Water and Sewer 6/1/26

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Water and Sewer Minutes 06-01-26 217 KB

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Town of Richmond

Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of June 1, 2026

Members Present: Erin Farr, Bard Hill, David Sander (arrived at 6:06 PM), Greg Rabideau (arrived at 6:05 PM), Morgan Wolaver

Members Absent: None

 

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

 

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

Michael Miller

MMCTV Video:  https://youtu.be/hXpOfq6CvzQ?si=Nqs7d_i00lHDsOhr 

 

Call to Order: 6:02 PM

Welcome: Wolaver

Public Comment: Wolaver observed it is a nice summer day.

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: None

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Minutes:

Hill moved to approve the minutes of May 18, 2026.  Farr seconded. 

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

Purchase Orders:

Hill moved to approve purchase order number 5386 to VLCT/PACIF for property casualty, and workers compensation insurance for the first half of fiscal year 2027 in the amount of $14,000 which is allocated for the Water and Wastewater expenses.  Farr seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Wolaver in favor. Rabideau, Sander absent.  Motion approved.

Warrants: 

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

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

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present

Reminder of Annual Meeting scheduled for 5pm, June 8, 2026 and review of draft agenda
Timestamp: 0:05
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4a_Water_and_Sewer_Commission_Annual_Meeting_Agenda_2026_DRAFT.pdf

Wolaver stated that the draft agenda is included in the packet with no changes from last meeting.


Discussion of letters of interest to serve on the Water and Sewer Commission
Timestamp: 0:06

Wardwell summarized that they received a letter of interest in January from a potential customer.  The Commission will review letters at the July 6^th Water & Sewer meeting and the Selectboard will make appointments at the July 20^th meeting.  The seats need to be filled 45 days after the Annual Meeting on June 8.  Hill suggested the recruitment of candidates on the June 8 agenda.  There are two seats for customers and three seats for Selectboard members.  


Consideration recommending that the Selectboard apply for a Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Step 2 loan for the preliminary and final design for the Wastewater Treatment Facility 20 year study
Timestamp: 0:08
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4c1_02_CWSRF_Loan_Application_-_Richmond_WWTF_Step_II_Final_Design_05-24-26.pdf 

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4c2_EJCDC_Agreement_-_Richmond_WWTF_Upgrade_Step_II_-_2025-10-30__1_.pdf 

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4c3_PCS_-_Richmond_WWTF_ESA_1.2___2.0-SRF_-_STEP_II_Loan_Highlighted.xlsx

Wolaver summarized that they need to apply for this loan to cover the cost of the design with Hoyle Tanner.  Olin, from Hoyle Tanner, confirmed that the loan will be retained in the 15-year loan to pay off the engineering fees even if going through the bond bank or the SRF program.  Hill reviewed that you cannot proceed to construction until you have final design.  Olin stated that the duration of the loan would be 15 years if it is not rolled into a construction loan or the construction loan can vary between 20-30 years with the SRF program.  Olin summarized that they have enough mechanisms in place with the user analysis to prepare for contingency plans.  Olin confirmed that there is no payback until a year after the construction is complete.  Cote reviewed that they still have to have the engineering done whether or not they get turned down by the bond vote.  

Farr moved to approve a recommendation that the Selectboard apply for the CWSRF Step 2 loan for the preliminary and final design for the Wastewater Treatment Facility 20-year study.  Hill seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Rabideau, Sander, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.

Review of draft FY27 Budget and Rates
Timestamp: 0:34
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4d1_FY27_Water___Wastewater_budget_DRAFT_6-1-26_excel.xlsx

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4d2_FY27_Water___Wastewater_budget_DRAFT_6-1-26_PDF.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4d3_FY27_Water_and_Wastewater_rates_DRAFT_6-1-26.xlsx

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4d4_WS_Rate_and_Budget_Charts_DRAFT_6-1-26.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4d5_Water_and_Wastewater_Volume_history.pdf

https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4d6_Septage_volume_history_2016-2026__1_.pdf

Hill observed the Rate Septage User Fees history bar chart.  At the beginning, they did not budget more than they could actually earn.  They could use extra revenue to buy down the rates in subsequent years.  In 2024-2025, they built in revenues that they did not earn.  Cote stated that the cost-of-living increase should be the minimum in the septage every year.  The septage gallons received has been level around 6,000,000.  Cote illustrated the different graphs by year and by month.  Cote stated that the septage is not going to affect the sewer user rates as they are flatlining it this year.  Cote illustrated that if they flatline in Wastewater this year, they will put ~$59,000 in the Capital Reserve.  Hill stated that they should be cautious about forecasting revenue from septage given that they have failed to hit the target in the last two years.   


Update on Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd. Waterline Replacement Project
Timestamp: 0:53

Cote illustrated that they did test pits last week.  On Bridge St, they did not find the 8” Main but found a 4” line where the 8” is supposed to be.  Cote stated that the contractors should be starting with putting pipe in the ground on Tilden tomorrow.  


Consideration of approving the cost estimate for the Waterline Replacement Project to include the waterline under Huntington Rd. with funding to come from Unrestricted Funds and/or Water Capital Reserve Fund and/or Water Distribution Reserve Fund
Timestamp: 0:54
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2026/05/4f_006-27_Richmond_RF3-487_Huntington_Extension_2026-05-21.pdf

Hill moved to add the waterline under Huntington Rd. to the waterline replacement project at a cost of $164,237.50 with $142,000 to come from Unrestricted funds and $23,237.50 from the Water Distribution Reserve Fund.  Farr seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Farr, Hill, Rabideau, Sander, Wolaver in favor.  Motion approved.


Superintendent’s report
Timestamp: 0:56

Cote stated that everything is going as well as it can.  The brand-new influent pump has been up and running for a week with no problems.  They are working on getting pricing for the filter control panels.  There are a lot of construction projects going on in Town, so Cote is making sure there is not any damaged infrastructure.

Discuss Items for Next Agenda:
-June 8^th Annual Meeting
*Include new deadline for accepting Commission applications
*Septage rates

-June 15^th Regular Meeting
*Tilden Ave updates
*Superintendent report


Adjournment

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

Meeting adjourned at: 6:56 PM 

Chat file from Zoom:  None