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

In the past two years, as you know, we’ve had several water disruptions in the District: some due to the reconstruction of Johnson Ave last summer and others due to major breaks in our water mains.  Disruptions are often unexpected and very inconvenient. I regret the discomfort they caused you.  Moreover, I want to assure you that the Prudential Committee and District officers have been working on ways to reduce water disruptions in the future.

Fifteen months ago, we retained professional engineers to assess the state of our water system and make recommendations for improving it.  Their work is almost finished.  They have found that many of the District’s mains are old, some quite fragile and others undersized. Additionally, our system does not have enough well-placed ‘loops’ or redundancies to permit us to shift the direction that water flows through our pipes and thereby continue to service customers when a segment has to be shut down due to a break or repair work.  We are now working on plans to upgrade our water system beginning next year. 2013 is an appropriate year; it will mark the 75th anniversary of our Fire District – a good year to renew a water system that has, on the whole, served us well but now needs ‘a lift’ so that it can reliably serve the next 75 years. I hope to have additional information for you in coming months on our plans and to invite your input.

As the linked PDF table shows, the Fire District’s water rates in 2011 were once again near 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!  I also want to thank all who have taken advantage of our offer to upgrade your water meter and reader.  If you’ve not yet done so, please contact Superintendent Tymecki, at 864-7454 x120, to arrange a mutually convenient time for him or his 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.

This year the Prudential Committee finds it necessary to raise our rates – for only the fourth time since 2003.  As of this water bill, our metered water rates rise by about one cent per cubic foot – a cubic foot equals about 7½ gallons.  Rates for 2012 will be $0.03 per cubic foot for residential customers and $0.039 per cu. ft. for others.  The minimum quarterly rate (for under 1000 cu. ft. per quarter) becomes $30. A major factor driving this year’s rate increase has been the high cost of repairing broken water mains. The one this past January under College Parkway (Rt 15) will end up costing over $40,000. And it’s the fifth break in the past two years.

One final item, Thomas van Dzura, who has ably served as Asst. Treasurer for the past nine years, was elected our new Treasurer at the Annual Meeting in January. He will continue to handle our water billings. And I thank him for his good and continued service to the District.

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

Fr. Joseph McLaughlin, SSE
Prudential Committee Chairman

1.    Review of 90% draft of Water System Master Plan with A+E engineers

2.    Approval of Minutes of the 24 February 2012 Prudential Committee meeting

3.    Brief reports on:
A.    CWD’s Annual Meeting
B.    Meeting with Town consultant on Town’s economic development plan
C.     Meeting with Town officials on sewer commission’s FY13 budget
D.     Winooski water main breaks

4.     Follow-up reports on:
A.      Informing customers of District’s 2012 water rates
B.      SMC Quad project approved
C.      Funding and payment of ECI’s bill
D.     Funding and payment of ECI’s bill
E.     Colchester’s Annual Town Meeting
F.     GMP Gorge substation upgrade
G.     SMC’s water conservation efforts
H.     Finance Taskforce
I.      First quarter water billings
J.    Other

5.   Schedule next Prudential Committee meeting

1.    Approval of Minutes of the 23 January 2012 Prudential Committee meeting

2.    Follow-up on District’s 2012 Annual Meeting
A.  Review of draft 2012 Meeting Minutes
B.  Report on posting and publishing warning
C.  Review of officers’ reports

3.    Review of draft 2011 Water Purchases/Sales Study

4.    Review of and action on District’s 2012 Budgets

5.    Establish District’s 2012 water rates

6.     Brief reports on:
A.  Meetings on draft 20-year Master Plan
B.  Follow-up items on Johnson Ave water main project
C.  District’s retainage
D. Finance Taskforce
E. TD Bank’s new service fees
F. St Michael’s College Quad Project
G. GMP Gorge Road substation upgrade project
H. Days’ Inn water
I.  Upcoming Colchester Annual Town Meeting

7.   Schedule next Prudential Committee 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

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

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 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

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

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

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