Arlington Wastewater Committee January 15, 2025 Minutes
Members Attending: Steve McClafferty, Cynthia Browning, Matt Bykowski, Jamie Paustian, Dan Harvey
Members absent: Andrew Rodriguez, Todd Wilkins, Andy Curtis
Others present: Nick Zaiac, David Cotton (MDB), Mary Clark (MDB), Michael Mezzacapo (US EPA)
1. CALL TO ORDER at 7:00 pm
2. Additions or Deletions from the agenda: None
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None
4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Motion to approve the minutes of the 11/14/24 meeting Cynthia Browning seconded by Steve McClafferty approved unanimously among members present.
5. NEW BUSINESS
5.1 Technical Assistance discussion: David Cotton kicked off the discussion, introducing the project to the Wastewater Committee. He introduced himself as a person who had previously been a wastewater regulator in 3 states including Vermont, and his colleague Mary who had likewise been a VT wastewater regulator. Michael Mezzacapo joined the discussion to help introduce the program, “Closing America’s Wastewater Access Gap”, which he explained was created to address the fact that less than 1% of federal wastewater funds addressed wastewater needs of small rural municipalities. They noted that this program is offered for free to the 150 accepted towns, with zero accounting town funds beyond staff time involved. They noted that this visit was part one of a site visit trip that included a visit to the school wastewater plant, tour of the town, tour of potential disposal fields, and visits with Otter Creek Engineering and state regulators in Rutland and Montpelier.
The discussion turned to what the group is seeking to gain from this technical assistance. The conversation can be summarized as the fact that the group is looking for help in the gap between the village centers that Otter Creek isn’t working on, including efforts related to the school plant and areas north, south, and between the village centers. The discussion turned to timeline, which Steve expressed with support of the committee that the timeline targets a 2027 bond vote.
The discussion briefly turned to the proposed townwide pumping plan, which TA Zaiac noted he would address at the end in detail. The group noted that this program would be pivotal to the success of any bond vote. Conversation briefly turned to septic field life extension methods/technologies including graywater diversion.
5.2 Village wastewater check-in: No updates, pending regulatory review
5.3 Townwide pumping discussion: TA Zaiac quickly summarized his research on municipal hauling programs. He related that research found Montpelier’s haulage program is the only such program in the state. Summarizing his discussion with the individual who runs Montpelier’s wastewater system, he noted the utility is wholly integrated with Montpelier’s government, receiving tax dollars, and that the municipality’s program applies to about 300 households in a population of 8000, with them operating the plant. The program offers these households free septic pumping once per 3 years. The same firm has operated it for decades without being rebid. This firm simply sends all bills for pumping of the relevant properties to the town, which covers only the trucking and labor as the municipality accepts all waste itself. He related that collectively this implied any program here would be being created from scratch.
Next meeting set for December 19th at 7 PM, to be canceled if there are no updates from the engineer. Members reserved January 9, 2025 as an alternate date.
5. ADJOURNMENT: Motion to adjourn Matt Bykowski, Seconded by Jamie Paustian, approved. Meeting adjourned at 8:07 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Nick Zaiac