Matthew Waite

The meeting commenced with an executive session concerning legal counsel consultation. Discussions in the regular session included approval of the minutes, which involved an amendment regarding budget analysis and a suggestion about sharing study costs related to a mayor's request. The financial report highlighted a decrease in water gallon sales by approximately 5.5%, resulting in revenue being about ninety thousand dollars lower than anticipated, despite expenses trending well and cash on hand being $1 million at the end of June. Concerns were raised regarding increased gross payroll despite reduced capital projects, as labor not allocated to capital projects was being charged elsewhere. The board approved the financial report and also ratified the payment of bills. Additionally, the board approved donating $350 from a workers' compensation insurance pool rebate check of $3,685 to sponsor an employee recognition item. New business addressed cost apportionment for solid waste management contract, noting that the USDA does not enter into three-party agreements and that the trustees do not agree with a 50% cost share for a USDA Gulf Coast contract. The board also discussed changes to accounting policies related to government standards in the audit review.

The meeting addressed the approval of minutes from the regular meeting of January 22nd and a special meeting of January 29th. Financial discussions highlighted strong revenue compared to budget, driven by positive variances in fire protection revenue due to billing timing. Expenses were under budget, primarily due to variances in payroll at the UV treatment plant related to vacant positions being filled. Cash on hand was reported as sufficient. Project updates covered water main leaks attributed to cold weather and ground movement post-earthquake. Discussions also included inspections of private hydrants, addressing frozen services, and updates on City road projects. New business involved approving a motion to move forward with a five-year lease for a new JCB loader, as it offered the most attractive pricing and utilized existing attachments. A significant portion of the meeting involved addressing resident inquiries regarding water fluoridation, including reviewing historical context from 1968 and planning to adopt a statement regarding the process required for residents to potentially stop the practice, noting potential high costs for facility modifications if one entity stops while the other continues. The board also reviewed the need to update the terms and conditions contract with customers, which had not been updated in 10 years, to ensure conformance with current operational practices and state agency rules, especially concerning service trip fees.

The meeting agenda was adjusted to prioritize an executive session. Following the executive session, the board unanimously approved the minutes from the regular meeting of December 16th and the minutes from a special joint meeting. The financial report indicated that water gallons sold in 2020 were nearly 1% lower than 2019, expenses were below budget by $111,000, and year-end cash on hand was $1.3 million, with capital spending significantly below the original budget due to pandemic impacts. Discussions involved clarifications regarding bill payments to the City of Lewiston for shared SCADA technician expenses. The activity report noted 19 water breaks for the year, a decrease from the previous year, and outlined plans to conduct a capital improvement study for the distribution system, incorporating maintenance records and customer data. Water quality was reported as good, with the lake surface mostly frozen over, which limits algae growth. Furthermore, the board discussed COVID-19 protocols, the prioritization of water/sewer utilities for vaccinations (1B category), and addressed a single positive COVID-19 case among staff. Project updates included planning for the 2021 construction season, involving two miles of pipe replacement, and discussion surrounding growth in the Merrell Road area, including the creation of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district.

The Trustee Workshop, noted as an open session, focused primarily on discussing the Superintendent's goals for 2020, derived from the recent evaluation process. Trustees reviewed priorities established during a June 5th workshop, noting that financial matters, including cost-sharing and financing future pipe replacements, were high priorities. Discussions also covered policy and procedures, water protection, pipe replacement progress, and filtration system studies. A significant portion of the conversation involved structuring the Superintendent's goals to align with organizational priorities, emphasizing the need for measurable and attainable objectives, particularly concerning business operations like billing, accounts receivable, and inventory management. Additionally, the importance of communication, including utilizing the district website as a repository for studies and ensuring consistency between social media and the website, was discussed.

The regular meeting included a review of the November 2025 minutes. Key financial discussions centered on revenues remaining slightly over budget and expenses under budget, attributed partly to training revenue and a capacity development grant. The transition to the new utility billing software, Munis, presented temporary reporting kinks, requiring data retrieval from the prior billing service. Old business focused on an amended parking agreement for the property at 487 Court Street, specifically addressing language regarding an existing fence, with discussion on the implications of allowing the fence, potential precedent setting, associated legal costs, and the location of underground infrastructure. New business involved the adoption of the 2026 schedule for Trustee meetings, which are set for the third Wednesday following the third Tuesday of each month, and an invitation for Trustees to submit agenda items for the following year, along with a commitment to revisit and set 2026 goals in January.