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).

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Trustee Minutes: July 14th, 2014

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



REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, July 14, 2014
7:00 P.M.



PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; 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 23, 2014:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, June 23, 2014 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach stated he wasn’t in attendance at that meeting and asked who Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, had to file the Financial Questionnaire for. Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, stated he couldn’t remember but said he would find out and let him know. Chris also asked about the scaling on the bridge that was mentioned. Reg stated the bridge job did get moved up on the priority list, with a date of 2016 for planned work. Chris also asked if the walking bridge by the Hydro Plant was re-opened yet, Reg stated it was now repaired and open. Motion carried with one abstention.

2. Approve and Accept Warrants through Friday, July 11, 2014:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept the Warrants through July 11, 2014 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman asked about the payment made to Primmer & Piper for $2,555.35. Reg Beliveau stated that was for attorney fees for the rate case. Adam also asked about the payment made to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for $1227.60. Reg stated that was for traffic control on the bridge job. Chris Leach asked about payment made to Taser International, he asked if the police department now carried tasers. Reg stated they do carry tasers and this was for supplies. He also asked about the payment made to St. Albans City Police Department for $55,593.55. Reg stated that was for dispatching services and the Fire Department was charged for 24% of that bill and Missisquoi Valley Rescue was charged for 76% of it. Motion carried.

3. Waste Water Treatment Plant UV System Purchase Discussion and Approval:

Reg Beliveau advised the Board that the funds for this purchase were built into the rates in depreciation and that the money was in the savings account. He said they were initially quoted $470,000 to replace the UV disinfection system at the Waste Water Plant. He said Jim Irish and Joe Letourneau researched this more and found that these UV lights can be replaced and upgraded at a cost of $66,000. He said this is with the original installer of the UV lights at the plant and they are confident in this system.

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to authorize Swanton Village to purchase a UV disinfection light system at a cost of $66,000 for an upgrade at the Waste Water Treatment Plant. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

4. Section 108 Update Discussion:

Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, explained to the Board that from this point forward Swanton Village would have to get voter approval for any purchases or capital expenditures in the electrical department to comply with the Public Service Board 108 Rules. He explained that when they had gone in for their last rate increase this was something the Board requested Swanton Village comply with in the future. He said they are going to be requesting $1.3 million dollars for the purpose of establishing a line of credit to support the operation of the electric department and $1.45 million dollars to purchase utility vehicles and do capital improvements to the Orman Croft Generating Facility in the very near future. The Board discussed the importance of explaining this to the Swanton Village residents who will be voting on this and decided to table this item so they could figure out a date to hold the vote, public hearings and also print inserts to be mailed with the utility bills. Item tabled.


5. Electric Rate Case Discussion:

Reg Beliveau informed the Board that the attorney’s were still working on this rate case and they haven’t gone to the Public Service Board yet with an amount. He said he would keep them informed as soon as he had more information regarding the rate case.

6. Any Other Necessary Business:

Chris Leach asked if the generator at the Hydro Plant was still down. Reg Beliveau advised it was because they were still waiting for parts to come in. The Board was concerned about the revenue being lost because of this and advised Reg do whatever it takes to get this back up and running.

Any Other Business: Chris Leach asked about the sidewalk study being conducted for the pedestrian/bike path being proposed for First Street and South River Street. He said he hoped this would help find funds to pay for the project.

Any Other Business: Chris Leach stated he attended the Smart Meter seminar in Arizona last week and said it was very informative. He said he has more information to study and said he would report more back to the Board when he finished reading a book he purchased at the seminar. He did say that the price has come down on installing smart meters but he still feels this is a fit for Swanton Village at this time. He said Swanton Village has a great SCADA system that tracks power outages and peaks. He said he would keep the Board informed on any further information he has on smart metering.

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated this is a very busy time of year and asked motorists to please show down in the Village and to watch for pedestrians in the crosswalks. Reg Beliveau stated the Police Department had a police officer out and a about looking at this problem.

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated that on Tuesday, August 5th the Swanton Village Police Department would be hosting their 5th annual National Night Out. He also said the Chamber of Commerce would be hosting their Car Show on Saturday, July 26th from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. He said the Fire Department would be having a BBQ afterwards this year at 4:30 and then the Nobby Reed Band will be playing in the Park at 6 p.m. He urged everyone to attend these events and have a good time.

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated the Swanton Enhancement Committee would be hold a public meeting the third week in August and urged people to attend.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, advised the Friends of Northern Lake Champlain would be holding their annual meeting and cookout on Thursday, July 17th from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Marble Mill Park in Swanton. A few highlights of that event are local food will be served including a pig roast, live music from the Missisquoi River Band and guest speaker Mary Powell, CEO of Green Mountain Power will be in attendance. He urged everyone to attend this event.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau advised that two of Swanton Village’s firefighters will receive awards at the State Convention this coming weekend. They are John Greer, receiving Maintenance Tech of the Year award; and Ronald Young Jr, receiving Firefighter of the Year award. Reg also stated that Fire Chief Tim Girard is recommending promoting Jason Butler to the position of 1st Assistant Chief and promoting Jason Cross to the position of 2nd Assistant Chief. He said he would like these positions to become effective August 1, 2014. The Board of Trustees and Village Manager accepted his recommendation.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau advised that Brian Bishop, Water Treatment Plant Operator, was featured in the TPO Magazine (Treatment Plant Operator). He was pictured doing testing on water. Reg also stated the UV system in place at the Waste Water Plant is doing a good job and said the lagoons need to be churned. He said they will be getting the lagoons de-sludged.



7. Executive Session to Discuss Real Estate:

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter Executive Session to Discuss Real Estate at 8:15 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session at 9:30 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.


ACTION TAKEN: The Board of Trustees recommended Reg Beliveau review other municipalities procedures or ordinances regarding abandoned and/or vacant properties in their communities.


ADJOURN: Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 9:30 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 9:30 p.m.



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Neal Speer, Village President                                     Date


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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                              Date