HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-05-10 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
May 10, 2006
A meeting of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee (WSSWMAC) was
- held at 7:40 PM on Wednesday, May 10, 2006, in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell
Street, Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Stephen Crook, Secretary John Wood, Committee members Richard Moore
Steve Oston, and Mike McIntyre, Associate Member Gail Wood, Finance Committee Liaison David
Greenfield, Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Bob LeLacheur, DPW Business Supervisor John
Sousa, and DPW Director Ted McIntire.
FY07 Water and Sewer Rates
John Sousa provided a handout identifying the ten year rate projections. John walked through the
FY2007 preliminary water and sewer rate calculation package. He indicated the consumption is
projected lower than the last few years, from 750,000 HFC to 730,000 HCF. $600,000 will be used from
the sewer reserve fund to offset rates. If that amount were not used, the total increase would be over 25%
over FY2006 rates. The debt service in water has increased significantly in FY2007 which included
many water main projects, the MWRA partial buy-in, and the water treatment plant design. The
proposed sewer rate would generate $200,000 to be put back into the Sewer Reserve Fund. However, the
net effect is expected to be a reduction in the Sewer Reserve Fund of $400,000. John indicated that
Standards and Poore looked favorably to building up the reserve funds on a yearly basis and that was the
objective in returning $200,000 to the Sewer Reserves. John indicated that in order to limit the combined
water and sewer rate in FY2007 to 6%, it would be necessary to use $650,000 in the Water Reserves and
C $700,000 from the Sewer Reserves.
John explained to the Committee that in order to institute a summer rate which would reflect purchase of
MWRA water during the summer months the rate would increase about $2.60 per HFC which he felt
would potentially cause substantial reduction in consumption, resulting in more reserves or much higher
rates. The preliminary rates identified by staff were $5.59 per HCF for water, a 16.9% increase from
FY06 and $6.06 per HCF for sewer, a 4.9% increase over FY06. The combined rate for water and sewer
would be $11.65 per HCF, and increase of 10.3% over FY06.
Bob LeLacheur left the meeting at 8:30PM.
Richard Moore recommended increasing the rate in the first and second quarter when the Town uses the
MWRA water. The Selectmen had previously asked the WSSWMAC to look at summer rates. It was
moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Mike McIntyre and approved by a vote 4-1 to provide a summer
rate and a winter rate to the Board of Selectmen as they had requested.
The next meeting to discuss proposed FY2007 water and sewer rates will be held on May 17, 2006 at
7:30PM.
FY2007 Storm Water Rates
Ted McIntire reviewed the Storm Water Rate package with the Committee. Through the GIS - Kim
Honetschlager was able to calculate all of the impervious areas in Town by land use code. The
information is based on aerial photographs from 1998. All developments and permits will have to be
Minutes - WSAC May 10, 2006
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review from 1998 to the present. The rate does not incorporate any potential abatements. Preliminary
rates-for FY07 would be $37.20 per year for one and two family properties which would cover the 10%
discount and non-collectables. If all non-profits were exempted, the rate would be $42.82. Exempting
Municipal and school properties would result in a rate of $40.83 and exempting churches only would
result in a rate of $37.48. It was moved by Mike McIntyre, seconded by John Wood, and approved by a
vote of 5-0 to recommend a rate of $40.00 per single and 2-family properties. This rate would reflect no
exemptions but would begin funding a Storm Water Reserve Fund and cover potential abatements during
FY2007.
Richard Moore and David Greenfield left the meeting at I O:00PM.
Water Issues
• Water Supply(MWRNWTP) - A special Town Meeting will be held on June 12, 2006 to discuss
the direction of the Town.
• MWRA Hi-ah Intermediate Water Service - Ted McIntire attended a meeting held at the offices
of Fay, Spofford and Thorndike Engineers in Burlington, MA at the request of the MWRA. The
purpose of the meeting was to explain to the communities in the service area, the plans of the
MWRA to address concerns that the have. Those concerns include:
1. Potential failure of a single distribution line from the Gillis pumping station in Stoneham
which serves the approximately 7 communities in this area.
2. The need for additional storage in the service area.
3. Lack of redundancy in the storage area.
Fay, Spofford and Thorndike have been hired by MWRA to review the issues and make
recommendations to the MWRA.
MWRA Water Supply = The Town of Reading started receiving MWRA water on the evening of
April 30, 2006. The only cause of concern that the Town has received is a smell of chlorine in the
water, which is not an issue.
Water System Award - Ted McIntire, Jim Richardson, and Peter Tassi attended an award
ceremony at the State House to receive two awards on behalf of the Town. One award was for
being ranked in the top 5% of medium and large water systems in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and the second award was for the Town's Water Conservation Program.
It was moved by Mike McIntyre, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote of 4-0 to adjourn
the meeting 10:17PM.
Minutes - WSAC May 10, 2006
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