VILLAGE OF MORRISVILLE WATER AND LIGHT DEPARTMENT

                                                                    June 2, 2008       

 

MONDAY                                                                                                6:00 PM

                  Water and Light Office

 

The meeting duly noticed and warned was called to order at 6:02 PM.

 

PRESENT:

Trustees:  Chair Dana Wildes, Tim Sargent, Ed DeBor

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

Guests:     Mr. Brice Simon, Mr. Bradley Aldrich (FA&A) and Mr. Joseph Duncan (FA&A)

 

ABSENT:

Trustees Peter Bourne & Keith Thompson

 

GUESTS:   Mr. Brice Simon, Mr. Bradley Aldrich (FA&A) and Mr. Joseph Duncan (FA&A)

 

11)       EXECUTIVE SESSION:

 

            On a motion by Trustee DeBor, seconded by Trustee Sargent and approved by all present, the Board went into Executive Session at 6:03 PM to discuss legal matters.

 

            On a motion by Trustee Sargent, seconded by Trustee DeBor and approved by all present, the Board came out of Executive Session at 6:17 PM.

 

1)         PUBLIC MEETING:

 

            No members of the public were in attendance.

 

2)            UPDATE OF CONSTRUCTION COST MITIGATION OPTIONS:

 

            Mr. Bradley Aldrich and Mr. Joseph Duncan of Forcier Aldrich & Associates (FA&A) entered for this portion of the meeting. Mr. Aldrich provided an overview of tasks completed by FA&A since the last meeting and stated that FA&A was looking for conditional approval from the Trustees to award the Water Meter & Construction bid contracts.

 

            The Trustees discussed the T-Sales bid contract with FA&A staff. Trustee DeBor moved that MWL award the bid to Ti-Sales in the amount of $552,535 as long as it included wireless remotes.  Mr. Aldrich replied that the contract does not include wireless remotes.  Trustee DeBor stated that was the motion on the floor.  Mr. Aldrich asked if the bid was $552,535 to include equivalent meters.  Trustee DeBor stated if not equivalent, then FA&A needed to come back to the Board.  This would create a 2-week turn-around time.  Jim verified that we will have radio transmitters regardless.  They just needed to move the radio element to the outside of the building.

 

                On a motion by Trustee DeBor, seconded by Trustee Sargent and approved by all present, the Board conditionally awarded the bid to Ti-Sales in the amount of $552,535.

 

            Mr. Duncan reviewed the value engineering summary prepared for the meeting. The summary contained Tier 1 changes that could save at least $553,640. RDA is looking for a good-faith attempt by FA&A in cutting the costs.  Mr. Aldrich pointed out that some things that should be done that are not part of the project (headgates) may entice RDA to give more money. One recommendation was to replace the proposed metal roof with fiberglass shingles ($17,800).  The Chairman’s personal recommendation was to keep the metal roof. Another recommendation was to use vinyl cement board instead of fiber cement board.  Again, the Chairman stated that vinyl is a problem, installing it is a problem, maintaining it is a problem.  He also recommended that the contractors finish the ends of the fiber cement boards.  (Go with prefinished but add one more coat.) 

 

            The Chairman verified that FA&A was recommending a change order of at least $553,640.  Trustee DeBor asked why we were asking the contractors to “take a hit” and not FA&A.  Mr Aldrich replied that they can quantify their sacrifices, if necessary, but all this value engineering concept work was not being billed back to the project.

 

            FA&A was hoping to get something to the engineer at RDA by the end of this week.  Did the Board see any harm in giving RDA the summary of value engineering concepts with the caveat that the Board has not committed to any of it?  FA&A wanted to show RDA their effort but not commit to a dollar figure. The Chairman stated the Board needed the feedback from the two missing Board members as to what items they were comfortable changing.

 

            On a motion by Trustee Sargent, seconded by Trustee DeBor and approved by all present, the Board awarded Keymont the contract for $6,462,260, with change order of $210,000, contingent on:

            a.         Receipt of the Certificate as to Project Site, Rights-of-Way and Easements.

            b.         Receipt of the executed VTrans funding agreement.

            c.         Execution of Change Order No. 1 in the amount of $210,000.

            d.         Receipt of confirmation of additional $1 million grant from RDA.

 

3)         DISCUSS JOINT BOARD MAY 21, 2008, MEETING:

 

            Staff currently working on the transcription of Ed Stanak’s presentation. The Trustees tabled further discussion until the next regular meeting.

 

4)         APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETINGS HELD MAY 19, 2008:

 

            On a motion by Trustee DeBor, seconded by Trustee Sargent and approved by all present, the Board approved the minutes of the May 19, 2008, regular meeting.

 

5)         APPROVE ADDITIONAL AMY WADE FUNDING OF PROJECTS FOR 2008 WITH    COPLEY GOLF TOURNAMENT FUNDS:

 

            Item tabled until next regular meeting.

 

6)         APPROVE CONSTRUCTION AND WATER METER BID AWARDS:

 

            Approved under Item #2.

 

7)         MANAGEMENT REPORT:

 

            Under financial, all three Departments are showing a positive net income.

 

            Rock Art Brewery has requested relief from their sewer bills as they feel that most of the water used leaves as part of their product and does not go into the sewer system. MWL is currently in the process of installing water meters and reviewing/revising water and sewer rates. The Trustees directed staff to collect information from other municipals service similar facilities and communicate to Rock Art Brewery that we will investigate available options and consider their request as we revise our rates.

 

8)         OTHER BUSINESS:

 

            The Chairman received a call from Alan Cusson and provided the Trustees with a summary of the discussion. Circumstances make it difficult for Mr. Cusson to commit to repay water charges at this time. Trustee DeBor pointed out that Cusson’s does not have their own bathrooms, just sinks, and wondered if the flat rate was fair.  Cusson is currently being charged for commercial flat rate outside of Village.  Once the building is metered, we won’t care at all.  We do not know what the rate structure is going to look like once we are metered. The Trustees discussed the lien placed on Menard’s property and other options to recover the money owed MWL. The Trustees agreed to accept the settlement offer from Mr. Cusson and release the lien once payment of $375 was received.

 

            Trustee Sargent is moving to Montpelier while continuing to work in Morrisville.  The Trustees asked Craig to review the By-Laws.

 

            Craig stated that the Chairman did an outstanding job of representing the Village during the joint Board (Trustee, Selectboard, MPC) meeting held May 21st.

 

9)         DISCUSS FUTURE POWER SUPPLY OPTIONS:

 

            Tabled for a future meeting.

 

10)       OLD BUSINESS – ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND GREEN RESOURCE  INVESTMENT:

 

            Tabled for a future meeting.

 

12)       ADJOURNMENT:

 

            At 8:29 PM, on a motion by Trustee Sargent, seconded by Trustee DeBor and approved by all present, the Board adjourned the meeting.

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Tim Sargent, Clerk