SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX
120 FIRST STREET
SWANTON, VT 05488
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, August 28, 2017
7:00 PM
PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Elisabeth Nance, Economic Development Coordinator; Joey Stell, Chief of Police; 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 7:02 p.m.
2. Agenda Review:
None.
3. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, August 14, 2017:
Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from Monday, August 14, 2017 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, stated he wanted to clarify that the vendor Municipal Emergency Services that was questioned at last meeting was for the purchase of air packs in the Fire Department. Motion carried.
4. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through August 25, 2017:
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through August 25, 2017 as presented. Chris Leach seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.
5. Elisabeth Nance, Economic Development Coordinator – Resolution for Municipal Planning Grant:
Elisabeth Nance, Economic Development Coordinator, stated she wanted to give an update regarding the Resolution for Municipal Planning Grant. She said this grant would be run through the Town of Swanton but said she is requesting a Resolution Letter of Support to be signed by the Village Trustees. She said this is part of the Swanton Enhancement Project Development Task Force which Adam Paxman is a chair. She said they would like to hold a forum sometime in October of 2018. She said they have identified some areas on how to bring in new businesses and how to help existing businesses expand. She said it’s hard for businesses to expand because they just don’t have the physical ability to do so. She said for available expanding space there isn’t 10,000 square feet available. She said they are also looking at affordable, decent rental housing and child care. She said her hope is they can bring in experts from the community to help them with those target areas. She said the good news is that there is no match for this Municipal Planning Grant of up to $8000.
Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, read the Resolution for Support of an Application for a Municipal Planning Grant aloud which reads: Whereas, the Village of Swanton Board of Trustees strongly encourages and wishes to continue to promote new business opportunities, to support existing businesses, and to make Swanton a vibrant and robust community where its residents live, work, play, shop, and worship; and whereas, the Village of Swanton Board of Trustees wishes to continue to encourage and promote the revitalization of Swanton; and whereas, the Village of Swanton Board of Trustees wishes to continue to provide property owners, business owners, and residents in our community with the opportunity to participate in and have access to planning for the future development of Swanton; now, therefore be it resolved as follows:
- That the Village of Swanton Board of Trustees strongly supports pursuing a Municipal Planning Grant by the Swanton Town Selectboard that will fund an economic development forum; and
- That Swanton Economic Development Coordinator, Elisabeth Nance, is hereby recognized as the primary contact person responsible to coordinate all activities associated with applying for the Municipal Planning Grant.
Neal Speer, Village President, asked if this forum was open to the whole State of Vermont. Elisabeth stated that it was for Swanton only. She said she is looking forward to some community involvement because they may have some ideas other than hers. She talked about attracting developers to Swanton and encouraged anyone with ideas to contact her. She said she is also working on a list of commercial properties and if anyone is looking to expand there will be a list of what’s available.
Eugene LaBombard made the motion to sign the Resolution for Support of an Application for a Municipal Planning Grant. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried. The Swanton Village Board of Trustees signed the Resolution.
Elisabeth informed the board that she is working with Tim Smith from FCIDC as well as the State of Vermont on a couple of projects that have the potential to be great for Swanton. She said some of her smaller projects include trying to get a local building ADA accessible. She said they are working on doing some beautification projects on some of the vacant buildings in Swanton and this is harder than she thought it would be. Reg stated that he has been working with Elisabeth on some ideas and projects and he said their collaboration is working very well. She can work on some of these projects and keep him informed as to what’s going on. The Board thanked Elisabeth for her hard work on Swanton Village and Swanton Town as a whole.
6. Chief of Police Joey Stell – Village Police Department Update:
Chief of Police Joey Stell stated that the summer has gone fairly well and said vandalism complaints are down compared to last summer. He said the new Sergeant is working out very well and has been team building with the other officers. He said they painted their office and added some new cabinets and said the officers did the labor themselves. Chief said he has mapped out some Village streets that have consistent speeding issues and those streets are Spring Street, Canada Street and Grand Avenue. He said First Street is not an issue at this time. He said they are targeting those areas. He stated they are finalizing some details and plans but are inviting the community to their National Night Out on October 21st of this year. He said there will be a cookout and activities for the kids. Neal Speer asked about the carbon monoxide issue in the cruiser. Chief stated that depended on who you asked and said there has been no straight answer from anyone. He said modifying the vehicles after they are purchased is not the problem either. He said they are keeping the windows cracked and this is only a problem when they run the AC on max and not when they use the heater. Chris asked if they tested the other vehicles and the Chief said they did and there isn’t a problem with any of them. Eugene LaBombard mentioned a speeding vehicle on Route 207 and also stated he saw 4 wheelers on Grand Avenue today. Chief Stell stated that 4 wheelers have been an issue lately and a couple of them have been towed a couple of times this summer. He said Officers Parah, Hooper and Underwood identified who these people are and have been dealing with them. Reg Beliveau reminded people to report an incident when they see it especially when it’s vandalism. Adam Paxman mentioned the traffic at the end of the bridge and Route 78 West between 4 and 5 p.m. He asked if they could have a traffic cop there to help with the congestion. Chief stated he thought that would make it worse and he is trying to figure out why it gets so backed up there. Eugene stated he thinks drivers are not taking turns. Chief Stell stated he would talk with the Agency of Transportation and see if they have any suggestions. Adam also mentioned he would be talking with the Town regarding a traffic light by the Interstate and First Street. Chris Leach asked about the drug problem in the area and asked if they were finding syringes. Chief Stell stated yes they were but not as many as last year. He also said the heroin problem isn’t as bad as it was last year. He said with the NOTCH office expanding they’ve added more opioid addiction staff and have helped some in the community get into treatment. He said the problem is still here but they’ve added more resources and it’s helping some. Adam Paxman asked if the Chief could give them an update on Missisquoi Valley Rescue. Chief Stell said they are doing a wonderful job over there. He said they revamped their scheduling and have ordered a new ambulance. He said the old one is 10-12 years old and is breaking down too often and he said they paid off a line of credit. He said they just sent out an annual subscription drive and by doing so this will lower what they ask the Town for in taxes. He said whatever is covered by someone’s insurance company is what they’ll take for payment, if they purchase this subscription they won’t be charged anything from the ambulance service. Adam Paxman stated he wanted to do a ride along in the very near future. The Board thanked Chief Stell for coming in and giving them an update.
7. Any Other Necessary Business:
Chris Leach stated he would like to get a sign on Gallup Court stating “Children at Play.” He said the traffic is going too fast for that street and he’s afraid someone is going to get hit. Discussion took place as to whether or not the Village could put up one of those signs and Dianne Day, Village Clerk, is going to contact VLCT to see what they recommend.
Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated he received his Town tax bill and said 90% of it is for the education tax. He commended the Village for having a 2.44% increase and said he appreciates that.
Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated there would be a Swanton Arts Spectacular event in the Park on September 9, Halloween in the Park will be held on October 28th and Christmas in the Park will be held on November 25th. The Board also mentioned the Village would be holding their regular Board of Trustees meeting as well as a Public Informational Meeting on 9/11 at 7 p.m. here at the Village Complex. The public informational meeting will be held to explain the bond vote on the rubber bag at the Highgate Hydro Facility. They encouraged everyone to attend this meeting.
Reg Beliveau stated he would need an Executive Session to discuss personnel and Neal Speer stated he needed one for Real Estate.
8. Public Comment:
None.
9. Executive Session (If Necessary):
Adam Paxman made the motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss Personnel and Real Estate at 7:55 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.
Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:24 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.
ACTION TAKEN: None.
10. Adjournment:
Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:24 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:24 p.m. Motion carried.
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Neal Speer, Village President Date
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Dianne Day, Village Clerk Date