VILLAGE OF LOWVILLE

MUNICIPAL BOARD

February 11, 2020

A regular meeting of the Municipal Water and Sewer Board of the Village of Lowville was held on February 11, 2020. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM by Mr. Joseph Zehr.

Municipal Board Members: Joseph Zehr Donald Kraeger

Dorothy Duflo Mike Comet Thomas Widrick

Others Present: Paul Denise Pamela Roes Joseph Beagle Pat Scordo

Ryan Churchill Jeff Tubolino Henry Avallone Tim Widrick

Charles Truax arrived @ 6:30 pm

Approval of Minutes:

Motion by Mrs. Duflo, seconded by Mr. Kraeger to approve the minutes of the January 14th, 2020 regular meeting. All in favor.

Public Comment:

§ None.

Correspondence:

§ None.

Old Business:

§ Watson Water Service Agreements:

· A meeting was held with Mayor Beagle, Atty. Russell, Supervisor of Watson and Watson’s attorney regarding the water service agreements. There was discussion as to the amount allowed for the in-kind services by the Village.

Motion by Mrs. Duflo, seconded by Mr. Comet to recommend that the in-kind services amount stay at $3,500 per year. All in favor.

§ WWTP Upgrade:

· Phase II:

§ A meeting was held with GYMO representatives and Village WWTP representatives to review the scope of the budget and the equipment to be included in the project.

§ GYMO representatives reported that the NYS mandated plant disinfection designs plans are due May 2021; construction should begin by May 2022 and the disinfection implementation is due by May 2023. A grant had been applied for in 2019, but the Village was not funded. An application will be submitted again this year by Municipal Solutions.

§ GYMO representatives presented information to the Board including a timeline schedule of the WWTP Phase II upgrade, the proposed budget and also a proposal for their professional engineering services for the rehabilitation of the existing WWTP (Phase II). The Board will review this information to discuss at the next Municipal Board meeting.

§ Village Water Filtration System:

· Pilot Program – Pretreatment Coagulation Implementation: – No update.

· Groundwater Development Project:

§ Well Access Road / Landing Area Timber Cut: – Mr. Denise reported that there has been one logger that has looked at the area to be cut. Mr. Denise has not received an estimate from them as of yet. Another logger has expressed interest and is supposed to look at the area also.

· Property Owner Proposal – Water Supply Investigation: – An updated proposal was received from the property owners today. The Village would like for Jay Billings to examine the site for his thoughts on the potential for water. Executive Session.

§ MSF Audubon LLC (Benderson Development) Meters:

· All plaza meters have been installed and MSF Audubon has been billed for the cost of the meters.

§ Timber Bid:

· Supt. Denise reported that tentatively the timber sale bid opening is to be on February 17th, but he has not heard from Mr. Hirschey recently.

New Business:

§ Kraft Surcharges:

· December – 2019 – $0.00.

§ Water / Sewer Rates: – A financial session had previously been held for various members of the Municipal Board and Board of Trustees regarding the Water and Sewer Funds and their respective capital projects. Potential construction timelines, costs and funding were discussed as well as budgeting and potential water/sewer rates.

Motion by Mrs. Duflo, seconded by Mr. Comet to recommend a 5% increase of sewer rates effective for the 11/1/2020 billing and a 5% increase of water rates effective for the 5/1/2021 billing. All in favor.

Executive Session:

Motion by Mrs. Duflo, seconded by Mr. Widrick to enter into executive session to discuss real property negotiations and water service contract negotiations at 6:15 PM. All in favor.

Motion by Mr. Kraeger, seconded by Mr. Comet to come out of executive session at 6:46 PM. All in favor.

Follow-ups:

§ Watson District Agreements.

§ NYSDOH response to letter.

§ GYMO Phase II proposal.

§ Well Access Road/Area timber cut.

§ Timber Bid.

§ Next Meeting – March 10th.

Adjournment:

– Motion to adjourn by Mrs. Duflo, seconded by Mr. Comet at 6:49 PM. All in favor.

Respectfully submitted by:

Pamela Roes, Clerk/Treasurer