VILLAGE OF MORRISVILLE WATER AND LIGHT DEPARTMENT
June 5, 2006
MONDAY 6:00 PM
Water and Light Office
The meeting duly noticed and warned was called to order at 6:01PM.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair: Jensvold
Trustees: Wildes, Sargent, Bourne, DeBor
Staff: Jim Fontaine, Allan Arbuckle, Craig Myotte
GUESTS PRESENT: Lee Houghton
1) PUBLIC HEARING - Nothing
2) OLD BUSINESS –
Compliance letter from ANR –An update will be provided under Agenda Item #7, presentation from Earth Tech).
Gristmill & Creamery buildings –Craig researched and found a 2003 report showing the value of the two buildings and land at $80,000. The report did not give a break down of each building. The Trustees would like Craig to call Stephen Bousquet to update his appraisal.
Power Line Carrier –The Trustees would like to put this item on hold until a new manager is hired.
Forester Services – The Trustees would like to put this item on hold until a new manager is hired.
3) MANAGEMENT REPORT
Trustee Bourne asked about the call from the State Water Supply in reference to the connection of two new houses on Elmore Street in the “low pressure” zone. The State has responded that they will not approve any further connections to the system in this area although MW&L has the capacity. It appears from conversations with the State rep that individual pressure systems with air gaps will not be approved as a way to eliminate the pressure problem.
Pinewood Estates installed 8” ductile iron for all the replacement work. A further development came up when one customer in the development called without water. It was discovered that one customer is still connected to the old 3” system. It is estimated that the cost to hook up the one customer is $3000. The Pinewood Estate Water District doesn’t have the funds for this project, therefore, they were seeking financial assistance from MW&L. Jim suggested that Pinewood Estates water users be charged a surcharge to collect the cost. The Trustees agreed with Jim and a surcharge will be added to these bills. Jim will inform the Pinewood Estates residents of the decision.
Jim informed the Trustees that community service work involving Christmas lights, wreaths, trees, banners and other things amounted to $2,800 in 2005 and the MAC banner project was an additional $4,300 for a total of $7,100. In 2006 January through April is $2,500.
Allan spoke in reference to electric rate increase. The final percentage increase was 6.57% and as previously discussed does not include the settlement with VELCO nor the cash flow necessary to meet the contingency funding required by VMBB. The DPS has asked several questions concerning MW&L’s cash position. This was discussed by all and several suggestions were made to Allan for direction.
VPPSA Project #10 – VPPSA’s economic analysis and call for authorization of a PSA was received on May 30, 2006. The contract with the PSA must be approved at the Village meeting. VPPSA has set a goal of August 31, 2006 for all VPPSA members to execute their PSA should they participate in the project. Allan will need to discuss at the next VPPSA Board meeting (June 8th) if Morrisville is willing, as a participant, to move forward and get voter authorization to execute the PSAs. The Trustees gave Allan their opinions on this subject.
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June 5, 2006
Morrisville filed its revised SQRP on June 2, 2006. The bottom line was the Board ordered Morrisville’s SQRP to include service guarantees with fines and penalties.
Continued work with CREW on the objectives and terms of a special contract. The special contract is preferred to an interruptible tariff to allow MW&L to minimize risks.
4) APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD May 15, 2006
Trustee Bourne made a motion to accept the minutes as written, seconded by Trustee Sargent and unanimously approved by all present but Trustee DeBor who abstained from voting as he was not present at that meeting.
5) UPDATE ON MANOSH OWNED SEWER LINES PROPOSAL (Hearthstone/TSSA)
The Trustees agreed to Option #1 for the remaining 3,340 feet on private property. To deed facilities over to MW&L, the deed facilities would become part of MW&L system. HAMCO would be credited with funds collected under the sewer line extension policy as other parties are connected to the lines.
Route 100 project – the Trustees agreed to split the cost with HAMCO to correct the negative grade line under Route 100 project which totaled $88,000.
Craig will make these offers to HAMCO.
6) UPDATE ON LOGGING ISSUES AT SUB #5
Jim wrote Mr. James Bradley a letter stating that the incident would be filed with MW&L’s insurance carrier. The letter also stated that the insurance carrier informed MW&L that it is the contractors hired to do the work that are liable and not MW&L. The logger has stated he has insurance but the forester does not. Jim spoke with Mr. Bradley asking him to reconsider the offer the logger was making in the letter, but Mr. Bradley is still refusing and is hiring an attorney.
There was also a water line that was hit by the logger and the person would like his water back. Jim is looking into taking care of this problem.
7) SEWER CONTRACT SERVICES PRESENTATION BY EARTH TECH
Lee Houghton from Earth Tech attended the meeting to discuss Earth Tech’s proposal of sewer contract services.
The Trustees asked if this item would be included on the next meetings agenda.
8) DISCUSS PERSONNEL ISSUES RE: Executive Session
9) OTHER BUSINESS
At 8:15 pm Trustee Bourne made a motion to go into executive session, seconded by Trustee Sargent and unanimously approved by all the Trustees went into executive session.
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Peter Bourne, Clerk