HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-04-12 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
April 12, 2006
A meeting of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee (WSSWMAQ was
held at 7:56 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2006, in the Lower Level Conference Room, Reading Town
Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Stephen Crook, Committee members Richard Moore and Steve Oston,
DPW Director Ted McIntire.
Water Supply
Ted McIntire informed the Committee that the Board of Selectmen, at its meeting on April 11, 2006,
voted 3-2 to recommend 100% MWRA water supply. The Board discussed the potential of a Special
Town Meeting on June 12, 2006 which would incorporate one article to hire a consultant to proceed
through the MWRA approval process and also a request for approximately 7.7 million dollars in debt
authorization for buy-in for 100% service. The second article would be to fund the completion of the
water treatment plant design. There was also the potential of a third article to petition the legislature to
exempt the Town of Reading from going through the MEPA process for the MWRA approval. Richard
Moore noted that the Town Manager prepared two versions of the water treatment plant vote at the
library for the Selectmen's package for the meeting of April 11, 2006. One with the votes as tallied, and
one with the votes of the members of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory
Committee excluded. He felt that excluding the votes of the Committee reduces members of the
Committee to non-citizens of the Town, and disenfranchises them. He noted that no other groups were
singled out in his vote tally process. No notes were about members of the Ipswich River Watershed
Association and Reading/North Reading Stream Team that were also present at the meeting. He found
the actions of the Town Manager to be inappropriate and personally insulting. It was moved by Steve
Oston, seconded by Steve Crook and approved by a vote 3-0 to support Mr Moore.
Annual Town Meeting April 2006
The Committee reviewed articles on the Annual Town Meeting Warrant related to Water, Sewer and/or
Storm Water.
Article 4 - It was moved by Steve Oston, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a
vote of 3-0 to recommend the subject matter of Article 4. This Article relates to the use of
monies received from Northrop Grumman and to be used for the installation of new water
meters and radio read equipment.
® Article 6 - This Article identified transfers into or out of the FY2006 Budget. It was
moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote of 3-0 to
recommend the transfers identified in account lines L2 and L4.
® Article 7- This Article deals with the approval of the FY07 - FYI 6 Capital Improvement
Program. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a
vote of 3-0 to recommend the subject matter of Article 7. It was noted the neither the
construction of a new water treatment nor the inclusion of the MWRA buy-in cost have
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been incorporated into this plan and will need to be added at a future time.
m Article 8 - Approval of this Article would establish a Storm Water Utility as an Enterprise
Fund. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote
of 3-0 to approve the subject matter of Article 8.
Minutes - WSAC April 12, 2006
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• Article 1 5 - This Article is for the FY2007 Budget. It was moved by Richard Moore,
seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote 3-0 to approve the FY2007 Budget as
shown on pages 206 - 215 of the Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
• Article 17 - Approval of this Article would appropriate funds to construct sanitary sewer
system and sewer facilities on Franklin Terrace. It was moved by Richard Moore,
seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote 3-0 to recommend the subject matter of
Article 17.
Water Issues
• MWRA Water Service - Service from the MWRA water system will by activated on May 1,
2006. Service will be fed through the 24" water main in Woburn which connects onto our 12"
loop main on West Street.
• Mikh Street Water Main Construction - Construction of temporary mains and the replacement
water main began the week of March 27, 2006. It is expected to be completed by August 1, 2006.
The existing water main will be replaced from the intersection of High and Woburn to the
intersection of High and Lowell Street.
• Auburn Street Water Main - The Department expects to take bids for the construction of the
water main in Auburn Street in June.
• FY07 Rate Mearinzs - The Board of Selectmen has tentatively scheduled May 23, 2006 for its
rate hearing on FY2007 Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rates.
It was moved by Steve Oston, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to adjourn
the meeting 9:15PM.
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Minutes - WSAC April 12, 2006
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