Trustees Meeting 10/3/22

Web version

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

PUBLIC HEARING

Monday, October 3, 2022

7:00 PM

PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau Jr., Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Linda Wirts, Chevon Cooper, Ron & Sandy Kilburn, Hank & Molly Lambert, Jenn Yandow, and Gordon Winters. Via Zoom: Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager.

1. Call to Order:

Neal Speer, Village President, called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Public Comment:

Hank Lambert, volunteer member of Swanton Enhancement Project Beautification Committee read the following letter to the Trustees:

Dear President Speer and Members of the Trustees,

Since the formation of the SEP Beautification Committee in 2015, SEP has taken the lead in efforts to enhance the beauty of Swanton’s landscape, which creates a sense of civic pride, enhances economic development efforts and encourages prospective residents to consider Swanton.   To date, these efforts have been entirely volunteer, with funding primarily raised through fundraising initiatives.

Our committee has reached a point where the installation and maintenance of trees and flowers is far greater than our small group of volunteers can manage. To continue and expand streetside beautification requires municipal funding. We hope you will consider this request for Commitments by Swanton Town and Village to Beautify Swanton.

Vision and Mission of the SEP Beautification Committee

The Beautification Committee of the SEP envisions citizens joining a common effort to enhance the beauty of Swanton’s landscape. Our mission is to       

1. Create inviting and colorful streets and spaces.
2. Enhance the year-round beauty of the Village Green; ensure its sustained use as a safe, attractive and vibrant public space.
3. Boost citizens’ sense of place and community pride

Summary of Request

The Swanton Enhancement Project requests municipal funding to support a seven-year effort to heighten the beauty of Swanton. The program calls for planting and maintaining streetside trees, creating and maintaining gardens and planters throughout the village core and surrounding streets of our community. This request seeks annual municipal funding over an anticipated span of seven years.

Proposed budget for the first year (2023):

One-time ARPA funds              $10,000

Volunteer Fundraising              $  5,000

Municipal Appropriation           $30,000

Proposed budget for 2024-2029 (Assume 3% average annual cost increase):

Goals and Estimated Costs

Goal #1: Create beautiful roadway entrances to Swanton with trees, flowers and planters. First St., Spring St., Canada St., Grand Ave., No. & So. River Streets.    

• Over the next seven years, plant 70 trees on street entrances to Swanton.      

Cost Estimate, year one: 10 trees @ $500 per tree = $ 5,000

• Over the next seven years, expand the number of flower beds and planters on street entrances into Swanton village.  

Cost estimate, year one: 2 beds @ $500 per bed = $1,000  

Goal #2: Create trouble-free methods for watering flower beds and planters.    

• Install underground irrigation on the village green

One time Cost estimate: $5,000                                   (ARPA funds in 2023 only)      

• Construct a source for watering flower boxes on the bridge.                                        

One time cost estimate:   $5,000                                   (ARPA funds in 2023 only)        

Goal # 3: Provide incentives to businesses and private property owners to beautify storefronts and private lawns 

• Offer matching micro grants to businesses and private property owners to beautify store fronts and streets.  Cost Estimate:  $1,000

Goal #4: Achieve dependable, long term municipal support       

• Equipment and materials for planters, soil and soil amendments, hanging baskets, and related items. 

Cost Estimate: $2,000

• Contract with a person experienced in horticulture and dedicated to planning, planting and maintaining plants, and related activities, especially from May through October. ($50/ hr. X 20 hrs./wk. X 26 weeks)                  Cost Estimate: $26,000       
• Currently, the Village is responsible for village parks and the beach. The Town is responsible for the recreation path, the Fourth Street initiative, Veterans Park and the Recreation Department. Consider combining all parks and beautification efforts into a ‘One Swanton’ responsibility, perhaps named Swanton Parks and Recreation, splitting the costs between the two jurisdictions.                                                                                                                      

Conclusion

Advocates of this proposal are motivated by the fact that cultivating a beautiful and inviting appearance with trees, flower beds and planters is an expression of community pride among its residents. In addition, such enhancements create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors and prospective businesses alike.

In a 2018 survey conducted by the SEP’s Beautification Committee, 421 out of 1100 Swanton residents surveyed gave high rankings to the appearance of the community and, in particular, the swans, colorful flowers, trees and planters.

We hope you will fully affirm this request to beautify our community by committing the necessary funds to sustain these efforts. In partnership with the town and village, SEP leadership, and volunteers, let us move forward to an even more vibrant and welcoming community.

Thank you for your consideration of this proposal. We appreciate all that you do in the service of Swanton and its residents.

Sincerely,

Debbie Winters, Co-Chair

Betsy Fournier, Co-Chair

And Members of the SEP Beautification Committee: Saundra Dubois, Sarah Foisy, Marie Frey, Sandy Kilburn, Hank Lambert, Shelley Robtoy, Lauriette Winters, Linda Wirts

The Village of Swanton also wanted to show what the Swanton Enhancement Project is requesting from the ARPA funds.

Dear President Speer and Members of the Trustees,

Swanton Enhancement Project (SEP) is grateful that the Town and Village are accepting public input for the use of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns has provided a summary of the Final Rule for use of the funds, which provided much greater flexibility in the use of the funds. The opportunities are endless, but SEP would recommend prioritizing the following types of projects:

• Projects that have not been successful in receiving competitive grant funding in the past (i.e. Planning grant for Recreation Dept., Marble Mill phased restoration, LVRT trailhead, etc.)
• Projects that don’t have other sources of grant funding (i.e historic restoration funds, brownfields funds, infrastructure grants, etc.)
• Projects whose investment provides long term benefits or spurs additional private investment or encourages population growth (i.e. streetscape improvements, parks improvements, Recreation programs, etc.)
• Projects that are “one off” or time limited so budget holes are not created

Additionally, although the Village and Town received separate sources of funds, there may be projects that are geographically located in one but that provide significant benefits to the entire Swanton Community. In these cases, there may be an opportunity for the Village and Town to pool ARPA resources to leverage larger grant opportunities or provide greater benefit than acting alone. Examples of this type of project include:

• Commercial Streetscape and Village green improvements (utilities underground, ADA accessibility)
• Sidewalk improvements
• Parks improvements
• Projects that leverage the potential of the LVRT and its users
• Programs at the Recreation Department, Library, Historical Museum and other entities that serve all residents

Below is an initial list of projects that SEP would recommend for ARPA funding investment:

• Use ARPA funds to Leverage Future Larger Grants
  • Provide funding for consultant or staff person through 2026 to source grant opportunities and write grants that leverage portions of ARPA funds
• Village green improvements
  • Put electrical utilities and wires underground
  • Fountain repairs and improvements
  • Repair the bandstand to improve safety and accessibility
  • Improve / expand the swan pond
  • Install underground irrigation to flower beds
  • Redesign trees and other plantings
• Funding for future phases of the Downtown traffic plan
  • Downtown commercial streetscape improvements
  • ADA Accessibility upgrades
• LVRT trailhead parking and way finding signage along Fit and Healthy Path
  • Fund balance of proposed construction of parking area - $90,000
  • Welcome to Swanton signage design and installation at trailhead, Grand Ave. and River St.
    • Provides wayfinding to local businesses, services, recreational and cultural offerings
• Parks 4 year capital improvement plan through 2026
  • Set aside $25,000 per year for 4 years - $100,000
  • Items could include:
    • new fencing around courts at Marble Mill Park
    • new basketball hoops at Marble Mill Park
    • Play features at Swanton Beach
    • Improved Marble Mill entry area and signage. Install retaining wall
    • Landscaping and Beautification efforts including
      • Purchase 100 street trees for planting on village and town streets
      • Provide source of water for bridge boxes
    • Staff person dedicated to parks maintenance
• Business Development 4 year investment through 2026
  • Set aside $25,000 per year for 4 years - $100,000
  • Items could include:
    • 0% interest loans for façade improvements and interior fit-ups
    • Signage grants
    • Pay first 2 months of commercial rent to entice new business
    • Fund pop-up business programs to fill empty storefronts
    • Fund business development staff liaison as point person for existing business and to help identify new business opportunities
• 4^th Street Recreation Land Improvements
  • Master Design for fields, parking, amenities
  • Gravel parking area
  • Restroom and facilities storage building
  • Pavilion and picnic area
  • Field Improvements
  • Recreation facilities and programs
  • Fund master plan to reassess layout of entire recreational parcel for efficiencies and current and future uses. 
  • Assess opportunities for expansion of acreage 
  • Fund bike rental program and storage for LVRT users
  • New batting cage

Thank you for your consideration of these projects. 

Sincerely,

Debbie Winters, Co-Chair

Betsy Fournier, Co-Chair

And Members of the SEP Steering Committee: Molly Lambert, Hank Lambert, Christine Sweeny, Darci Benoit, Suzanne Washburn, Joel Clark, Shelley Robtoy, Sandy Kilburn, Ron Kilburn

Jen Yandow stated she would like it if ARPA funds were used to install electric car charging stations in the downtown area. She said Swanton is the last stop before someone enters Canada and it would be nice if chargers were available downtown so people would stop and shop and have some lunch.

3. Board of Trustees Present Possible ARPA Fund Projects:

Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, then showed a list of ongoing and upcoming projects the Village of Swanton is facing. They are:

Reg stated he would take everyone’s request into consideration but feels there are items in the beautification’s request that could be done cheaper. He said himself, along with the Board, would work on making a decision as to what to use the Village’s ARPA funds for.

4. Adjournment:

Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Public Hearing meeting at 8:37 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m. Motion carried.

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Neal Speer, Village President                            Date

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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                Date