Main content

Trustees Meeting 3/14/22

  • Monday, March 14, 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

Monday, March 14, 2022

7:00 PM

PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau Jr., Village Manager; Gordon Winters and Ch. 16; Via Zoom: Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager; Sarah Lunn and Lindsey Wight, Missisquoi River Basin Association.

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. Agenda Review:

None.

  1. Pledge of Allegiance:

Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

  1. Public Comment – Removal of Knotweed at Marble Mill with Goats Discussion, Sarah Lunn & Lindsey Wight:

Sarah Lunn and Lindsey Wight attended this meeting via zoom and explained the following to the Board of Trustees: The Missisquoi River Basin Association (MRBA) is a non-profit focused on improving and protecting the ecological integrity of the Missisquoi watershed basin. The MRBA has been working for the past few years on researching methods of mechanical control of Japanese knotweed which is a prevalent invasive species within the Missisquoi watershed. The MRBA is proposing a trial control method in Marble Mill Park in Swanton on a patch of knotweed to enclose in fencing and bring in a goat herd to eat the knotweed. It is the hope of the MRBA to host a goat herd (which has already been acquired) that will eat the knotweed down to a level and eventually will allow for native plantings on top. This may take multiple visits of the goat herd, however this will not be at any cost to the Village and all costs will be covered by the MRBA. The MRBA also proposes that if the Village is interested, a local event can be planned for community members to meet the goats at the park as well as have passive education on the threat of invasive species, especially Japanese knotweed in the Missisquoi watershed.

Adam Paxman made the motion to allow Sarah Lunn and Lindsey Wight from the Missisquoi River Basin Association (MRBA) to fence in a goat herd at Marble Mill Park to eat invasive Japanese Knotweed. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Thursday, March 3, 2022 as presented:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from Thursday, March 3, 2022 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Approve and accept Village Warrants through Thursday, March 10, 2022:

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through Thursday, March 10, 2022 as presented. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

  1. Hydro Relicensing Update:

Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, was discussing the relicensing process with the Board and told them how difficult this process really is. He said their license is up in 2024 and it takes a lot of time and effort. He told the Board how well the team at Hydro is working. He also said Morrisville has spent over $1 million dollars so far on their relicensing effort. Neal stated the Village of Swanton has nearly the lowest rates in the State and they would like to keep it that way. Reg informed the Board that he will meet with the agencies involved in April to discuss DME’s. The Board encouraged Reg to keep going and update them when possible.

  1. Any Other Necessary Business:

Adam Paxman stated the Chamber of Commerce would like permission to use the park on Saturday, April 16 for their annual Easter egg hunt. He also stated that on Good Friday, April 15th, the three local churches will be holding their annual cross walk through the Village. Reg suggested he contact the Police Department to let them know. Adam said his word for the week is Ukraine and asked everyone to pray for those folks. Neal asked Adam if they announced the Citizen of the Year award the other night. He said no he didn’t but it was in the paper and they named Herb Bartemy from TDI Repair. Neal stated well deserved and said they are totally community oriented.

Any Other Business: Neal Speer said he would like to thank all the participants from last week’s joint board meeting. He said he think they’ve accomplished a lot and said hopefully they can have many more in the near future. Reg stated someone questioned why there was no press release regarding the First Street property and the murder that happened there. Reg said he talked with the Chief of Police about that and he told him VSP is the lead agency and they are not done with their investigation.

  1. Executive Session to Discuss Customer Account, Real Estate and Personnel:

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter Executive Session to discuss customer account, real estate and personnel at 7:50 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

Chris Leach made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:32 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

ACTION TAKEN: None.

  1. Adjournment:

Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 8:32 p.m.  Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:32 p.m. Motion carried.

_____________________________________             _______________________________________

Neal Speer, Village President                            Date

_____________________________________    ___________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                Date