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Trustees Meeting 10/13/21

  • Wednesday, October 13, 2021
    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 & PUBLIC HEARING

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

7:00 PM

PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau Jr., Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Gordon Winters; and Ch. 16. Via Zoom: Elisabeth Nance, Economic Development Coordinator.

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

  1. Call to Order:

Neal Speer, Village President, called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

  1. Pledge of Allegiance:

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

  1. Agenda Review:

Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, stated he needed an executive session for real estate due to potential litigation.

  1. Public Comment:                                          

None.

  1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, September 27, 2021:

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from Monday, September 27, 2021 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

  1. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Thursday, October 7, 2021:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants #93-97 through Thursday, October 7, 2021 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

  1. Public Hearing to Receive Public Comment and to Consider Completing Application to the FY2022 Transportation Alternatives Grant Program:

Elisabeth Nance said that herself along with Reg Beliveau, Neal Speer, Mark Rocheleau and Gordon Winters are on this steering committee. She said the Downtown Scoping Study is done and they are now looking for funds to implement some of the features from that feasibility study. She said there is a Transportation Alternatives Grant Program available that offers $300,000 with a $75,000 match. She said the bulk of the items they’d like to do if they received the grant are the following:

  • The installation of an all-way stop at the Vermont 78-Grand Avenue intersection with stop bars to slow traffic, improve congestion, and improve pedestrian safety

•     The shortening of the existing crosswalk across Vermont 78 at Canada Street to improve pedestrian safety

•     The relocation of the sidewalk at Merchant’s Row to improve handicapped access

•     The relocation of a crosswalk from Memorial Hardware to Merchant’s Row to improve pedestrian safety

•     The installation of RRFBs and crosswalks at Marble Mill Park entrance to improve pedestrian connectivity and safety

She said they are also going to ask to shorten the crosswalk on Grand Avenue by Pump N Munch convenience store to the Village Green. She said they’d like to add bump outs there as well. She said the bulk of the work will be in front of Merchants Row to move the sidewalk out from under the walk-way. She said some of the work they had planned for in front of Marble Mill will have to wait until the bridge repairs are made. Elisabeth said the steering committee had a meeting with Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, and it was decided that the best option would be to ask the voters for the whole $75,000 next year for the grant match. Reg said this is all dependent on being awarded the grant. Elisabeth said there is clearly a need for some traffic calming and they have some short-term solutions they can do. She said the long-term solutions will be more expensive. Adam Paxman asked about the percentage that Lynn had sent in an email. Elisabeth explained how the grant was calculated and said the match would be $75,000 on a $300,000 grant. They discussed asking for the match all at once because if it’s approved you have it. The voters could approve it one year and disapprove it the next so they wouldn’t have their match funds. Adam also asked if the Village would be asking for a line item on the ballot for the new water line across the Missisquoi. He’s concerned that’s a lot to be asking for in one year. Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve applying for the FY2022 Transportation Alternatives Grant Program with the understanding that they don’t need to accept it if awarded, and that the Village voters will need to approve the $75,000 grant match request. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Any Other Necessary Business:

Adam Paxman stated he would like to plea for people to slow down while driving. He said people are out walking, biking etc. and people need to just slow down.

Any Other Business: Eugene LaBombard stated he wanted to thank Reg Beliveau for straightening out the busing situation on King Street. He said the bus driver is now allowed to stop on King Street and pick up children for school. He also asked Reg if they were going to begin interviewing for the Adam Paxman, Mark Rocheleau, Ed White, Crystal Lampman, himself, Lynn Paradis and Leon Begnoche are on the hiring committee.

  1. Executive Session If Necessary:

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter executive session at 7:30 p.m. to discuss real estate. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to exit executive session at 8:10 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Adjournment:

Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:10 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m. Motion carried.

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Neal Speer, Village President                            Date

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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                Date