SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, January 12, 2015
7 PM
PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager (via telephone); Dianne Day, Village Clerk; 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 7:00 p.m.
1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, December 22, 2014:
Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, December 22, 2014 and Thursday, January 8, 2015 as presented. Chris Leach seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.
2. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, January 9, 2015:
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through Janaury 9, 2015 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach asked about the Union Bank payment on Warrant #135. Reg Beliveau stated that was the line of credit paid back. Motion carried.
3. Electric Cost of Service Update:
Reg Beliveau stated there will be a meeting this week in Montpelier with the Village Attorney and Steve Farman from VPPSA regarding the Cost of Service Update. He said this is just a formality to finalize the reclassification of rates and hopefully the Village can put these in effect very soon. He said he would keep the Board updated on this matter.
Will call Lynn Paradis at home to conduct #4 through #6, will move to item # 7.
7. Swanton Missisquoi Valley Lions Club Request Coin Drop for June 2015:
Dianne Day, Village Clerk, explained to the Board that the Missisquoi Valley Lions Club had requested a Coin Drop for Saturday, June 6, 2015 with a rain date of Saturday, June 13, 2015. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve their request to hold a coin drop on Saturday, June 6, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon with a rain date of Saturday, June 13, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Chris Leach seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman would like to see this coin drop moved to July instead of June. Motion carried with two yay, one nay.
8. Any Other Necessary Business:
Adam Paxman stated the Chamber of Commerce would like to request Saturday, July 25, 2015 for their 6th Annual Car Show from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Village Green. He said they would like to close Academy Street on both ends for this event as well and would also have the Fire Department on stand-by. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve the Chamber of Commerce’s request to hold their 6th Annual Car Show on Saturday, July 25, 2015 in the Village Green. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.
Any Other Business: Reginald Beliveau stated the Community Visit will be held on January 28, 2015 beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Swanton Library and the Village Office and Trinity Episcopal Church. He said the Village sent a copy of the schedule along with the utility bills for all Village residents so hopefully there will be a good turnout. He said he would like to close the Village office at 2:00 P.M. so Village employees can attend these sessions. Adam Paxman stated the Chamber of Commerce will be announcing their Citizen of the Year Award at the dinner being held at MVU from 6 to 7 p.m. in the commons room. The Board urged everyone to attend this Swanton Community Visit.
The Board called Lynn Paradis at home to conduct #4 through #6.
4. Capitalization Limit Approval:
Lynn Paradis stated that currently there isn’t a policy in place for this but she would like to increase the amount she depreciates from $1,000 to $5,000. She said currently she would have to depreciate computers and several other small items and basically these are considered “throw away” items today. Chris Leach made the motion to authorize Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, to change the Village’s Capitalization Limit from $1,000 to $5,000. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
5. Review Water & Sewer Rates:
Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into a Water Commissioner’s meeting to review water and sewer rates at 7:35 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
Lynn Paradis stated she reviewed the water and sewer rates and feels the water rates need to increase a small amount and the sewer rates can remain the same. She said a Town customer using 5,000 gallons of water monthly would increase $4.56 per month. A Village customer using the same would increase $2.28. The fixed rate would increase from $19.19 per month to $22.14. She also said by doing this she would be able to purchase water meter reading equipment that was necessary at this time. If the Board agreed to this she would like to implement this for the March billing. Adam Paxman asked if it would make sense to have a larger increase now instead of a smaller one. Lynn stated she would feel better doing smaller rate increases because it was easier on the customers.
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve a water rate increase as proposed by Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried. Chris Leach made the motion to exit Water Commissioner’s meeting at 7:40 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
6. Adopt 2015 Budget:
Electric Department: Lynn Paradis stated she is getting ready for the Village audit next week. She said she is also waiting on her Purchase Power numbers and will talk to VPPSA to see if the Village needs a rate increase. She feels they will need a 3 to 4% rate increase at this time. She said a new customer came online in late November and that may counter balance that but she’s not sure. She said another large customer may also come online but it’s not known and measurable at this time. She said this budget reflects a 2% salary increase and they increased their tree trimming budget also. Reg Beliveau stated that VPPSA will be at the next Village meeting to discuss trends for the coming year.
Water Fund: Lynn stated their first debt service payment will be due in August 2016.
Sewer Fund: Lynn said in 2014 the plant is fully depreciated and their final debt payment will be made in 2015. She said this will amount to a $60,000 bond payment and about $12,000 in interest going forward.
Highway Fund: Lynn said if the Grand List doesn’t change this department is level funded. She said Mike Menard asked to put the sidewalk plow on the back burner for now as well as the backhoe and lawn tractor. He said he would make everything work as long as he could this year. She said he reduced his paving budget because next year the Class I project will be done, so instead of reducing the taxes she put $25,000 in the equipment line item and put the funds aside to go towards equipment for next year. She said the tax rate didn’t change in this fund.
General Fund: Lynn stated the furnace needs to be changed in the Office complex and the sidewalks will be replaced. She said the furnace is at least 20 years old and the sidewalks need to be ADA (American Disability Act) Approved. She said they would also like to put an awning over the front door and possibly install new doors.
Fire Department: Lynn said there was an increase in property insurance and workmans comp insurance as well as salaries in this department. She said they took out the extrication tools and will put that on a separate line item.
Police Department: Lynn stated this budget is going up a little due to salaries. She said this is due to a DUI patrol but they had grant revenue for these patrols as well. She said they had an officer in the Academy and one out on medical leave so had to cover these shifts. Adam Paxman stated the officers have written $34,000 in traffic tickets but have only received $1,000 in payment. Chief Stell stated they will only receive about 50% of those fines back in the next year or so.
Commercial Building Fund: Lynn stated this fund shows what the Village is currently getting as well as insurance, water and sewer, and maintenance. She said the Village breaks even in this fund.
Chris Leach made the motion to approve and adopt the 2015 budget as presented with a 2.70% increase. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
9. Executive Session to Discuss Personnel:
Chris Leach made the motion to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Personnel at 8:14 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
Chris Leach made the motion to exit Executive Session at 10:55 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
ACTION TAKEN: None.
ADJOURN: Eugene LaBombard made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 10:56 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 10:56 p.m. Motion carried.
_____________________________________ _______________________________________
Neal Speer, Village President Date
_____________________________________ ___________________________________
Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date