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Monday, October 28, 2013

Trustee Meeting Minutes - October 28th, 2013

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


REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2013
7:00 P.M.


PRESENT: Ron Kilburn, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reg Beliveau, Village Manager; Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; and Channel 16.

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

Ron Kilburn, Village President, welcomed all to the regular Board of Trustees meeting and called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, October 7, 2013 Meeting:

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from Monday, October 7, 2013 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Reg Beliveau requested that I add to the Minutes that Village employees can also choose the Gold Plan and Silver Plan from Blue Cross Blue Shield as well as the Platinum Plan. Reg stated that Lynn Paradis has tried several times to enroll the employees into the plan to no avail. Chris Leach asked if the Village changed the eye or dental insurance. Lynn advised there were no changes made to those insurance plans. Motion carried with changes.

2. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, October 25, 2013:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants #620-#629 through October 25, 2013 as presented. Chris Leach seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach mentioned the VPPSA bill for $258,976.20. Lynn stated that even with all the rain they’ve had they have paid a lot in purchase power. Chris Leach asked about Union Bank payment for $85,840.08. Lynn advised that pays off the anticipation note at the Water Treatment Plant. Eugene LaBombard mentioned Union Bank for $2745.65. Lynn said she is waiting to get reimbursed on that. Motion carried.

3. MVUHS Substance Free Committee Coin Drop Request:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve MVUHS’s request to hold a Coin Drop on Saturday, November 2, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon with a rain date of Saturday, November 9, 2013 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

4. September Financial Review:

Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, presented the Board of Trustees with the September financial reports for each department.

Electric Fund: Lynn discussed Residential Sales, Solar Credits, Purchase Power, and Fixed Asset Purchases. Eugene LaBombard asked about the fuel tax and Ron Kilburn asked about the maintenance of line labor. Lynn also stated that the Department of Public Service had an issue with the Village paying cash for fixed asset purchases. She said their next bucket truck will be leased. She said the next bond in the electric department will be paid off in 2016. She said they would have to be picky on what they buy over the next few years.

Water Fund – Lynn stated they are over budget in maintenance in the Water Fund. Chris Leach asked if the contractor doing the water project would be penalized for breaking water lines. Reg stated he has been having conversations with the contractor regarding that. Lynn said their water loss number has gone way down and that is a good sign. She also said that when they are doing the budget she would like the Trustee’s to approve the rate structure because the rate’s need to go up for the 2014 bond payment.

Sewer Fund – Lynn stated the chemical costs are under budget so far this year but will be close to budget by year end. Chris Leach asked if there was any more pressure by the State of Vermont about the storm water. Reg Beliveau stated no and that discharge levels are being reduced.

Highway Fund – Lynn stated they are under budget in labor but winter is coming and that could change. She said the public works labor is budgeted in the water, highway and sewer departments, depending on what they are working on. Chris Leach asked if the Town helped haul snow during a large snow storm. Reg said no, they do their own and the Village hauls their own. Lynn mentioned the grant from the State of Vermont to work on the surface of the bridge for $23,000. She said so far they have spent $10,000 of the grant money and in the spring will work on it some more then she will submit it for reimbursement. She said she has until June to do so.

General Fund – Office, Fire & Police – Lynn said she found money left in a stock in Prudential Phoenix & Virtuous for parks and plant maintenance. Ron Kilburn stated that the repairs to the fountain the park is going to cost a lot of money.

Fire Department – Lynn said there are no issues in the Fire Department and that the new fire truck is in the budget.

Police Department – Lynn stated they are over budget in the Town Contract line item because she had only budgeted three months. She said she now has a three year contract. She also mentioned the equipment line item stating that was grant money used for a license plate reader and for radios.

Commercial Building Fund – Chris Leach asked if it would be wise to think about selling the memorial building. Lynn stated they made about $8200 this year and said next year they may break even due to repairs on the building that need to be done.

Lynn advised the Board members to look over these individual budgets and to let her know if they had any questions.

5. Any Other Necessary Business:

Reg Beliveau stated the pipe on Fourth Street is laid and they are tying in services this week. He is hoping to have sidewalks in before winter time. He said the water line is working and has no leaks in it. Ron Kilburn stated he noticed they added a fire hydrant on Second Street. Reg also mentioned the gas leak they had on Second Street when the contractor hit a gas line. He said he had a very poignant discussion with the contractor and with VT Gas. He said everyone was safe. Ron Kilburn asked if there were any anticipated expenses by Flat Iron Park. Reg stated no this was all part of the project and said they are ahead of schedule. Reg also stated the contractor couldn’t believe how well the Village Public Works crew takes care of the Village residents.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated that a camera has been installed at the Chamber of Commerce building office and that they are just waiting for a few connections from Comcast and it will be up and running.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated regarding the Jewett Street issue, they met with Mr. Demar at Pike Industries and he said to limit traffic they will go in the back entrance way after hours. He said they would continue to have conversations with everyone involved.

Any Other Business: Chris Leach stated he attended the NWSWD retreat last weekend regarding Act 149. He said that new law became law but it’s upsetting because there is no way to enforce it but by 2015 everyone will have to recycle and by 2020 everyone will have to compost. He said he would keep the board informed. He also said the price for getting rid of trash is not going down.

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman asked Reg where he was regarding the utility pole ordinance. Reg stated he may not need one. He said Swanton Village is working well with other utilities and the second poles on First Street may be down real soon.

Adam stated he needed to discuss Real Estate and Legal Matters in Executive Session.

Any Other Business: Chris Leach asked if the brown leaf bags were meant to be left open by the residents. Reg stated yes, the public works crew picks them up that way and puts them in the compost pile.

6. Executive Session to Discuss Contract Negotiations:

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss Contract Negotiations, Real Estate and Legal Matters at 8:05 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

Chris Leach made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:49 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

ADJOURN: Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:49 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Ronald Kilburn, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:49 p.m.



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Ronald Kilburn, Village President                    Date


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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                               Date