Trustees Meeting 2/23/26

Web version

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON TOWN SELECTBOARD

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

INFORMATIONAL MEETING

Monday, February 23, 2026

6:00 PM

Present: Joel Clark-SLB Chair, Nicole Draper, Steve Bourgeois, Earl Fournier, Nick Brosseau -SLB Members, David Winchester- Village President, Adam Paxman, Suzie Kelleher, Neal Speer-Village Trustees, Brian Savage-Town Administrator, Cathy Fournier-Town Clerk, Bill Sheets-Village Manager, Lynn Paradis-Assistant Village Manager, Christina Candels-Assistant Town Administrator, Dianne Day-Village Clerk, Betty Cheney, Delinquent Tax Collector; Dean Ryan, Public Works Foreman; Jason Starr, Sewer Plant Chief Operator; Dan Chevalier, Fire Chief and Hydro Plant Supervisor; Matt Sullivan, Chief of Police; Daren Plouff, Electric Department Foreman; Dillon Dupont, Water Plant Chief Operator; Betsy Fournier, Lisa & Don Bourgeois, Damon Broderick, Don Collins, Marilice Silva, Richard Hazard, David Quick, Deb Bourgeois, Ned Spear, Tim Lemnah, Allen Letourneau, Ron Underwood, Chevon Cooper, Ed White Sr., Suzanne Washburn, Kristen Bourgeois, David Chevalier, Joshua Ramsdell, Josh Aldrich, Victor Trivonto, Matt Walker, and Ch. 16. Via Teams: Denny, L and Bogdan.

1. Call to Order:

Mr. Winchester called the Village Trustee meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Mr. Clark called the Selectboard meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

2. Pledge of Allegiance/Moment of Silence:

Everyone in attendance stood for the Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence.

3. Reading of Town of Swanton’s Annual Warning – Town Administrator Brian Savage:

Town Moderator Brian Savage read the Town’s 2026 Annual Warning.

4. Reading of Village of Swanton’s Annual Warning – Village President David Winchester:

Village President David Winchester read the 2026 Village Annual Warning.

VILLAGE OF SWANTON

ANNUAL WARNING

The legal voters of the Village of Swanton are hereby warned and notified to meet at the Swanton Village Complex, 120 First Street, Swanton, Vermont on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 7:00 a.m. to vote on the articles set forth. All articles are to be voted by Australian Ballot. The polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.

 Article 1:         To elect from the legal voters of said Village the following officers:

                        President for a 1-year term

                        Trustee for a 3-year term

                        Clerk for a 1-year term

                        Collector of Delinquent Taxes for a 1-year term

Article 2:          Shall the voters of the Village of Swanton appropriate $180,220 for the

                        operation and maintenance of the General Fund for 2026?

Article 3:          Shall the voters of the Village of Swanton appropriate $751,290 for the operation and maintenance of the Highway Department for 2026?

Article 4:          Shall the voters of the Village of Swanton appropriate $92,388 for the operation and maintenance of the Fire Department for 2026?

Article 5:          Shall the voters of the Village of Swanton appropriate $1,139,658 for the operation and maintenance of the Police Department for 2026?

Article 6:          Shall the Village collect its real and personal property taxes to defray the expenses of the Village for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, by its actual receipt of payment (postmarks will not be accepted) at the Village Office by 4 p.m. on October 15^th, or if the 15^th shall fall on a weekend or holiday, the following business day by 4 p.m., with an eight percent (8%) penalty and one percent (1%) interest per month (or portion thereof) due thereon for the first three months, and one and one half (1.5%) per month (or portion thereof) thereafter, to be charged for late payment of any installment?

The legal voters of the Village of Swanton are further notified that an Informational Meeting will be held on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM in person and via Teams for the purpose of explaining all the Budget items to the voters. Anyone desiring to participate & listen in on the meeting can do so by going to the Village’s website at swantonvt.gov, click on Village, Village Trustees and find the meeting by date. Open the agenda and click on the meeting link.

Dated at Swanton, Vermont this 26th day of January 2026.

David Winchester, Suzie Kelleher, Neal Speer, Adam Paxman

Received and filed this 26th day of January 2026

Dianne L. Day, Village Clerk

5. Power Point Presentation and Discussion of Town of Swanton’s Proposed 2026 Budget:

Mr. Clark presented the 2026 Town of Swanton Budget PowerPoint. Please see Town of Swanton Meeting Minutes for presentation.

6. Public Comment:

See Town of Swanton Meeting Minutes for public comments.

7. Adjourn Town Selectboard’s Informational Hearing:

Earl Fournier made the motion to adjourn the Town Selectboard’s Informational Hearing on the 2026 Annual Meeting. Steve Bourgeois seconded the motion. Motion carried.

8. Power Point Presentation and Discussion of Village of Swanton’s Proposed 2026 Budget:

Bill Sheets, Village Manager, began the Village’s Power Point Presentation by mentioning the Village’s organization chart, the Village Trustees & Manager Report and gave the presentation outline: General Fund, Fire Department, Highway Department and Police Department.

Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, showed the following funds and gave a brief description of information for each particular fund.

General Fund:

• Significant Impacts/Pressures
  • Salaries and Benefits (3 percent increase)
  • All employees pay 2 percent more for health insurance
  • Building Maintenance
  • 2025:   $197,139
  • 2026:   $180,220
  • *Decrease of $16,919

Fire Department:

• Significant Impacts/Pressures
• Dispatching Costs
• Now part of EMS dispatching fee (Town)
• Added Mini-pumper (2027) and have or will sell Engine 1 and Utility 6.
• Equipment Replacement fund increase
• Proposed increase from 85k to 100k
• Next Fire Truck Bond no sooner than 2032
• 2025:   $94,457
• 2026:   $92,388

Highway Department:

• Significant Impacts/Pressures
  • Workers’ Compensation Insurance
  • Property Insurance
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Reducing Costs while maximizing grants
    • Example: Sidewalk Grants
  • 2025: $763,395
  • 2026: $751,290
  • Decrease of $12,105

Police Department:

• Significant Impacts/Pressures
  • Salaries and Benefits (Equity with St. Albans)
  • Dispatching cost
  • Workers’ Compensation Insurance
  • Liability Insurance
  • Added one FT position beginning 7/1/26
  • 2025:   $1,005,026
  • 2026:   $1,139,658
  • Increase of $134,632

Bill Sheets then showed the Essential Grant Funding information:

• We have over 10 million in open grants
  • Pages 8 and 9 of Village Annual Report
  • We have over 9.4 million in pending applications, with another significant funding period approaching.

Lynn Paradis then showed the 2025 Tax Rate actual vs the 2026 Proposed Tax Rate:

2025 Tax Rate for the General Fund: 0.1172 vs 2026 Proposed Tax Rate of 0.1071

2025 Tax Rate for the Fire Department: 0.0561 vs 2026 Proposed Tax Rate of 0.0549

2025 Tax Rate for the Police Department: 0.5973 vs 2026 Proposed Tax Rate of 0.6773

2025 Tax Rate for the Highway Fund: 0.4537 vs 2026 Proposed Tax Rate of 0.4465

Lynn explained that last year’s tax rate was 1.2243 and 2026’s proposed tax rate is 1.2858 for a change of .0615 (5%). She then went on to show a home valued at $250,000 had a tax bill in 2025 of $3060.75 and 2026’s tax bill is estimated to be $3214.50, for a change of $153.75; a home valued at $275,000 had a tax bill in 2025 of $3366.83 and 2026’s tax bill is expected to be $3535.95 for a change of $169.12 and a home valued at $300,000 had a tax bill in 2025 of $3672.90 and 2026’s tax bill is expected to be $3857.40 for a change of $184.50.

Bill said a voter can now make an educated vote based on the information presented tonight showing how each fund has decreased except for the police department. He said it’s expensive to have a police department and make sure their wages are competitive compared to nearby departments. He said he was asked why they don’t create their own 911 system and Bill said it would cost millions of dollars to do that.

Bill also talked about Swanton Village having the lowest electric rates in the State of Vermont and that we are 100% locally owned, 100% democratically run and 100% renewable. He talked about the efforts to renew the Hydro license and said it’s ongoing.

Bill talked about the Water and Wastewater Funds showing the following:

• Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade Project is under construction.
• We are prioritizing water line repairs, with Dewey and Gallup up next.
• A rate increase evaluation is ongoing. There will be an increase in 2026.

Bill then mentioned the 2026 candidates and they are: David Winchester, Village President for a 1 year term; Dianne Day, Village Clerk, 1 year term; Damon Broderick, Village Trustee, 3 year term; and Betty Cheney, Delinquent Tax Collector, 1 year term. Bill thanked everyone for coming to the Town and Village Informational Meeting.

9. Public Comment:

Neal Speer presented Adam Paxman with a plaque honoring his 15 years as Village Trustee. Everyone in attendance stood and applauded Adam for his service. Adam thanked everyone and his fellow board members for all the hard work they’ve done over the years. He said he feels everyone should run for a position and see how difficult it is working for a local government.

Tim Lemnah asked about Franklin County Field Days. He was told it was going behind Tractor Supply in Swanton Town and that they have signed a three-year lease with the Hubbard’s. Mr. Lemnah said he feels this will amount to a lot of lost revenue for Swanton Village businesses.

10. Adjournment:

Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn at 7:18 p.m. Suzie Kelleher seconded the motion. Motion carried. There being no further business at hand, David Winchester, Village President, adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m. Motion carried.

_____________________________________    _______________________________________

David Winchester, Village President                  Date

__________________________________         ___________________________________

Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                 Date