Water and Sewer 8/3/26

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Water and Sewer Minutes 08-03-26 193 KB

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Town of Richmond

Meeting of Water and Sewer Commission

Minutes of August 3, 2026

Members Present: Merrick Gillies, Bard Hill, Greg Rabideau, David Sander, Morgan Wolaver

Members Absent:  None
 

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

 

Others Present: The meeting was recorded for MMCTV Erin Wagg, Cara LaBounty, Connie van Eeghen, Mary Houle, Michael Miller

MMCTV Video:  https://youtu.be/Na8C1oJ_aTU?si=8KJvayVzvuxKFPlF

Call to Order: 6:00 PM

Welcome: Wolaver

Public Comment: None

Additions or Deletions to the Agenda: None

Approval of Minutes, Warrants and Purchase Orders

Purchase Orders: None

Warrants: 

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

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

Minutes:

Sander moved to approve the minutes of July 20 & 23, 2026.  Hill seconded. 

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

Items for Presentation or Discussion with those present


 

Reorganization: Selection of Chair and Vice Chair
Timestamp: 0:03 

Wolaver welcomed the new Commissioner, Merrick Gillies
Sander moved to appoint Merrick Gillies as Vice Chair of the Water and Sewer Commission.  Rabideau seconded.
Roll Call Vote: Hill, Rabideau, Sander, Wolaver in favor.  Gillies abstains.  Motion approved.

Sander moved to appoint Morgan Wolaver as Chair of the Water and Sewer Commission.  Rabideau seconded.

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

Review of Code of Ethics
Timestamp: 0:08
4b CodeofEthics 03-17-2025

Arneson summarized the annual requirement to review the Code of Ethics.  Arneson illustrated the Code of Ethics, Acknowledgement Form, and Video Training online at:
https://www.richmondvt.gov/boards-meetings/all-committee-board-members 

Update on Tilden Ave., Bridge St., and Cochran Rd. Waterline Replacement Project
Timestamp: 0:12

Cote summarized that Tilden passes all its tests with 14-15 services hooked up as of today.  The finish coat will not be done until around the first week in September. Cote stated that the pedestrian walk will eventually cut to an 18-inch depth and then filled with crushed stone to give a base.  Cote reported a couple of car instances on Tilden and Cochran that is being handled by the contractor, Munson, and the car owners.  Cote illustrated that on Bridge St the progress is slow to a crawl due to an existing 4-inch 1950s era main line being too close to an existing 8-inch 1970s era main line.  


 

Superintendent’s report
Timestamp: 0:23

Cote stated that the Wastewater treatment plant is limping along.  The press has been running well with the new VFD.  The State inspected Stone Corral for pre-treatment and were impressed with the amount of work put into the upgrades at the plant.  Cote stated that several of the curb stops in driveways are now going to be in the lane of traffic with valve boxes over them. The ones in the driveways were bent over.  Cote illustrated that he replaced a curb stop by the pediatrics building while Highway was working on the sidewalks.  


Follow up on discussion of possible 1% local option tax on sales, meals & alcoholic beverages, and/or rooms with a portion of the revenue generated being used to help pay for the cost of necessary renovations to the Wastewater Treatment Facility
Timestamp: 0:29
4e01 How to Adopt a Local Option Tax for Vermont towns.pdf 

4e02 Local Option Tax - Brief Overview from VLCT

4e03 Links to Information Regarding Local Option Tax

4e04 Guidance on Article Wording for Local Option Tax

4e05 Charts showing impact of LOT on future rates

4e06.5 Q A with State on LOT

4e06 VLCT Regarding Sunset of LOT

4e07 User Rate Alt 1 - Base Model

4e08 User Rate Alt 2 - No LOT

4e09 User Rate Alt 3 - No LOT Add Tax Share

4e10 User Rate Alt 4 - Add Tax Share

4e11 User Rate Alt 5 - Add Tax Share No Loan Suppression

Arneson illustrated the chart from the engineers that looked at percentage increase without and with Local Option Tax for the Sewer.  Arneson summarized the annual bill projections from FY26 to FY31, which give alternatives with the baseline increase.  Arneson stated that the State estimated the value of revenue for the Local Option Tax at around $300,000.  There is an additional burden on business owners as every quarter they have to report to the State.  

Hill stated that in order to move forward, they need to get a sense of the public’s view.  Arneson stated that a next agenda item would be what they really want to do for next steps to get the bond vote.  The Local Option Tax has to be an in-person Town Meeting vote.  They should also explore the funding models of a bond vote with and without the Local Option Tax.  Arneson confirmed that you can put all the Local Options Tax towards the Wastewater Treatment project and once it is paid off, put it towards the Town Center building.  LaBounty stated that the Local Option Tax is going to pit Village against out of Village.  LaBounty summarized that she pays for her own water treatment and is not in support of subsidizing other people with some of the largest land values in Town.  Arneson confirmed that he would bring in Hoyle-Tanner reps to provide the general outline for the Local Option Tax.  Hill stated that the Selectboard will have to be a major voice and have some of the same conversations. 

Follow up on discussion of potentially relocating the wastewater pump station to the 401 Bridge St. parcel
Timestamp: 0:51
4f1 Requests from Bressors to relocate pump station

4f2 Richmond Bridge St PS and FM - Revised 10 1 2025 - REDUCED 1 

Arneson reviewed that he included the requests in the packet but did not have much time from the last meeting.  LaBounty stated that sometimes it's just cheaper to clean up than to rebuild and redo.  Cote summarized cost of replacing the pump station from the last flood at ~$58,000.  Cote stated that the pump station has flooded 6 times since Hurricane Irene.  


Update on cost increase from Casella for Sludge Management
Timestamp: 0:55
4g1 Chittenden CPI Letter 2026

4g2 CPI FY26-27 CSWD

Cote summarized the ~$3,000 cost increase on a projected $120,000 budget so they should still be under projections.

 

Review of July water data
Timestamp: 0:56
4h Monthly Water Report July 2026

Arneson stated that Cote and staff do a great job of keeping all the numbers within the right range and being transparent with reporting.


Discuss Items for Next Agenda:
-LOT
-Pump station Relocation
-Replacement project

Adjournment

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

Meeting adjourned at: 6:58 PM 

Chat file from Zoom:  None