VILLAGE OF MORRISVILLE WATER AND LIGHT DEPARTMENT

March 17, 2008

MONDAY 6:00 PM

Water and Light Office

The meeting duly noticed and warned was called to order at 6:05 PM.

PRESENT:

Trustees: Peter Bourne (Chair), Dana Wildes, Tim Sargent, Edward DeBor, Keith Thompson

Staff: Jim Fontaine, Penny Jones, Linda Osgood

Guests: Bob Beeman, Brian Kellogg, and David Yacovone, Brice Simon

ABSENT: Craig Myotte

1) PUBLIC MEETING:

Bob Beeman, Brian Kellogg, and David Yacovone were in attendance on behalf of the Morristown Selectboard. Brice Simon was in attendance on behalf of Lamoille County Planning Commission (LCPC).

The Trustees are very concerned over recent actions of LCPC in regards to the WWTF expansion project. Trustee Wildes reads LCPC’s letter to Ed Stanak of Vermont’s District 5 Environmental Commission (DEC), 4^th paragraph, as LCPC requesting that the State restrict the distribution of the expanded capacity.

Mr. Simon responded to the Trustees’ questions and concerns. He reads the recess memo from DEC as saying they will issue a permit but they need a little more information. The only issue was the identification of a sewer boundary. Efficiency is not an issue. Undo adverse impact on stormwater is a concern. DEC is confused as to what service area we want defined because they can only approve a permit for a designated area. Simply tell them an area, get your permit, and amend it afterwards if necessary. Mr. Simon stated he doesn’t believe LCPC’s letter affected how DEC reviewed the project. They are concerned with continuous expansions. He feels Act 250 permit process is still okay for this project. Mr. Simon provided the names of lawyers that the Village could hire to review the response to the DEC but he stated he did not believe it was a necessary action at this time. Mr. Brice pointed out that LCPC has a statutory duty to weigh in on both sides of an issue.

Trustee Wildes stated that we submitted drawings of the SSMA. We only wanted to permit the clearly designated SSMA. Trustee DeBor pointed out that our mistake was that Craig, with feedback from the Morristown Planning Commission and Mr. Ed Stanak, modified the map to try and ease the permit process.

Mr. Yacovone asked if the Trustees were looking for a letter from the Selectboard backing the Trustees. The Chairman replied it may just be a letter that they cosign. Mr. Brian Kellogg stated that if the Trustees get their letter to the Selectboard, they can sign it quickly.

Jim asked if the Town Plan had been approved. It has and he should contact Mark Leonard for a written copy.

2) OLD BUSINESS:

Jim reported that Craig recently met with Mr. Greg Cloutier and Mr. William Clewes in regards to reviewing our hydro projects. Mr. Clewes has worked as a contractor for MW&L for several years and knows our system. Mr. Cloutier was preparing the report on commission for Oswegatchie but as they never paid him, he is willing to sell it to us for $2000. Craig feels that it may not be a detailed report but is a good initial guide and worth the money. The Trustees agreed and saw it as a way to narrow the scope of the RFP.

On a motion by Trustee Thompson, seconded by Trustee Wildes and unanimously approved, the Board authorized staff to purchase Mr. Cloutier’s report at a cost not to exceed $2000.

3) MANGEMENT REPORT:

Hydro generation is on track however there are a lot of trees in the racks this week. Green River is offline because we are already spilling at Plant #2. Green River is down approximately eight feet. Snowpack shows we can drawdown a little more. Spot market prices are all over the place: $90/mWh @ 7:00 AM, $173/mWh @ 9:00 AM, $80/mWh @ 11:00 AM.

A certified title of the WWTF property is in the works.

We are still working with State on the road at WWTF. The Chairman asked if any building remained on the property that the WWTF will acquire. There are two homes and one mobile home. Will the State pay for reimbursement of demolition? Unclear which is why we need an agreement with the State.

A splice in the transmission line between Sub 3 and Sub 5 failed recently. This splice is similar to the failed splice by the Morrison property. The wire laid in the snow and did not have sufficient fault current to immediately trip the line. This resulted in low voltage in certain areas in the system.. We will install PT’s on the regulators in Substation #5 to act as under-voltage relays (will open if voltage drops too much). Staff plans to inspect the line for similar splices.

The State is not willing to process the sewer revolving loan because they didn’t feel State engineering was involved. The State also feels it isn’t needed because of the RDA loan. Penny is drafting a letter clarifying that although we have the RDA loan, we cannot spend any of it until we spend the revolving loan.

Staff currently researching how many customers that are currently billed under “residential” that are actually “commercial”. VPPSA also looking into clarification of “farm” in regards to tariffs. Trustee DeBor asked if a customer was determined to be commercial for electric billing, would water and sewer billing be reclassified as well. Staff replied yes.

The Lamoille County Project settlement should be signed very soon.

Project #10’s costs are up $3 million of which MW&L’s share is $270,000.

The appraisal for Bugbee Springs has been received but has yet to be reviewed.

4) APPROVE MINUTES OF MEETING HELD MARCH 3, 2008:

On a motion by Trustee DeBor, seconded by Trustee Wildes with Trustee Thompson abstaining, the Board approved the minutes of the March 3, 2008, meeting.

5) DISCUSS VILLAGE ANNUAL MEETING MATTERS:

The April 7th meeting is the informational meeting for the annual Village meeting. Trustee Sargent asked if we could review exactly what will happen at that meeting.

6) REVIEW STATUS OF ACT 250 PERMITTING PROCESS:

To be covered under Executive Session.

7) REVIEW JANUARY KEY RESULTS INDICATORS:

Both Trustee Sargent and Trustee Wildes liked the comparisons. Trustee Wildes asked if we actually paid $10,000 more than budgeted in January 2008. Penny replied it may have been even more.

8) OTHER BUSINESS:

A request for Amy Wade funds has been received from MACC for $2000 for more flower pots.

River Arts wants to pay their sewer allocation over six months even though they have given us a check for the full amount. Trustee DeBor pointed out that in 18-24 months we were going to metered water. What happens to sewer allocations that are actually incorrect once we go metered. Jim replied that whatever they use will get totaled into the plant’s monthly total. Trustee DeBor asked if you can get reserve sewer allocation fees back once usage shows less. No. The Board approved giving River Arts six months to pay sewer allocation.

Jim is being presented with more projects requiring engineering of water and sewer line extensions. Do we want to pay the engineer to do the work or have the customer pay the engineer. The Chairman asked if he meant MW&L would hire an engineer to do the work. Jim only wanted an engineer to review the design. The Chairman reminded Jim to find an engineer he could work with and live with. The Board agreed that an engineer should review the designs as long as the costs are covered by the developer.

9) EXECUTIVE SESSION:

On a motion by Trustee Sargent, seconded by Trustee Wildes and unanimously approved, the Board voted to go into Executive Session to discuss legal issues for WWTF at 7:35 PM.

On a motion by Thompson, seconded by Sargent and unanimously approved, the Board voted to come out of Executive Session at 7:55 PM.

11) ADJOURNMENT:

At 7: 56 PM, on a motion by Sargent, seconded by Thompson and unanimously approved, the Board adjourned the meeting.

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Dana Wildes, Clerk