ARLINGTON WATER DEPARTMENT COMMISSIONERS
MINUTES OF MEETING of October 27, 2025
Commissioners in Attendance: Matt Bykowski, Glenn Sherman Jamie Paustian, and Karen Krulikowski
Commissioners Absent: Dan Harvey
Also in Attendance: Chief WD Operator, Josh Brace, and Janet Barry, via Zoom.
The meeting was called to order by Ms. Bykowski at 7:44PM
Agenda Additions or Deletions: Mr. Sherman made a motion to add the dispensing of the minutes. Mr. Paustian seconded. Motion carried.
Public Comments: None
Minutes of Recent Meetings: Mr. Sherman made a motion to accept the minutes, as presented, for July 28, 2025, and special WD meeting of August 4, 2025. Mr. Paustian seconded the motion. Motion carried, with Mr. Harvey absent.
Report of the Chief Operator: Mr. Brace said he sent another 30 day late payment notice with accounts that had recently reached a higher balance amount and only four didn’t respond and will go to the next steps. Out of the 35 accounts over 120 days late, 23 are on payment plans and two are estates. The over 60 day accounts are at zero, and over 90 days are down significantly. Mr. Bykowski congratulated Mr. Brace for the great job he is doing to collect payments. Mr. Brace said $7,500 has been collected in just a month’s time. Mr. Bykowski will help with the on boarding of the collection company that was discussed at the previous meeting. The interest rate charged on late payments will be reviewed to see if it is set appropriately, so going forward it could offset the contingency cost of the 3rd party billing company.
Mr. Brace said a lien had been placed on a property in hopes of collecting back payments when it is sold.
Mr. Brace said he had finished a Battenkill Lane project with a main shut off and leak fixed. He informed the Commissioners of lead line replacement that will need to be done by next year to be in compliance. So far no grants have been received, and it will cost approximately $274,000. He will check into other avenues for financing.
He has also been working on a grant for a generator and permanent heat source for the pump house.
2026 Budget Preparation: Mr. Brace showed the Commissioners some preliminary figures for next year’s budget he had started to work on. Some meters are still not working and will need replacement. He added money for the increase in fuel, vehicle maintenance, and sample testing. He said the Lion’s Club has offered to donate $500 to the Town annually for the testing of the swimming area. He said chlorine costs have increased and electricity budget line needs to be increased, as well as increasing the line for operator training, memberships, and water quality reports. Having automated chlorine monitoring was discussed, so the operator would only have to go in person once per day, and would receive alerts the rest of the time.
It was agreed the Town is lucky to have Mr. Brace, with all the hard work and improvements he has accomplished.
All Other Business: None
Mr. Paustian made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Sherman seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:22PM
Minutes taken by Janet Barry