Trustees Meeting 10/28/24

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SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, October 28, 2024

7:00 P.M.

PRESENT: David Winchester, Village President; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Suzie Kelleher, Trustee; William “Bill” Sheets, Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Nicole Draper, Swanton Recreation; Matt Sullivan, Chief of Police; and Ch. 16. Via Teams:

1. Call to Order:

 David Winchester, Village President, called the Village Board of Trustees meeting to order at 7 p.m.

2. Pledge of Allegiance:

Everyone in attendance stood for the pledge of allegiance.

3. Agenda Review:

Bill Sheets, Village Manager, stated they didn’t need an executive session tonight.

4. Public Comment:

None.

5. Approve and Accept Minutes from the Tuesday, October 15, 2024 meeting as presented:

Suzie Kelleher made the motion to approve the minutes from the Tuesday, October 15, 2024 meeting as presented. Adam Paxman seconded the motion. Motion carried.

6. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Thursday, October 24, 2024:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept the Village Warrants through
Thursday, October 24, 2024 as presented. Suzie Kelleher seconded the motion. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

7. Discussion on Proposal to Establish a Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee:

Nicole Draper, Swanton Recreation, presented the Board of Trustees with the following document:

Introduction

The Swanton Recreation Department is committed to developing diverse, affordable,

recreational programs and activities for the community, in a safe and welcoming environment.

The well-being and quality of life of our community members through the provision of safe,

accessible, and well-maintained public parks and recreational spaces is essential to supporting

this mission. To support this mission and promote collaborative, transparent decision-making in

the management and use of public parks and lands in Swanton, we propose the formation of a

Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee.

Purpose of the Advisory Committee

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will serve as a vital advisory body to the Village

Trustees and the Swanton Recreation Department, ensuring that public parks and green spaces

are managed effectively and in alignment with community needs. The committee will act as a

liaison between the public and the Trustees, providing guidance, feedback, and

recommendations on policies, development, and the stewardship of these important community

assets.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee are to:

1. Advise and Recommend:

○ Provide input on the management, development, and maintenance of public

parks, trails, and recreational spaces.

○ Offer recommendations on policies related to the use, safety, accessibility, and

programming of public spaces.

2. Community Engagement:

○ Actively engage with the community to gather feedback on park use, recreational

needs, and long-term planning.

○ Foster a sense of community ownership and stewardship of public lands.

3. Enhance Recreational Opportunities:

○ Assist in the identification of opportunities for new recreational programs,

services, or facilities to meet the evolving needs of the community.

○ Recommend improvements or additions to existing parks and recreational

facilities.

4. Promote Sustainability and Conservation:

○ Encourage environmentally responsible practices in the use and development of

parks and public spaces.

○ Advocate for green spaces that promote biodiversity, conservation, and outdoor

education opportunities.

5. Support Funding and Grant Opportunities:

○ Identify potential funding sources, including grants, donations, and partnerships,

to support park enhancements and recreational programming.

Committee Structure

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will consist of a minimum of five members

appointed by the Village Trustees. The proposed structure includes:

● Swanton Recreation Executive Director (Ex-Officio Member): Provides insights and

support from the Recreation Department, as recommended by the Swanton Recreation

Board of Directors

● Community Members: A diverse group of residents from Swanton, representing

different age groups, interests, and areas of expertise.

● Village Trustee Liaison: A Trustee who will serve as a liaison to ensure clear

communication between the committee and the Village Trustees.

● Local Stakeholders: Representatives from Town of Swanton Selectboard, Swanton

Recreation Board of Directors, local schools, local environmental groups, and other

community organizations as deemed appropriate.

The committee will meet at a minimum of bi monthly, with special meetings as needed and

provide regular updates and recommendations to the Village Trustees, and the community of

Swanton.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Swanton Recreation Department:

○ Provide logistical support, such as organizing meetings and disseminating

information.

○ Collaborate with the committee on specific projects or initiatives.

2. Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee:

○ Gather community input through surveys, public meetings, and outreach

initiatives.

○ Develop recommendations for short- and long-term goals related to park

development, maintenance, and recreational programming.

○ Present a yearly report to the Village Trustees on the status of the parks and

outdoor recreational services.

3. Village Trustees:

○ Appoint committee members and ensure alignment of the committee’s work with

overall community goals.

○ Review and approve recommendations as appropriate.

Conclusion

The formation of a Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will help ensure that Swanton’s

parks and recreational spaces are managed efficiently and in line with the community’s values

and needs, as well as Swantons Municipal Plan. It will create a structured, transparent process

for decision-making and promote active community involvement in preserving and enhancing

our public spaces.

We respectfully request that the Swanton Village Trustees consider this proposal and approve

the creation of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee to benefit our community for years

to come.

Next Steps

Should this proposal be accepted, we recommend scheduling a joint meeting to finalize the

committee’s structure, member recruitment process, and initial priorities.

We look forward to your feedback and the opportunity to discuss how this committee can

contribute to the continued growth and vitality of Swanton.

Nicole mentioned the pickle ball courts and asked if there was a schedule that will remain. She talked about the skate park at Marble Mill and asked what else that could look like there. She mentioned Swanton Beach and asked if Swanton Rec could build a plan to have organized events there.

After some discussion on this topic Adam Paxman stated he liked the idea but not the committee. He said he would rather have monthly or bi-monthly meetings with Swanton Rec rather than forming another committee. Nicole said she was open to another avenue to get people involved. Eugene LaBombard asked about Swanton Rec’s budget and asked if Marble Mill was a concern of hers. Nicole said yes it was as well as the beach. She said these are great assets. Adam asked if they utilized the Fourth Street property at all. Nicole said not yet but they are hoping that property gets redeveloped into a recreational property. David Winchester, Village President, mentioned all the good things that are happening now at Marble Mill. He said the courts are utilized a lot, the location is great right next to the river. Adam said he’s mentioned hiring a marketing director for the community in the past but it didn’t happen. Adam Paxman proposed not having a committee but to have Swanton Recreation come in often and communicate that way. He feels they can accomplish a lot and get things done. The Board thanked Nicole for coming in with her presentation.

8. Swanton Village Police Department Update with Chief Matthew Sullivan:

Chief of Police Matthew Sullivan was present for this update and said the Village Police responded to 150 incidents in the Village during the month of September. He said the top ten calls for service were: 26 suspicious person/circumstance, 10 directed patrol, 9 traffic stop, 9 agency assistance, 7 theft, 7 citizen assist, 6 welfare/suicide check, 5 citizen dispute, 5 juvenile problem, and 4 service abuse prevention order. He said out of the 9 traffic stops 1 ticket was issued and 8 warnings. He said there were 7 arrests, 11 arrest charges and 1 arrest associated with traffic enforcement and 7 individuals.

Chief Sullivan said his department responded to 77 incidents in the Town of Swanton for the month of September and the top ten calls for service were: 19 directed patrol, 7 suspicious person/circumstance, 5 traffic stop, 4 juvenile problem, 4 agency assistance, 3 found property, 3 motor vehicle complaint, 3 citizen dispute, 3 animal problem, and 3 theft. He said there were 5 traffic stops with 1 ticket being issued and 5 warnings. There were 2 arrests, 2 arrest charges with 2 individuals and they worked 6 additional hours.

Matt informed the Board that during September they responded to 77 incidents in the Town and VSP responded to 56 incidents which amounts to 57% handled by the Village and 43% handled by VSP. He said this peaked his curiosity so he did some research and found that in 2022 Swanton Village handled 65% of the calls with VSP handling 35%; in 2023 Swanton Village handled 63.8% with VSP handling 36.2% and in 2024 Swanton Village handled 60% with 961 calls and VSP handled 40% with 643 calls.

Chief Sullivan said they had a pretty big drug case in October and have pushed a lot of activity out of Swanton. The Board thanked Chief for his update.

9. Discussion on Allowing the Abenaki to Erect a Sweat Lodge on Village Property.

Suzie Kelleher stated that the Abenaki would like to erect a sweat lodge at 60 St. Albans Road in the back field. She said this is not a permanent structure and would be used January through March with approximately 20 individuals at a time. She said 15 people will be actively engaged and 5 individuals would be servicing the fire etc. She said they would like to leave the framework up if possible. Adam Paxman made the motion to approve the Missisquoi Abenaki erecting a sweat lodge structure on Village owned property located at 60 St. Albans Road in Swanton from January through March. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

10. Review and Acknowledge 3^rd Quarter SQRP Report:

Suzie Kelleher stated the Trustees have reviewed and acknowledge the 3^rd quarter SQRP report. She said everything looks great and everyone did a good job.

11. Village Manager Update:

Missisquoi River Crossing:  Paving is complete for both Foundry Street and the small strip on Canada Street. G.W. Tatro is still waiting on two covers (one on each side of the river) and when they return to install those will complete apron work on the driveways. The material pile in the cornfield will be cleaned up by spring, with that parcel being returned to the original lessee for planting corn and that person has been notified.

Street Sweeper: This unit has been delivered and the public works team is beginning the process of familiarization and operation of the unit. It still needs safety striping and then it will be all set to utilize, with a concentration on high problem areas beginning in the spring.

Stump Dump: The new 4 foot by 8-foot sign is in and will be installed this week. We will try this for a couple of months, but we still believe that we might have to return to a locked gate, with access only during business hours, with additional security and surveillance in an attempt to keep this area restricted to Swanton residents.

Wastewater:  This project is progressing well, with Jason Starr and Dillon Dupont representing the Village daily on site, as well as during the weekly meetings. This project has a completion date of mid-December.

Building up the Causeway: Dean Ryan and his team will be building up the causeway between the two lagoons during the next couple of months. This is to ensure that the lagoons remain separate.

Land Application: We have received approval from the State of Vermont to land apply our dewatered sludge on our land off Woods Hill Road. We will complete that from Wednesday through Friday with the assistance of Public Works. We have approximately 130 tons to apply on our own land with our own time and labor. This is yet another return on our land and process investment, saving significant costs compared to hiring a company to haul this away and dispose of it. The anticipated costs if we had to outsource this would range from $20,000 to $45,000 depending on a number of factors.

Hydro:  Unit 1 and 2 are still down for repairs. Unit 1 is waiting for the manufacturing of spacers for the wiki gates, which should be completed with the unit back on-line next week. We continue to struggle with Unit 2. Our engineers have reassembled unit 2 but discovered a significant vibration when placing the unit back into operation. We will continue to work with the current and likely, additional engineers, to work on this unit.

Water Plant: We have had some minor problems in the past few weeks with our filters (tanks) operating correctly, resulting in several call outs. That has been rectified and the plant is now operating normally. We are also experiencing issues with the chemical pumps, as a direct result of age and wear. Six of these will be replaced next year and the other six in 2026. Public Works assisted, utilizing the Vactor, in completing the annual lagoon rotation.

Electric Department:

We continue to work with Weimann Lamphere Architects (WLA) on the design of a new facility and we are evaluating submissions by interested construction companies who submitted Request for Proposals (RFP’s) to identify a Construction Manager. The selected firm will then help us identify firm costs and final design of the building to bring to the voters in the form of a bond vote in March of 2025. We anticipate holding public information meetings (up to four) in January.

6 South River Street: All archeological testing has been completed on this site. Additional assessment did not reveal any significant deposits and as a result it is recommended that the site is not eligible for the State of National Register and no further archaeology work is necessary.

Budget Building: We are in the process of completing the first round of budget building within each department. Once that is complete, we will present a budget to the Board of Trustees for review.

VPPSA Legislative Committee: I have been asked and accepted a position again this year on this committee. We need to protect public power and all that we offer to the citizens we serve. We held our first committee meeting for this session earlier today.

12. Any Other Necessary Business:

Adam Paxman stated the flags for Veterans will be erected in the Village Green on Saturday, November 9th beginning at 9 a.m. He said they will set up 150 flags and the fire department’s ladder truck will be there with their new huge flag. Adam also said Christmas in the Park will be held on Saturday, November 30^th from 3 to 6 p.m.

Any Other Business: Suzie Kelleher said she has sold 40 out of the 75 hometown hero banners. She said she still needs sponsors for 13 remaining veterans on the monument in Veteran’s Memorial Park as well as 1 veteran on the Vietnam Memorial Bridge. Suzie also said Abenaki Nation will be holding a Hunter’s Breakfast on Saturday, November 9^th from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Church of Nativity parish hall. She also informed the board that they will be taking the flower boxes off the bridge this year to make it easier for the sidewalk plow to go through. Suzie also mentioned that Small Business Saturday is on November 30^th this year and Ladie’s Night Out, sponsored by Divine Treasures and Bees on Broadway, will be held on November 15^th at 6 p.m.

13. Executive Session to Discuss Legal Matters:

None.

14. Adjournment:

Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees meeting at 8:07 p.m. Suzie Kelleher seconded the motion. There being no further business at hand, David Winchester, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:07 p.m. Motion carried.

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David Winchester, Village President                  Date

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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                 Date