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Trustees Meeting 3/21/22

  • Monday, March 21, 2022
    7 PM – 9 PM

Village Trustees

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SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

SPECIAL MEETING

Monday, March 21, 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; Mark Rocheleau, Town Selectman; and Jenn Yandow. Via Zoom: Gordon Winters.

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:

Dianne Day stated she had two items for Any Other Business. Reg Beliveau stated he needed an executive session to discuss contracts.

  1. Public Comment – Janet Dimick request permission to hold Gathering of the Realms with alcohol sales, bon fire and overnight camping on Swanton Rec Fields in September 2022:

Reg Beliveau, Village Manager, read the following request letter from Janet Dimick because she was unable to attend the meeting:

I am writing to request permission, or be directed to who can assist with, permissions for the Swanton Arts Council project, Gathering of The Realms, that I am heading up.

Gathering of The Realms has a set date of September 10-11, 2022, at the Swanton Recreation fields. It is a combination of renaissance activities and vendors for all to come and enjoy a bit of history and fantasy.

In the planning is the inclusion of alcoholic sales. We have a local meadery and a brewery tentatively wanting to participate. The parameter we propose are as follows:

•                      Mandatory regulatory insurances and proper filings to distribute at Vermont events

•                     Roped off section with “knight” verifying legal age

•                     Limiting the number of drinks per patron

•                     Limiting time of serving to a set time frame

•                     Explicit signage stating all alcoholic beverages can only be consumed in the designated area at the designated times

I would like to request special permission for alcoholic sales within an agreed time frame for both days. If there are other parameters needed to meet specifications for this request, please advise.

Also, we would like to accomplish a bonfire Saturday night. What type of burn permits do we need and within what parameters?

Next, for the vendors and performers, can there be onsite camping? Specific rules are in process for those who would be spending the night on site including no alcohol, no noise after 10, and take away all you bring in. Any specific suggestions you would like to see? May we offer onsite camping for Saturday night? Can it be extended to Friday night for early arrivals? This way the vendors are responsible for their own booths and wares.

Finally, we do wish to collaborate with Swanton Village Police. Is that a discussion to have with the Chief directly or first with you, the trustees?

Other items in play, we are working with two SCA groups and a larping group for instructional mock battles and an active encampment in true era dress. Nicole Draper is thinking of games to hold through the rec dept. Abby is interested in holding something through the library as well. I am locating artisans to hold 3-4 classes leading up to the event on how to create your own character and garb.

To be noted, we have our turkey leg provider! Dan’s Northern BBQ is set to go!

I look forward to your feedback and guidance. Thank you for reviewing and discussing this event.

The Board began discussions regarding the event and wondered about the alcohol sales. The Arts Council would need to apply for a license from the State of Vermont for that as well as a liability insurance policy. Chief Matt Sullivan stated the brewery and meadery would be used for the license for alcohol. They discussed the mock battle and wondered how big the event would be. Neal Speer stated the bigger concern at this time would be the licensing for the alcohol sales. He said the Village of Swanton Ordinance Section 12 states “no person shall consume, open a container of, or carry an opened container of malt beverage, wine or intoxicating liquor in a “public area” within the Village of Swanton, or in any vehicle parked or operated thereon. “Public area” is defined for the purpose of this section as:

(1) Public highways, roads, streets, sidewalks or parking lots open to the public; and

(2) Swanton Village owned property, including parks, buildings and property designated for school and recreational use.

  1. Alcohol is permitted on Swanton Village owned property for special events with a permit issued by the Swanton Village Board of Trustees and with proof of applicable liability insurance. The cost of the permit will be $100.”

He said after they get their vendors lined up and alcohol permits in place they would then need to get a permit from the Village for the event. Adam Paxman asked if the recreation fields were owned by the Village. Reg Beliveau stated the property is in the Village and the buildings are owned and maintained by the Town. Eugene LaBombard asked if the event would be limited in size and asked if additional police coverage would be needed. He asked if the Arts Council should have to pay for extra police coverage. Chief Sullivan said that would depend on the size of the event and said the police department would review the permit application and make appropriate recommendations. He said he would also suggest double fencing around the beer tent area high enough so that no one could jump the fence and not be screened by who’s trained at looking at ID’s for entrance. Adam asked if we had a permit in place. Dianne Day, Village Clerk, said she thought an approval letter could work as the permit. She said these are new, updated ordinances and as of now there is not a permit in place. She said she could create one for the Village. Adam suggested a permit application be made. Neal said he would like to see more of an agenda for the event. The Board asked about the lighting that’s there and also suggested they contact the nearby residents in the area. Chris Leach asked if this should be held at the Franklin County Field Day site. Neal stated they are asking to use the recreation property so they will go with that. Neal said he doesn’t have a problem with the permit but would like more information first. Dianne Day stated she would schedule Janet for their next Trustee’s meeting.

  1. Approve and Accept Minutes from Thursday, March 14, 2022 as presented:

Chris Leach made the motion to approve and accept Minutes from Monday, March 14, 2022 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

  1. Approve and accept Village Warrants through Thursday, March 17, 2022:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through Thursday, March 17, 2022 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

  1. Formally Request a Re-Vote on Article 10 – Shall the voters of the Village of Swanton authorize the Board of Trustees to allow the Retail Sale of Cannabis within the Village of Swanton:

Neal Speer stated the timing was off the first time they voted on this because an interested party contacted us just prior to adopting the warning. He said both the Village and Town should have voted on this issue. Adam Paxman made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton to hold a re-vote on whether or not the Trustees would allow the retail sale of cannabis in the Village of Swanton. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Approve and Adopt Warning for April 26, 2022 Re-Vote of Cannabis Article:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to adopt the Warning for a re-vote on the cannabis article to be held on April 26, 2022. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

  1. Swanton Village Police Department Update:

Chief Matthew Sullivan stated the Village Police Department responded to 59 incidents in the month of February. He said they issued 14 traffic warnings and 2 traffic tickets. He said the following is a  breakdown of their top 10 calls for service in both the Village and Town: 4 Welfare Checks; 20 Traffic Stops; 12 Suspicious Person/Circumstance; 10 Community Outreach; 9 Agency Assists; 8 Citizen Disputes; 8 Citizen Assists; 8 Motor Vehicle Complaints; 6 Family Fight/Domestics; and 5 Alarms. Chief Sullivan also showed the list of arrests made in February and they include Domestic Assault, Unlawful Trespass, Driving Under the Influence, and Driving with Criminally Suspended License. Chris Leach stated his handout is very well written and Neal agreed saying this provides a lot more detail. Chief Sullivan stated the house involved in the homicide is back in the landlord’s possession. Neal stated that VT State Police put out a recent update on the North River Street property that was also involved in the homicide. Chris also asked if there were a lot of incidents of vandalism and shoplifting. He said he hears that from his constituents. Chief Sullivan said there have been some but nothing too alarming. The Board thanked him for his update.

  1. Any Other Necessary Business:

Dianne Day, Village Clerk, stated that Nicole Draper reached out to request holding Food Truck and Market Sundays in the Village Green again this year on the third Sunday of every month May through September. Adam Paxman made the motion to approve Food Truck and Market Sundays in the Village Green on the third Sunday of every month May through September. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

Any Other Business: Dianne Day, Village Clerk, stated that Joanne Crawford from the Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi, is requesting permission to hold a skateboard workshop at Marble Mill on Saturday, July 9th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon with a backup date of Saturday, July 23, 2022. Adam Paxman made the motion to approve Abenaki Nation of Missisquoi’s request to hold a skateboard workshop at Marble Mill on Saturday, July 9th from 10 a.m. to 12 noon with a backup date of Saturday, July 23, 2022. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

Any Other Business: Mark Rocheleau asked if the Village planned on doing any tree cutting in the Village Green. Reg said he would discuss this with Tree Warden Hank Lambert and will walk through the park to see what needs cutting.

Any Other Business: Adam Paxman stated that he received an email from Fire Chief Jason Butler stating they held their annual meeting and said the officers remained the same as last year. They are: Fire Chief Jason Butler; Assistant Chief Jason Cross; Captain Daniel Chevalier; Lieutenant Troy Campbell; Lieutenant Lawrence Bouissey and Lieutenant Keesy Jaring. He said they will have two lieutenants in Training this year, Matthew Walker April through September and Matt Depatie October through March.

Any Other Business: Jenn Yandow stated she is still working the possibility of putting a car charging station down by the Chamber of Commerce’s building. Reg stated he would like to have the Village’s Electric Rate Tariff updated to include installing meters on the car chargers here at the Complex and have them sponsored by local businesses. He said this would benefit the general public who needs to charge their vehicle and would also benefit the businesses achieve green credits. He said he would continue to look into this and work with VPPSA and the Energy Committee on it.

  1. Executive Session to Discuss Contracts:

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter Executive Session to discuss contracts at 7:40 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

Chris Leach made the motion to exit Executive Session at 8:12 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Motion carried.

ACTION TAKEN: None.

  1. Adjournment:

Chris Leach made the motion to adjourn the Special Board of Trustees meeting at 8:12 p.m.  Adam Paxman seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Motion carried.

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Neal Speer, Village President                            Date

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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                Date