Special Joint Meeting of Swanton Selectboard, Village Trustees & Highgate Selectboard 11-25-25

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2025 1125 Joint Swanton Highgate Village Trustees Meeting Draft Minutes 338 KB

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DRAFT MINUTES

JOINT SPECIAL MEETING OF

TOWN OF SWANTON SELECTBOARD

VILLAGE OF SWANTON BOARD OF TRUSTEES

TOWN OF HIGHGATE SELECTBOARD

Swanton Town Offices

1 Academy Street

Swanton, VT   05488

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

6:00 pm

Present: Joel Clark-Chair, Nicole Draper, Steve Bourgeois, Nick Brosseau-Swanton Selectboard Members, Brian Savage-Town Administrator, Ben Lowell-Chair, Merry Souza, Vern Brosky, Richard Flint, Chad Carr-Highgate Selectboard Members, Fredi Hayes-Town Administrator, David Winchester-Village President, Adam Paxman, Suzie Kelleher, Neal Speer-Swanton Village Trustees, Bill Sheets-Village Manager

Absent: Earl Fournier-Swanton Selectboard Member

1. Call to Order

Mr. Clark called the Swanton Selectboard meeting to order at 6:05 pm.

Mr. Lowell called the Highgate Selectboard meeting to order at 6:05 pm.

Mr. Winchester called the Swanton Village Trustees meeting to order at 6:05 pm.

2. Agenda Review

No changes

3. Meeting Topics

Executive session to discuss contract for rescue services

1. Ms. Draper made a motion: I move that the Swanton Selectboard specifically find that, if we were required to discuss the terms of our existing contract with Mississquoi Valley Rescue, performance issues under that contract, or our negotiation strategy for a potential contract renewal in public, such premature general public knowledge regarding the contract and our negotiation strategy would clearly place the Town of Swanton at a substantial disadvantage in upcoming contract negotiations, seconded by Mr. Brosseau. Motion carried.

2. Ms. Draper made a motion: I move that, given our first motion in which we specifically found that we would be at a substantial disadvantage if we were required to discuss these issues in a public session, that the Swanton Selectboard enter into executive session under the provisions of 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(1)(A) to discuss the contract with Mississquoi Valley Rescue, including the terms of the existing contract, the provider's performance, and the business terms for potential renewal of the contract. I furthermore to include our Town Administrator in our executive session discussion as well as the Highgate Selectboard and Town Administrator, the Swanton Village Trustees, Village President and Village manager, seconded by Mr. Brosseau. Motion carried.

Enter executive session at 6:07 pm.

1. Mr. Paxman made a motion: I move that the Swanton Village Trustees specifically find that, if we were required to discuss the terms of our existing contract with Mississquoi Valley Rescue, performance issues under that contract, or our negotiation strategy for a potential contract renewal in public, such premature general public knowledge regarding the contract and our negotiation strategy would clearly place the Village of Swanton at a substantial disadvantage in upcoming contract negotiations, seconded by Ms. Kelleher. Motion carried.

2. Ms. Kelleher made a motion: I move that, given our first motion in which we specifically found that we would be at a substantial disadvantage if we were required to discuss these issues in a public session, that the Swanton Village Trustees enter into executive session under the provisions of 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(1)(A) to discuss the contract with Mississquoi Valley Rescue, including the terms of the existing contract, the provider's performance, and the business terms for potential renewal of the contract. I furthermore to include our Village Manager in our executive session discussion as well as the members of the Swanton & Highgate Selectboards and their Town Administrators, seconded by Mr. Speer. Motion carried.

Enter executive session at 6:09 pm.

1. Mr. Brosky made a motion: I move that the Highgate Selectboard specifically find that, if we were required to discuss the terms of our existing contract with Mississquoi Valley Rescue, performance issues under that contract, or our negotiation strategy for a potential contract renewal in public, such premature general public knowledge regarding the contract and our negotiation strategy would clearly place the Town of Highgate at a substantial disadvantage in upcoming contract negotiations, seconded by Ms. Souza. Motion carried.

2. Mr. Brosky made a motion: I move that, given our first motion in which we specifically found that we would be at a substantial disadvantage if we were required to discuss these issues in a public session, that the Highgate Selectboard enter into executive session under the provisions of 1 V.S.A. § 313(a)(1)(A) to discuss the contract with Mississquoi Valley Rescue, including the terms of the existing contract, the provider's performance, and the business terms for potential renewal of the contract. I furthermore to include our Town Administrator in our executive session discussion as well as the Swanton Selectboard & Town Administrator, Swanton Village President and Village Manager, seconded by Ms. Souza. Motion carried.

Enter executive session at 6:10 pm.

All Motions carried you are now in Executive Session

Mr. Bourgeois made a motion to exit executive session at 7:16 pm, seconded by Ms. Draper. Motion carried.

Mr. Speer made a motion to exit executive session at 7:17 pm, seconded by Mr. Paxman. Motion carried.

Mr. Flint made a motion to exit executive session at 7:18 pm, seconded by Ms. Souza. Motion carried.

Action Taken-Swanton:

Mr. Bourgeois made a motion to have the Town Administrator draft a letter to the Board of Directors of Mississquoi Valley Rescue expressing our serious concerns and enclose the report received from the State of Vermont as well as the two emails received, requesting a meeting with the Board of Directors within 2 weeks of receipt of the letter, seconded by Ms. Draper. Motion carried.

Action Taken-Highgate:

Mr. Flint made a motion to have the Town Administrator draft a letter to the Board of Directors of Mississquoi Valley Rescue expressing our serious concerns and enclose the report received from the State of Vermont as well as the two emails received, requesting a meeting with the Board of Directors within 2 weeks of receipt of the letter, seconded by Ms. Souza. Motion carried.

Action Taken-Swanton Village Trustees:

Ms. Kelleher made a motion to support the position of the Swanton Selectboard & Highgate Selectboard in this matter, seconded by Mr. Speer. Motion carried.

4. Adjourn

Ms. Draper made a motion to adjourn the Swanton Selectboard meeting at 7:18 pm, seconded by Mr. Brosseau. Motion carried.

Mr. Carr made a motion to adjourn the Highgate Selectboard meeting at 7:20 pm, seconded by Ms. Souza. Motion carried.

Mr. Paxman made a motion to adjourn the Swanton Village Trustees meeting at 7:21 pm, seconded by Mr. Speer. Motion carried.

Minutes Respectfully Transcribed by

Christina Candels-Assistant Town Administrator