VILLAGE DISTRICT OF EIDELWEISS
Commissioners Meeting
December 19, 2019
The Board of Commissioners met at 9:00 am on Thursday, December 19, 2019. In attendance were Commissioners Adam Leiser, Jay Buckley and Kathy Koziell. The meeting was filmed by Tim Hughes of Madison TV. Michael Dolan, Paula Doyle, Denita Dudley, John Cancelarich, and Gloria Aspinall were in attendance.
1. Agenda – Adam motion to approve agenda. Second Kathy. Vote Yes 3-0
2. Highway Department Report - 550 is still out. Axle is being replaced. The wrong one showed up originally. New one should arrive today. Truck will be back in service next week. Ground is solid so big trucks can plow. Kelly spoke with someone at DES about Burgdorf. Kelly believes the project became “out of control” in terms of concept and cost once engineers got involved. Kelly wasn’t part of it. Kelly says we are looking at a remove and replace. DES wants to “work with us”. DES wants us to put together something and then they will approve it because they want roads open and streams protected. PBN possible. Kelly wants to pursue opening this road. Engineer needed because pipe is more than 42 inches. Kelly wants this to be “in house”. Kelly wants to speak with Jim Rines of White Mtn Survey. Adam supports Kelly participating in the process. Kelly wants contact info for Jim Rines.
Jay motion: Have Kelly work directly with Jim Rines to get a number for a repair on Burgdorf. Adam second. Vote yes 3-0.
Jay discusses the DPW cell phone and email. Jay got assistance on this project from Andrew Hardeveldt. Verizon had the VDOE on a business account rather than a municipal account. Phone has to be ordered online. Kelly doesn’t want to get work emails on his private time. Jay can help Kelly turn notifications on and off. Adam suggests a stipend for the DPW for personal phones. Jay objects. Kathy asks Jay and Adam to each put out a written proposal that includes the expense.
Adam thanks Kelly for the work he did at 4/6 Little Loop. Drainage worked as designed. 25 tons of gravel placed in driveway at 4 Little Loop to correct drainage.
Porridge Shore cul-de-sac discussed. Kelly suggests treating the walk path differently but he can’t because he can’t move water onto wetlands. Adam states he has a good relationship with the neighbor. Kelly isn’t interested in speaking with the neighbor. Jay wants to bring the resident into a meeting. Adam points out that a gully exists on the walkway to the beach.
Jay motion: To invite the Gagnons to a meeting to discuss drainage. Adam second. Vote yes 3-0. Adam instructed to reach out to the property owners.
Full drainage on Little Loop discussed. Adam wonders if a warrant article is necessary for tree removal throughout the district. Adam asks Kelly to mark the trees with paint. Kelly thinks someone in the district would shut down the plan. Kelly wants Little Shore to have tree removal. Kelly to have a formal recommendation by the end of the year or early 2020.
Kelly reports that the dam has 16 inches of wood missing. He also reports that the dam hasn’t been full since summer. Kelly reports that he’s been adjusting boards the same way for 6 years and that was done “by eye” and adjusted as necessary. To think we can maintain water level at a specific level is not reasonable. Kelly suggests the concrete is marked and the VDOE tolerates the low level for the 28 day period the loons are nesting but otherwise leave the pond high. Kelly thinks that manipulating the boards daily, weekly, monthly is not a good idea. John Cancelarich wants to know what the plan is going forward. Kathy states that the old plan was very vague which is why a new plan was needed. Adam points out that DES mandates a policy. Kathy points out that the BOC tried to get the plan adopted in September but it was stalled because the BOC awaited a response that never came. Gloria summarizes a conversation from DES many years ago. Gloria expresses concern about getting flooded. Adam explains that a 2 inch drop in the dam was made once this summer. Gloria states that prior draw downs were done on or about November 1st. Gloria suggest going by the weather. Paula likes the idea of a new plan. Paula suggests the BOC should have discussed this with Kelly. She states it is micromanaged. Paula brings up the discussion with the Fire Chief. Paula believes the BOC shouldn’t have asked for something in writing. Paula believes he should have been formally invited. Adam states that the Fire Chief said, “we’ll get a more definitive answer and go from there”. That means a recommendation was not given. Jay reports that he was given specifications on the dam this morning. Jay said he didn’t want to ask the Fire Chief for a recommendation. Adam confirms that he has asked for confirmation from people who assist the district. That’s why he wants things in writing. Adam asks Paula if she is concerned that the water operator reported that the Reinach Tank project was sabotaged. She says she’s not because there is no evidence. Paula expresses concerns about employees and 91a violations. Paula believes that personal issues are getting in the way. Adam asks if Jay had a conversation with Rick Skarinka that wasn’t authorized. Jay said he did call Rick even though the Board didn’t know.
Adam reports that a direction was issued prior to DES to put Boards back into the dam. John asks if the Board wrote it. Kelly believes that the dam should be kept high. Kelly wants to maintain the dam within a few inches of being four inches below the concrete. John accuses the board of intentional misconduct. Jay acknowledges that he contacted Terri which initially caused the corrective actions of the BOC regarding the lowering levels of the pond.
According to Jay, Charlie Krautman doesn’t know that a dry hydrant exists near our ponds.
Mike Dolan says he’s concerned about fire. Mike wonders if the FD has tested the hydrant during the winter. Kelly states that the water won’t freeze by the hydrant.
Jay hands the BOC a document given to him by the Fire Chief. Adam expresses gratitude that something in writing was given to the BOC.
Adam motion: Adam to speak with Charlie Krautman to get the dam management policy correct and have Charlie confirm the summary for revision purposes. Kathy second. Vote yes 3-0
Adam motion: Follow the old dam management policy with no draw down. Jay second. Vote yes 3-0.
Jay gave Kelly the incorrect version of the dam management policy which also caused confusion.
Kelly wants to take the $10,000 buyout for health insurance.
3. Water –
4. Administration –
5. Accounts Payable -
6. Minutes –
7. Commissioners Reports –
Kathy asks about Jay’s social media post. Kathy is concerned that Jay posted improperly to the Town of Madison Facebook page. Jay reads Adam’s post that was approved by the BOC for posting. Jay then reads his own post. Jay says the initial post shouldn’t have been made. Adam says Jay could have waited 11 hours before responding on social media.
Adam leaves the meeting.
Mike Dolan explains that the new commissioners have had little experience.
Discussion on dynamics of board. Gloria asks that one of the office staff take meeting minutes.
Discussion of proposed letter to Terri Cancelarich, John expresses concern that the BOC didn’t follow our own policy on dam management.
Jay motion accept and sign letter to Terri. Kathy seconds. Vote yes 2-0
Jay motion to accept and sign letter to John C. Kathy seconds. Vote yes 2-0
Jay motion to sign Manifest of 8 checks $7249.89. Kathy seconds. Vote yes 2-0.
Jay motion to encumber the funds for Electrical upgrades (all 3). Kathy seconds. Vote yes 2-0
Jay motion to encumber $1749.37 for UpperLake View PRV Pits Kathy seconds. Vote yes 2-0
Jay makes motion to encumber 1415.00 Thusis Culvert. Kathy seconds. Vote yes 2-0
Jay motion to allow Jay to contact Kelly regarding Thusis culvert expenses and allocation:. Second Kathy. Vote yes 2-0
Discussion on Little Loop.
Jay motion to encumber $6600 on Little Loop for Shawn’s tree service. Kathy second. Vote yes 2-0
Jay motion to have Jay contact Jones and Beech for second quote on drainage plan for Little Loop. Kathy seconds. Vote yes 2-0. Jay to have this by 12/29.
Jay motion to accept the DN Tank bid for $388,800. Second Kathy. Vote yes 2-0
Jay motion to have Primex send a refund check after the January premium is paid. Second Kathy. Vote yes 2-0.
Jay motion to accept newsletter. Kathy second. Vote yes 2-0.
Jay motion to have Adam sign the separation agreement for administrator Nancy Cole.
Discussion ensues about accepting $295,000 water grant. Warrant article needed.
9. Correspondence
10. Scheduled Appearances - none
11. Public Comment
Jay motion to adjourn at 12:57pm. Kathy second. Vote yes 2-0
Motion to adjourn Adam – second Kathy – Vote yes 2-0. 11:45pm