SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
120 FIRST
STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
MINUTES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING
Monday, March 26, 2012
7:00 PM
PRESENT: Ronald Kilburn, Village President; Chris Leach,
Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Dianne Day,
Village Clerk; Channel 16.
Ronald Kilburn, Village
President, welcomed all to the Regular Board of Trustees meeting and called the
meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Unless otherwise noted, all
motions carried unanimously.
1. Approve and Accept the
Minutes from Monday, March 12, 2012 Meeting:
Chris Leach made the motion
to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, March 12, 2012 as presented.
Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
Chris Leach asked if the Elm
Street transformer was in yet, Reg Beliveau advised him in was in but not yet
installed. Chris also asked if Betty Cheney had been sworn in as Delinquent
Village Tax Collector. I advised him she was sworn in the previous week.
2. Approve and Accept the
following Warrants: Warrant #396 for $499.47; Warrant #397 for
$149,816.28; Warrant #398 for $118,888.12; Warrant #399 for $333.26; Warrant
#400 for $121,101.08; Warrant #401 for $381,615.00; and Warrant #402 for
$408.37
Adam Paxman asked why Fairpoint
was paid $12,000. Reg Beliveau advised him that was for pole attachments on
several work orders. Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Warrants
#396 through #402 as presented. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.
3. Any Other Necessary
Business:
Chris Leach asked for an
update on the Unit #5 Turbine being installed at the Hydro Facility. Reg
advised it is up and running at 100% making approximately 516 KW per hour. He
said there were still some minor items to complete such as putting a computer
in the control room and that he was pushing to get that done this week.
Any Other Business: Chris Leach gave his condolences on the loss of the
Vermont Electric Coop lineman and asked what safety procedures our linemen
adhere to. Reg advised him there are tailboard procedures that are standard to
any work that takes place. He said the Village linemen are very safety
conscientious and repeat instructions for each process they do to ensure the
Hydro operators and linemen understand each request. He said nothing has been
formally reported on the VEC accident because they are still studying it but
that the lineman had made contact with the live power line. He said the Village
lineman did a crossover this past weekend on the Frontage Road and that they
killed the power to do it. Chris said he was just voicing his concern and knows
that our crew is extremely careful. Reg stated he can’t stress enough how much
we want our crew going home each night and that our guys knew the linemen
personally as he was a 30 year veteran. He said he knew all safety practices
were followed and that this was a fluke accident.
Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated he would like to make the motion
to adopt the Roberts Rule of Order as the Board of Trustees procedure for their
meetings. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried. Adam stated that at their March
7, 2012 meeting when they were sworn in they forgot to adopt the rules of
procedure.
Any Other Business: Adam Paxman asked if the Police Department was ready
to begin their coverage of the Town on April 1, 2012? Reg stated yes they were
and have hired Andrew Underwood as their full time officer and have ordered
their new police cruiser from a local dealer.
Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated he was contacted by the local
food shelf committee and they are in dire need of monetary donations and food
donations. He said the shelves are low on food and they are in desperate need
of donations so urged residents to help our local food shelf. He said residents
could contact Art Goodhue or the Parish Center located at the Nativity Church
on Canada Street. Adam also stated that the MVU Substance Free Committee would
be contacting us to hold a Coin Drop in the near future. Reg stated the last
time they held a Coin Drop they were reminded to wear their orange safety vests
and to put safety cones out.
Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated he would like to begin the
process of discussing the Village Park improvements to include the Marble Mill
Park, the Village Green and Flat Iron park. He said he would like to discuss
where they can start making improvements and would like this added to an
upcoming agenda. Chris stated their improvements would include new trees,
benches, lights and sidewalks. Reg stated he would like to also begin the process
of adopting an Ordinance to make the Village Parks smoke free. He said Amy
Brewer from NMC contacted the Board last year and requested the Village adopt
this Ordinance. It was discussed and decided that we add this to the April 23,
2012 meeting and they suggested we invite Amy Brewer to attend as well. The
Board also asked to have the Park Improvements item added to that agenda as
well.
Any Other Business: The Board discussed the April 9, 2012 Public Hearing
that will be held and discussed the process that they will follow. An agenda
will be posted and followed so that the Office staff can explain the set up
process of an account, letters of credits and deposits, billing, disconnects
and liens. There will then be a question period for the attendees and Reg
stated he would insist on civility during this time because some landlords have
come into the office very irate over this issue. He said we welcome anyone to
come into the office and ask us questions and we would be more than happy to
work with them and answer their questions but insisted on being civil. Ron
Kilburn stated he would follow the agenda and requested a copy of the Power
Point presentation beforehand.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated the Water Treatment Plant
upgrade was progressing well and that Dianne Day would be taking the Minutes of
their job meetings beginning April 4th. Chris Leach stated he was
fine with that and said as long as quality control was there and the budget is
not being affected the Board is pleased. Reg stated he scrutinizes a lot and
that Aldrich & Elliott understand that’s how he runs things.
Reg Beliveau stated he needs
an Executive Session to Discuss Personnel.
6. Executive Session to
Discuss Personnel:
Chris Leach made the motion
to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Personnel at 7:35 p.m. Adam Paxman
seconded. Motion carried.
Chris Leach made the motion
to exit Executive Session at 7:52 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
ACTION TAKEN: Chris Leach made the motion to approach and discuss
salaries with the Fire Chief. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
ADJOURN: Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Regular
Board of Trustees meeting at 7:53 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no
further business at hand Ronald Kilburn, Village President; adjourned the
Regular Board of Trustees meeting at 7:53 p.m.
_____________________________________ _______________________________________
Ronald Kilburn, Village
President Date
_____________________________________ _______________________________________
Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date