Trustees Meeting 5/27/25

Web version

SWANTON VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SWANTON VILLAGE MUNICIPAL COMPLEX

120 FIRST STREET

SWANTON, VT 05488

REGULAR MEETING

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

6:00 PM

PRESENT: David Winchester, Village President; Adam Paxman, Trustee; Neal Speer, Trustee; Suzie Kelleher, Trustee; William “Bill” Sheets, Village Manager; Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager; Dianne Day, Village Clerk; Matthew Sullivan, Chief of Police; Renee Cioffi, Brandi Paradis and Ch. 16 videographer.

To watch this meeting in its entirety, go to Northwest Access TV on YouTube. The video will also be posted on the Village’s website once available. Unless otherwise noted, all motions carried, unanimously.

1. Call Regular Meeting to Order at 6 p.m.:

David Winchester, Village President, called the Village Board of Trustees meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

2. Pledge of Allegiance:

Everyone in attendance stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Agenda Review:

None.

4. Public Comment:

None.

5. Approve and Accept Minutes from Monday, May 12, 2025 as presented:

Adam Paxman made the motion to approve the minutes from Monday, May 12, 2025, as presented. Neal Speer seconded the motion. Motion carried.

6. Approve and Accept Village Warrants through Thursday, May 22, 2025:

Suzie Kelleher made the motion to approve Village Warrants through Thursday, May 22, 2025 as presented. Adam Paxman seconded the motion. Discussion: None. Motion carried.

7. Swanton Village Police Department Update with Chief Matthew Sullivan:

Chief of Police Matthew Sullivan was present for this update and began by saying the Village Police Department responded to 144 incidents during the month of April 2025. He said the top ten calls for service were: 16 directed patrol, 15 traffic stop, 10 threatening, 9 VIN number inspection, 9 citizen assist, 6 welfare/suicide check, 5 theft, 5 community outreach, 5 citizen dispute and 19 suspicious person/circumstance. Matt said out of the 15 traffic stops there were 10 tickets issued and 11 warnings. He said there were 6 arrests with 6 individuals and 0 arrests associated with traffic.

Chief Sullivan said they responded to 120 incidents in the Town of Swanton during April 2025 and the top ten calls for service were: 46 traffic stop, 24 directed patrol, 7 suspicious person/circumstance, 5 threatening, 4 agency assistance, 3 community outreach, 3 restraining order, 2 motor vehicle complaint, 2 crash/property damage and 2 custody dispute. He said the department was busy working an additional 48 service hours for the Town on the Governor Highway Safety detail, the possibility of hiring an SRO Officer for the elementary schools and drug work. Matt said MVSD is interested in hiring an SRO position and he ran some rough numbers for them to investigate further. He said an SRO grant is very cumbersome to maintain and it would be up to the school to do that. Matt discussed the possibility of two former officers possibly coming back to work for the Village and said it’s still very challenging on finding officers to hire. He said the drug work continues and it’s a shame the homicide occurred on Fourth Street. He said they’ve also had multiple fraud cases and he had one case today that took him from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. tonight to finish because of the paperwork involved. He said this paperwork is out of their control but necessary for the judicial system. He said with only one officer working all this paperwork takes them off the streets so it can be difficult. He said it’s hard to cover vacations with no buffer in place. Adam Paxman asked about the threatening cases. Matt said that could consist of someone being verbally threatened and said he would have to look into each individual case to be sure. He said most likely it could end up being a disorderly conduct case. The board thanked Chief Sullivan for coming in and giving his monthly update.

8. Discussion on Potential Electric Rate Case:

Lynn Paradis, Assistant Village Manager, said she has been talking with VPPSA about the possibility of a rate increase in the electric department. She said at this time it is looking like the Village needs a 3% rate increase this summer using the 218d rules. She said this rate increase will have nothing to do with the new building and once she has her known and measurables she will be able to better formulate what kind of rate increase will be necessary for next year. Adam Paxman said this will be the first rate increase in 10 years. Suzie Kelleher said she is concerned about raising the rates this summer and then again in the fall. Lynn advised her this wouldn’t make the fall schedule so the next rate increase would be in 2026, and that will include the new building. David Winchester, Village President, pointed out that some utilities are looking at 20% increases so feels Swanton Village is lucky to only be going in for 3% at this time. Lynn said she would keep the board informed on this issue.

9. Village Manager Update:

None.
 

10. Any Other Business:

Adam Paxman said he wanted to give a shout out to everyone who participated in the biggest Memorial Day Parade they’ve ever had. He said the weather was fantastic, there were a lot of people and it was a nice way of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice. He said the police department and fire department helped out tremendously with traffic and the BBQ. Neal said he noticed the diversity of people who were in the parade from the ATV club to the sports teams.

Any Other Business: Suzie Kelleher said she wanted to thank Dean Ryan for his help with the beautification efforts and Tanner, Paul and Nathan on the electric department for hanging all the banners in time for Memorial Day. She also mentioned the following upcoming events:

• Family Night, Friday May 30^th, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Village Green with the band Third Shift
• Recreation All Teams Jamboree, Saturday May 31^st  9 a.m.
• 5/31-6/1 Swanton Business Sidewalk Sale includes: Visions, Divine Treasures, Scampers, ACE Memorial Hardware, Bees on Broadway, The Parts Store, Tipsy Daisy & ReStore
• 6/1 Divine Treasure’s Second Annual Food Drive

David Winchester also said he wanted to thank everyone who attended the Abenaki POW WOW held over the past weekend.

11. Enter Water Commissioner’s Meeting to Hear Renee Cioffi’s and Ryan Jordan’s Water Allocation Requests:

Adam Paxman made the motion to enter Water Commissioner’s meeting at 6:31 p.m. Suzie Kelleher seconded. Motion carried.

Renee Cioffi was present for this discussion. She explained that she is putting in a two-bedroom mobile home where her barn used to be located. She said there is an existing water line there, so she is requesting a water allocation of 400 GPD. Suzie Kelleher made the motion to approve Renee Cioffi’s water allocation of 400 GPD for a two-bedroom mobile home to be located at 381 US Route 7 on an existing water line. Neal Speer seconded. Discussion: Dianne Day, Village Clerk, said Dean Ryan looked at this existing water line and has no issues or concerns. Motion carried.

Dianne Day, Village Clerk, said Ryan Jordan contacted her and is requesting an additional 300 GPD for each of his three one-bedroom efficiency apartments to be located in his existing apartment building located at 128 Grand Avenue. Adam Paxman made the motion to approve Ryan Jordan’s request for an additional 300 GPD for each of his three one-bedroom efficiency apartments to be located at 128 Grand Avenue. Suzie Kelleher seconded. Motion carried.

Adam Paxman made the motion to exit Water Commissioner’s meeting at 6:35 p.m. Neal Speer seconded. Motion carried.

12. Executive Session to Discuss Legal Matter:

Suzie Kelleher made the motion, seconded by Adam Paxman, to go into Executive Session at 6:34 p.m. to discuss legal matters where premature general public knowledge of the subject matter would place the Village or person involved at a substantial disadvantage. She said Renee Cioffi is allowed to stay. Motion carried.

Suzie Kelleher made the motion to exit Executive Session at 7:17 pm. Adam Paxman seconded. Motion carried.

13. Adjourn:

Adam Paxman made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:18 p.m. Neal Speer seconded. Motion carried.

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David Winchester, Village President                  Date

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Dianne Day, Village Clerk                                Date