Swanton Enhancement Project (SEP) 3-12-26

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 CONVENE, COMMUNICATE, INFORM AND ENGAGE

ALL ARE WELCOME!

Swanton Enhancement Project (SEP)

March 12, 2026

5:30-7:30 pm

Swanton Village Complex

MINUTES

Present: Suzie Kelleher, Molly Lambert, Neal Speer, Marie Speer, Don Collins, Nicole Draper, Joel Clark, Kiersten Bourgeous, Nick Brosseau, Julie Regimbal,Carter Kutzner, Julia Tinganelli, Emily Waike, Elaine Nester, Michelle Desautels, Brian Savage, Tim Smith, Drena Voyer, Marie Frey, Crystal Lampman

1. Welcome and Review of Agenda

Chair, Kiersten Bourgeois called the meeting to order at 5:35 pm. After brief  introductions of people in the room, the agenda was reordered to accommodate scheduling conflicts of participants,

2. The Grow Grant – Tim Smith and Drena Voyer, FCIDC

Tim introduced Drina Voyer to explain the Grow Grant opportunity that FCIDC had recently been awarded by the State of Vermont. Each community in the Northwest region is being invited to provide information about the assets of their location which would make living there attractive to families and individuals who may consider moving to Vermont.. Nicole Draper, is the representative from Swanton in charge of aggregating it’s information for the website which is currently under construction. All of SEP’s partners were encouraged to submit relevant information to Nicole’s selectboard or recreation department address.

3. Business Spotlight – Hudak’s Marie Frey

Marie Frey, co-owner of Hudak Farm and her husband, Richard, presented the history of  their family business from its earliest roots to the current day. Hudaks has 25 acres of produce on its farm.  Richard grew up on the farm. His parents purchased the farm in 1952. She described the ups and downs of farm life over those decades.  She has been there since 1980.  Small business evolves in a “haphazard” way.  The way Hudak has survived, continued to grow and thrive is because of their passion and regard for each other. They now employ 25 full and part-time workers. She described the various changes that have occurred over the years – pick-your-own strawberries, the compost, “Whew”, H2A workers, the weather.  It’s always changing. Their children share their passion for the farm and Marie and Richard are committed to it and to the community for as long as they are physically able. 

Meeting attendees expressed tremendous gratitude to Hudak’s for their contributions to Swanton’s beautification and community service.

4. Youth Representatives

Nicole Draper introduced youth representatives Carter Kutzner, Julia Tinganelli and Emily Walke. She noted their numerous contributions to youth programs in Swanton including peer mentoring, youth camps, role models who show up in so many ways. 

Kiersten invited them to come to our meetings as often as possible and certainly ask for time on the agenda to share their perspectives and gain support for their projects.

5. Town Meeting Wrap-up

Brian Savage gave the town report. He welcomed and congratulated Ron Underwood and Nicole Draper on their wins of selectboard races.  All articles passed. The Local Options Tax passed and will be in effect 30 days after the processes are completed.  Brian thinks that it will be around July 1^st of this year.

908 ballots or 18.6% of registered voters participated.

Neal Speer summarized the Village results. 22% of registered voters participated. All articles passed.  The police department received approval for its request.  The Village has begun work on the new building across from the Village Complex. There is an RFP out for a short term solution for the bladder failure at Highgate Falls and then will quickly follow up with an RFP for the long term solution for the hydro project.

Several new businesses are filling Merchants Row. There is new ownership of the Scampers building. Many upcoming transportation projects are in the works focusing on the downtown traffic flow.  Representatives from the town and village are working on new signs for the entrances to Swanton.  The businesses across the street (now called Golden Row because they all own Golden Retrievers) are reported to be doing well.

6. Review and Approve Minutes of January 15, 2026 Meeting

Upon motion of Joel Clark and second by Crystal Lampman, the minutes of January 15, 2026 were approved as submitted.

7. Finance Report

Joel distributed a copy of the financial report as of February 28, 2026.

Bikes/Signs $3,889 is no longer needed for the Rail Trail, so that amount will go back into our fund balance, the purpose of which is to be decided. $815 for Marble Mill is the same. The larger $15,131 CD  for the Beautification Committee is for annual operations. The $10,300 CD is for a project yet to be decided that would honor the Taylor Brothers whose estate made this donation.

8. Organizational Structure

Kiersten reviewed the representation of the Steering Committee (SC). She noted that the bylaws of the organization outline the specific partners who are to be members of the committee. She quickly reviewed the list of our SC members and the organizations they represent.  She will prepare a spreadsheet and send it out for review by the current SC members within the next few weeks.

She noted that as we make more decisions that involve the finances of the organization, it is important that we be in compliance with the bylaws.

9. Committee Reports

• Library

Nicole Draper reported on behalf of Abbey Gaudette. Swanton Public Library is one of 3 communities in Vermont that received the Smithsonian Spark Grant. Informational meeting on March 25 from 6-7 to develop the form and content of this exhibit.  Nicole spoke of several more programs that the library has held and is planning

• MVSD

Julie Regimbal reported on behalf of Yeshua  Pastina. MVU – its basketball athletes, coaches and fans - was awarded the Mona Garone Sportsmanship Award presented annually and selected by the referees.

Unfortunately, the school budget was not approved. The second vote is April 14^th. MVU has been on two top-ten lists in Vermont recently.

• Recreation

Nicole Draper, Director, cited an incredible list of events, camps, gatherings, youth baseball, community gardening happening at the Rec Center in the Spring and Summer.

• Swanton Arts Council

Marie Speer distributed a list of Arts Council activities and reported on highlights of the upcoming calendar. 

• Beautification

Suzi Kelleher, Chair, reported on the important upcoming dates for planning and planting.   May 2^nd is Green Up Day and May 16^th is planting day.

• Community and EconomicDevelopment  

Elaine Nester, Vice Chair of the Chamber of Commerce mentioned that they are in the process of reviewing the status of Chamber activities. The annual car show will be held July 25 with a rain date of July 26^th.

• Historic Preservation – Nick Brosseau reported that the organization had its first meeting of 2026. Jason Barney facilitated the gathering.  The group is still fundraising for its new building location.
• Abenaki Nation - not present

10. New Business

Kiersten and the executive committee introduced the idea of the Vibrancy Mini-grant Program during the 2026 year. The purpose would be “to supportcivic activities and community-based projects that further a vibrant community where people  want to live, work, learn and play.”*  The range of the grants would be from $250-$500 for a total of $3,000 -$3500 this year. Applicants could be for-profit or nonprofit  organizations. Grantees would have to provide a small match requirement.  It would be available to all of Swanton.  Molly distributed a draft narrative and application form for people to review and provide comment by March 20^th. She will also distribute this information to the Steering Committee and friends who are not here this evening for their comments.  

This conversation springs from a discussion at our last meeting about the best way to support the great momentum of good things happening in Swanton. We want your feedback – structure of review and process, any way to help implement projects that support the vibrancy of the community.

• This language is included in the SEP bylaws that were approved in 2019.

11. Public Comment

• Northwest Planning Commission plan for the region. There will be a public hearing on March 25^th for comment.
• The Arts Council is seeking advice on a new contact software to reach out to interested parties. A short discussion followed.

12. Next Meeting Date and Adjourn

• Next meeting date and time:  May 14^th, 5:30-7:30pm, Place TBD
•      Adjourn 7:35 pm