SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, November 9, 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; and Ch. 16.
Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.
1. Call to Order:
Neal Speer, Village President, welcomed all to the Regular Board of Trustees meeting and called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Agenda Review:
None.
3. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, October 26, 2015:
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, October 26, 2015 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.
4. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, November 6, 2015:
Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through Friday, November 6, 2015 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach stated there are a lot of credit unions and banks the Village of Swanton makes payments to. Motion carried.
5. Interfund Borrowing Agreement Renewal:
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to renew the Interfund Borrowing Agreement. Chris Leach seconded. Discussion: Village Clerk Dianne Day explained this was part of the 108 filing that the voters approved last year regarding interfund borrowing in the Electric Department. She advised that it needed to be renewed on a yearly basis. Motion carried.
6. Discuss Gilles Tremblay Gifting 41 Brown Avenue to the Village of Swanton:
Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, stated he talked with Zoning Administrator Ron Kilburn last week regarding this parcel of land. He said this is considered a wetland and is assessed at $21,100 and is owned by Gilles Tremblay and Ed Hemond. Adam Paxman stated the Village should take it and subdivide it and sell to the other property owners. Eugene LaBombard stated he didn’t feel the Village should put any expense into that piece of property. He said if the neighbors wanted it they could buy it from Mr. Tremblay. Reg stated he wanted to call Gilles Tremblay and Ed Hemond and find out more information before they decide on taking the property. This item has been tabled until further notice.
7. Adopt Utility Pole Ordinance:
Adam Paxman made the motion to adopt the Utility Pole Ordinance as presented. Chris Leach seconded. Discussion: Fairpoint and Comcast will be notified of the new ordinance and it will be posted in five public places. This ordinance will take effect on January 8, 2016. Motion carried.
8. Any Other Necessary Business:
Adam Paxman stated the Chamber of Commerce had a successful Halloween In The Park event and MVUHS had a successful Trunk or Treat the same day. He said the Fire Department and Rescue Department was there as well. He stated their next project will be Christmas in the Park. He said they received donations for Christmas lights and is very thankful for that. Adam said he is still working on the Methodist Church parking lot issue and said hopefully they will come to an agreement soon. He said they are discussing who is responsible for snow removal between the library and the church. He said he is waiting to hear back from them and said he will keep the Board updated. He said they would like to begin this January 1st, 2016.
Any Other Business: Chris Leach asked if the new water line has been run under the river yet. Reg Beliveau stated not yet but they are planning on doing it by the end of November. Chris asked if the sluice way was fixed yet. Reg stated not yet, he is waiting for a diver to go in first. He said their diver was doing some work at the Reservoir and he needs to get him to dive in the river. Reg stated he is continuing to work on this issue but said he may need a permit to get it done.
Any Other Business: Chris Leach stated with the heroin and drug problem being a big issue right now, he wondered if the Chief of Police could come in and talk with the Board to inform them as to what’s going on in the community. Reg thought that was a good idea and said the Drug Task Force should also come in. Neal Speer stated that there is also a problem with drugs in the work force. He said he talked with Kathy Lavoie regarding this. Reg stated they are hoping to get a lineman course here as well. Chris stated the linemen should join the Job Expo. Reg stated he sent Jim Irish to MVUHS and Swanton Village ended up getting an intern from that. He said the Village of Swanton has some big employers here such as Vermont Precision Tools, Mylan and TDI. Chris also asked if Reg has heard anything about the gas company coming into Swanton. Reg stated he believed they would be breaking ground next month. Chris also asked if employee evaluations were done. Reg stated they would be working on those next month.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated the Swanton Enhancement group will hold a community dinner to recap the year.
Any Other Business: Chris Leach mentioned the public works crew is doing a great job picking up leaves in the Village of Swanton. He also mentioned the Wind Project meeting was held here at the Village Complex and went well. He said he doesn’t believe this project meets the Public Service Board’s definition of “public good” and also said the power to be generated from this wind project is not needed by the State of Vermont.
Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated there is a group of residents working on putting a skate park in Marble Mill and they will be doing some fundraising for that project. Reg also said Operation Happiness will be held here December 14th through December 19th. He said food boxes will be picked up on Saturday, December 19th.
9. Public Comment:
None.
10. Executive Session (If Necessary):
None.
11. Adjournment:
Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 7:55 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m. Motion carried.
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Neal Speer, Village President Date
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Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date