Utility district marks strongest annual meeting vote since formation

May 20, 2024  |  By Lisa Scagliotti

Credit the recent school budget revote for the bump, but the Edward Farrar Utility District recently logged its strongest election turnout since it was formed in 2017. 

There was only one candidate per office on the ballot, so no contests to stir up public interest. But 144 voters cast ballots to make it the best-attended election to date. Early ballots were available as local residents voted on the Harwood Unified Union School District budget on and before April 30. Ballots for the water and wastewater district were also available at that time.

The district’s Board of Commissioners held the annual meeting on May 8 in the Steele Community Room at the municipal offices. In addition to the commissioners, 16 people attended the in-person business portion of the annual meeting, although not all were district residents. 

Members of the Sayah family at the Edward Farrar Utility District annual meeting on May 8. Left to right: Julie Motch and Jeff Sayah, daughter and son of former EFUD Commissioner Lawrence “Lefty” Sayah; granddaughter Elizabeth Motch, and P. Howard “Skip” Flanders, chair of the EFUD Board of Commissioners. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti

District Clerk Karen Petrovic reported on the results of the commission election that took place with balloting during the day. A total of 144 ballots were cast, the most in an annual meeting election since the district was formed. A special vote in October 2022 attracted 277 district residents to vote on the sale of 51 South Main Street to Downstreet Housing and Community Development. 

The ballot had elections to fill three seats on the board, none of which were contested. Petrovic reported the results. For one-year terms, Commissioner Natalie Sherman was re-elected with 129 votes; Rick Weston was elected with 118 votes. Commissioner P. Howard “Skip” Flanders was re-elected to a three-year term with 134 votes.

Weston was elected to the board for the first time. He replaces Mark Alberghini who served as an interim commissioner since November after former commissioner Lawrence “Lefty” Sayah passed away in October. The EFUD annual report was dedicated to Sayah and his son Jeff Sayah, daughter Julie Motch and granddaughter Elizabeth Motch attended the annual meeting. The board gave them a signed copy of the report. 

Flanders, who served alongside Sayah on the EFUD board and on the Village Board of Trustees prior to the district’s formation, noted that Sayah was left-handed – the origin of his nickname. In a light-hearted moment in the meeting, Flanders shared a footnote to the transition that both Alberghini and Weston who have succeeded Sayah are also left-handed.  

On a voice vote, the annual compensation for commissioners was approved with no change from the prior year: chairman $1,450; commissioners $1,200 each; clerk/treasurer $1,200. 

Two routine items of business passed on unanimous voice votes authorizing the commissioners to borrow up to $100,000 for up to five years for any unanticipated expenses that may come up in the 2024 budget year. 

Municipal Manager Tom Leitz said that no borrowing was planned. The measure provides approval to cover an emergency expense. Recent borrowing that has taken place has been from the town government at a rate of 3%, Leitz said. 

Scroll over to see election voter totals. Source: Waterbury Village and EFUD election records. Chart by Julia Baliey-Wells

Discussion items 

The meeting included a short overview by Flanders noting staff for both the water and wastewater departments and their certifications listed in the annual report. The aim is for staff to be cross-trained to work in both areas if needed, he said. 

Flanders also reported that the project to build affordable housing at 51 South Main Street has secured the necessary funding and that groundbreaking was expected this fall. Downstreet Housing and Community Development plans to build a three-story 26-unit apartment building on the site where the Waterbury municipal offices were located prior to Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. 

Waterbury Select Board Chair Roger Clapp told the board that Jeff Poitras attended the prior week’s Select Board meeting concerned about $600 in lingering legal fees regarding EFUD’s incorporation of the former Duxbury-Moretown Fire District. The district was dissolved by the state legislature in 2023 to be added to the EFUD system. Letiz said he checked on the issue and found all legal fees had been paid. 

There was some discussion of an upcoming water line project in Waterbury Center that is in preliminary stages and expected to go out to bid in early 2025.  

Regular meeting business 

Prior to the annual meeting convening at 7 p.m., the EFUD board met for its regular monthly meeting which lasted about 30 minutes. 

The board took action on several items including approving a request from the nonprofit Central Vermont Habitat for Humanity to borrow $35,000 as a UDAG loan as part of its plans to open a home goods resale retail store at 149 South Main Street. The funds would be used to purchase a 2022 Ford E350 van for the shop to do pickups and transport inventory. 

The commissioners unanimously approved the loan request for three years at an interest rate of 1%. The EFUD board oversees the municipality’s Urban Development Action Grant low-interest loans for businesses. 

During the annual meeting, the EFUD commissioners said they would consider inviting the Select Board to assign a member to participate in reviewing future loan applications now that the fund is available to businesses in the entire municipality. That change was made several years ago. The funds previously were available only to applicants in the former village of Waterbury.