August 2019 minutes
All minutes are in draft form
August 6, 2019
7:00 p.m.
Basement of the United Church of Underhill
TRUSTEES PRESENT OPERATORS PRESENT GUEST PRESENT
Joe O’Brien Mike Willard Steven Guay
Steve Jennings Marc Maheux
CLERK ASST. OPERATOR
Nancy Benson Andy Forsberg
1. Call to Order and Welcome. Joe O’Brien called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. to adopt the Agenda, which was approved.
2. Review and approval of minutes of previous meeting(s). Minutes from the July meeting were approved, with one change in Paragraph 9A. “There is now a 1½” HDPE line, but could be extended to 4” if connected to copper, which would increase pressure up Barrett Lane.”
3. Review and approval of financial statements. The financial reports for July were approved.
4. Customer Comments.
A. Steven Guay was present at the meeting concerning an allocation that had run out on 58 River Road. He wants to construct a one-bedroom apartment building and wanted to know if he could tap into the current line that runs from his current house to the barn or needed a new connection. Marc stated he needs to have the plans approved by the Board before construction. The Board decided a new connection is needed.
B. Marc spoke with a number of people regarding the River Road boil notice. Everything turned out fine.
5. Correspondence.
A. Mailings.
6. Operations Report.
Operator’s Report.
- i. Water usage. 50116 gal/day
- ii. Test Results and Testing.
Bacteria results negative.
Fluoride results within tolerance.
Mike said the conduit put in by him, Marc and Andy under Maple Ridge had the hole by the pole, which was filled in during the rainstorm. Valves on east and west side of BRMS will be tested after. Talked with Nate on Monday regarding the 4” abandoned Maple Ridge culvert. According to map, the water line cuts off road, so shouldn’t interfere when they go to do work. They will shut the Maple Ridge tank off and if he factures the line, it will be fine. Marc suggested that line.
Mike said the sanitary inspection was completed and recommendations are forthcoming. A containment area for opened containers was suggested. The weekly water readings were questioned as not being acceptable. Mike has been taking them daily.
Mike said the control building should be ventilated. There was a leak on discharge of the pump, so there was a smell. There was a cistern inspection last year with new lead and copper plan. Marc said you usually have to challenge the inspection.
Mike said testing is due. The account with Endyne was updated for sample bottles for inorganic and organic PFOAs.
Mike said the water consumption was up, but the tanks have been holding.
Mike said the generator maintenance is August 16 between 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Paving is ongoing on Route 15. Mike will check the valves tomorrow to see if they have paved over them.
Mike said there were no issues with the Luxenberg fluoride visit. Bacteria passed yesterday.
The chlorine pump needs to be fixed. Analyzer parts are due Thursday. Mike has been testing every day.
Andy has done the hydrants on Route 15 from Poker Hill to Park Street by opening the caps and greasing the ones necessary.
Marc said he was digging trench and putting in conduit maintained to three feet and was capped but not sealed. He had a little accident with the mini excavator.
7. Repairs, Maintenance, and Connections.
Mike said everything was good.
8. Old Business.
- A. An allocation was submitted for a restaurant, physical therapy office and office. The allocation was approved, but not approval for construction.
The connection at River Road was kinked, so they changed the valve.
B. No painting has been done on the hydrants. Will try when there is time.
C. Covered earlier.
D. Marc has not been able to get ahold of a boring company. He will need to hire someone to dig after boring.
E. We will keep searching for an excavator. Josh Whitehall at JMP Excavation said he could be around in two hours. Josh worked with Wayne Russin. ECI was mentioned as a possibility.
9. New Business.
A. Heard from Mike earlier.
B. Jason will be sending out a preliminary budget this month.
- C. We heard from Tanner Palmer regarding the trustee position. Joe will contact and explain that someone has to nominate him as it is an elected position. Joe will invite him to the next meeting.
- Joe got paperwork on the PFOA testing. Mike said it is very sensitive. There are no labs in Vermont. There are three in Massachusetts, two in California and one in Florida. We have the bear the cost of testing. The testing needs to be done by December 1. Mike will check the Vermont Rural Water site for any training sessions.
Mike said piping modification is needed in the control building. The cost is about $800.00 for fittings. Joe approved the work.
Mike asked about what is included in his salary. Marc said the sampling and operation reports. Other time is billed, including meeting with contractors and going out to job sites.
Steve asked about pulling the well since the river is low. Layne was here and did a draw down test. Well 2 is hard to get to. They said it was going to be expensive and a better access road was needed. We are waiting for results. Marc said Spafford did it before. Joe said to check with them and compare.
Mike purchased hard hats for Marc and Andy.
Andy said they were busy and asked if they should start looking for an assistant operator to train for when Mike leaves. Joe said to spread the word. Andy said his son may be interested. He was going to talk to him again and also talk to Jerry Russin.
10. Next Regular Meeting. Next regular meeting September 3, 2019 at 7:00 PM.
11. Review and Approve Bills. Bills were reviewed and approved.
Adjournment. The regular meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Benson, Clerk/Treasurer
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Joe O’Brien, President