Trustees Meeting 4/11/16

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SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, April 11, 2016

7:00 PM

PRESENT: Neal Speer, Village President; Chris Leach, Trustee; Eugene LaBombard, Trustee; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Reginald Beliveau, Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Terri O’Shea and Ch. 16.

Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried unanimously.

1.      Call to Order:

Neal Speer, Village President, welcomed all to the Regular Board of Trustees meeting and called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m.

2.      Agenda Review:

Reg Beliveau stated he would need an Executive Session to discuss contracts and real estate.

3.      Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, March 28, 2016:

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and accept the Minutes from Monday, March 28, 2016 as presented. Chris Leach seconded. Discussion: Chris Leach asked if there was any more information on the Kirt Mayland Solar Project. Reg Beliveau stated he talked with VPPSA about that and is waiting on more information. Motion carried.

4.      Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Friday, April 8, 2016:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to approve and accept Village Warrants through Friday, April 8, 2016 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

5.      Hank Lambert, Swanton Enhancement Project Flower/Tree Committee to Discuss $1000 Application to the VT Urban & Community Forest Program:

Hank Lambert couldn’t attend this meeting so Terri O’Shea came in his place. Reg Beliveau informed the Board that Hank had found a $1,000 grant for the Village to apply for that would pay for more trees and flowers to be planted in the Village. Eugene LaBombard made the motion authorizing Reg Beliveau to apply for the $1,000 tree/flower grant. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

Terri O’Shea also informed the Board that there is a $30,000 Rural Development Business Grant that the Town of Swanton is applying for to help hire a person to focus on job creation in the Swanton community. Terri said this may only be a one year position but feels it will be great having a key person working on job creation in this community. Adam Paxman said they have been preaching it, they need someone for this job. Chris Leach said they need someone who can follow through and create jobs. Neal Speer stated a key person can make better use of the volunteers and better use their time. Reg stated Hank Lambert has asked the Board of Trustees for their support in this endeavor. Adam Paxman made the motion to approve and sign the letter of support for the Rural Development Business Grant to hire a person to focus on job creation in the Town and Village of Swanton. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

6.      Any Other Necessary Business:

Adam Paxman asked Reg if the Fire Department had ordered any of their air packs yet. Reg said he didn’t know but said he would ask the Fire Chief.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated that the Town and Village of Swanton have sent a letter to Mr. Matt Casey with the Dollar General store asking him to reconsider the façade of the proposed store on First Street. He said they are asking them to add some brick in the front as well as awnings. He said the Town Selectboard has signed this letter and he is asking the Village Trustees to sign in support of this request also. All Board members signed the letter.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau asked the Board to sign the Resolution in support of Market-Based Visioning & Revitalization Planning in Swanton Village and the Northern Gateway. The Resolution states Whereas, the Town and Village of Swanton have a mutually desirable goal of encouraging economic development in both the Town and Village; and Whereas, the Town and Village of Swanton have a mutually desirable goal of revitalizing vacant and underused properties in the northern end of Swanton Village and the Northern Gateway; and Whereas, the Town and Village of Swanton have a mutually desirable goal of seeking grant funds to assist in paying for such a revitalization effort and thereby, improving the economic development potential of this target area; Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Village of Swanton Board of Trustee endorses the proposed market-based visioning and revitalization plan as described in a letter from Greta Brunswick, NRPC Senior Planner, dated March 29, 2016, and desires to make that endorsement a matter of public record. Eugene LaBombard made the motion for the Village of Swanton Board of Trustees to adopt and sign the Market-based Visioning & Revitalization Planning in Swanton Village and Northern Gateway. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

Any Other Business: Reg Beliveau stated a lot of people are saying they like the flashing sign out front of the Complex. He said Joel Clark has done some research and has found one to be installed in the Village Green. He said the Swanton Enhancement Project would donate part of the funds and the Town of Swanton would cover the rest of the cost. He said he received a quote for $6900 and is waiting on another quote for cost comparison. Reg stated the Village and Town employees would erect the post that would hold the electronic sign and the Village would supply the electricity to the sign. Reg said this would get rid of all the signs and banners people hang at the end of First Street. Chris Leach made the motion to approve the installation of an electronic sign and message board at the end of First Street in the Village Green. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

7.      Public Comment:

None.

8.      Executive Session to Discuss Customer Accounts, Real Estate and Contracts:

Eugene LaBombard made the motion to enter into Executive Session to Discuss Customer Accounts, Real Estate and Contracts at 7:52 p.m. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Executive Session and enter back into Open Session at 9:10 p.m. Chris Leach seconded. Motion carried.

ACTION TAKEN: Chris Leach made the motion to authorize the Village of Swanton to write off a balance of $18,902.10. Eugene LaBombard seconded. Discussion: The breakdown for this is as follows: $16,630.70 in the electric department, $1151.40 in the water department, $1070 in the fire department and $50 in the highway department. Motion carried.

9.      Adjournment:

Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the Regular Board of the Trustees meeting at 9:11 p.m. Eugene LaBombard seconded. There being no further business at hand, Neal Speer, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 9:11 p.m. Motion carried.

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Neal Speer, Village President                           Date

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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                               Date