February 1, 2010
MONDAY 6:00 PM
Water and Light Office
The meeting duly noticed and warned was called to order at 6:00 PM.
PRESENT: Trustees: Tim Sargent, Ed DeBor, Peter Bourne, and Dana Wildes
Staff: Craig Myotte, Jim Fontaine, and Penny Jones, Linda Osgood
ABSENT: Trustee Reeve
1) PUBLIC MEETING:
No members of the public were in attendance.
2) APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD JANUARY 18, 2010:
On a motion by Trustee DeBor, seconded by Trustee Wildes and approved by all present, the Board approved the minutes of the regular meeting held January 18, 2010.
3) APPROVE LIENS:
On a
motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee DeBor and approved by all
present, the Board approved a lien in the amount of $1,618.96 on the 495
Washington Highway property owned by Steven A. Manning and Roxanne E. Labree, a
lien in the amount of $214.31 on the 313 Sun Valley Road property owned by
George W. Wheelwright V, and a lien in the amount of $163.65 on the 396 Upper
Main Street property owned by David P. Gomez for unpaid electric, water and
sewer services.
Staff
asked how often the Board wanted to send liened properties to tax sale. Trustee Bourne suggested a wait-and-see approach
but at least once a year.
5) OTHER BUSINESS:
Shap Smith, Speaker of the House, arrived to discuss Vermont Yankee and other utility issues with the Trustees.
4) REVIEW 2010 DRAFT GOALS & BUDGET:
The Trustees reviewed the latest draft 2010 budgets for electric, water and sewer. Trustee Wildes stated from a strategy standpoint, a series of smaller rate increases each year is preferred to a larger rate increase every few years.
Staff is meeting tomorrow with FA&A on new water and sewer rate structures. Staff asked for guidance from the Trustees on several key decisions affecting the rate design. The Trustees don’t see a need to distinguish rates between a residential and commercial customer. Our consultant, FA&A, is recommending trying to capture 60% of the revenue through the customer charge. Trustees suggested a tiered customer charges for different sized meters. The Trustees stated they do not separate sewer rates for Town customers as opposed to Village customers but do not want different water rates for the two groups.
The Trustees discussed options for collecting sewer allocations. One option is to let our customers pay off the allocation over time rather than pay the full fee at the start of the project. If the remaining WWTF project funds are not used on the headworks project, it will be used on Union Street.
As our proposed hydro projects are renewable, Trustees wonder if there are any Economic Stimulus funds available for them. They also recommended looking into a five-year bridge-note.
5) OTHER BUSINESS (CONTINUED):
Trustees confirmed that they had already confirmed last year that the 2009 Annual Report would be dedicated to Andrew Jensvold. Craig is working on a draft of the Manager’s Report and on the Warning. He asked that Trustees consider getting permission from the Village votersto sell the 18-acres behind Bishop Marshall School without a Village vote.
Craig recently met with Matt Nadeau of Rock Art Brewery. He also met with Dan Lindley and Art Sanborn trying to work on ways to keep Rock Art in our community.
The Board will be asked at the next regular meeting to approve paying the electric bill for Village Christmas lights out of the Amy Wade fund.
The Patnoe property transaction should be completed by the end of February.
6) EXECUTIVE SESSION:
None.
7) ADJOURNMENT:
At 8:14 PM, on a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Debor and approved by all present, the Board adjourned the meeting.
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Edward DeBor, Clerk