Committee hears H.364 to approve Village of Swanton annexation of town-owned parcel

The House Committee on Government Operations & Military Affairs on April 9 heard an introduction to H.364, an act that would approve the Village of Swanton's annexation of a parcel of land the village bought in April 2023.

The bill matters because the village's charter requires the General Assembly to concur in boundary changes; without that charter provision, the village could use the general-law annexation process. Tucker Anderson, legislative counsel, told the committee that the charter "expressly states that the boundaries of the village may be altered at the discretion of the board of trustees and with the concurrence of the General Assembly."

Representative Walker, sponsor of H.364, said the village purchased the property in April 2023 and that the parcel is adjacent to the village’s existing complex. Walker said the village had initially considered a public safety building and is now considering locating Swanton Electric or other village facilities on the site. He said the town of Swanton has agreed to the transfer and the town selectboard and village trustees have addressed the annexation in their respective meetings.

Anderson explained why the bill is necessary: although Vermont's general law allows villages to propose annexations that can be reviewed and voted on locally, the Village of Swanton's charter limits that authority and requires legislative approval for boundary alterations. Anderson said H.364 contains a single operative section that (a) records the village trustees' approval date and (b) approves the alteration of the village boundaries for the specified parcel; the bill sets its effective date as on passage and will appear in session law.

Committee members reviewed a map showing the current village complex, Elm Street as the boundary, and the parcel in question. Representative Walker described the parcel's prior use (a CL Concrete site) and said the transfer would create a small "zigzag" change to the boundary so the town would cede the red-shaded parcel to the village.

No committee vote or formal action on H.364 was recorded during this session. Witnesses present included the bill sponsor and counsel; Walker and Representative Oliver said they would provide documentation and the map to committee staff.

The committee indicated it would hear testimony from village and town officials later in the process and staff counsel said he would annotate the village's charter in the session law notes explaining the boundary change.