VILLAGE OF MORRISVILLE WATER AND LIGHT DEPARTMENT

                                                                   June 18, 2007

                                                                             

 

MONDAY                                                                                                6:00 PM

                  Water and Light Office

 

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

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:                  Chair:        Bourne

                                                        Trustees:  Wildes, Sargent, DeBor, Thompson

                                                        Staff:         Craig Myotte, Jim Fontaine, Linda Osgood

 

GUESTS PRESENT:                       None

                             

1)      PUBLIC MEETING

 

There were no members of the public in attendance.

 

2)      OLD BUSINESS

 

Response to Issues raised in letter from ANR – Craig reported that Jim had received an email response that failed to make it into the Trustee’s meeting packet. Craig distributed the email from Mrs. Suzanne Pickett that states 1) the Village should consider replacement of critical components, 2) refurbish the motor control center and 3) have a contingency for aerator failure. The Trustees stated they are concerned about meeting the State’s recommendations when the Village is in the process of rebuilding the entire WWTF. The Trustees asked staff to determine the cost of what the ANR is requesting.

 

Copley Golf Course – We have had no response yet from CCC in regards to the operations agreement proposed but the packet was just mailed last week.  Hopefully they will be willing to sign it as it includes all the language changes that they suggested.

 

Trustee Wildes asked if we were now billing CCC for water usage.  Jim replied their first billing just went out for 38,000 cubic feet. The Trustees questioned staff on how to bill CCC for the time that the water meter was broken.  Jim is looking at their usage historically to determine what level of billing adjustment is appropriate.

 

3)      MANAGEMENT REPORT

 

Jim spoke with Bill Clewes in regards to the problem at Cady’s Falls.  Bill referred us to the James Leffel Company.  On a vertical unit, the bearings must fit exactly right and Leffel is the expert on that.  Our staff will do the basic stripping down of the unit to access the bearings.

 

Jim pointed out that with the completion of the B-Street Bridge, we are experiencing a lot more vandalism at Plant 2 ranging from broken windows to a fire. The Trustees liked the idea of security cameras to go after the people actually doing the damage rather than gating off access to the property and penalizing those not vandalizing the property. Jim will price it out.

 

Jim received a call from a customer worried about permanent campers in Zackwoods. The Trustees suggested that we put up additional signage stating overnight camping is limited to 48 hours.

 

Trustee Sargent wanted to know if we had received any complaints about the recent scheduled outage at midnight.  Jim stated that notices were hand delivered to effected businesses.  Dispatch only received about 10 calls.

 

Craig and Penny had another meeting with DPS on customer charges. DPS wants around $9/month.  We are currently at about $6.50 per month. It is likely that the DPS and the PSB may not be in alignment on this issue. Work is still in progress at VPPSA and we expect to finish discussions with the DPS in July.

 

The FERC meeting on the Lamoille County Project (115 KV) went nowhere.  All parties involved are at impasse.  Stowe has written a letter to VELCO asking them to defer all work on this project until the Docket can be settled.

 

Vermont Transco has an open docket before the PSB asking to sell equity.  Stowe wants MWL to sign a letter of intervention with them because Stowe does not want to be seen as the only entity holding up the equity sale.

 

Currently, Burlington Electric and GMP are proposing a loop from Essex to East Avenue and back to Essex as a back up 20 megawatt loop to East Avenue.  Burlington intervened on the Lamoille County Project for reliability concerns. Craig will file a motion of intervention for the proposed project.

 

Craig met with Jim Pease in regards to the tree planting project for the Northern Gateway (as they have now received funds from the Amy Wade Golf Tournament).  Trustee Wildes thought the write up in the News & Citizen about the tournament was well done.

 

Trustee DeBor inquired into the complaint from James Gagner.  Mr. Gagner had a tenant move out but the utility bill was never in the tenant’s name.  Mr. Gagner literally found the guy on the street and told him to come to our office and pay his bill.  After recent training with DPS, we learned that we should not take money from someone whose name is not on the account and that is what we told the tenant.  Mr. Gagner was outraged that we would not take the money.

A lineman had a vehicular accident on Sunday, June 3, 2007, while returning from providing mutual aid to WEC.  He was not hurt but the 2004 Ford F-150 pick up truck was totaled.  Our automobile insurance has quoted us a settlement of $14,000 minus our deductible.  The vehicle must be replaced as we are now short in the Line Department.  The Chairman asked how it would affect our insurance premiums. Staff responded the rate impact is unknown at this time.

 

4)   APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD JUNE 4, 2007:

 

On a motion by Trustee DeBor, seconded by Trustee Wildes and unanimously approved, the Board approved the minutes of the June 4, 2007, meeting.  Trustee Thompson abstained due to his absence.

 

5)      DISCUSS STATUS OF PRIVATE OWNED SEWER LINES:

 

Craig recently spoke with Mr. Gary Nolan about the Manosh owned sewer lines.  Mr. Howard Manosh wants to limit the transfer of sewer lines to the original 1,450 feet discussed, not the full 3,000 feet that was agreed to at the meeting on May 2nd. Mr. Nolan indicated that Mr. Manosh will sign the latest Agreement for the amount agreed to at the May 2nd meeting and with payment for part of the cost to correct the Route 100 negative grade. The Trustees voiced concern about these developments and asked staff to continue to try to facilitate and equitable settlement with Mr. Manosh. From the Trustee’s perspective, the current deal is a no-go. The Trustees tabled the discussion until the next regular meeting.

 

Murphy Realty wanted a few changes in the agreement that Craig sent them.  Craig will make the changes that MWL can agree to and send a revised Agreement to Mr. Murphy.

 

6)      DISCUSS 108c FILING FOR ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT 2007 BONDS:

 

Craig reported that there was an issue related to the electric bonds. The issue is an interest cap in the Board order. MWL has requested that the interest cap be increased and the DPS has supported the increase. We expect to hear from the PSB this week. Further discussion was tabled until the next regular Board meeting.

 

7)   WWTF RFP:

 

MW&L received responses from Shiretown Engineering, Cross Engineering, and Forcier Aldrich & Associates.  Otter Creek declined to bid. The proposals received are very good and competitive. Staff stated that they would complete the scoring of the proposals to offer a recommendation at the July 2nd meeting. The Chairman asked that the award of the bid be an Action Item at the next regular meeting. In addition, Trustee DeBor asked that staff review the proposals with EarthTech.

 

8)      PROPERTY MANAGEMENT:

 

Tabled until the next regular Board meeting.

 

9)      OTHER BUSINESS:

 

The Chairman signed bank cards.

 

Craig reminded the Board of the upcoming NEPPA Annual Conference.  Craig and Trustee Wildes are planning on attending.

 

The Board had asked about MW&L’s liability in regards to the water being used at Bugbee Springs.  Have we legally abandoned that water source?  Is there anything on record?  Are there spring rights? Staff found a legal opinion from 1984 requested by Mr. James Fox stating that we do have liability for the homes still connected. The opinion also alludes to “several residences draw water from a special lease arrangement”. Craig will contact Mr. Fox to determine if he recalls where the issue was left.

 

The Chairman, in an effort to keep Old Business from getting too long, asked that the oldest issues be moved to the Manager’s Report.

 

Craig asked if the Board still wanted to conduct a customer satisfaction survey and did they have specific questions?  The Trustees asked Craig to draft a survey and review it with the Trustees at the next meeting.

 

Craig pointed out that VPPSA wanted us to send out an energy survey to use as a basis for next year’s Integrated Resource Plan.  The Chairman suggested putting the survey on our web site with a message on our bills to see the web site.

 

The Chairman pointed out that they were scheduled to visit facilities during the second meeting in July.  Trustee Wildes suggested visiting the Cady’s Falls generating facility (Plant #2) before the July 16th meeting.

 

 

10)  ADJOURNMENT:

 

At 7:53 PM, on a motion by Trustee Sargent, seconded by Trustee Wildes and unanimously approved, the Board adjourned the meeting.

 

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

Dana Wildes, Clerk