HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-10-11 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
October 11, 2006
Rr-DL1V D
TOW CLERK
R ADIING, MASS
122 DEC - 8 P 3;
A meeting of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee `
(WSSWMAC) was held at 7:38PM on Wednesday, October 11, 2006, in the Berger Room,
Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Steve Oston, Committee members Stephen Crook, Richard Moore
and Michael McIntyre, Finance Committee liaison David Greenfield, DPW Director Ted McIntire,
and resident Tod Jacobs.
Meeting Minutes
It was moved by Mike McIntyre, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to
approve the minutes of September 13, 2006 as amended.
Steve Crook joined the meeting at 7:41PM.
2°a Water Meters .
Tod Jacobs thanked the Committee for including this discussion on the agenda and handed out a
two page paper outlining his feelings on 2nd water meter (attached). Ted McIntire explained his
recollection of the reasons the Board of Selectmen changed their policy on 2°d water meters. One
of the primary reasons was the fact allowing 2nd water meters that get billed only water actually
shifts a portion of the charge for sewer usage to non-second water meter accounts. The other was
that billing only water usage for 2nd water meters does not promote water conservation. Chairman
Oston indicated that he felt the Committee had 2 options at this time: 1. vote a recommendation to
the Board of Selectmen tonight, or 2. evaluate alternatives and keep the discussion open. Mike
McIntyre felt that the Committee should discuss the issue of 2nd water meters.
It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Mike McIntyre and approved by a vote of 4-0 to
reopen the issue of 2nd water meters taking into account of the changes that have occurred with the
Town's water supply.
Water Rates
Steve Oston requested that Ted post a meeting for October 24, 2006 prior to the Board of
Selectmen rate hearing on that evening in order to discuss the Committees recommendation on the
water rate to be effective with the December 10, 2006 billing.
Ted handed out a package prepared by Finance Director Bob LeLacheur which identified different
options for use of water reserve funds over a three year period and the resulting projected water
rates. The Committee had previously voted to recommend the use of an additional $300,000 in
FY2007 and similar amounts in FY2008 and FY2009 from the Water Reserve Fund.
It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Steve Crook and approved by a vote of 4-0 to
recommend a water rate of $6.49 per one hundred cubic feet effective with the December 10, 2006
billing, a minimum bill of $12.98 and that $300,000 be used from the Water Reserve Fund.
Minutes - WSAC October 11, 2006
Page I of 2
The Committee feels that the Water Reserve Fund is less likely to increase under the MWRA
water supply option. When the Town was producing its own water there were potentially two
methods of increasing the reserve fund. One would be any unexpended funds in the Water Budget
that would go back to the reserve fund and the second was, during periods of increased demand,
the plant would produce additional water during the regular work day by increasing the flows from
the wells into the treatment plant at only an incremental cost to produce the additional water. The
revenue generated from that additional water demand would be billed to the consumer at the going
rate per one hundred cubic feet. Now that we are purchasing MWRA water, if there is any
increase in demand, the Town pays a flat rate for that additional use at the full cost per million
gallons. Regarding the use $300,000 from the Water Reserve Fund, the Committee felt that there
is a need to maintain a healthy reserve fund at this time due to the fact that there will be future
capital improvements necessary for additional piping and disinfection equipment after the Water
Treatment Plant is demolished.
MWRA Control Valve
• Bids for the construction will be taken on October 18, 2006. The estimated cost is
$375,000.
• MWRA water service - it is expected that the DEP Commissioner will sign the MEPA
Certificate today which will allow us to be supplied with 100% MWRA water until final
approval is received from the necessary state agencies.
It was moved by Steve Crook, seconded by Mike McIntyre and approved by a vote of 4-0 to
adjourn the meeting at 9:30PM.
Minutes - WSAC October 11, 2006
Page 2 of 2
