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, May 25, 2016

May 9, 2016

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

 

 

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, May 9, 2016

7:00 PM

 

 

 

PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Brad Aldrich, Aldrich & Elliott; 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 7:10 p.m.

 

2.      Agenda Review:

 

Adam Paxman advised he needed to go into an Executive Session to discuss Legal Matters and would like to move #9 to #5.

 

3.      Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, April 25, 2016:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, April 25, 2016 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

 

4.      Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, May 6, 2016:

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants (#49-#54) through Friday, May 6, 2016 as presented. Chris Leach seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

 

5.      Executive Session to Discuss Legal Matters:

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session at 7:15 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session and re-enter Open Session at 7:47 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried, back in Open Session.

 

ACTION TAKEN: Adam Paxman made the motion to deny JP Sicard’s claim regarding directional boring on the Water Transmission Line job and directed Aldrich & Elliott to respond via a letter. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

 

6.      Brad Aldrich, Aldrich & Elliott, to discuss Canada Street Water Line Replacement Job, Bid Analysis and DBE Effort:

 

Brad Aldrich stated they advertised for bids and received 7 bids for the Project #5 Canada Street job. He said they opened bids on April 26, 2016 and JP Sicard came in with the lowest bid at $334,480. He said the bids ranged from $334,480 to $505,950. Brad stated Aldrich & Elliott are recommending the Village of Swanton award the bid to JP Sicard. He said they did the water transmission line job and that went really well. He said they like working with Mike Menard and Reg Beliveau and he feels the Village got a quality job from them. Brad stated he received JP Sicard’s Bid Analysis and DBE Effort (Disadvantage Business Enterprise) and is very comfortable with it. He said this entails JP Sicard documenting they followed all necessary procedures. Aldrich & Elliott sent a draft of this to the State of Vermont and they are happy with their bid package as well. Brad stated he needs the Village to accept JP Sicard’s bid and to also recognize their DBE Efforts. Chris Leach made the motion to accept JP Sicard’s bid of $334,480 for the Village of Swanton Project #5 Canada Street Job and to also recognize their DBE Efforts. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

 

Reg Beliveau advised there are some left over funds from the original contract as well as a $200,000 debt forgiveness. He said the Village has the authority to extend their two bonds by $75,000 without voter approval and he would suggest they do that for this Canada Street Job.

 

Adam Paxman made the motion pursuant to 24 VSA 4755(a)(4) to increase the amount of indebtedness authorized at the August 24, 2010 and March 5, 2013 special meetings of the Village of Swanton by $75,000 for each authorization. Chris Leach seconded. Discussion: Brad Aldrich stated that Canada Street was recognized pretty early on as needing improvements. He said right now the pricing is very favorable. He said the other factor on getting this street done is that VTrans is resurfacing at the end of July and they only come in every 16 years so the need to do this now is urgent. Reg Beliveau said they will be replacing a 12” line with a 16” inch line and this will help the water pressure throughout the Village. Chris Leach stated there are some states dealing with pretty serious water line issues and the Village of Swanton would like to stay ahead of that. Reg also stated the Village has applied for a grant in which mapping of all their hydrants would get done. He said he’d like to commend Mike Menard and his crew because contractors like coming here to work with them. He said JP Sicard really helped them out on a water line break over the winter and that was very much appreciated. Motion carried.

 

7.      Property Ordinance Discussion:

 

Adam Paxman stated he’s been working with the Downtown Enhancement Project and they want the community to look as nice as it possibly can and for people to take pride in their property. He said there are a lot of properties not being cared for and he would like to enact a Property Ordinance to ensure properties are better cared for. Chris Leach said he believed this was a good idea but wondered how this could be done. He reminded the Board about the Pig Farm/Hotel situation that took place in Stowe, VT and the pig farmer was within his rights to operate it. He suggested maybe putting a question on the next ballot asking voters what they thought about this idea. Reg Beliveau said he would talk with Darlene at the Zoning Office and Dan Billado who is the Swanton Health Officer. He said a lot of these safety issues are already enforced by the Fire Department. Adam said maybe they didn’t need an Ordinance in place, maybe they just need to talk to residents. Reg Beliveau also said there are church groups and civic organizations where you can adopt a home and help them with painting, repairs, etc. He said there are grants available if you live in the downtown area as well as tax credits. Adam said he liked the idea of Reggie checking with Zoning and the Health Officer and they would continue to work on this to figure out the best way to go about it. Chris Leach said to keep this item on the agenda and they will do more investigating.

 

8.      Any Other Necessary Business:

 

Chris Leach stated the legislature just closed and he wondered how the decision on citing renewable power was made. Reg Beliveau said from what he understood this bill gives more say for citing agricultural fields and downtown areas for renewable power.

 

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman said he would like to remind everyone about the Memorial Day Parade coming up on Monday, May 30th at 2:30 p.m.  He said the parade route starts at Raleigh Field and continues up Grand Avenue to the Village Green, with a special ceremony at Memorial Park (Flat Iron Park) honoring those Killed in Action during WWI, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam and the Iraq-Afghanistan Conflict. He said there will be an Open house and BBQ at the VFW Post 778 following the parade. For more information, please call 393-1840 or 868-5404.

 

9.      Public Comment:

 

None.

 

10.  Adjournment:

 

Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:27 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:27 p.m. Motion carried.

 

 

_____________________________________          _______________________________________

Neal Speer, Village President                           Date

 

 

_____________________________________          ___________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                               Date

 

 

 

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

April 25, 2016

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

 

 

 

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, April 25, 2016

7:00 PM

 

 

 

 

PRESENT: Chris Leach, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Joey Stell, Chief of Police and Ch. 16.

 

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

 

1.      Call to Order:

 

Chris Leach, Village Trustee, 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, April 11, 2016:

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, April 11, 2016 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

 

4.      Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, April 22, 2016:

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants (#44-#48) through Friday, April 22, 2016 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: Adam Paxman asked about Warrant #45, vendor JP Sicard, payment #6. Reg Beliveau stated that was for the water project. Chris Leach mentioned the VPPSA payment and Reg Beliveau stated that the Village was doing well on purchase power. Motion carried.

 

5.      Ben & Jerry’s Relay for Life Request to Hold Coin Drop August 6, 2016:

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve Ben & Jerry’s Relay for Life Coin Drop to be held on Saturday, August 6, 2016 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried with two yay’s and one nay.

 

6.      Any Other Necessary Business:

 

Reg Beliveau stated that on Wednesday, May 4th there is the 89th Annual Vermont All-State Music Festival being held in the Village. There will be a parade coming up Grand Avenue, First Street, and down Fourth Street back to the school. He said the Police Department put a message on the flashing sign in front of the building so residents can expect some delays. He said there will be approximately 30 bands playing and they will stage at Swanton Central School. He said there will be a viewing stand in the Village Green. Eugene LaBombard said they are looking for housing for the students but didn’t know the details. Reg stated there is a link on the Village website and they need housing for about 50 more kids.

 

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated that the Town Selectboard and Village Trustees got together and drafted a letter to send to the Dollar General Store about the front of their new building and they have agreed to implement the changes the two boards asked for. He said they are changing the façade up to the bottom of the windows by putting either stone or brick on it.

 

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated the Village will open bids Tuesday, April 26th for the Canada Street water line job. He said there are some contract issues that will need to be discussed in Executive Session.

 

Any Other Business: Chris Leach said there is a very worthwhile cause happening regarding the Village’s Fallen Heroes from the Civil War forward. He said their names are being added to the Monument that’s in Flat Iron Park. They are also making a sidewalk up to the Monument and will also purchase a bench. He said they are looking for donations and no amount is too small. He said donations can be made payable to the VFW Post #778 and cash donations can be picked up if they call Joel Clark at 393-0550. Adam Paxman said the dedication of this Monument will be done on Memorial Day May 30th, 2016.

 

7.      Public Comment:

 

None.

 

8.      Executive Session to Discuss Real Estate and Contracts:

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Real Estate and Contracts at 7:15 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

 

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:58 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

 

 

ACTION TAKEN: None.

 

9.      Adjournment:

 

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:58 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Chris Leach, Village Trustee, adjourned the meeting at 8:58 p.m. Motion carried.

 

 

 

 

_____________________________________          _______________________________________

Neal Speer, Village President                           Date

 

 

 

_____________________________________          ___________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                               Date