Water and Sewer 7/7/25
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Monday,
July 7, 2025
6PM – 7 PM
Minutes
Approved on: Monday, July 21, 2025
Minutes
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Web version
Town of Richmond
Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission
Minutes of July 7, 2025
Members Present: Erin Farr, Bard Hill, Jay Furr, David Sander, Morgan Wolaver
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Superintendent Steve Cote; Town Manager Josh Arneson; Assistant to the Town Manager Duncan Wardwell
Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV Erin Wagg, Aiden Short, Jon Olin, Kirstin DiPietro Worden, Matt Leonetti
MMCTV Video: MMCTV Erin Wagg
https://youtu.be/BPm1XYl1FO8?si=TDtUzS_9g0CWXbbm
Call to Order: 6:00 pm
Welcome: Wolaver
Public Comment: Furr commented that we hope we will be free of flooding this week
Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: None
Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders
Minutes:
Sander moved to approve the minutes of June 16, 2025. Furr seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Farr, Furr, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Motion approved.
Purchase Orders:
Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5195 to Simpleroute for FY26 IT services in the amount of $4,158.00. Farr seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Farr, Furr, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Motion approved.
Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5319 to various chemical suppliers for sodium aluminate wastewater chemical in the amount of $17,510.00. Farr seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Farr, Furr, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Motion approved.
Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5320 to CSWD for shipment and disposal of dewatered sludge in the amount of $140,000.00. Farr seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Farr, Furr, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Motion approved.
Sander moved to approve purchase order number 5321 to various chemical suppliers for polymers biosolid chemical in the amount of $70,000.00. Farr seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Farr, Furr, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Motion approved.
Warrants:
Furr moved to approve the Warrants as presented. Sander seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Farr, Furr, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Motion approved.
Recognition of article about Richmond Water Resources in the national publication Treatment Plant Operator
Timestamp: 0:06
People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Furr, Cote, Farr
Farr requested that we post a link to the article on Front Porch Forum.
Update on Congressionally Directed Spending Request advancing to next round
Timestamp: 0:07
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/07/4b_CDS_request_advancing_to_next_round.pdf
People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Arneson, DiPietro Worden, Farr, Furr
DiPietro Worden stated that Senator Welch's office has advanced it to the next round but there are still several more steps before it gets funded.
Consideration of recommending Water and Sewer Commission appointments to Selectboard
Timestamp: 0:09
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/07/4c1_Wolaver_Letter_to_Serve_on_W_S_Commission_20252026.pdf
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/07/4c2_Farr_Letter_to_Serve_on_W_S_Commission_20252026.pdf
People who participated in discussion: Farr, Sander, Wolaver
Farr moved to recommend that the Selectboard appoint Morgan Wolaver to the Water and Sewer Commission. Sander seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Farr, Furr, Sander, in favor. Wolaver abstains. Motion approved.
Wolaver moved to recommend that the Selectboard appoint Erin Farr to the Water and Sewer Commission. Sander seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Furr, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Farr abstains. Motion approved.
Review of June 2025 water data
Timestamp: 0:11
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/07/4d_Monthly_Water_Report_for_June_2025.pdf
People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote
Cote stated that it was rock solid again.
Review of responses to the request from the Town Plan Committee for feedback on the Town Plan from the Water and Sewer Commission
Timestamp: 0:11
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/07/4e_Town_Plan_2026_Update_WS_6-20-25.pdf
People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Farr, Arneson
Arneson stated that they're just looking for feedback so he'll send this to the Town Plan Committee.
Consideration of approving a vendor for an influent pump
Timestamp: 0:12
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/07/4f_06302025_Influent_Bid_Award_Letter_to_Richmond.pdf
People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote, Sander, Furr
Cote stated that the Flygt Pumps are simple to clean which they thought was an issue. They are also submersible.
Sander moved to approve the purchase of a Flygt Pump from Xylem for $34,344.71 with funding provided by the Wastewater Capital Reserve. Furr seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Farr, Furr, Sander, Wolaver in favor. Motion approved.
Update from Hoyle Tanner on septage receiving analysis
Timestamp: 0:15
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/07/4g1_Richmond_WWTF_-_Septage_Receiving_Analysis_Memo_-_06.20.2025__1_.pdf
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/07/4g2_Theoretical_User_Rate_Impacts.pdf
People who participated in discussion: DiPietro Worden, Short, Furr, Cote, Farr, Hill, Wolaver
DiPietro Worden and Short presented a slideshow summary. DiPietro Worden stated that the plant is running below capacity and has been accepting septage to press with sludge as a revenue stream. It provides higher revenue than the expenses it incurs. Short presented four different Analysis Alternatives. Short summarized that if you accept less septage, there is less of a net cost benefit for the Town. Short stated some conclusions that septage receiving generates more revenue than it incurs in expenses which lowers rates, dewatering is critical to minimize disposal and hauling expenses, user rate increases will be required to bond the project of any of the four alternatives, and the $4.48 million grant application is currently under federal review. DiPietro Worden stated that one big project would be the most cost benefit for the Town compared to going out to bid in phases. Cote wants to revisit the engineering study as he cannot support raising rates by 142%.
Superintendent’s Report
Timestamp: 0:50
People who participated in discussion: Wolaver, Cote
Cote reported that they have some issues with one filter tank.
Review of code of ethics
Timestamp: 0:53
https://www.richmondvt.gov/fileadmin/files/Water_Sewer_Commission/Meetings/2025/07/4h_CodeofEthics_03-17-2025.pdf
People who participated in discussion: Arneson
Arneson reviewed that this is the State version that was finalized last year, and the Town slightly amended it to apply to all employees and volunteers.
Discuss Items for Next Agenda:
Special meeting on Monday, July 14, 2025
Next regular meeting on Monday, July 21, 2025
Adjournment
Furr moved to adjourn. Sander seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Farr, Wolaver, Furr, Sander in favor. Motion approved.
Meeting adjourned at: 6:57 pm
Chat file from Zoom: None
Agenda
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Web version
Town of Richmond Meeting of the Water and Sewer Commission
July 7, 2025
Richmond Town Center Meeting Room, 3rd Floor – 203 Bridge Street, Richmond, VT
Meeting may also be joined online or by phone
Join Zoom Meeting Online:
us02web.zoom.us/j/89044705211
Join by Phone: +1 929 205 6099 Meeting ID: 890 4470 5211 Passcode: 420766
Agenda
6:00 PM 1. Welcome and Public Comment
6:02 PM 2. Additions, Deletions, or Modifications to the Agenda
6:05 PM 3. Approval of Minutes, Purchase Orders, and Warrants*
a. Minutes of 6/16/25
6:10 PM 4. Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present
a. Recognition of article about Richmond Water Resources in the national publication Treatment Plant Operator # (2 min)
b. Update on Congressionally Directed Spending Request advancing to next round # (1 min)
c. Consideration of recommending Water and Sewer Commission appointments to Selectboard* # (1 min)
d. Review of June 2025 water data # (2 min)
e. Review of responses to the request from the Town Plan Committee for feedback on the Town Plan from the Water and Sewer Commission # (5 min)
f. Consideration of approving a vendor for an influent pump* # (5 min)
g. Update from Hoyle Tanner on septage receiving analysis # (20 min)
h. Review of code of ethics # (5 min)
i. Superintendent’s Report (5 min)
6:56 PM 5. Discuss Items for Next Agenda and Adjourn
Time is available at each meeting for public comment.
If you would like to schedule a time with the Commission or need assistance to participate in the meeting, please call
Josh Arneson, Richmond Town Manager at 434-5170 or jarneson@richmondvt.gov
Links to videos of Water and Sewer Commission meetings can be found at mtmansfieldctv.org
Documents related to this meeting can be found at: www.richmondvt.gov/documents/water-sewer-commission-meeting-documents/
*denotes action item # denotes item(s) included in packet