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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Trustee Meeting Minutes - February 26th, 2014

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

INFORMATIONAL MEETING & PUBLIC HEARING
WEDNESDAY, February 26, 2014
7:00 P.M.

PRESENT: Ron Kilburn, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Leonard Stell, Chief of Police; Tim Girard, Fire Chief; Suzanne Washburn, Tony Russo, Neal Speer, Betty Cheney, Sandy Kilburn, Glen Gurwit and Ch. 16.

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

Ron Kilburn, Village President, welcomed all to the Board of Trustees Informational Meeting and Public Hearing and called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. This was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silence for deceased community members, past, present and future military members and especially for longtime Swanton resident Mr. Larry Wall, who always attended the Swanton Village Informational Meetings.

1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, February 10, 2014:

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, February 10, 2014 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Reg Beliveau stated he checked the area by Bob’s One Stop and said it is darker there now because they had a floodlight on the side of the building that is no longer working. Adam Paxman had asked him at the last meeting to check this out. Motion carried.

2. Approve and Accept Warrants through February 21, 2014:

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Warrants through February 21, 2014 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

3. Informational Meeting & Public Hearing – 2014 Village Annual Warning:

Ron Kilburn, Village President, explained that is was the first year in the history of the Town and Village of Swanton that both entities had used the same cover for their Annual Reports. He explained this was due to the 250th Anniversary of Swanton celebrated in 2013.

Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, began his Power Point presentation. He showed the Proposed 2014 Taxes by Department and showed how it would affect a $150,000 home, a $175,000 home and a $200,000 home. He also showed the Town General cost and Education cost. He showed the 2013 actual taxes vs. the 2014 proposed taxes. This showed an increase of $48 on a $150,000 home, an increase of $56 on a $175,000 home and an increase of $64 on a $200,000 home. This includes fire, general, police and highway.

Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, began explaining the budgets to the audience. She began with the General Fund. She said she reallocated some of hers and Reg’s salary to this fund. She said this also pays for park maintenance and personnel. She said this fund covers the municipal building.

Fire Department – Lynn stated that in this fund they have no control over the dispatching expense. She said this comes from St. Albans City. She said they also had their first payment on the new fire truck and insurance cost had gone up as well.

Police Department – Lynn stated that she factored dispatching into the budget this year but said it is recovered in the Town budget. She stated insurance coverage went up some and she said she also factored in a new cruiser lease in this fund. She said their oldest car is six years old and they will have to lease another vehicle. She stated salaries and benefits went up a bit as well in this department.

Highway Department – Lynn said she reallocated some of the summer streets and winter streets in this fund. She said they made their last payment on their dump truck and have also put some money in this budget for paving this year.

Electric Department – Lynn advised everyone that the Village had filed for a 10.69% rate increase in 2013 and the Public Service Board (PSB) denied it. They only approved a 1% rate increase. She said things are real tight now and projects have been delayed. She said the PSB doesn’t feel they should pay cash for anything and wants the Village to finance purchases. She said she doesn’t agree with this and said they will file for another rate increase this year. She shortened the depreciation life on some things and said the State may want a full depreciation study done. She disagrees with this and said it will cost a lot of money to have this study done. She also said production has been very low so the purchase power number is up. Lynn also said they have budgeted for another maintenance person. She said they have two now but one is a backup hydro plant operator so this position is needed. She said one of their linemen is a master electrician and another one is going to school for that. She said that saves them money on projects. Suzanne Washburn asked if they are cross-trained for maintenance issues as well. Reg stated that yes they are and all departments help each other when necessary. Lynn stated the other increases were from health insurance. She said the employees now pay part of their premium, their co-pays and have a high deductible.

She said the State wants the Village to file a 108 petition for capital expenditures that go out past 12 months. She said if this is the case they would need voter approval to purchase a new digger truck, a new pickup/utility truck and do repairs to the hydro plant. She said if they go ahead with this there will be public hearings to explain it in full to the voters.

Water Department – Lynn said the increase in this department is because this is the first year with the water bond payment and also because of increases in property insurance, workman’s comp cost and the purchase of a SCADA computer system. Reg stated the plant is running well and said they also have Second Street and Fourth Street online. They hope to go out to bid in the Spring for the transmission main line job.

Sewer Department – Lynn stated she budgeted for heavy maintenance in this fund. She said the plant is over 20 years old and has plumbing issues, the Ultra Violet disinfection system needs replacing as well as a centrifuse. Tony Russo asked if the new EPA regulations would affect this plant. Reg stated he didn’t think it would. Lynn stated the biggest purchase necessary in this department is a new vactor truck. She said the one they have now was bought when the Village did the CSO project and she said this truck gets a lot of use. She said they would lease a new one and she has factored that in this budget.

Commercial Building Fund – Lynn stated what the Village receives in rent for this building they put the money back into the building for repairs. Suzanne Washburn asked why the insurance increased. Lynn said this is their boiler machinery piece and said it is very expensive.

Lynn advised everyone that Kittell, Branagan & Sargent completed their audit and it went very well. She said she is proof reading the draft form now and will have the final copy as soon as she accepts this draft. Lynn asked if there were any further questions from anyone.

Reg went back to the slideshow and showed pictures from public works distribution lines on Fourth and Second Street being completed; the new benches and trash receptacles in the Village Green, bridge repair work, the Foundry Street Pump Station work, Waste Water Lagoons with the new Solar Aerators, the flood at the Hydro Plant, pictures of the ice storm, the Police Department Bike Rodeo, Big Rig Day, Operation Happiness, the new plaque at the newly upgraded Water Treatment Plant, Brian Bishop receiving his Operator of the Year Award, the new fire truck, the Young Fire Cadet Award and the winner of the 250th Drawing Contest.

Tony Russo asked if First Street would get paved this year. Reg stated the State has committed to paving it in 2016. He said they will have to do something to it in the meantime. Tony asked if the sewer plant was at capacity. Reg stated no it was not. Tony asked if there were any plans to expand it along Maquam Shore Road. He also asked if there was any grant money for future water projects. Reg stated all he has seen is low interest loans available and no grant money.

Suzanne Washburn thanked everyone involved with the 250th celebrations this past summer. She said the fireworks were great.

Reg introduced the 2014 candidates running for office. Neal Speer is running for Village President, one year term. Betty Cheney is running for Delinquent Tax Collector, one year term. Dianne Day is running for Village Clerk, one year term and Adam Paxman is running for Village Trustee again, a three year term.

Ron Kilburn thanked the Board for the past two years he was Village President and said he enjoyed working with everyone involved. Chris Leach presented Ron with a picture thanking him for his service as Village President.

4. Any Other Necessary Business:

None.

5. Executive Session (If Necessary):

None.

ADJOURN: Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:38 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Ronald Kilburn, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:38 p.m.



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Neal Speer, Village President                           Date



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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                               Date