March 15, 2010
MONDAY 6:00 PM
Water and Light Office
The meeting duly noticed and warned was called to order at 6:02 PM.
PRESENT: Trustees: Ed DeBor, Wally Reeve, Trustee Bourne and Dana Wildes
Staff: Craig Myotte, Jim Fontaine, and Penny Jones
ABSENT: Tim Sargent
1) PUBLIC MEETING:
No members of the public were in attendance.
2) CURRENT PRIORITY PROJECTS:
Tabled.
3) MANAGEMENT REPORT:
Tabled.
4) APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD MARCH 1, 2010:
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Reeve and approved by all present, the Board approved the minutes of the regular meeting held March 1, 2010.
5) APPROVE LIENS:
Penny provided the Trustees with background information on the lien for Ryan Hannon and our current policy for the way we billed Mr. Hannon.
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Bourne and approved by all present, the Board approved liens of 1) $141.26 on property owned by Kimberly A. Werner at 514 Moss Glen Falls Road in Stowe, Vermont; 2) $432.54 on property owned by Daryl A. & Steliana Schmidel at 2082 Pucker Street in Stowe, Vermont and 3) $258.68 on property owned by Bonnie Maynard & Ryan Hannon at 61 Paine Avenue at Morrisville, Vermont.
6) APPROVE GRANT ANTICIPATION NOTE:
Penny explained the need for extending the $1,246,874.34 Grant Anticipation Note with the Union Bank for 6 months to September 21, 2010.
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Bourne and approved by all present, the Board approved extending the $1,246,874.34 Grant Anticipation Note with the Union Bank for 6 months to September 21, 2010.
7a) EXECUTIVE SESSION 1:
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Reeve and approved by all present, the Board went into executive session at 6:15 PM to discuss contractual issues.
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Reeve and approved by all present, the Board came out of executive session at 6:52 PM.
7b) PASS RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE IN LAMOILLE COUNTY FUNCTIONAL CONSOLIDATION TASK FORCE:
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Reeve and approved by all present, the Board approved the following resolution.
Be it resolved that the Morrisville Water and light Board of Trustees will appoint one of it's members to serve on a Functional Consolidation Committee that will work with the Stowe Electric Commissioners and the Hyde Park Board of Trustees to explore the possibilities of functionally consolidating certain electric services into an appropriate organization that will be mutually beneficial and efficient. Additionally the managers of these companies will serve on this committee and they will report their findings to a larger group of all three entities within 60 days, more or less, of the passage of this resolution. Each of the three boards will pass a similar resolution to demonstrate their respective commitments to the beginning of this process.
Trustee Bourne volunteered to be on the Committee with Craig for Morrisville.
8) APPROVE WATER & SEWER RATE DESIGN:
Staff discussed the latest summaries prepared for the new water and sewer rate design. Staff recommended the Trustees approve a customer charge providing 60% of the revenue requirement and usage providing 40% of the revenue requirement. The rate design includes a tiered usage level of 10,000 gallons and assumes 100% of the current usage.
The Trustees discussed the timing of implementing the rate design. June 1, 2010 will allow enough notice time to notify landlords they are required to have water and sewer accounts in their name. Tenants will no longer receive water and sewer bills from MW&L.
The Trustees discussed the need to wrap up the TSSA Agreement and Ordinances and get them approved by the Selectboard as soon as possible.
On a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Wildes and approved by all present, the Board approved the 60%/40% split of the revenue requirement between customer charge and usage with a 10,000 gallon tier and 90% of current usage.
9) DISCUSSHYDRO REPORT AND FUTURE POWER SUPPLY STRATEGIES:
Tabled.
10) EXECUTIVE SESSION 2:
On a motion by Trustee Wildes, seconded by Trustee Reeve and approved by all present, the Board went into executive session at 7:48 PM to discuss personnel issues.
On a motion by Trustee Bourne, seconded by Trustee Wildes and approved by all present, the Board came out of executive session at 8:05 PM.
11) OTHER BUSINESS:
Craig discussed the call from Trust for Public Land stating the need to have an Option Agreement signed in early April to have a chance of obtaining funds available for 2010/2011. The Trustees directed Craig to negotiate an appropriate donation level. The signing of the Option Agreement will be contingent on Village voter approval at the April 12 Annual meeting.
The Trustees discussed concerns raised by customers about MW&L sending out adjusted bills that were less than the postage amount required to mail.
The Trustees discussed Mr. Barbour request to connect to water system across MW&L property. The Trustees asked Jim to prepare a response to Mr. Barbour.
12) 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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Edward DeBor, Clerk