Water and Sewer 5/4/26

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Town of Richmond

Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of May 4, 2026

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

Members Absent: None

 

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

 

Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV, Michael

MMCTV Video:  https://youtu.be/DlQh2Jpr5vg?si=QS7Azj3qaMNFdnLB 

 

Call to Order: 6:00 PM

Welcome: Wolaver

Public Comment: Cote reported that there are two robins’ nests with three babies.

 

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: None

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Minutes:

Sander moved to approve the minutes of April 20, 2026.  Rabideau seconded. 

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

Purchase Orders:  None

Warrants: 

Farr 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

Superintendent’s report
Timestamp: 0:03

Cote reported that the Waterhouse is going great, but the plant is frustrating.  The press and incline conveyor continue to be a problem.  Cote stated that he is gone from May 7-17 so it will be hard to keep taking septage when things break.  The plan is only to take the septage needed to process the waste sludge and to only run the press when they get a digester full.  They took 500,000 gallons of septage in April.  

Cote stated that they have done all the monthly testing for the State.

Cote stated that they are going to mark Tilden St, Bridge St, and Cochran Rd in preparation of the waterline replacement project.  They need to exercise the valves that will be shut off during the process.  

Cote reported that the Wastewater plant has been running well other than the dewatering.   


Review of draft FY27 Budget and Rates
Timestamp: 0:10
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4b1_FY27_Water___Wastewater_budget_DRAFT_5-4-26.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4b2_FY27_Water___Wastewater_budget_DRAFT_5-4-26.xlsx

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4b3_FY27_Water_and_Wastewater_rates_DRAFT_5-4-26.xlsx

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4b4_WS_Rate_and_Budget_Charts_DRAFT_5-4-26.pdf

Arneson summarized that everything on the Water budget remains the same from last time they reviewed it.  The Wastewater budget changed biosolids chemicals from $60,000 to $70,000 for price increases.  Arneson stated they kept the Wastewater User Revenue flat and added a line to the Wastewater Capital Reserve now at $74,225, which can be used for future loan paybacks.  

Arneson stated that Water Restricted and Unrestricted remained the same.  Arneson summarized the Wastewater Unrestricted changes for the Wet Well, Effluent Discharge, and Control Panels for Filters.  The projected end of FY26 balance is $319,114, the projected FY27 Wastewater Budget is $920,010, which is $181,139 left for Unrestricted funds in excess of 15% of budget.  Arneson presented the Wastewater Capital projected balance of $170,933.  Cote confirmed that the two things left for the press are the auger system (~$70,000) and the polymer system ($28,000).

Arneson summarized that the amount raised from Water rates raised from $387,000 (FY26) to $408,000 (FY27).  The amount raised from Wastewater rates are staying the same at $920,010.  Arneson illustrated how the Water rates are driven by the increase in the budget.  They base everything on the previous 12 months of usage of Residential, Commercial and School.  The amount of money raised to each individual segment is based on the percentage of water and sewer use.  Arneson illustrated the process for determining the fixed rates.  For Residential, the revenue is based on 30% from Fixed Rate and 70% comes from Metered Usage.  For Commercial, it is 35% Fixed and 65% Metered, and for School it is 50% Fixed and 50% Metered.  

Cote suggested that they use the cost of living to increase the septage rate every year.  Cote also observed that other municipalities charge a fixed rate based on the meter size.  There are no categories for Residential, Commercial, and School but it is based on the size of the water line.  Cote described a breakout of 7,500 gallons where a user would pay a higher Usage rate if using more than 7,500 gallons.  Cote stated that their current system is complicated to explain and confirmed that he could get the data for the different meter sizes.  Hill suggested looking at the criteria by which the meter size is chosen.  There is a possibility that some people have a large meter with modest flows.


Discussion of septage rate
Timestamp: 0:45

Cote stated that everybody in the State does a yearly increase.  Montpelier increases the rate based on the cost of living.  Montpelier also charges a hauler a higher rate if they have loads that have an adverse effect on the treatment plant.  Cote confirmed that they would have to write that in the Ordinance.  


Consideration of setting a date for the Annual Meeting
Timestamp: 0:47

Arneson confirmed that the Selectboard might also have a special meeting on June 8.  They will confirm the actual time at the next meeting.  


Update on Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd. Waterline Replacement Project
Timestamp: 0:49

Arneson confirmed that they had a pre-construction meeting last week and getting all the recording completed.  Arneson summarized the timeline as starting on Tilden Ave in late May and not getting over to the other side of the bridge until after school is out in mid to late June.  Arneson stated that they will post updates from the contractor and engineer on what needs to be closed when.  It will be on the Town website, Front Porch Forum, and a statewide email.

Cote and Arneson reviewed that they are looking at paving 500 feet of Huntington Rd where there is the last section of pipe.  They might have to go back for a vote to use the balance to complete the project.    


Update on Zenner customer online water usage accounts
Timestamp: 0:54

Arneson stated that there is not much of an update.  Arneson stated that there is a separate payment for the online system.  Cote says he has refused to pay the bill until things work properly.  


Discuss Items for Next Agenda:
-Huntington Rd update from Tyler B
-Annual Meeting start time
-Septage rates


Adjournment

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

Meeting adjourned at: 6:56 PM 

Chat file from Zoom: None