Water and Sewer 4/6/26

Printable version

Water and Sewer Minutes 04-06-26 215 KB

Web version

Town of Richmond

Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of April 6, 2026

Members Present: Erin Farr, Bard Hill, Greg Rabideau, David Sander, Morgan Wolaver

Members Absent: Wolaver (arrived at 5:40 PM), Rabideau (arrived at 5:40 PM)

Staff Present: Town Manager Josh Arneson; Duncan Wardwell, Deputy Town Manager; Steve Cote, Water Resources Superintendent; 

 

Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV, Andrew Mannix, Michael, Trevor Brooks, Tyler Billingsley

MMCTV Video:  https://youtu.be/DAx6QSy91l4?si=ogt4feDgRXeUcD6o 

 

Call to Order: 5:35 PM

Welcome: Farr

Public Comment: None

 

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: None

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Minutes:

Sander moved to approve the minutes of March 30, 2026.  Hill seconded. 

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander in favor. Rabideau, Wolaver absent.  Motion approved.

Sander moved to approve the minutes of March 16, 2026.  Hill seconded. 

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander in favor. Rabideau, Wolaver absent.  Motion approved.

Purchase Orders:
  
Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5307 to the Town of Richmond for administrative support in the amount of $45,202.00.  Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander in favor. Rabideau, Wolaver absent.  Motion approved.

Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5310 to M&T Bank / Wilmington Trust for the East Main St. Waterline Loan in the amount of $25,139.95.  Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander in favor. Rabideau, Wolaver absent.  Motion approved.

Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5311 to the M&T Bank / Wilmington Trust for the Millet St. loan for the water and wastewater portion of the loan which amounts to $14,092.54.  Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander in favor. Rabideau, Wolaver absent.  Motion approved.

Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5331 to Alliance Group Services LLC for electrical services for the influent pump in the amount of $21,754.60.  Hill seconded.
Explanation?
Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander in favor. Rabideau abstains.  Wolaver absent.  Motion approved.

Warrants: 

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

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Rabideau, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

Discussion with members of the Housing Committee to review questions that they have regarding water & wastewater and housing
Timestamp: 0:05
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/04/4a1_RHC_Questions_2026.02.09.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/04/4a2_Richmond_Bridge_St_PS_and_FM_-_Revised_10_1_2025_-_REDUCED.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/04/4a3_Water_and_Sewer_District.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/04/4a4_1992-Allocation-Ordinance.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/04/4a5_Richmond-Water-Ordinance-1979.pdf

Mannix summarized how the Housing Committee and Water/Sewer Commission have a direct relationship.  Mannix reviewed the questions in the packet.

Hill confirmed that if something is built within the Water/Sewer District then they are obligated to connect. Arneson presented the map of the Water & Sewer District.  Arneson summarized that the District does not extend into all of the Gateway and it took the Commission many years to determine that it was unaffordable to extend.  Farr stated that much of the District borders things that are not developable.  Cote summarized that the water lines in Town have been upgraded and are in really good shape.  Cote stated that the sewer lines are in the process of getting a pump station added to the system that will work during flooding events.  Cote summarized that expanding to the Gateway would require adding three pump stations in floodplain areas.  Cote stated that the Wastewater treatment plant is in desperate need of an upgrade so it will work.  Sander stated that they haven't found any economically viable ways to expand the user base, inclusive of the connection.   

Update on obtainment of easements and information for Property Transfer Tax Returns (PTTR) for the Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd. Waterline Replacement Project
Timestamp: 0:41

Arneson reviewed that they need one more easement to secure and three more properties need information for the PTTR.  Arneson stated that his goal is to get this completed by next meeting.  

Consideration of awarding the construction contract for the Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd. Waterline Replacement Project contingent upon final approvals from the State

Timestamp: 0:43
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/04/4c_006-27_Richmond_RF3_487_Bridge-Tilden-Cochran_Rec._to_Award_Letter.pdf

Billingsley reviewed that five contractors submitted a bid from the 10 that attended the pre-bid meeting.  Munson was the low bidder and submitted all the documentation correctly.  Billingsley stated that he has to write letters to the State/DWSRF from the Town.  One letter is a recommendation to award, and the other letter proves that Munson followed the requirements. The original bond was for $1.9 million so they are under budget.  Billingsley confirmed that Munson’s work will be supervised.  Billingsley confirmed the spread in bids for mobilization and the 8-inch water line.  The other contractor’s bids seemed high for mobilization.    

Farr move to award the contract for the Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd. Waterline Replacement Project to Munson Earthwork, contingent upon final approvals from the State, and to name Town Manager Josh Arneson as the duly authorized representative to sign the paperwork with the contractor and the State.  Sander seconded.  
Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Rabideau, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.

Announcement of Brad Snow obtaining his grade 5 wastewater license and termination of agreement for contracted wastewater operator
Timestamp: 0:54

Arneson confirmed that now they can terminate the agreement for a Contracted Operator because Snow obtained his grade 5 wastewater license.  Arneson thanked Simon Operating Services that really helped them out in a pinch in the last three years.  It's good to know they have a nice relationship with some really qualified operator.  


Update on Zenner customer online water usage accounts
Timestamp: 0:57

Arneson reviewed that the usage accounts have not changes much since last meeting.  Zenner reduced the amount of data that was on the portal.  The January, February, and March data seems to be showing up too late in the day and there were a few other error codes.  Cote confirmed that the data for billing is correct, but he would like a better handle on the leak detection.  Arneson confirmed that they will have another meeting with Zenner.  Cote stated that he has not paid their fee yet.  
  

Review of March water data and the 2025 Department of Health Fluoridation Report for Richmond
Timestamp:  1:03
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/04/4f1_Monthly_Water_Report_March_2026.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/04/4f2_Dept._of_Health_2025_Fluoridation_Report_on_Richmond.pdf

Arneson reviewed the water data which is in the acceptable range.  Arneson also summarized the letter that congratulated us on being in the operational range of fluoride.

Superintendent’s Report

Timestamp: 1:04

Cote reviewed a list of immediate problems that need to be addressed as the plant.  The water plant is pretty good while the wastewater plant is struggling.  They are working on getting controls for the new influent pump.  They have upgraded the wet well level to a range of 20 feet where it was only about 6 feet.  There is a motor in the headworks that stops running.  The problem with the air in the aeration tanks is that they have been putting too much air in.  The aeration tanks are now good, but they are tracking the pH because they do not want to add caustic to raise the pH.  One of the clarifiers had a motor go on one.  They are using one filter right now and the other one needs the control panel and level monitors fixed.  The effluent discharge, the flow meter and reader stopped working and they ordered new parts.  The UV meter needs a little work.  The septage holding tank needs to be cleaned out.  The aeration in the digester is still an issue but out of their price range.  The incline conveyor in dewatering is breaking all the time.  The controls to the sludge pump are not working.  Arneson suggested that they look at the total budget of the next meeting.  

 

Discuss Items for Next Agenda:

-Waterline follow up

-Superintendent report

-Consumer Confidence Report

-Hoyle Tanner agreement

-Pump Station location

-FY27 Budget & Rates

-5 PM start?

Adjournment

Sander moved to adjourn.  Hill seconded.

Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Rabideau, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned at: 6:59 PM

Chat file from Zoom: None