VILLAGE OF MORRISVILLE WATER AND LIGHT DEPARTMENT
July 20, 2009
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, Peter Bourne, and Dana Wildes (arrived at 7:00 PM)
Staff: Craig Myotte, Jim Fontaine, and Linda Osgood
ABSENT: Trustee DeBor, Penny Jones
1) PUBLIC MEETING:
No members of the public were present.
2) CURRENT PRIORITY PROJECTS:
The Board reviewed the status of the current priority
projects. There was a brief discussion
on the redesign of our website.
3) MANAGEMENT REPORT:
Crews are still working for VEC in Grand Isle. VEC’s is asking for a crew for five days a
week through October. We also installed
an antenna on a pole on the Upper Elmore Mountain Road for Vermont Telephone.
The 1200 kW unit at Plant #2 is still down. We tried to complete our hydro capability
test on Friday at Green River with only one unit. As we were late being notified of the test
period by VPPSA, we missed the test window.
We will retest in August. The
Board recommended that VPPSA try alternate methods besides e-mail to contact us
in such instances, such as the telephone, or simply cc someone else in the
office in case Jim is away from his desk.
We’re cutting over the sewer system to the new plant
today by cutting the pipe at the head gates and rerouting to the new SBR. All alarms seem to be operating and United
Water is satisfied. We’re still
installing water meters and getting pits together as to what is needed,
marking, etc.
We did not have a good turnout for the water reservoir
pre-bid meeting. Jim will contact more
contractors and re-advertise. Work on
Congress Street has started and will last approximately one month. Then they will move onto Harrison Avenue and
George Street. There is no old concrete
(from old roadbed) to deal with on these streets.
Management’s time required for the water meter project
has been well beyond what we expected.
Kudos to Penny and Jim for their efforts on the project.
Tim Yarrow, a Hyde Park Trustee, contacted Craig about
the offer by MW&L to pay for the FA&A engineering study to connect Hyde
Park to Morrisville’s new WWTF. Mr. Yarrow asked for information on the rates
that Hyde Park would pay Morrisville. The interconnection study and service
rates are needed by Hyde Park for completing the economic analysis of
alternatives.
Craig is reviewing the numbers for East Mountain in
relationship with our SPEED requirements.
He also had an interesting meeting with Efficiency Vermont reviewing the
Form 990. They finally called to say
they have a report for 2007 for Chris Ransom.
The purchase of the GMP transmission line has been completed.
The Economic Stimulus bill took an odd turn. Vermont’s Congressmen told Vermont lawmakers
that Vermont should not expect any more than our national share based upon
population. Therefore, lawmakers are scaling back plans and are concentrating
on the fiber optic backbone and distribution automation.
6) UPDATE OF WWTF/WATER METER PROJECT:
After switching to the new SBR, the next step is to
completely pump out the old system and bring in Hartigan to vacuum out the
grit. Then demolition can begin. We will be building an addition on the
storage building to house the centrifuge unit.
We have just barely begun dipping into the Grant money. The schedule is behind in the short-term but
still looking at completion by end of 2009.
We are wrapping up the few outstanding water meters. We are going to end up with 12 meter
pits. This does not include
approximately 24 mobile homes that we got exemptions for.
9) OTHER BUSINESS:
The Board scheduled their annual retreat for August 17 at
the Trout Club. Craig’s performance appraisal
is due. Craig will complete a draft for the Trustees.
Our SPEED requirements were determined by taking 10% of
our retail sales in 2005. Of our 4,500
mWh SPEED target, we already have 2,300 mWh in new renewables. That leaves us short 2,200 mWh. East Mountain would give us 3,300 mWh. If we drop our commitment to East Mountain
from 12% to 8%, we will be right at 100% of our SPEED requirements. We may be
able to reduce our investment in East Mountain further if our hydro
improvements qualify for SPEED. Craig needs to confirm whether SPEED is a State
mandate or a Federal mandate.
Trustee Bourne stated replacing the horizontal might be
possible using that horizontal with biodiesel as fuel for a peaker unit. Jim pointed out that a turbine on the minimum
flow at Green River was most feasible.
The Noyes Museum would like to use the Creamery building
for storage. We will need some type of
release of liability. The Chairman
suggested an “at-will tenancy” for a minimal amount.
Efficiency Vermont wanted to come to the August 17th
meeting but will have to be scheduled for September.
There has not been much progress on replacing Trustee
Thompson. There is a member of the
Selectboard that may be interested in filling the position until the 2010
annual meeting. Craig will invite him to the August 3rd meeting.
The July 15th joint meeting with the
Selectboard was not very productive.
Craig wants to work with Dan Lindley to form a taskforce to develop ordinances
and complete the Town Sewer Service Agreement.
Trustee Wildes arrived at 7:10 PM. He would like to push off the meeting with
Efficiency Vermont until after they publish their Form 990. He also asked if there had been any headway
made about submitting the required Maple Street project to a public vote. There has not.
4) APPROVE MINTUES OF MEETING HELD JULY 6, 2009:
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Chairman Sargent and approved by all present, the Board approved the minutes of the July 6, 2009, regular meeting. Trustee Bourne abstained.
5) APPROVE ONE MONTH EXTENSION TO WWTF BOND ANTICIPATION NOTE:
On a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Wildes and approved by all present, the Board approved the one month extension to the WWTF Bond Anticipation Note.
7) EAST MOUNTAIN WIND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT:
The Trustees had several additional questions for VPPSA. With Hydro Quebec and Vermont Yankee representing 50% of our portfolio, did VPPSA assume we were not going to replace those sources? Why did VPPSA bring Morrisville’s SPEED requirement to 125% rather than 100%? What percentage of the project would bring our SPEED requirements to 100%? It is clear to the Trustees the PDA keeps our options open regarding meeting our SPEED requirements until we can firm up our power supply plans.
On a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Wildes and approved by all present, the Board approved Craig signing the East Mountain PDA with the caveat that our percentage can be sold to another entity, if we chose.
8) RATE MITIGATION STRATEGIES:
Getting Hyde Park to connect to the WWTF would definitely help mitigate sewer rates. Craig wants to work with the Town to get more customers connected. A task force will be set up with Craig, Jim and Dan Lindley along with a Trustee and Selectboard member.
Trustee Wildes sees the biggest pressure on electric rates now being transmission costs which continue to escalate. More generation in Morrisville (hydro, other) will allow us to reduce transmission costs.
10) EXECUTIVE SESSION:
At 7:48 PM, on a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Wildes and approved by all present, the Board went into Executive Session to discuss contracts.
At 8:05 PM, on a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Wildes and approved by all present, the Board came out of Executive Session.
11) ADJOURNMENT:
At 8:05 PM, on a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Wildes and approved by all present, the Board adjourned the meeting.
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Peter Bourne, Acting Clerk