HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-01-14 Board of Public Works Minutes January 14, 1981
Meeting of the Board of Public Works convened in Room 16,
Municipal Building at 7 :30 P . M.
Present were Chairman Cowell , Secretary Wood, Board Members
DeHart , Fallon , Barker and Superintendent Louanis.
Chairman Cowell reported he had contacted the Chairman of
the Finance Committee and invited them to attend a review of the
Public Works ' equipment at the Public Works Garage at 181 John
Street on January 17, 1981 at 10 :15 A. M. subject to weather con-
ditions.
The Chairman read a memorandum from the Selectmen' s Office
requesting information for the cost of special items mandated
by state or federal laws. The Superintendent was instructed to
prepare a letter responding to the request.
The Chairman asked the Superintendent to make his presenta-
tion regarding water rates. The Superintendent reviewed the four
options presented to the Board in the written information and also
pointed out that a further option had been considered which could
consider changing the rates yearly but this option had no improve-
ments over the four options already proposed. The Superintendnet
recommended that Option Two be adopted setting the water rates at
$1.50 per hundred cubic feet with a ten percent discount at forty-
five days. The Superintendent pointed out this option covered the
temporary bonding for the engineering expense, bonding for the
treatment plant expansion and bonding for exploring and develop-
ing additional supply, with the additional option that the water
billing could be accomplished on a quarterly basis rather than on
a semi annual basis which is now being used. Considerable dis-
cussion ensued relative to the need for an increase and the
different options and it was pointed out that the increase of
rates would not be necessary if it was not for the fact that the
water treatment plant had to be updated to meet state and federal
standards. Members of the Board were concerned about the effect
of quarterly billing on the Tax Collector' s Office and it was suggested
the decision on the water rates be postponed until the 19th. It
was moved, seconded that the Board express an interest in quarterly
billing. The motion lost 2:2: 1. It was moved, seconded and voted
5:0:0 to increase the water rates to $1.50 per hundred cubic
feet. It was moved, seconded and voted 5:0:0 to go to quarterly
billing effective July 1, 1981. It was moved , seconded and
voted 5:0:0 to establish a ten percent discount thirty days from
the billing date . The Superintendent proposed to the Board the
present minimum bill of $10.00 semi annually be increased as it
had not been considered for some time in previous rate increases.
After considerable discussion , it was moved the minimum bill
should be $15.00 semi annually and it was seconded . Mr. Cowell
suggested an amendment of $12.25 - it was seconded. Mr. DeHart '.
amended the motion to read $10.00 minimum bill and it was
seconded. The Chairman announced he would poll the Board on the
amendments from the lowest to the highest.
$10.00 - minimum - the vote 1 :4:0 - amendment lost
$12.25 - minimum - the vote 1 :4:0 - amendment lost
$15 .00 - minimum - the vote 4:1 - the motion carried. -
The next item discussed was the service pipe renewal charge .
The Superintendent pointed out that the present policy was to
renew water services from the main to the house for a fee of
$3.50 a lineal foot from the water stop to the house . The De-
partment is proposing to the Board that this charge be revised
to charge for the actual time, labor and material and to include
the installation of an outside reader where none existed and the
cost will be for all work performed from main to house. After
considerable discussion, it was moved , seconded and voted 5:0
to charge for water service renewals with the actual time, labor
and material and include the installation of an outside meter
reader where none existed , the cost would be for all work performed
from main to stop .and no house will be refused the water renewal
service because of the lack of outside meter readers.
The Superintendent proposed to change the policy of repairing
water services. At the present time, repairs for water services
are free of charge except for replacement of the shut off valve .
The new proposal would charge for all repairs to the water ser-
vice for actual time , labor and material . After considerable dis-
cussion, it was moved and seconded to charge for water service
pipe repairs on an actual time , labor and material basis . This was EI
t
Minutes - continued January 14, 1981
amended and seconded to allow each homeowner one repair free of
charge . The vote on the amendment was 1:4 - it lost . The vote
on the main motion was 1 :4 - it lost also.
The Superintendent proposed a change in water service con-
struction charges for actual time , labor and materials including
the meter , outside readers and equipment and an entrance fee of
$100 .00 . The present policy is to charge for actual time, labor
and material and equipment and the entrance fee is $75.00. After
considerable discussion, it was moved , seconded and voted to
charge for water service construction for actual material, labor
outside reader and equipment with an entrance fee of $100.00 -
it was voted 5:0.
The Superintendent proposed a change in the water turn on
charges to $10.00 for water turn an only at the homeowners re-
quest. The present policy is to charge for turn on and turn off
at $10.00 each. After discussion, it was moved , seconded to charge
for water turn on at $10.00 for water turn on only at the owners
request. The vote 1:4 - motion lost.
The Superintendent proposed a change in the water turn off
and meter removal recommending a removal charge of $15.00 and
replacement charge of $15.00. It was moved , seconded and voted
4: 1 to charge for water turn off and meter removal at $15.00 and
replacement at $15.00.
The Superintendent proposed that the sewer rates be changed
to eighty cents per hundred cubic feet with a ten percent discount
in thirty days from billing date to track the water billing date.
The Superintendent pointed out this would cover the maintenance
cost of running the sewer system and the M. D. C. charge for pump-
ing. It was moved , seconded and voted 4:1 to increase the sewer rental
rate to eighty cents a hundred cubic feet with a ten percent dis-
count following the water billing date effective July 1, 1981.
The Superintendent proposed the sewer lateral charge be changed
to actual time, labor and material as installed . The present method
provides for the average cost per lineal foot plus a formula that
equalizes the length of the lateral within the street. This new
charge would be used only when the Town was installing a lateral
when a street was being reconstructed . It was moved, seconded
and voted to establish a sewer lateral charge based on actual
time , labor and material as installed . The vote was 5:0.
The Superintendent proposed a change in the cesspool pumper
charge to an annual fee of $50.00 per permit and a minimum charge
of $1.60 per 500 gallons, and a charge for larger vehicles to be
for the full rated capacity at $1.60 for 500 gallons . The Super-
intendent pointed out that the present permit system cells for a
license and no charge is being made for dumping the effluent. It
was moved, seconded and voted 5:0:0 to charge cesspool pumpers an
annual fee of $50.00 for each vehicle and a minimum charge of
$1 .60 per 500 gallons and a charge for larger vehicles will be
for the full rated capacity at a rate of $1.60 for 500 gallons.
Meeting adjourned at 10:45 P .M.
Rea ctfully—submitted ,
ecretary