WARNING for 2012 ANNUAL MEETING

The legal voters of Colchester Fire District No. 1 (Winooski Park) in the Town of Colchester, Vermont are hereby warned and invited to meet in the Hoehl Welcome Center on the campus of Saint Michael’s College in Winooski Park on Monday, 23 January 2012, at 7:00 pm.  The agenda for the District’s 75th annual meeting is as follows:

1.  Elect a moderator.
2.  Accept the minutes of the 2011 Annual Meeting.
3.  Receive Clerk’s annual report.
4.  Accept Treasurer’s annual report.
5.  Set the total amount for annual compensation for District officers.
6.  Elect an eligible voter to a three-year term (2012-14) on the Prudential Committee.
7.  Elect a District Clerk to a one-year term.
8.  Elect a District Treasurer to a one-year term.
9.  Set the District tax rate for 2012.
10. Authorize the Prudential Committee to approve short-term borrowings.
10. Set the date for the next Annual Meeting: Monday, 28 January 2013.
11. Other appropriate business.
12. Adjourn.

Dated, 15 December 2011, at Winooski Park, Colchester, Vermont 05439
Joseph McLaughlin, SSE, Clerk

AGENDA for PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
4:00 pm in the Hoehl Welcome Center on the campus of Saint Michael’s College

1. Approval of Minutes of the 14 November  2011 Prudential Committee meeting
2. Reports on District’s Johnson Ave water project
A.  Successful execution of approved financing plan
B.  Contractor’s bill, less retainage, paid
C.  Items to be completed
3. Brief reports on:
A.  Meter replacement program
B.  Finance Taskforce
C.  Developing District’s 2012 budgets
D.  Preparation of Water Purchases and Sales Study, 2011
E.  20-year Master Plan study
F.  Other reports
4. District 2012 Annual Meeting (23 Jan 2012) preparations
A.  Approval of draft warning
B.  Designation of newspaper for publishing warning
C.  Other preparations
5.  Schedule next Prudential Committee meeting

AGENDA for PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
4:00 pm in the Hoehl Welcome Center on the campus of Saint Michael’s College

1.    Approval of Minutes of the 20 April 2011 Prudential Committee meeting
2.    Review  reports previously distributed on developments on water projects
A.  ‘Memo: Finance Taskforce’s recommended funding option’
B.  Clerk’s ‘Certificate on District not needing a ROW’
C.  ‘Draft notes of 20 June 2011 Group meeting’
D.  Chairman’s ‘Summer Reading: action in the District, April thru July 2011’
3.    Reports on implementation of District’s ‘protection plan’
A.  Overall oversight of impacts of ‘campus connector’ construction
B.  FAC primary supply line
C.  Unexpected water disruption on 2 Aug and responses.
4.  Reports on application for State funding for Johnson Ave water project and its denial
5.  Reports on District’s undertaking its Johnson Ave water project
A.  Professional engineering consultant services retained
B.  Plan for financing Johnson Ave projected developed and approved
C.  Construction contract with SD Ireland entered
D.  Permitting issues resolved
E.  Modifications of scope
F.  Elements completed and to-be-completed
G. Sidewalk replacement.
6.  Action items on Johnson Ave water project
A.  Ratifying approval of recommended financing plan.
B.  Consideration of possible amendments to financing plan.
7.  Brief reports on:
A. Sewerage fees waived for District’s water-main break
B. Fire-flow credits approved for proposed Colchester storage capacity expansion
C. Progress on water customers’ delinquencies and 3rd quarter billings.
D. Meter replacement program
E.  Upgrade of GMP’s Gorge Road substation.
F.  Half-year investment performance report.
G. 20-Year Master Plan
H.  Financial Taskforce
I.  Commendation of CWD drinking water
J.  Colchester’s Heritage Steering Committee
K. VTANG’s annual wastewater usage report.
8. Schedule next PC Meeting

The construction of the ‘campus connector’, and especially the reconstruction of Johnson Ave, has already caused an unanticipated disruption of water service to residents of the Fire District (Winooski Park) and beyond.  Other disruptions are possible in coming weeks and until the project is completed (in early October).  While engineers and constructions workers, as well as Town and Fire District officials and the staff of Champlain Water District (CWD) are and will be doing their best to prevent unanticipated disruptions, the complex nature of the work itself cannot preclude all accidents and disruptions of water service.

The work along Johnson Ave is particularly complex.  Not only is the road surface being substantially redone, but beneath the roadway a new storm-drainage system and a new Town sewer line are being built, and a new gas line and fiber-optic lines are being laid.  Shortly, the District’s Johnson Ave water main will be replaced.  Meanwhile, Johnson Ave customers’ service lines as well as CWD’s major transmission line for this whole area (for the Fire District, the City of Winooski, and some other parts of the Town of Colchester) have to be maintained in service, while also accommodating all that’s going on around them.

Last Tuesday, 2 August, construction workers mistakenly shut off a valve that controls CWD’s major transmission line.   As a result, all water service was disrupted throughout the area for almost an hour. Next Monday, 8 August, CWD has to explore an apparent leak in the transmission line itself within Camp Johnson.  If the transmission line has to be shut down for repairs, plans are to supply the Fire District via an alternative line at Woodside.  But a disruption may still result.

What can you do?  As there is no feasible way to inform all District residents in advance of disruptions in water service, if you discover you are not getting water at your residence or business, please call and report the situation to our Superintendent, John Tymecki, at CWD: 864-7454 ext 120.  Your call may be how we learn of the problem and set in motion a proper response, or it may permit CWD staff to explain to you what the current situation is.

I regret the inconveniences we all may experience. And I assure you that we are doing our best to anticipate and prevent disruptions of water service. When disruptions occur we will try to restore services as promptly and as safely as possible.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Fr Joseph McLaughlin, SSE
Prudential Committee Chairman

Dear fellow residents and water customers,

Permit me to use the occasion of our first quarterly water bill to share some news with you.

This year’s Annual Meeting, the District’s 74th, re-elected Brian Lee to the Prudential Committee and all the incumbent District officers. Following the Meeting, the Prudential Committee re-appointed the same ‘team’ of officials who have been serving the District well for the past six or more years. Jerry Flanagan continues to serve as District Manager, and Thomas Van Dzura as Asst. Treasurer. I encourage you to visit the District’s website (www.cfd1.org) to find the Annual Meeting Minutes, reports and other helpful information. Maria Rinaldi deserves credit for keeping our website such an attractive way for people to get up-to-date and historical information about the Fire District.

Early this year, we welcomed John Tymecki as our new Water Superintendent. Among other things, he will continue efforts to upgrade all residential water meters.  So, if you’ve not had your meter and reader replaced, please contact Superintendent Tymecki, at 864-7454 x120, to arrange a mutually convenient time for him or his Champlain Water District (CWD) associates to replace yours. There is no cost to you for this. But an old and inaccurate meter can result in ongoing costs for you.

As the linked table shows, the Fire District’s water rates in 2010 were once again the lowest in Greater Burlington. Be assured, you play a major role in keeping our rates low. Paying your water bills in a timely fashion and using water wisely makes a big difference. So, thank you!

This year the Prudential Committee finds it necessary to raise the Distirct’s rates – for only the third time since 2003. As of this water bill, our metered water rates rise by about $0.0035 per cubic foot – to $0.024 per cubic foot for residential customers and to $0.0275 per cu. ft. for others. The minimum quarterly rate (for under 1000 cu. ft. per quarter) becomes $24.

The increase has been driven by a number of factors. CWD, which produces the fine water we provide, has upped its rates twice in two years. The cost of operating and maintaining our water system has also risen, as have capital improvements. In recent years, we’ve suffered an unprecedented number of water-main breaks. That prompted the Prudential Committee to call upon Aldrich + Elliott engineers (of Essex Jct) to undertake a comprehensive assessment of our water system. Their study and its recommendations will enable us to develop an overall plan for upgrading the District’s aging water system over the rest of this decade. The goal of our pro-active approach is to assure that all our customers may continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe, reliable, and economical water supply.

With best wishes for a Happy Easter and a pleasant Spring, I remain,

Yours very truly,

Joseph McLaughlin, SSE
Prudential Committee Chairman

AGENDA for PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
4:00 pm in the Hoehl Welcome Center on the campus of Saint Michael’s College

1.  Approval of Minutes of the 10 Feb 2011 Prudential Committee meeting
2.  Review developments on water projects associated with campus connector
A.  Review developments since last PC meeting
B.  Review CFD’s ‘protection plan’
C.  Review CFD’s proposed water project
3.  Action items on water projects associated with campus connector:
A.  Shall the PC approve that CFD1 go forward with submission of its proposed water project for funding   via inclusion in the campus connector project?
B.  Shall the PC approve that CFD1 undertake, even at its own expense, the work proposed in tandem with construction of the connector project?
C.  Shall the PC direct the Finance Taskforce to develop proposals for CFD’s financing the above two items and present such proposals to the PC for approval as soon as possible?
4.  Review progress of:
A.  GMP’s proposed water service-line for its upgraded Gorge Substation
B.  Preparation of the District’s 20-Year Master Plan
C.  FAHC’s completion of redundant feed for FAC
5.  Water sales/purchases study for 2010
6.  Brief reports on:
A.  College Parkway water-main break and repair
B.  Distribution of CFD’s approved 2011 budgets
C.  Chairman’s annual letter to customers
D.  Minutes and reports to 2011 Annual Meeting posted on District’s eLibrary
E.  First quarter water billings
F.  Status of delinquent customers
G.  First quarter investment performance report
H.  Finance Taskforce
I.  Colchester Heritage Project
7.  Schedule next PC meeting

AGENDA for PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, 10 February 2011
4:00 pm in the Hoehl Welcome Center on the campus of Saint Michael’s College

1.  Approval of Minutes of the last two PC meetings (1 Dec 2010 and 24 Jan 2011)
2.  Appointment of new Superintendent, John Tymecki
3.  District’s 2011 Annual Meeting, follow-up reports on:
A.  Review of draft Minutes of 2011 meeting
B.  Posting and publishing warning
C.  Officers reports
4.  20-year Master Plan of District’s water system, progress report:
5.  CWD developments, brief reports on:
A.  Comparative retail water rates, 2010 survey
B.  Proposed 2012 wholesale rate increase
C.  Level of fluoride concentration lowered, following new EPA guidelines
6.  District’s water system, brief reports on:
A.  Internal work at Medical Arts Bldg, FAC, completed
B.  Billing for Gorge Road repairs last fall
C.  Easement obtained for new water line through Simon’s property
D.  4th quarter billing sent to customers
E.  2010 water purchases study completed.
7.  Review and approval of District’s 2011 budgets
8.  Approve District’s 2011 water rates
9.  Initial consideration: budgeting future capital projects
10. Finance Taskforce reports
A.  End-of-2010 investment performance report
B.  Other FT projects to be taken up.
11.  Reports on:
A.  Windemere MHP, planning study and hearings
B.   Campus connector
C.  Water storage facilities planning, developments
D.  Winchester Place, water system maintenance
E.  Colchester Heritage Study
12.  Schedule next PC meeting

WARNING for 2011 ANNUAL MEETING
The legal voters of Colchester Fire District No. 1 (Winooski Park) in the Town of Colchester, Vermont are hereby warned and invited to meet in the Hoehl Welcome Center on the campus of Saint Michael’s College in Winooski Park on Monday, 24 January 2011, at 7:00 pm.  The agenda for the District’s 74th annual meeting is as follows:

1.  Elect a moderator.
2.  Accept the minutes of the 2010 Annual Meeting.
3.  Receive Clerk’s annual report.
4.  Accept Treasurer’s annual report.
5.  Set the total amount for annual compensation for District officers.
6.  Elect an eligible voter to a three-year term (2011-13) on the Prudential Committee.
7.  Elect a District Clerk to a one-year term.
8.  Elect a District Treasurer to a one-year term.
9.  Set the District tax rate for 2011.
10. Set the date for the next Annual Meeting: Monday, 23 January 2012.
11. Other appropriate business.
12. Adjourn.

AGENDA for PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
4:00 pm in the Hoehl Welcome Center on the campus of Saint Michael’s College

1. Approval of Minutes of the last two PC meeting (20 Oct and 9 Nov 2010)
2. Report on Superintendent’s departure and replacement
3. Consideration of proposal for 20-Year Master Plan of District’s water system
4. Windemere MHP Planning Study:  Town of Colchester public hearing, 14 Dec.
5. Preparations for 2011 Annual Meeting (24 Jan):
A. Approval of Warning
B. Designation of newspaper for publication of warning
C. Other preparations
6. Finance Taskforce reports:
A. Assumptions for District’s 2011 budgets
B. Water Operating Fund 2011 budget scenarios
C. 2011 draft projected budgets
7. Water system reports:
A. Winooski Water Dept. work near Florida Ave.
B. Follow-up on completion of FAC and PACE projects
C. Meter replacement program
D. Other system reports
8. Other reports
A. Delinquent customers
B. Meeting with Williston Fire District No. 1 official
C. Colchester Heritage Study Steering Committee
D. Other reports
9. Schedule date and time of next meeting

AGENDA for PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE MEETING
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
4:00 pm in the Hoehl Welcome Center on the campus of Saint Michael’s College

1.    Approval of Minutes of the last PC meeting (14 Sept. 2010)
2.    Report on completion of PACE and FAC water lines projects
3.    Water systems mapping project:
A.    Review resolution for preparation of water facilities map
B.    Determine scope of study/map project
C.    Sketch out stages of project and estimated timeframes
D.    Address any other issues needing resolution to move project forward
4.    Other water system matters:
A.  Meter replacement program update
B.  Gorge Road upgrades
C.  CWD Retail fee adjustment
D.  Other matters
5.    Financial matters:
A.    Review of 3rd quarter financial reports
B.    Third quarter billings
C.    Delinquent customers
D.    3rd quarter investment performance report
E.    Finance Taskforce report
6.    Water storage capacity project update
7.    Other wastewater planning efforts in Colchester:
A.    CFD 2’s plans
B.    Colchester’s IWRM program
C.    Town’s Exit 17 Growth Center
8.    Other brief reports:
A.  Colchester Heritage Project Steering Committee
B.  Windemere MHP planning project and Town
C.  Williston Fire District No. 1 meeting
D.  Processing District’s records
9.   Other reports and/or business
10.  Schedule date and time of next meeting