VILLAGE OF MORRISVILLE WATER AND LIGHT DEPARTMENT
April 7, 2007
MONDAY 6:00 PM
Water and Light Office
The meeting duly noticed and warned was called to order at 6:07 PM.
PRESENT:
Trustees: Peter Bourne, Dana Wildes, Keith Thompson.
Staff: Craig Myotte, Jim Fontaine, Penny Jones, Linda Osgood.
ABSENT:
Trustees: Tim Sargent and Ed DeBor.
1) PUBLIC MEETING:
No members of the public were in attendance.
2) OLD BUSINESS:
Craig read in the minutes of the last meeting that the Board agreed to purchase Cloutier’s report for $2,000. He feels purchasing the data is a good deal and will give us a good base to work from.
Craig reported that VPPSA is looking into a couple of green projects in Vermont. The McNeil Woodchip plant is starting a “NOx” project to reduce emissions and collect Class 1 Renewable Energy Credits. The NOx project has an expected 2-year payback. VPPSA is also looking at wood and wind projects in addition to a new contract with Hydro Quebec. The Hydro Quebec contract is likely to be classified as system power rather than hydro. The Board discussed if it was time to revisit a landfill/methane plant. GMP recently signed a contract for the landfill in Middlesex. Trustee Wildes stated that landfills are good because you get paid to take the trash and the byproduct, the methane, was free to sell or use. It makes the most sense to first find a site, get the permits, and then sell it with a clause that MW&L gets the methane. The Chairman instructed Craig to keep communications open with Casella.
3) MANGEMENT REPORT:
Crews still working on voltage conversion on Randolph Road and Bliss Hill Road. Rehab on Portland Street has begun. We are transferring the street lights from poles on east side of street to new poles on west side of street along with one transformer bank. Once Verizon/Fairpoint transfers their lines to the west side, the poles on the east side can be removed leaving only one pole line down Portland Street.
Hydro generation was good for month of March.
Staff working on permits for replacing racks at Plant #2. Have to look at archeological aspect now.
Jim is still waiting for agreement with Murphy Realty in regards to sewer line to Price Chopper. CCS has requested and paid for sewer allocation for their proposed project between Price Chopper and Houle Avenue. Pope Meadows reserved 13,000 gallons of capacity. If the annual Village meeting goes as planned, CCS will not require a special meeting to connect because the Trustees will then have the authority to do so without a special village vote.
Green River is down about seven feet. Staff to take one more snow sample to make sure we have sufficient water to refill before summer.
The request for bids for the WWTF expansion went out and there is a pre-bid meeting scheduled for 4/16/08.
LVRR engine house has a new electric service so rehab of the facility can begin.
It was expected that Allan Cusson of Cusson’s Bakery would be in attendance tonight to let the Board know that the electric rate increase was another nail in his coffin coupled with the fact that staff found he has never been billed for water. We mailed him a letter informing him he would now be charged water and would be backbilled for $1,469.14 in water usage since 2005. The Chairman reiterated the need to get policies in place to protect Water & Light from individuals and businesses who get behind in their payments to us.
Penny received an e-mail from Joe Duncan stating he was “hopeful” MW&L will get some money from the State for the revolving loan fund. She also pointed out that the February electric budget was over budget due to purchased power. The February NYPA bills were higher than ever, VELCO has started to pass on their legal charges for the Lamoille County Project, and the January true-up for MMWEC’s November billing was higher than normal. The water department did have a one-time payment from Copley Country Club which helped their numbers.
The Lamoille County Project is in the settlement period. Good news on energy loss dispute. DPS will send a letter to VELCO telling them to
top overbilling MW&L so at least the problem won’t get worse. Craig is still working on back-billing.
Trustee Wildes pointed out that Craig’s coverage graph was misleading by saying we are long on power. Craig will adjust the graph to indicate how much is actual long-term contracts and how much is from the market.
Craig has made progress with GMP in regards to purchasing a section of their transmission line leading into Stowe. MW&L will need to pick up an additional VELCO equity. GMP has admitted they owe MW&L $50,000-$60,000 in line losses. They have also tentatively agreed to support opening up switches until the LCP is built.
4) APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD MARCH 17, 2008:
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Thompson and approved by all present, the Board approved the minutes of the March 17, 2008, meeting.
5) APPROVE LINE OF CREDIT IN THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 FOR THE SEWER DEPARTMENT:
On a motion by Trustee Thompson, seconded by Trustee Wildes and approved by all present, the Board approved a line of credit in the amount of $200,000 for the Sewer Department.
6) APPROVE LIEN ON 115 WABUN AVENUE PROPERTY:
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Thompson and approved by all present, the Board approved a lien on the Donald Sawyer property at 115 Wabun Avenue in the amount of $278.67.
7) DISCUSS VILLAGE ANNUAL MEETING MATTERS:
The Board discussed possible questions that may be asked at the meeting. Penny reminded the Board that per that we have implemented a moratorium on no new water meters as of 3/1/08. The subject might come up at the annual meeting. We are hoping to have water meters installed by the end of this year but we will not have the new metered rates until 2009 (need data of actual usage before new rates can be implemented).
8) REVIEW STATUS OF ACT 250 PERMITTING PROCESS:
There has been no response from District Environmental Commission yet. In a call with Edward Stanak, Mr. Stanek told Joe Duncan of FA&A that the only issue remaining is the impact of the project on prime agricultural soils. A permit is expected to be issued around the middle of the month. Jim and Joe Duncan met with AOT regarding the Sewer
Plant Road, River Street, and transferring the remaining parcels of land. We may have a positive outcome by end of April. Craig attended the last Morristown PC meeting and committed to setting up a joint meeting including the Trustees, Selectboard and MPC to initiate discussions on the Sewer Service Area.
9) REVIEW FEBRUARY 2008 KEY RESULT INDICATORS:
The Chairman commented that electric accounts payable seemed high but Penny informed him they were actually very current.
10) OTHER BUSINESS:
Trustee Wildes asked for a listing of who has received Amy Wade funds in the past. The Chairman verified that approximately $2,000 was available from that fund and we have received three request to-date. Formal action will be taken in May by the Trustees.
The Chairman asked if Craig had heard anything further from Manosh in regards to his generator. Craig has only received the statistics on the generator. At the last meeting Craig had with Mr. Manosh, Mr Manosh indicated a buyer of his building is interested in purchasing the generator along with the building. Mr. Manosh stated that further discussions of the generator would need to wait until its determined if it will go with the building or not.
Geoff Jackson informed Craig that Vermont Precision will be closing its doors. They are concerned about being stuck with their ratchet on their demand billing for the next twelve months ($24,000) and Mr. Jackson was requesting relief from Water & Light. Craig will review billing data to determine if relief can be provided under our rate tariffs (approved by the Public Service Board) and meet with Mr. Jackson to discuss the findings of Craig’s review.
11) EXECUTIVE SESSION (if required):
No Executive Session was required.
12) ADJOURNMENT:
At 7:47 PM, on a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Thompson and approved by all present, the Board adjourned the meeting.
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Dana Wildes, Clerk