SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, April 14, 2014
7:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee;
Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village
Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Wayne Elliott, Aldrich & Elliott and
Ch. 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 7:00 p.m.
1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, March 24,
2014:
Chris Leach made the motion
to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, March 24, 2014 as presented. Adam
Paxman seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach
stated he attended the TAC (Transportation Advisory Committee) meeting in Reg
Beliveau’s place last week. He said the state rep stated First Street was paved
in the past as a favor to Swanton Village and said it was the Village’s
responsibility to pave it now. Chris said at the meeting he made the motion
requesting First Street be paved by the State this summer. He said he also
discussed the Village not being able to run the transmission water line down
the rail trail. He was told to bring this issue directly to Senator Leahy.
Motion carried.
2. Approve and Accept Warrants through Friday, April
11, 2014:
Eugene LaBombard made the
motion to approve and accept the Warrants through April 11, 2014 as presented. Adam
Paxman seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach asked if the Village ever went out to
bid on tree trimming or if they always just use Gabree’s Tree Trimming. Lynn
Paradis stated they haven’t gone out to bid, that Gabree’s are local, have
insurance and are always available when the Village needs them. Motion carried.
3. Wayne Elliott – Discussion on Water Project:
Wayne Elliott was present for
this topic. Chris Leach stated again that he attended the TAC meeting last week
and mentioned to the State that Swanton Village was not allowed to run their
transmission water line down the middle of the rail trail. He was told to
contact Senator Leahy’s office directly about this. He asked Wayne if his
office would draft a letter to Sen. Leahy’s office about this. Wayne stated
this type of construction has been allowed in the past so he didn’t expect
this. He said this is a federal requirement so the State doesn’t have the
authority to change it. He said if they are not allowed to run the transmission
line down the rail trail the alternate route has some benefits to it. He said
there will be potential for future customers on that line.
He said the reason for
tonight’s discussion is about archaeological issues on the Waugh Farm Rd. He
said UVM has done some preliminary work there and have found quite a few sensitive
areas. Because of this the State is looking at a few options to get the
transmission line across the river. He said one way around it is to directional
bore 10’ under the river. Wayne stated the State has required a Phase 1 survey
to do an archaeological investigation at a cost of $22,900 and he needs Board
approval for this Phase 1 survey. Adam Paxman asked when does human life supersede
an archaeological issue.
Chris Leach made the motion
to authorize Assistant Manager Lynn Paradis to sign Amendment #2, Village of
Swanton Water System Improvements, Reservoir Transmission Main – C #2,
Archaeological Investigation Supplemental Phase 1 Survey Project #13032,
witnessed by Village Clerk Dianne Day, not to exceed $22,900. Eugene LaBombard
seconded. Motion carried.
Wayne stated he would need an
executive session to discuss legal and contractual matters. The Board moved to
Item #8 to hear this issue.
8. Executive Session to Discuss Legal Matters:
Chris Leach made the motion
to enter into Executive Session at 7:25 p.m. to Discuss Legal and Contractual
Matters. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
Chris Leach made the motion
to exit Executive Session and re-enter Open Session at 8:00 p.m. Adam Paxman
seconded. Motion carried.
ACTION TAKEN:
None.
4. Sign Village of Swanton Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund Loan Documents:
Adam Paxman made the motion
to enter in a Water Commissioner’s meeting to hear this item at 8:05 p.m. to
discuss the water project loan documents. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.
Lynn Paradis, Assistant
Village Manager, advised the Board that she has the State of Vermont Drinking
Water State Revolving Fund Loan for $2,987,559.50 with a negative interest rate
of 1.3% interest per annum for the water distribution project. Eugene LaBombard
made the motion to authorize the Board of Trustees to sign loan documents for
$2,987.559.50 with a negative interest rate of 1.3% for the water distribution
project. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried. Board signed all necessary loan
documents.
5. Tax Anticipation Note Approval:
Lynn Paradis, Assistant
Village Manager, advised the Board that she had gone to three different banks
for quotes on a tax anticipation note. She said People’s United Bank quoted her
1.15% interest, Merchants Bank quoted her 1.29% interest and Union Bank quoted
her .9% interest on a $532,000 note.
Adam Paxman made the motion
to approve Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, to proceed with Union Bank
for a $532,000 tax anticipation note at .9% interest due November 1, 2014.
Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried. Board signed necessary documents.
6. Sign Bridge Inspection Report:
Chris Leach made the motion
that Swanton Village is in receipt of the bridge inspection report and
authorized the Board to sign the report. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion:
Chris Leach stated that the Regional Planning Commission is tasked with
prioritizing projects and he said the bridge is on that list. He said they also
discussed the bridge at the TAC meeting and they need to make the argument that
the bridge should be top priority for the State of Vermont due to the high
truck traffic. He said they need to stay on top of this. Lynn Paradis stated
that Swanton Village owned the bridge and that the State turned it over to
Swanton Village many years ago. Motion carried. Board signed the bridge
inspection report.
7. Any Other Necessary Business:
Adam Paxman stated he would
like to move ahead with a Utility Pole Ordinance and asked that we put one
together in draft form. Dianne Day, Village Clerk, advised him she would work
on that with Village Manager Reg Beliveau. Adam also stated that are two
antique utility poles in front of the Chamber of Commerce building and in front
of the Dam Furniture Store that are metal. He asked if it was possible to have
these poles painted black. Eugene LaBombard stated there is another one over by
Cody’s Café.
Any Other Business: Neal Speer stated that New Beginnings will be opened by the end of
this week and said they are very excited. Eugene LaBombard stated that Aubuchon
Hardware has moved and asked if anyone has purchased the old store as of yet.
Neal stated not yet.
ADJOURN: Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board
of the Trustees meeting at 8:34 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. There being no
further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting
at 8:34 p.m.
_____________________________________ _______________________________________
Neal Speer, Village President Date
_____________________________________ _______________________________________
Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date