VILLAGE OF MORRISVILLE WATER AND LIGHT DEPARTMENT

April 21, 2008

                                                                             

MONDAY                                                                                                6:00 PM

                  Water and Light Office

 

The meeting duly noticed and warned was called to order at 6:00 PM.

 

PRESENT:

Trustees:  Peter Bourne, Dana Wildes, Tim Sargent, Ed DeBor

Staff:   Craig Myotte, Jim Fontaine, Penny Jones, Linda Osgood

 

ABSENT:

Trustees:  Keith Thompson

 

1)         PUBLIC MEETING:

 

            No members of the public were in attendance.

           

2)            OLD BUSINESS:

 

The Board has decided to remain focused on our own hydro in 2008.  Craig finally reached Greg Cloutier and he will be coming by next Monday to deliver his report.

 

Trustee Sargent attended a Sustainable Expo at Hazen Union High School.  Although it was very local there was a good turnout and EEU had a display. Trustee Sargent stated there seems to be a lot of interest and MW&L might want to consider a similar event.  At the very least, any energy efficiency group that forms in the Morrisville area should also involve MW&L.

 

3)         MANGEMENT REPORT:

 

Crews still doing rehab work.  Voltage conversion not scheduled to be completed until end of year. Hydro generation currently producing 2.5 megs.  Looks good for month totals.  Green River almost at spillway and had to run a little to keep it from spilling. 

 

A lot of subcontractors showed up for WWTF pre-bid meeting (23 people).  Bids are due on April 30th. Water meter request for bids due May 13th.  Advertised in several trade newspapers as well as local papers.

 

            Received response from VTrans in regards to wellhead protection signs on Route 15.  They want to know why we want the signs as there is little a passing motorist can do (or not do).  May have to try for just a reduced salt area.

 

            GW Tatro will start cleaning up Cottage Street/Randolph Road tomorrow.  There are a few more water services off the old 4” line that still need to be identified and transferred to new line before old line can be discontinued.

 

            The security cameras have been replaced twice.  Apparently we had the wrong bases which allowed moisture to enter and eventually shut down the cameras.  No vandalism since cameras installed.

 

            Penny is reviewing accounts for drops in usage.  Having those meters tested to make sure they have not failed.  Very hard to tell from reports if a meter has failed because they usually fail gradually.

 

            Penny is working on March financials.  She reports significant progress with Union Bank in reducing our merchant fees for accepting credit cards. Our new software will eventually allow payments on-line.

 

            The energy loss dispute with CVPS continues.  DPS sent a letter to VELCO to stop billing or explain its position for continued billing.  In response to the DPS letter, CVPS sent a letter requesting a workshop to address the issue.

 

            VPPSA has asked MWL to take the lead on developing a template for the other VPPSA members to use for is the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) section of the Integrated Resource Plans.

 

            Work continues on developing MWL’s wheeling rates.  Our consultant was struggling with the data and how to format it but now seems to be back on track.

 

            Craig spent a lot of time preparing for the annual Village Meeting.  He also recently held an employee meeting.  He will have staff start daily logs and plans to shadow staff during the summer.

 

4)         APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETINGS HELD APRIL 7, 2008:

 

            On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Chairman Bourne and approved by all present (Craig confirmed minutes were ok with Trustee Thompson), the Board approved the minutes of the regular April 7, 2008, meeting.  Trustees DeBor and Sargent abstained.

 

            On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Chairman Bourne and approved by all present (Craig confirmed minutes were ok with Trustee Thompson), the Board approved the minutes of the informational April 7, 2008, meeting.  Trustees DeBor and Sargent abstained.

 

5)         ELECT CHAIRMAN AND CLERK FOR 2008/2009 TERM:

 

            On a motion by Trustee DeBor, seconded by Chairman Bourne and approved by all present, the Board elected Trustee Wildes as Chairman of the Board and Trustee Sargent as Clerk of the Board.

 

6)         DISCUSS VILLAGE ANNUAL MEETING RESULTS:

 

            Craig felt it was a good meeting, other than the length.  He hopes to include the minutes in the next Board packet.  Chairman Wildes felt that next year charts showing where our electric, water, and sewer rates stand in comparison with other communities would be helpful as rates will always be an issue. Craig stated staff would be prepared to show where all the loan and bond funds from last year were spent at future meetings.

 

7)         REVIEW STATUS OF ACT 250 PERMITTING PROCESS:

 

            Ed Stanek is getting additional information from the Commission so he hopes to have a written response next week (one week late).  We received a draft proposal from the State for leasing  property until final transfer of ownership. It is being reviewed by legal.  Two issues with the initial draft is there is no end date for the lease and there is not a good description of the land the State needs to acquire for the bypass.  We received a draft on the roadway that we feel we can live with that is being reviewed by legal.  Most important is MW&L will be reimbursed for construction costs of access road.  Jim also questions if a special Village vote will be required to execute a lease.

 

8)         DISCUSS SEWER SERVICE MARKET AREA JOINT BOARD MEETING AGENDA:

 

            There will be a joint meeting of the Trustees, Selectboard, and Planning Commission tomorrow at 6:00 PM in our lunchroom.  As the Board reviewed the agenda, Chairman Wildes stated he wanted the meeting to be focused on one issue – either sign off on the proposed SSMA line or draw a new one that everyone can agree on. The placement of this line, whether you call it SSMA, TSSA, or just SSA, was occupying way too much time. Trustee DeBor added that the Planning Commission and the Selectboard are unaware of the other components of a TSSA while the Trustees understand the implication on rates by saying some can hitch up and some cannot. Where we draw the line can impact rates. Craig added that no one disputes that the plant needs upgrading.  Some questions remain about the plant size. LCPC provided us with the data showing a build-out for a bigger plant than we asked for.

           

9)         LAMOILLE COUNTY PROJECT SETTLEMENT:

 

            At the recommendation of the Chairman, this Agenda item was tabled until Executive Session.

 

10)       OTHER BUSINESS:

 

            The Chairman reversed an earlier opinion on methane as he has learned that a methane option will not be as viable in the next 10-15 years.  New technologies are allowing the distilling of trash to produce a burnable fuel.

 

            Trustee Bourne volunteered to take the lead in transferring the Gristmill and Creamery buildings from MW&L to the Village.

 

Jim pointed out that CCS has paid for 988 gallons/day of reserve capacity for their project between Price Chopper and Houle Avenue.  He needed the Trustees approval to accept the application and check. On a motion by Trustee DeBor, seconded by Trustee Bourne and approved by all present, the Board approved 988 gallons/day reserve sewer allocation for CCS.

 

            Trustee Bourne stated he is concerned in general as more and more pumping stations are going to be hitching up.  In Jim’s reviews he has found two basic policies:  1) not taking over a pump station at all, or 2) taking over pump stations over a certain size.  MW&L will have to develop a set of standards for pump stations to meet.  The Chairman suggested an equipment charge to cover the cost of pump station maintenance.

 

            The Board reviewed a Powerpoint presentation on purchased power.  Craig stated that MW&L staff will get more up-to-speed on daily power supply. Power supply costs account for 70% of our total electric costs and we need to play a more active role in managing the cost with VPPSA than has occurred in the past.

 

11)       EXECUTIVE SESSION (if required):

 

            At 7:28 PM, on a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Sargent and approved by all present, the Board went into Executive Session to discuss the Lamoille County Project settlement.

 

            At 7:58 PM, on a motion by Trustee Sargent, seconded by Trustee DeBor and approved by all present, the Board came out of Executive Session.

 

12)       ADJOURNMENT:

 

            At 8:00 PM, on a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Sargent and approved by all present, the Board adjourned the meeting.

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Tim Sargent, Clerk