Water and Sewer 5/18/26

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Water and Sewer Minutes 05-18-26 207 KB

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Town of Richmond

Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of May 18, 2026

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

Members Absent: Greg Rabideau

 

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

 

Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV Erin Wagg, Michael

MMCTV Video:  https://youtu.be/F-F3xSJJKEg?si=1oR8ndjvHPN38c2f 

 

Call to Order: 6:00 PM

Welcome: Wolaver

Public Comment: Sander stated that Spring has sprung.

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: None

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Minutes:

Hill moved to approve the minutes of May 4, 2026.  Sander seconded. 

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

Purchase Orders:  None

Warrants: 

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

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

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

Review of Third Quarter Financials for FY26
Timestamp: 0:03
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4a1_FY26_QTR_3_Budget_Status_Water_05-15-26.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4a2_FY26_QTR_3_Budget_Status_Wastewater_05-15-26.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4a3_FY26_QTR_3_Water_Sewer_Septage_Financials.pdf 

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4a4_FY26_QTR_3_Water_Sewer_Debt_Schedule.xlsx 

Arneson introduced the new Finance Director, Katy Fogell, who is taking over for Connie Bona who is retiring at the end of May.  

Arneson presented the Budget Status reports in the packet.  The Actual column is through the end of March.  The Actual % of Budget should be at 75% through 3 Quarters.  

Arneson illustrated the negative balance in Wastewater Capital due to the expenses for the 20-year Study Engineering. The reimbursements will refill that fund. 

Consideration of setting the rate of increase for the Water Resources Department pay grid
Timestamp: 0:13

Arneson reviewed that the FY27 budget assumed a 3% increase.  The New England CPI is at 4% from April 2025 to April 2026.  Arneson summarized the compensation study in 2022 that looked at comparable municipalities and benchmarked the current pay grid based on current available pay rates in Chittenden County.  Currently, the budget is based on a 3% increase.  A 4% increase would increase Water by $1,000 and Sewer by $2,500 for wages, taxes, and retirement fund.  Sander stated that a 4% increase is money well spent as the staff if bending over backwards to find savings.  Hill stated that the State of Vermont employees will get a 2% bump in July and a 2% jump in January.  There are also pay grid variations from 0 – 2 %. 

Hill moved to increase the Water Resources Department pay grid by 4% for Fiscal Year 2027.  Sander seconded
Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.

Review of draft agenda for Annual Meeting
Timestamp: 0:18
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4c_Water_and_Sewer_Commission_Annual_Meeting_Agenda_2026_DRAFT.pdf

Arneson presented the Draft agenda from the packet.  Hill suggested looking at total consumption for water, sewer, and septage.  Hill stated that they should be prepared for the topic of how to support new housing.  


Consideration of setting a date and time for the Annual Meeting
Timestamp: 0:23

Arneson stated that at the last meeting, June 8 worked for everybody.  The Selectboard is also holding a Special Meeting on June 8 at 7 PM.  

Hill moved to hold the Water and Sewer Annual Meeting on Monday, June 8, 2026 at 5 PM at the Town Center.  Sander seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.


Update on Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd. Waterline Replacement Project
Timestamp: 0:25

Wolaver observed staff marking all the old curb stops on Tilden.  Cote stated a couple of them will get changed so they are not in driveways.  Cote stated that they will mark all the water and sewer lines and then Dig Safe will mark everything else.  Cote reviewed the submittal of materials with Tyler, the engineer.  Cote confirmed that Cochran, Huntington, and Bridge St will be repaved next year. Arneson thanked the Assistant Town Clerk, Adriana Hashinaga, for getting the recordings done as quickly as possible. Cote confirmed that once they know a hard date for the start of construction, they will post it on Front Porch Forum and the website.  Arneson stated that it will take 3-4 months for the entire project.  Cote confirmed that if nothing goes wrong then people will lose water for a couple of hours on the day they do the switches.  


Follow up on the possibility of replacing the waterline under Huntington Rd. in 2026
Timestamp: 0:35
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4f_006-27_Richmond_RF3-487_Huntington_Extension_2026-05-06.pdf

Arneson summarized that the last 500 feet of water line to replace on the entire system is on Huntington Road  It is not included it in the DWSRF project and estimated to be $190,000 to extend it.  Arneson stated that there is money in Unassigned and Reserve funds.  Arneson stated that it was worthwhile looking into a change order with the contractor and just paying for it in cash on-hand.  

Cote confirmed that because the contractor is already there, the engineering does not have to be re-done and it is just 500 more feet of line at the same price.  Arneson illustrated that he will bring back the change order from the contractor to officially vote on it.  

Arneson confirmed that he will check the mobilization fees and that they should not need the money for other emergency projects.  Cote thought that the existing pipe is asbestos concrete but that it can be left in place.


Superintendent’s report
Timestamp: 0:47

Cote stated that the staff did well when he was gone the last week.  They did not take as much septage to make sure the press was running right.  By tomorrow, they should be back up to 50,000-60,000 gallons of septage a day.

Cote described some of the annual maintenance with clarifiers and the new influent pump.  Cote summarized that the waterline project was marked and the hydrants were flushed.  Cote stated that Erin Kelley received her Distribution license and is eligible to get her Water Level 3.

Arneson illustrated how Mike Coyle, Erin Kelley, and Brad Snow all did a great job when Cote was out.  They had a plan every day and did not seem overwhelmed.  Kudos to the staff and for Cote’s training.


Review of draft FY27 Budget and Rates
Timestamp: 0:53
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4h1_FY27_Water___Wastewater_budget_DRAFT_5-18-26.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4h2_FY27_Water___Wastewater_budget_DRAFT_5-18-26.xlsx

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4h3_FY27_Water_and_Wastewater_rates_DRAFT_5-18-26.xlsx

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4h4_WS_Rate_and_Budget_Charts_DRAFT_5-18-26.pdf

Arneson stated that the budget rates have not changed since last meeting.  Farr asked to clarify if the FY26 & FY27 user receipts for sewer and septage were exactly the same or if a typo.  Arneson stated he will explain why it is the same at next meeting.


Review of Consumer Confidence Report
Timestamp: 0:55
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4i_CCR_2025_for_mailing.pdf

Arneson stated that it was sent out and it will be covered a the Annual Meeting.


Review of April 2026 water data
Timestamp: 0:56
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4j_Monthly_Water_Report_March_2026.pdf

Wolver stated that it looks pretty good again.


Discuss Items for Next Agenda:
-Review of budget
-Waterline update
-Huntington line estimate 


Adjournment

Farr moved to adjourn.  Hill seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Sander, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.

Meeting adjourned at: 6:56 PM 

Chat file from Zoom:  None