With some funding changes coming up, the Montpelier Village Council decided to change the distribution of its income tax revenues.
The council approved a change in the income tax distribution from 55 percent for operating expenses and 45 percent for capital improvements to a 70-30 split at its Oct. 24 meeting. The move will help the general fund amid some cuts in state aid.
The council also approved the door hanger-termination schedule for unpaid water and electric bills. The village’s goal is to keep bills current and it will work with customers who have not defaulted on previous extensions.
The schedule is as follows: bills are generally due on the 15th of the month, except when that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Then it will be the proceeding Monday.
Delinquent notices will be sent out the day after the due date. Door hangers will be placed about 9-11 days after the delinquent notices are sent.
If a bill remains unpaid and no extension or payment plan has been approved, termination can result around five days after the door hangers are placed. Some months can be as short as two days or as long as six days.
The village charges $75 for non-payment of reconnection for bills less than 30 days and $150 for bills over 30 days.
The schedule can be found at http://www.montpelieroh.net/agenda.html for the Oct. 24 agenda.
Efficiency Smart will be at the Nov. 14 Montpelier Village Council meeting to present their program.
The company helps customers of participating municipal utilities lower their electric bills through energy efficiency, guiding them to savings with financial incentives and expert advice.
The village is continuing to move forward on its research for a solar project, Brooks said.
The village and other communities are partnering together to convert 250 vehicles to propane, Brooks said.
The village continues to install LED lights for its streetlights around town. Council member Dan Willis asked if there is specific number of lights to be replaced each month.
“You can see them popping up at different street corners and it’s really noticeable,” Willis said.
Village Manager Kevin Brooks couldn’t speak to a specific schedule.
“The goal is to have all the streetlights replaced with LEDs at one point,” Brooks said. “I know they are doing them sporadically as the budget allows. You are going to see some at the end of the year.”
Council member Cheir Streicher asked about the fate of green recycling baskets still scattered about town. If anyone sees one they should call the village office, Brooks said.
“We are continuing to work through every report and issue,” Brooks said. “If people have issues and they report them to us at the building, we do work through each one.”
The transition to the new garbage service through ARS is getting smoother, Brooks said. The company has been moving routes around and people are getting new dates, he said.
Brooks said the village anticipated a 4-5-month transition period.
“ARS has done a wonderful job addressing the complaints,” Brooks said. “The calls have quieted down.”
James Pruitt may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com