Main content

Trustees Meeting 10/11/22

  • Tuesday, October 11, 2022
    7 PM – 9 PM

Village Trustees

Web version

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

REGULAR MEETING

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

7:00 PM

PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau Jr., Village Manager; Matt Sullivan, Chief of Police; Janet Savoi, Gathering of the Realms; St. Albans Messenger and Ch.16. Via Zoom: Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager.

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

  1. Call to Order:

Neal Speer, Village President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

  1. Pledge of Allegiance:

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

  1. Agenda Review:

None.

  1. Public Comment:

None.

  1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, September 26, 2022 and the Minutes from Monday, October 3, 2022 Public Hearing as presented:

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from Monday, September 26, 2022 and the Minutes from Monday, October 3, 2022 Public Hearing as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

  1. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Thursday, October 6, 2022:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants #91-#94 through Thursday, October 6, 2022 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

  1. Discussion on New Dates for Gathering of the Realms Event:

Janet Savoi was present for this discussion and informed the Board that they decided to cancel the Gathering of the Realms event for 2022 and plan it for September 2023 instead. She said there were too many permits and details to have in place so having more time to work on this will be a benefit to them. She said the dates for the event will be September 9-12, 2023. The Board stated this event was previously approved and they approve it being held in 2023 instead of 2022. Janet thanked the Board and said she would be back in to give updates as necessary.

  1. Swanton Village Police Department Update:

Chief Matt Sullivan stated that in the month of September the Village responded to 96 calls for service. He said the top ten calls were 17 suspicious person/circumstance; 12 foot patrols; 9 traffic stops; 6 motor vehicle complaints; 6 community outreach; 5 citizen assist; 4 property/home watch; 4 agency assistance; 3 unlawful mischief; and 3 background investigations. He also showed them their ticket report indicating 9 warnings issued and 1 traffic ticket issued. Chief Sullivan then showed their arrest analysis which included 1 retail theft arrest. Chief Sullivan said the department responded to 179 calls for service in the month of September with the Village and Town combined. He said the top ten calls for service were 26 traffic stops; 25 suspicious person/circumstance; 13 foot patrol; 12 agency assistance; 12 juvenile problem; 10 motor vehicle complaints; 8 community outreach; 7 citizen assist; 7 welfare/suicide checks; and 5 threatening. He then showed their arrest analysis which included 1 retail theft arrest, 1 assault on a law enforcement officer, 1 resisting arrest and 1 disorderly conduct.

Chief Sullivan said they are planning on hiring another part-time officer who is highly experienced in emergency medicine as well as being a firearms instructor. He said this is a very good hire and they’re a local individual who went to BFA St. Albans. He also informed the Board that they are seeing an uptick in drug activity over the last couple of months. He said they are aware of the locations and are working with multiple agencies on this issue. He said they are also working on scenarios where someone would need to be removed from the rail trail in case of an emergency. He said there is a need for some kind of equipment that could be used to do this. He also said he attended the last Selectboard meeting and there were concerns about a homeless man sleeping at the library. He said he is working on getting him shelter but told him he could no longer sleep there. Adam Paxman asked if they’ve noticed individuals sleeping in the Village Green. Chief Sullivan said that hasn’t been an issue as far as he knows. Adam encouraged people if they see something to say something. The Board thanked Chief Sullivan for his report.

  1. Discussion on Curb Cut at 19 and 21 First Street:

Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, informed the Board that Don Collins is seeking permission to install a driveway on his property located at 19/21 First Street. He said this is to access his garage that is located behind his rental property on York Street. Reg said having his own driveway on First Street will be less of an inconvenience for his tenant on York Street. He also said Zoning Regulations state the Public Works foreman and Village Manager can give permission for this, but said he wanted the Board’s approval because it is on First Street. Both Adam and Eugene were fine with Reg and Dean Ryan approving Mr. Collin’s driveway on First Street.

  1. Approve Amended Warning, Resolution and Declaration of Official Intent for the Missisquoi Waterline Project:

Reg Beliveau informed the Board that the previously approved documents pertaining to the new waterline were incorrect. Instead of $900,000 this waterline job will cost approximately $1,200,000 but the Village still qualifies for a 50% disadvantage subsidy on that amount. This will amount to $600,000 in loan forgiveness so he feels this is definitely the route to pursue to benefit the Village taxpayers.

Adam Paxman made the motion to authorize Dianne Day, Village Clerk, to sign the Resolution Certificate stating that it was determined that the public interest and necessity demand certain public water system improvements, namely to construct a second water line from the water plant crossing the Missisquoi River to the Village at an aggregate estimate cost of $1,200,000. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and adopt the Warning and Ballot to be used on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and adopt the Declaration of Official Intent of the Village of Swanton to reimburse certain expenditures from proceeds of indebtedness. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Authorize Village Manager to Sign Vermont Municipal Bond Bank Application for Unspent Loan Proceeds and Authorize Assistant Village Manager to close Hydro Checking Account:

Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, stated the Board already approved her applying $92,700 in unspent bond money toward the principle on the rubber bag bond. She also said she has approximately $3000 in the hydro checking account and she will deposit those funds in the general checking account. Adam Paxman made the motion to authorize Village Manager, Reginald Beliveau Jr., to sign the Vermont Municipal Bond Bank Application for Unspent Loan Proceeds and to allow Assistant Village Manager, Lynn Paradis, to close the Hydro Checking Account. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Authorize the Village of Swanton to Purchase 2022 VT Transco Equity Offer and to also Purchase any Unsubscribed Units:

Eugene LaBombard asked if the Village ever purchased any unsubscribed units. Lynn Paradis said yes they have and they receive dividend payments quarterly on all the units they have purchased. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton to Purchase 2022 VT Transco Equity and to also purchase any Unsubscribed Units. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Approve the Town of Highgate’s Water and Wastewater Allocation for Airport Upgrade:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to enter Water Commissioner’s meeting at 7:32 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve the Town of Highgate’s water and wastewater allocation for the airport job as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Water Commissioner’s meeting at 7:35 p.m. and re-enter Open Session. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Any Other Necessary Business:

Reg Beliveau said the FERC public hearing and meetings recently held went pretty well.

Neal Speer stated they have welcomed another new business on Merchants Row called Divine Treasures. He said Vision Nutrition recently opened there as well and the House of Pizza and Scampers make Merchants Row a real nice place to shop and eat. He said he’d like to commend all small businesses for welcoming everyone.

  1. Executive Session to Discuss Personnel and Real Estate

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter Executive Session at 7:41 p.m. to discuss real estate and personnel. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

Adam Paxman made to the motion to exit Executive Session at 9:00 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

ACTION TAKEN: None.

  1. Adjournment:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 9:00 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. Motion carried.

_____________________________________             _______________________________________

Neal Speer, Village President                            Date

_____________________________________    ___________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                Date