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, June 23, 2014

Trustee Meeting Minutes - June 23rd, 2014

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



REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, June 23, 2014
7:00 P.M.



PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reg Beliveau, Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; 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, June 9, 2014:

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, June 9, 2014 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

2. Approve and Accept Warrants through Friday, June 20, 2014:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept the Warrants through June 20, 2014 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

3. Financial Management Questionnaire to be Reviewed and Signed by Board of Trustees:

Reg Beliveau advised the Board this was a Financial Internal Control completed by Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager. It describes the Village’s daily functions and what employee is doing the job such as Cash Receipts, Cash Disbursements, Inventory, Cash, Billing, Electric Disconnections, Water/Wastewater Disconnections, Payroll, Customer Work Orders, Property Taxes, Grants, Financial Statements, Fixed Assets, Electric Inventory Controls, Water Inventory Controls and Record Retention. Eugene LaBombard made the motion that the Board of Trustees reviewed and received the Financial Management Questionnaire. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried. They signed document.

4. Public Hearing on Bike/Pedestrian Grant 2014:

Reg Beliveau advised the Board that this Public Hearing was being held to discuss the VTrans Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant Application. He said Bethany Remmers is working with the Village and Town of Swanton on this project to get approval to go ahead with a sidewalk feasibility study. The purpose of the project is to identify options for accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians traveling to and from Missisquoi Valley Union High School along VT Route 78 and the Swanton Recreation Path along South River Street to the existing sidewalk network. The cost of this sidewalk study is $30,000, $27,000 Preliminary Engineering cost and $3,000 Administration/Local Project Manager Cost. The $3,000 would be the Village/Town 10% match for this study, costing each $1,500 if approved by the Board. Reg stated Bethany is looking for Board approval tonight along with a letter of support.

Adam Paxman made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton to pay $1,500 toward a $3,000 match grant for a Sidewalk Feasibility Study to the Transportation Alternatives Program and to also submit a Letter of Support for such application grant. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

5. Swanton Village Fire Department Coin Drop Request for July 13, 2014:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to authorize the Swanton Village Fire Department’s request to hold a Coin Drop on Saturday, July 13, 2014 (rain date July 20, 2014) from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman stated there have been numerous coin drops lately but said he hasn’t heard any complaints from the residents. Reg Beliveau stated that the Fire Department used to hold Bingo each week and raised money with that to purchase things needed for the Department. He said this is necessary to help out with equipment, etc. Motion carried.

6. Ben & Jerry’s Coin Drop Request for August 16, 2014:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve Ben & Jerry’s request to hold a coin drop on Sunday, August 16, 2014 (rain date August 23, 2014) from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Eugene LaBombard asked who this benefitted. Village Clerk Dianne Day stated this was to raise money for Relay for Life. Motion carried.

7. Any Other Necessary Business:

Eugene LaBombard asked Reg for an update on the water line that was repaired on the bridge. Reg Beliveau stated that Mike Menard, Highway Foreman, completed the project and said he is happy with the job. He said the pieces that were taken off the bridge were in real bad shape. They put on a new wrap and support bolts and this should last a good 25 to 30 years. Adam Paxman said he met with Mike McCarthy from the Transportation Committee and he took pictures of the bridge scaling last week. He said hopefully this project will get moved up on the priority list because of the condition of the bridge. Reg stated he heard the bridge did get moved up on the priority list.

Any Other Business: Eugene LaBombard stated a resident asked him when the paving would be completed on Second Street and he told them later in the summer because of this bridge job. Reg stated that is correct. Eugene also thanked Reg for the new lighting in Flat Iron Park and in the Village Green. Reg stated they added electrical outlets in Marble Mill and at the Swanton Beach so more events could be held in both parks. Neal Speer stated there are a couple of lights out by Swanton Rexall, Reg stated he would let the light crew know about that.


Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated that at their last meeting it was requested by Friends of Northern Lake Champlain that they be able to serve alcohol at their BBQ being held on July 17th at Marble Mill Park. He advised that the Chief of Police stated the Village Board of Trustees could amend the Village Ordinance per an event if they so choose. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to amend the Village of Swanton’s Ordinance to allow alcohol to be served at the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain BBQ on Thursday, July 17th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Marble Mill Park. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated that Champlain Insurance will host a fire extinguisher training here along with Fire Pro Tech on September 5th. He said he will have more information to come on this in the near future.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau said in July UVM will be conducting a tree inventory on Village owned property. He said they will work with Village employees on maintaining trees, tree scaping, the health of existing trees, etc.


Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated he is working with Friends of Northern Lake Champlain again about a retention pond located at Marble Mill. He said this was put on hold because a property owner was selling his property. He said that is now complete and they are now having issues with another property owner but are working on that. He said this retention pond is necessary in removing phosphorus from the river. He said he would keep the Board updated on this.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated Jim Irish and Joe Letourneau have been working on the UV system at the Waste Water Plant and have done some research. They found that this system can be purchased for $66,000 and not the $470,000 that was quoted to the Village last year. They will have the redundancy needed and this will fit in the existing footprint so will be considered an upgrade. The Board of Trustees were happy with this news and asked that it be added to the next agenda for further discussion and approval.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated the historical walking bridge by the Hydro Plant will be closed to the public June 24th through June 26th for repairs. He said they will have to lower the dam because of this. Reg stated he needs an Executive Session to discuss real estate.

8. Executive Session (If Necessary):

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter Executive Session to Discuss Real Estate at 8:06 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:50 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.


ACTION TAKEN: None.


ADJOURN: Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:50 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.



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Neal Speer, Village President                           Date


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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                               Date