing this. He said they put blocks in front of the front tires and put up a shield behind the vehicle so debris doesn’t fly out. He said each car would burn out for 15 to 20 seconds and the crowd chooses the winner by cheering. He showed the rubber left behind on the roadway, causing minimum damage to the road. He asked the Board to think about this for a while and get back to him with a decision on the burn out competition.

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve the Chamber’s request for their Annual Car Show on Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a rain date of Sunday, July 29, 2012. Chris Leach seconded. He stated they would give review to the Burn Out Competition and get back to him with an answer within 30 days. Motion carried.

3. Tim Smith, FCIDC Update:

Tim Smith gave his best regards to Neal Speer on hearing of his Village President retirement. Neal stated he would like to stay on with the Northwest Regional Planning Commission and said the Village has enjoyed working with FCIDC and they have enjoyed a great friendship. Tim stated he is making his rounds visiting all the local boards to update everyone on what they were doing. He said his biggest message is how fortunate Franklin County has been. He said the unemployment rate is 4.6% and there are places still hiring. He said VT Precision Tools is hiring as well as other local businesses. He said the only downfall to the unemployment rate dropping to 3.2% is it is then hard to find good help. He said the State of Vermont offered any company that hires a college graduate in engineering, that individual would receive a $1500 check from the State. He said that is a five year program and hopes local companies will use that incentive. He said this is a way of recruiting young people to the State and that there are 50 sponsorships available. He said Kathy Lavoie works with an internship program with local high school students placing them in local businesses. Reg advised that Swanton Village hired a high school student through this internship program. Tim stated that Kathy is working on a tour and panel discussion regarding sugaring operations and food processing plants. She has placed over 100 high school students from the five area high schools and also kids who have gone to college but came back for some reason. This program works with kids age 18 to 23.

Tim stated that at a meeting last week they determined that 76% of high school students have been accepted into colleges and that they are trying to educate the remaining 24% with vocational skills. He said Mylan and Ben & Jerry’s will pay up to $5400 per year toward college classes and said this will have an impact on keeping kids here.

He said FCIDC is also working on taking their initiative into Canada letting them know what’s available here in Franklin County and will hopefully attract more Canadian businesses here. He said there is a promotional banner hanging in the Northbound Rest Area on I89 about expanding business into the US market. Neal stated that they are working on building a super highway in Canada and said that will hopefully boost business in our area and that it would be very beneficial. Chris Leach stated it would be great to attract young kids to this area.

Tim said they are working on the diversified agricultural businesses in Franklin County to help them grow and expand. He said they are working on putting out a directory to educate the community on who is selling organic beef, vegetables, products, etc. He said hopefully this will help grow their businesses. He said the Job Expo this year will be held on March 29, 2012 at the Collins Perley Complex in St. Albans. He said over 650 people attended last year.

Adam Paxman asked Tim if he had an update on the Challenger Learning Center. Tim stated they are working on finalizing their presentation and will begin soliciting large businesses for donations and said it is moving forward. Adam stated this would be beneficial to Franklin County and would help create a lot of very smart kids. Tim said they raised $55,000 for permits, now they need to raise a lot more and said they have three years to raise the funds.

The Board thanked Tim for coming in and updating them and said they are happy with the good relationship they have with FCIDC and associated groups like Northwest Regional Planning.

4. Adopt 2012 Budgets:

Lynn advised the Board she has completed her budgets in all departments and gave them a quick overview of each department. She said nothing had changed in the Electric Dept. since their last meeting other than her purchase power amount. She said she received her purchase power budget from VPPSA and it had increased by $161,000. Chris Leach asked if she anticipated a rate increase this year and she said she would have VPPSA look at their numbers to see if one was necessary. She said it would be better to raise the rates in small increments rather than large ones like the last increase. She said overall the Electric Department is showing a slight loss for 2012.

She stated there were no changes in the Water Department as well. She said she would like to run the numbers for a rate increase in this department because there have been increased costs and they haven’t raised the rates. She also said she would like to fund depreciation as well. She said so far this year the Public Works crew has had 7 water leaks since the beginning of the New Year and that they need to start putting away money for these repairs. Chris Leach said hopefully soon they will go before the voters to get approval to move forward with the 2nd and 3rd phase of the transmission and infrastructure job. Lynn said at this point they are $150,000 under budget for the Water Treatment Plant upgrade and they would need to go before the voters and get permission to use those funds on pipe work, etc. Chris Leach stated he was disappointed they didn’t get voter approval to do the whole project. Lynn said she would like to have a Class Cost of Study done so that their rate structure is a more fair way of billing. She said the big users would pay more fairly for their usage.

Lynn said there were no changes in the Sewer Department as well. She said the same theory exists in this department as with the Water billing. She said they need to restructure their rates. Chris stated it makes sense to do them both at the same time.

Lynn advised there were no changes in the Highway Department as well. Chris asked if they were still planning on doing sidewalk projects and thought a list of the anticipated paving jobs would be nice to hand out at the Annual Meeting. Lynn stated they weren’t raising any more in taxes than last year in this department. She said there is 18 months left on the truck loan and in 2013 that will come out of the budget. They mentioned how old the vactor was and that a new one would be a possibility in the near future.

Lynn said there were no changes in the General Fund to the Complex and the Park. She said they would take $35,000 out of savings to do repairs on the building and said she bumped up maintenance of parks so that they could purchase benches and garbage receptacles.

Lynn said the Fire Department has seen an increase due to personal protective equipment and radios needing to be purchased. She said these items are needed for safety issues and gear needs replacing and after talking to Rick King they added these items back in because of the necessity of them.

Lynn said the only change in the Police Department was in the equipment line item. She said she bumped it up by $4000 because their computers are 6 to 7 years old and need replacing. She said this budget is also up because of their SRO (Student Resource Officer) grant and that the Village has to pay his fourth year of payroll for July and August.

Lynn advised the Board that there were no changes in the Commercial Building Fund and that this was income from the Blake Street Project and the School Housing project.

Lynn said overall she tried to keep all departments level funded but that there is a 10% increase in the Fire Department without the new fire truck. She said the Police Department is up just under 6% but she couldn’t get around the SRO grant. She explained that on a home assessed at $150,000 there would be a $33 increase and that the estimated tax rate would go from .63 to .65. She said if Article 7 gets approved that would add $7.67 to a $150,000 home. Article 7 is asking for $8000 for park enhancements like trees and benches.

Lynn said that if the fire truck purchase was approved that would add approximately $20 to a $150,000 home. Eugene stated that the overall budget was up from their last meeting from 3.3% to 3.5%. Reg stated it was because the Fire Department really needs the new equipment and fire truck and that hopefully next year they can keep those items level funded. Eugene stated he could see where it is coming from and that it is necessary.

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to adopt their 2012 budget as presented. He stated they had several questions asked and answered and he is satisfied with the information. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried. Lynn stated that if any customers had any questions or concerns to please call and she would answer their questions.

Reg stated that the Fire Department wanted to put an article in the St. Albans Messenger to get the information out there. He said to call, stop by or email them with any questions also. He stated the Village’s Informational Meeting would be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 7 p.m.

5. Any Other Necessary Business:

Eugene LaBombard asked Lynn how the audit was going. She said it was going well and because of the recent embezzlement cases in the State of Vermont they added some extra work but overall it went well.

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman said a resident called him and asked if there was an auditorium in the Village owned building on Label Lane. Neal explained there was but the cost to remodel that building would be astronomical so not a good idea. He said they did some renovations about 10 years ago. Chris Leach stated that building provides income to the Village and the Teen Center uses the bowling alley and recreation room. Neal said it is still considered the Veterans Memorial Building.

Reg advised the Board he would need an Executive Session to Discuss Contracts. Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session at 9:06 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded.

Chris Leach made the motion to exit Executive Session at 9:28 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded.

Chris Leach made the motion to enter Regular Session at 9:29 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Chris Leach made the motion to authorize Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager, to terminate the Village’s Contract with Bridgestone. Eugene LaBombard seconded.

ADJOURN: Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of Trustees meeting at 9:40 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. There being no further business at hand Neal Speer, Village President; adjourned the Regular Board of Trustees meeting at 9:40 p.m.

_____________________________________                      _______________________________________
Neal Speer, Village President                                       Date


_____________________________________                      _______________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                           Date

Monday, January 9, 2012

Trustee Meeting Minutes - January 9th, 2012

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488




MINUTES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012
7:00 PM



PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reg Beliveau, Village Manager; Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; and Channel 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 p.m.

1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, December 19, 2011 Meeting:

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, December 19, 2011 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

2. Approve and Accept the following Warrant: Warrant #357 for $59,410.97; Warrant #358 for $15,557.68; Warrant #359 for $1,321.60; Warrant #360 for $1,116.61; Warrant #361 for $1,242,00; Warrant #362 for $180,481.98; Warrant #363 for $484.79; Warrant #364 for $105,472.76; Warrant #365 for $141,517.09; Warrant #366 for $259,512.71; and Warrant #367 for $431.80:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Warrants #357 through #367 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

3. 2012 Budget Discussion:


4. Any Other Necessary Business:



5. Executive Session to Discuss Customer Account Issue:

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter Executive Session at 7:55 p.m. to discuss customer account issue. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:35 p.m. Chris Leach seconded.  Motion carried.

ACTION TAKEN: None.

ADJOURN: Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of Trustees meeting at 8:35 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand Neal Speer, Village President; adjourned the Regular Board of Trustees meeting at 8:35 p.m.




_____________________________________                      _______________________________________
Neal Speer, Village President                                       Date



_____________________________________                      _______________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                           Date