VILLAGE DISTRICT OF EIDELWEISS
Commissioners Meeting Minutes
Tuesday January 12, 2021
The Board of Commissioners met at 9:00 am on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. The meeting was held by phone. In attendance for the meeting were Commissioners Jay Buckley (JB), Kathy Koziell (KK) and Paula Doyle (PD). Administrator Donna MacKinnon (DM) was present but also attending to other District business. Kelly Robitaille (KR) was in attendance for most of the meeting.
1. Call to Order
At 9:01 am Commissioner Jay Buckley called the meeting to order.
2. Agenda
No agenda was created for this meeting but JB stated that the primary purpose was to discuss the latest draft for the 2021 budget and warrant.
JB makes a motion to approve this item as the agenda. KK seconded. Motion approved 3-0.
3. Discussion
JB announced he had a hard stop at 10:00AM to help DM with outstanding 91-A request from Adam Leiser.
JB makes a motion to notify Adam Leiser that the district needs 30 additional days beyond prior notification to fulfill request. KK seconds. Motion approved 3-0.
KR asked for input on warrant drafts. KR had asked for a warrant for a new leaf blower to be mounted on the grader. Estimate for $5,500. Commissioners agreed to add a warrant article for this item for $6,000.
KR pointed out that warrant article for tree and brush cutting for $7,000 would only cover the roads he had previously mentioned and would not include the water areas that JB had added. JB to get estimate for clearing of these areas. Discussion that this should be a separate warrant article since the money would need to be raised by water fees.
KR brought up that the engineering and survey work for Little Loop was not on the draft. KK and JB agreed that this should be added citing an earlier estimate for $14,000. KK to find the original estimate and add 10% for potential changes to final number. PD stated that she was not in support of this warrant article due to unknown nature of costs to do work that might be recommended and the concern that this could be a lot of money for a lightly traveled road. KR and KK pointed out that the DPW believes that they will be able to do any work themselves but that the survey and engineering was necessary to help guide the project.
KR inquired about a warrant article for a new furnace. KK stated that per conversation at last meeting, BOC agreed that this would be funded from the operating budget.
JB proposed that bonus line be brought to zero and that any bonuses would be paid from budget surplus. KK and PD agreed in principle but were concerned that if budget came in right on, there would be no funding available for bonuses that might be warranted per bonus policy. KK also recalled that public discussion seemed to favor funding for bonuses at prior annual meetings. After discussion, all agreed to leave funding in budget for bonuses.
JB proposed a few other changes to the Equipment & Maintenance line items. After discussion, fuel and tools & equipment were revised slightly. Other operating expenses were discussed and amended slightly as well.
Water budget was discussed with minor revisions made.
Discussion on warrant articles & budget was completed.
PD requested discussion on January 2021 Newsletter in order to get communication out to district ASAP on this year’s annual meeting process. Revisions were discussed and agreed. PD to make final revisions and send to KK for distribution.
DM requested that 2 budget transfers be approved for signature prior to end of meeting per a request made by Treasurer Dinah Reiss.
JB made a motion to transfer $5,500 from the Water Line Extension Fund to the Water Operating Budget for the Tight Tank water line extension. KK seconded. Motion approved 3-0.
JB made a motion to transfer $738.51 from the Water Line Extension Fund to the Water Operating Budget for NCWP bills. KK seconded. Motion approved 3-0.
4. Public Appearances -None
5. Public Comment - None
Jay Buckley made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:30 AM. Kathy Koziell seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Doyle, Commissioner