Vermont Rural Water is governed by a five-person board of directors composed of representatives from member systems who are elected by the membership to serve three-year terms.
This year, three seats are up for election. A brief description of candidates is provided below. Each member system receives one vote. Non-members and Associate members are not eligible to vote.
Voting is now closed.
Candidates
Margaret Dwyer
System: Winhall-Stratton Fire District
Qualifications
Chief Operator Water and Wastewater Winhall-Stratton Fire District
Owner/Contract Operator Windham Contract Water Services, LLC
Current VRWA Board member
Statement
It has been my pleasure to serve on the Board of Directors of VRWA for three terms. I would be honored to continue to serve and to provide the best training and technical support to our operators and systems in Vermont. I have 33 years in the water and wastewater industry that has provided me with valuable experience and personal connections. I manage an SBR and two lagoons all with indirect discharge disposal systems using sprayfield irrigation. This enables me to represent a non- traditional portion of the industry. I also operate multiple water systems, public and private as part of my contract operations business. In 2019 I went to Washington DC to attend the NRWA Rally as a representative of Vermont and gained valuable insight as to how the Association is funded and how important it is to have the backing of our state representatives. I hope to have your vote and that you allow me to continue to serve you as a member of your Board of Directors.
Rod Lamothe
System: Castleton Meadows
Qualifications
Class 2 Water System Operator for over 20 years
Analytical Laboratory Experience 40 years
BS Environmental Science ( 1975)
Current VRWA Board President
Statement
I am asking for your vote to continue on our Board of Directors. I have been a member of the board for many years and it has been a real honor serving. Vermont Rural Water Association is a tremendous resource for the water and wastewater community. We need to value and protect it. Having served for so many years I believe I have a good foundation to assist the organization and a real desire for our continued success. I have strong relationships both the staff and a good many of our members. I value the efforts that all of you make. Especially in these COVID times which are challenging. This organization has adapted with tremendous energy and innovation. I will do my best to work with everyone in Vermont Rural Water to keep us moving in a positive direction. Thank you!
David R Langsett
Systems: Piper Ridge Condominium and Okemo Trailside Condominium
Qualifications
Board experience working as a community manager with TPW
South Central Vermont located
Dealt with a variety of problems that have plagued systems
Actively researching different options and opportunities to serve water systems
Enjoys being active with VRWA
Statement
Although I don’t have decades of experience with water treatment, I have embraced my experience with it and am interested in actively helping improve the relationship between the State and our operators.
Jon Thornton
System: Bradford Water & Sewer Commission
Qualifications
30 years Wastewater System Operator
16 years Water System Operator
VRWA Board of Directors (2018-present)
NRWA [National Rural Water Association] Board of Directors (2019-present)
Statement
I would appreciate your vote to be re-elected to the VRWA Board of Directors. I have enjoyed my time on the board, and also my appointed position to the NRWA Board of Directors. It is a pleasure to work with the other board members and the staff at VRWA. I feel that my experience is an asset to the board, and that being re-elected would help with continuity as we continue working through these difficult times.
Kevin Thurston
System: Danby-Mount Tabor Fire District 1
Qualifications
US Navy Steam Engineer Water treatment for shipboard power plants (1988-1994)
BSME Univ of RI (2001)
Industrial water treatment (2001 to present)
Danby-Mount Tabor fire district 1 Operator in training (2019)
Statement
I think I have a lot to offer the Vermont Rural Water Association with most of my experience coming from the industrial water treatment industry. I owned my own industrial water treatment company for 5 years.