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GAVWD DRAFT Meeting Minutes 09.15.26

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Gunstock Acres Village Water District
47 Cherry Valley Road, Gilford NH
Commissioner Meeting September 15, 2026
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Gilford Public Library

DRAFT

Attendees:

Commissioners: Lou Combe, Howard Epstein, Rich Haidul, Brian McCall Absent:
Joe Geraci

Moderator: Bob Binda Treasurer: Todd Maddock Resident Support: Mara
Maddock, Jim Fallon

Call to Order: 6:32 pm

Approval of Minutes

August 18th meeting. Lou Combe motioned to approve, Brian McCall seconded.
Passed unanimously.

September 2™ work session. Lou Combe motioned to approve, Brian McCall
seconded. Passed unanimously.

Public Comment and Questions
There were no members of the public in attendance

Water Operator

e SCADA Data Access: Commissioners need to be trained on the data system.

The computer version is preferred for its comprehensive data and user-
friendly interface. Brian McCall will provide login information, and LRW will
provide a demonstration/training on how to use the system.

¢ Communication Protocol: A text group will be created for LRW to notify
commissioners (Lou, Rich, Howard) about ongoing project/repair work in the
district.

¢ Water Bills Methodology and Meter readings: Ellacoya Bar & Grill and the
Gunstock Inn were discussed and reviewed. Going forward, meter readings

will be recorded quarterly in an Excel sheet to standardize data collection. The

Commissioners will examine billing inconsistencies.
e Leak Repairs: Recent repairs have reduced water usage from 70,000 gallons
to a high of 20,000-25,000 gallons. A 12-13 gallon per minute leak on
Sagamore will be addressed.
e Gate Valve Replacement: LRW plans to replace two old 6-inch gate valves
near the Sagamore pump station, one of which is inoperable. This will require
cutting into the road. The valves are original and approximately 60 years old.


e Foxglove Pressure Zone: A valve change successfully extended the high-
pressure zone. The three affected homes have pressure-reducing valves, and
one resident reported a long-standing issue with air in the water was resolved.

e Invoice Payment: A motion was made by Lou Combe to authorize payment
of a non-routine bill of $52,809.62 after Brian McCall reviews and reconciles it
with the Water Operator LRW. Howard Epstein seconded. Passed
unanimously.

e Water Operator Contract: Richard Haidul and Lou Combe will work with
operator to finalize appendix B of the contract.

e Well Health and Monitoring: Wells 7 and 7A are offline for recovery,
increasing the load on wells 7C and 7D. The group is “flying blind” on well
health and discussed installing a data collection system to monitor water
levels, which would require getting power to the site.

e Well 7 Access: A “stubborn cap” on a well casing has been removed for
access. Safety concerns were raised about the open lid, and it was
recommended to put the cap back on as soon as possible.

Treasurer’s Report:

e Bank Balances: Operating Account $72,224, Money Market $804,936 Capital
Accounts: Maintenance $962,495, Tank Fund: $63,793.

e Financial Statements: Balance sheet, income statement and check detail for
the month was provided.

e Budget: Todd Maddock provided the commissioners with a proposed budget
schedule. Work is underway, with a first draft targeted for commissioner
review at the next meeting and a final version scheduled for public release by
December 15. Capital expenditures are the largest cost component. The
commissioners will develop a plan during work sessions, which Lou Combe
will schedule. The Town Budget Committee will review the budget on January
7, 2027, and the final budget will be approved through a warrant article at the
annual meeting in January.

e Precinct Tax: The board’s attorney advised against eliminating the precinct
tax, as it could negatively impact the ability to secure loans.

e Financial Reporting: Commissioners requested an additional financial report
(last used in 2021) Rich Haidul and Howard Epstein will identify the report and
the exact format.

e Unresolved Paving Issues and payment: A contractor was paid for patch
work but failed to clean up resulting debris. A follow-up by Joe Geraci is
needed to ensure a road repair on Trailview occurs prior to the winter.

System Maintenance, Operations, and Well Health

¢ Pump Station 6 and 7 Strategy: Plans for Pump Station 7, including a
replacement tank project (not expected before 2028), are contingent on the
health of its associated wells.


Geotechnical Studies: A motion was made by Howard Epstein to proceed
with Haley & Aldrich for simultaneous geotechnical work at Pump Stations 6
and 7 for a discounted total under $50,000 to be paid from the current year’s
budget. Seconded by Lou Combe. Passed unanimously.

Loan Application for Pump Station 7: The group will not meet the
September deadline for a loan application due to a lack of required estimates
and an interconnection study. They will target the SRF loan cycle in the first
half of next year.

Power Line to Wells 7C and 7D: A proposal to install a power line from
Jeremy Court to reduce sensor needs and address power losses was tabled
for a future work session as cost and feasibility was not determined.

Water Tank Mixer at Pump Station 1: A mixer, estimated at $17,000
(potentially up to $30,000 with installation), is being considered to prevent ice
capping in the steel tank. A motion to vote was withdrawn, and the decision
was tabled pending a consolidated proposal.

Future Well Site Protection: Geophysical Surveys from ~2005 identifying
prospective well locations were mentioned. A concern was raised that new
construction is occurring on these sites, and the group discussed the need to
protect them.

Pipe Bursting Test: Lou Combe proposed conducting a pipe bursting test on
Barefoot Place this year to evaluate its effectiveness and cost.

Rate Study: A rate study was deemed a low priority for now, as the state
does not require one for systems without universal meters. The group will
seek clarification from the DES before proceeding.

/O Service Agreement: A motion to authorize signing an I/O service
agreement at a rate of $175/hour, locked through 2027 was made by Lou
Combe. Howard Epstein seconded. Passed unanimously.

o Howard Epstein will act as the point of contact for scheduling. Howard
Epstein will provide the 1O contract to Lou Combe for signature. For
emergencies, I/O can be called without a board vote, but requests must
be documented via email.

Overwatch Coordination: A motion was made by Lou Combe to approve
prep work by Kyle (I/O) with Gunstock Acres Village Water District before a
meeting with Overwatch, with a flexible cost ceiling of up to 8 hours of work.
Howard seconded. Passed unanimously.

Status of Wells 7C and 7D Equipment: An update is pending from a contact
named Kyle, who was investigating cellular-based options for the wells.

Meeting adjourned at 8:14 pm