SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, December 22, 2014
7 PM
PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Tim Girard, Fire Chief; Jason Butler, 1st Assistant Fire Chief; Joey Stell, Police Chief 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 7:04 p.m.
1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, December 8, 2014:
Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, December 8, 2014. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach asked if the Village received the purchase power numbers yet. Reg Beliveau stated not as of yet. Chris Leach also stated he didn’t mention Fairpoint removing the old utility pole on Gallup Court, he said Adam Paxman stated that regarding the pole on Spring St. Motion carried with correction.
2. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, December 19, 2014:
Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through December 19, 2014 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach asked if Gabree’s Tree Trimming worked because something was damaged or if it was routine maintenance. Reg Beliveau stated it was for routine trimming. Chris Leach asked about the $182,000 payment to Union Bank. Reg Beliveau stated he thought that was for a bond payment but said he would find out for sure. Motion carried.
3. Electric Cost of Service Update:
Reg Beliveau stated he was informed by Eli Emerson that the Public Service Board (PSB) is going to investigate the Electric Cost of Service and they will be at the Village Office on January 9, 2015 to do so. He said he would keep the Board up to date on this issue.
4. Preliminary 2015 Budget Discussions:
Reg Beliveau stated the Village is still waiting on the final figures from VPPSA for purchase power. He said Lynn Paradis has been working on the budgets and has raised the salary line at the Hydro Plant. They’ve also discussed putting the tools and equipment in the Fire Department on a separate line item. He said the Town had more questions regarding that and asked if the Village could possibly take a loan out for those items. He said the equipment will cost $30,000. Eugene LaBombard said he didn’t feel they should go out 5 years on that. Reg stated they are also bringing the salary up to minimum wage, adding 25 cents per hour for the fire department personnel. He said they have gone approximately 7 or 8 years without an increase in wages. Reg also said that he would like for VPPSA to come in for a meeting and explain how the purchase power numbers are put together so they fully understand it. Chris Leach asked Reg if he was confident on how they do that and Reg said he was. He said they had another company look at the numbers and they also agreed with how it’s figured. He said he would just like them to come here at least once a year and answer questions. Chris Leach stated he was pleased that the Police Department budget was pretty much level funded. He said anything they could do to slight it is appreciated. Tim Girard, Fire Chief, stated he worked diligently on his budget and didn’t overspend. He said equipment wise they need more gear to remain safe. Chris Leach asked how the department was on personnel and wondered if they needed more. Tim said they have about 30 active firefighters and are in good shape. Jason Butler, 1st Asst. Chief, stated they’ve been real busy with almost 275 calls this year. He said they are the busiest department in Franklin County this year and anticipated 290 calls by the end of the year. Tim also thanked the Board for the turkeys this year.
5. Any Other Necessary Business:
Chris Leach asked about the confusion regarding the new utility truck being built in the Electric Department. Reg Beliveau stated that normally the Village goes with the lowest bidder but said the lower priced company doesn’t make the spec’s they need on that utility truck. He said they would still be under budget going with the higher priced company and would get a better truck. Chris Leach also said on January 28, 2015 the Community Visit will take place. He also said he would need an Executive Session to discuss personnel tonight.
Any Other Business: Eugene LaBombard asked about the policies Lynn Paradis gave them a while back to review and potentially adopt. He said that should be added to the next Agenda for discussion. Reg Beliveau stated they are also working on the personnel policies and will be sending that to the Village attorney for approval.
Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated that he and Neal Speer were on Channel 16 for the Swanton Now show and said it was a lot of fun. He said there are good things happening and he urged everyone to get involved with the community visit. He said this is the chance to tell them what they need in this community. Adam said there will be a meeting on January 7th at the Abenaki Tribal building on Grand Avenue for the Enhancement Committee.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau presented a letter of support from the Village of Swanton to Northwest Regional Planning Commission regarding the Brownfields Program.
Any Other Business: Dianne Day, Village Clerk, explained that Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, needed the Village President to sign an Appointment of Authorized Representatives so that the bank has this on file if and when funds need to be transferred. The Authorized Representatives for the Village are Dianne Day and Lynn Paradis. Neal Speer signed the document on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
Any Other Business: Dianne Day, Village Clerk, informed the Board that the loan documents from Union Bank for the Utility Truck in the Electric Department needed signatures. The Board approved going with Union Bank for $47,000 with an interest rate of 1.45% at their last meeting. The Board signed all necessary documents as well as the Village Clerk and Treasurer Dianne Day.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau informed the Board the Village is getting a grant for $74,300 to help complete the Ecosystem Project taking place at Marble Mill. He said this project will help treat storm water on 64 acres of land. The Board was very pleased to hear this.
6. Executive Session (If Necessary):
Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Personnel at 7:33 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:55 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
ACTION TAKEN: None.
ADJOURN: Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:57 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:57 p.m. Motion carried.
_____________________________________ _______________________________________
Neal Speer, Village President Date
_____________________________________ ___________________________________
Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date