Water and Sewer 12/2/24

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Water and Sewer Minutes 12-02-24 193 KB

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Town of Richmond
Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of December 2, 2024

Members Present:, Lisa Miller, Jay Furr, Erin Farr, Bard Hill, Morgan Wolaver
 

Members Absent: None

Staff Present:  Superintendent Steve Cote; Town Manager Josh Arneson; Assistant to the Town Manager Duncan Wardwell; Town Clerk Linda Parent; Zoning Administrator Tyler Machia, Admin Assistant Linn Caroleo.

Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV Erin Wagg, Heidi Bormann.

MMCTV Video: MMCTV Erin Wagg and Angelike Contis

https://youtu.be/pO4eYGFYrE4?si=4KQAJ9yZFUOx-68F

Call to Order:  6:00 pm
 

Welcome: Wolaver

Public Comment: None

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda:  None 

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Minutes:

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver

Hill moved to approve the Minutes as written on 11/18/2024. Miller seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Furr, Miller, Farr in favor. Motion approved.

Purchase Orders:

Furr moved to approve purchase order #5133 to the Richmond Fire Department in the amount of $20,000 for the purchase of a pickup truck. Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Furr, Miller, Farr in favor. Motion approved.

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote, Hill

Hill asked how many miles were on the truck, Cote replied under 20,000 miles, extremely low, it’s been an asset to his team.

Warrants:

Miller moved to approve the Warrants as presented. Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Furr, Miller, Farr in favor. Motion approved.

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

Consideration of approval of a new policy, and the amendment of a current policy, which would limit each structure to only one Town water meter
Timestamp: 0:03
 

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/11/4a1_Policy_Controlling_The_Number_Of_Water_Meters_Per_Structure_FINAL_DRAFT_11-22-24.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/11/4a2_Public_Private_System_Policy__v2__DRAFT_11-22-24.pdf

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Arneson, Cote, Machia, Bormann, Miller, Hill, Farr

Arneson emphasized that this has been discussed extensively, but the latest change is to ensure that with a building that has more than one tenant, there is still one curb stop per building, but that there needs to be more meters installed by the owner, so that each unit has their own meter that can be shut off for non-payment. Machia stated that anything related to Water and Sewer pertaining to new construction or changing the zoning of a current construction goes to Cote for approval, he does not believe he could enforce the installation of more than one meter in a multiunit building. Cote concurred that any construction in the sewer and water district zone that mandates a zoning permit must come to him to approve and to sign off on, at that point he could put conditions on the owner. Machia added that properties that already exist could be grandfathered in, and not need a separate curbstop per building. Hill added that into the future we want one bill per owner’s structure. Bormann pointed out that she has to have separate meters for each of her apartment renters, because one unit may be a single person, while another has a family of four, and it would be unfair to simply take the bill and divide it by the number of apartments. Cote said that once the new water meters are installed he wants to do a water audit for the Town, because he can find no record of an audit having been done in recent years. An audit would show where we are losing water and how much we are using. Miller asked about water-based suppression systems that may exist on buildings in Town, to which Cote stated that those systems that are still in use do not use water that goes through a water meter. Furr asked about the wording in the current document and Arneson explained that if you are an existing construction you will not be expected to come into compliance, only new structures. Hill wanted to know if this policy will also apply to waste water. Machia reminded the board that because of Act 181 and the new zoning happening in the water-sewer district it will be allowed to have four units within one family home. To which Wolaver responded that it will then be up to the building’s owner to install subsequent meters beyond the Town meter. Which Cote concurred with. Hill said it’s important to emphasize if some places have a HOA, where the HOA pays the water and sewer bill, then the HOA has to divide that bill among the homeowners. Farr asked if someone is building new structures, such as Gary Bressor, and wants to put two curb stops in for the two units and does it during construction, can he have two meters if he owns both sides? To which Cote replied, yes, it’s the cheapest to install extra curbstops during the time of construction, he (Bressor) will have two meters for the same structure. Machia added that the use of minor structure would be better using the words “accessory structure” in the policy.

Furr moved to approve the “Policy Controlling The Number Of Water Meters Per Structure.” Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Furr, Miller, Farr in favor. Motion approved.

Update on water service line letters to customers
Timestamp: 0:39

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/11/4b1_2024_1121__Notification_Letters_WATER_SYSTEM.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2024/11/4b2_2024_1121_Notification_Letters_GRR.pdf

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote

Cote reduced the number of redundancies to 92 homesteads. Arneson, the Engineer and Cote drafted a better letter. They have all been mailed.

Update on installation of water meters
Timestamp: 0:41

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote

Cote explained it is going slowly because they have a lot of breakdowns and other things to deal with. 153 meters have been installed so far. Out of those 153 accounts one customer was disgruntled due to a failed check valve as well as a failed pressure reducer. Cote and Snow changed the check valve and an 18” long pipe at this person’s home and when they left the water was on and there was no leak, but a water leak had developed a few days later and the customer was upset. Arneson is going to talk to this customer on Wednesday. Farr asked if this repair was a fairly cheap repair, to which Arneson stated the homeowner is asking for $175 to pay the plumber she had to call. The check valve failed completely and moving forward Cote will tell the customer that the plumbing needs to be repaired prior to changing out the water meter at the customer’s expense. He doesn’t think the Town should pay for the pressure reducing valve that the customer is complaining about.

Superintendent’s Report
Timestamp: 0:51

People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote

Cote reported that the septage unit is broken so someone has to be physically present to run it. Similarly, the press is broken right now, so it can run but a person needs to be there. The press will be changed hopefully this week.

He has a whole new flocculator to install, but that is a six week process and will require shutdown at the plant.

Brad Snow was in the press recently, as was the new apprentice Coyle, so Richmond Wastewater plant is getting good writeups in the media. Brad is studying and getting extra help for his Grade 5 test.

Cote elaborated that they have been struggling with chlorine issues. The fluoride is fine. Endyne has not yet tested the water, their analyzer is down, so he did not have a water report to share.

Discuss Items for Next Agenda:

Revising the new water meter policy

Water report for November

Adjournment

Furr moved to adjourn. Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Wolaver, Hill, Farr, Furr, Miller in favor. Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned at: 6:55 pm

Chat file from Zoom:  None