SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, March 23, 2015
7:00 PM
PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Tim Smith & Kathy Lavoie, FCIDC; Scott Rheaume & Brad Bergeron, Swanton Arts Council; 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 9, 2015 and Special Meeting Monday, March 16, 2015:
Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from Monday, March 9, 2015 and Special Meeting from Monday, March 16, 2015 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.
2. Approve and accept Village Warrants through Friday, March 20, 2015:
Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through Friday, March 20, 2015 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.
3. Tim Smith – FCIDC 2015 Update:
Tim Smith asked that we move to Item #4 because he was waiting for Kathy Lavoie to get there.
4. Scott Rheaume – Swanton Arts Council:
Reg Beliveau stated that Scott Rheaume and Brad Bergeron were present for this item. He stated that the Swanton Arts Council would like to install art board walls and have murals painted on them. Scott stated that the walls would be 8’x8’ and they would like to erect them in different areas of the Village and Town. He said they would be two sided and open for anyone in the community to paint on. He said they would be very easily seen and would be patrolled if anything negative were to be put on them he would immediately paint over that. He stated that there are very talented people in the community and this would bring the community together. He said he would like these installed at the entrance and exits of the Village and Town. Chris Leach asked what kind of structure would be put up and Scott said it would be plywood. Chris suggested Dig Safe would need to be contacted before they put the signs up. Adam Paxman suggested they contact the Zoning Office because he was concerned these may be considered billboards or a sign. He said he was all for it and doesn’t see any issues. Scott stated he would like to put a plaque next to each sign informing the public of who they are and that this is an open canvas. Reg suggested one be installed by the Chamber of Commerce office, one on the corner of the Village Complex property and one by John’s Bridge. Neal Speer stated that if this board approved this he may need to come back after talking to the Zoning Board and Town of Swanton. Adam Paxman made the motion to approve Swanton Arts Council request to erect Art Walls pending approval of the Zoning Administrator and Town of Swanton. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
3. Tim Smith – FCIDC 2015 Update:
Tim Smith and Kathy Lavoie were present for this item. Tim stated that he is getting around to the all the Boards in Franklin County and said Kathy Lavoie is joining him. Kathy stated the Workforce Development came up a lot in the Community Visit. Tim stated that they realize they don’t publicize that area enough and are working on it. He said they are trying to capture people coming into the community and brand the region. He said they are in talks about a Welcome Center kiosk to catch traffic. He said they also continue to send people to Canada to recruit business. They also talked about their other focus which is the diversified agricultural food market, Farms & Food Directory which is all USDA certified. Tim said Kristin Hughes from NMC along with FCIDC are working on promoting local foods. Kathy stated the Job Expo is Thursday at the Collins Perley Complex which is open to the public in the afternoon. They said 600-700 people will attend that. Chris Leach stated they are trying to promote a lineman course and asked if there was any word on that. Reg stated the Village went to MVU last week looking for students interested in becoming a lineman or a waste water operator. Kathy Lavoie said she has an Enosburg high school student who is coming in April to job shadow. Reg stated the Village hired Katie Judd who worked with Kathy Lavoie a few years ago and they are hoping to get future linemen. He said they will work with MVU on Career Day.
Tim Smith said they had a meeting last week in Sheldon and Jack Dufresne expressed concern that there were no propane technicians in the area. He said when the gas line went in through Enosburg most of the technicians came from Chittenden County. He said Kathy is now working on developing a training course for this locally. Kathy said her Workforce Investment Board helped 300 young adults get into higher education or jobs. She said last year she worked with 63 young adults and placed 49 of them. She said their training center has seen 1300 adults tested there for the FBI, TSA, Border Protection and the US Postal System. She said she is anticipating 1400 to 1500 being tested this year. She also mentioned that Larry Fadden is teaching an Industrial Maintenance Program and Chandler Ede is teaching a Welding and Advanced Heating & System Repair class. She said Ben & Jerry’s team is training there now. She said they work with area businesses, CCV, Northwest Tech Center, Cold Hollow and the area High Schools.
Kathy said they are trying to create a CDL class here and are working with the St. Albans Coop and McDermott’s on this. She said they need to find a 20,000 square foot paved lot for this class to do training on. Chris Leach said he heard there is talk of a major expansion at the Highgate Airport and asked if there were any opportunities there. Kathy stated she just met with him. Neal Speer asked if they heard when Interstate 35 from Canada will be completed. Tim said he believes 2017 or 2018. They hoped the border in Highgate Springs will be better staffed to handle this. The Board thanked Tim and Kathy for their update.
5. Methodist Church Parking Lot Discussion:
Reg Beliveau stated that Rich McVicker wanted to know if the Village would take over the parking lot owned by the Swanton Methodist Church. Eugene Labombard stated he knows a lot of cars park there during the day. Reg stated the church’s position is it is being used for community parking so Mr. McVicker is hoping the Village would take it over. Chris Leach stated he thought the Village plowed it. Reg stated the Village used to but had some issues and stopped. He said the Town was plowing it but they stopped also because of issues. Reg stated the Village should meet with them and discuss this. Neal Speer said just ask them what they expect because he can see this going back to the same issues. He suggested the Village send them a letter asking what the Church expects and what they want. The Board agreed to table this item until further information is gathered. Item tabled.
6. Amend and Sign Financial Policies:
Chris Leach made the motion to amend the Financial Policy as presented. The Board will sign documents once revisions are made and presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
7. Class Cost of Service Update:
Reg Beliveau stated the Department of Public Service has requested more information from the Village that Steve Farman from VPPSA will be answering.
8. Ben & Jerry’s Request for a Coin Drop for August 2015 to benefit Relay for Life:
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve Ben & Jerry’s Relay for Life Coin Drop to be held on Saturday, August 1, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon with a rain date of Saturday, August 8, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.
9. Any Other Necessary Business:
Adam Paxman stated he is working on the Memorial Day Parade on May 25th and is requesting the Village of Swanton to sponsor the parade. Eugene LaBombard asked if this would require the Village to put funds up for the parade. Adam stated no he is asking to use the Village’s insurance umbrella for the parade. Chris Leach suggested they check with the Village’s Insurance company first. Reg Beliveau stated he would do so and let them know.
Any Other Business: Eugene LaBombard stated he heard another negative comment about the lack of lighting downtown by the Post Office. Reg Beliveau stated he would check it out after the meeting.
Any Other Business: Chris Leach asked if parking issue on Merchant’s Row has been resolved. He asked if they are going to put up “20 Minute” parking signs now. Reg Beliveau stated they need to talk about this in Executive Session.
Any Other Business: Dianne Day informed the Board that MVUHS Substance Free Committee is asking to change their approved Coin Drop dates from April 11, 2015 to April 18, 2015 with a rain date of April 25, 2015 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve MVUHS Substance Free Committee’s request to change Coin Drop dates to April 18, 2015 (rain date April 25, 2015) from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.
10. Executive Session to Discuss Customer Account:
Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Customer Account at 8:13 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session at 9:18 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.
ACTION TAKEN: The Village of Swanton will order “20 Minute Parking” signs to be placed in front of Swanton Rexall on Merchant’s Row.
ADJOURN: Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 9:20 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 9:20 p.m. Motion carried.
_____________________________________ _______________________________________
Neal Speer, Village President Date
_____________________________________ ___________________________________
Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date