HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-11-09 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES - `LL r
November 9, 2005
A meeting of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee (WSSWMAQ
was held at 7:45 PM on Wednesday, November 9, 2005, 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 and Steve Oston, associate member Gail Wood and DPW Director Ted McIntire.
Subsequent Town Meeting - November 2005
The Committee reviewed articles on the November Town Meeting Warrant as follows
);I- Article 5 - Article 5 addresses budget adjustments in fiscal year 2006. Monies have been
requested in the Water Division for water system leak detection, final payment to Stearns &
Wheler, equipment replacement of a meter and flocculation basin, repaving Bancroft Avenue in
the area of the 20" water main, reimbursing Reading Memorial High School project for cost
incurred due to the delay in construction of the 20" water main and monies for the MWRA
waterworks membership. It was moved by John Wood, seconded by Steve Oston and approved
by a vote of 5-0 to recommend a transfer of $252,232 from the water reserve fund under article 5.
➢ Article 7 - Article 7 relates to the proposed storm water enterprise fund. The Board of Selectmen
are recommending that this article be tabled. The Town Manager has sent a letter to Senator Tisei
and Representative Jones requesting their help in determining if an enterprise for this fund
purpose is a fee or a tax. He has also asked the representatives whether the requirement to
perform this work is considered an unfunded mandate. The Board of Selectmen also intend to
bring this article back to Annual Town Meeting in April 2006.
It was moved by John Wood to support the plan and recommend that legal advice be sought on
establishing the enterprise fund. Also that Article 7 be tabled. There was no second.
➢ Article 8 - Article 8 is related to the inflow/infiltration grant/loan from the MWRA that the Town
had received. There was a discrepancy of $835, which needs to be rescinded by the Town.
It was moved by John Wood, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 4-0 to
recommend the subject matter of Article 8.
➢ Article 10 - Article 10 authorizes the Town to borrow up to two million dollars for the purpose of
construction water mains within the Town. The purpose of the article is to avoid having to
request either additional funding for each water main project or transferring unused money from
one water main project to another. An example of that would be the action proposed under
Article 5 for the 20" water main and Article 11 for the Summer Avenue water main.
It was moved by John Wood, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote of 4-0 to recommend
the subject matter of Article 10.
Minutes - WSAC November 9, 2005
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➢ Article 11- Article I I address the balance of over $3000 from the Summer Avenue water main
project which needs to be re-appropriated to the 20" water main project.
It was John Wood, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote of 4-0 to recommend the subject
matter of Article 11.
➢ Article 15 - Article 15 would authorize the purchase of a parcel of land off of Kieran Rd to be
used for open space, water supply, and conservation purposes.
It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by John Wood to recommend the purchase of land
identified under Article 15. The motion was approved 4-0.
It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 4-0 to
recommend that purchase of the property referenced in Article 15 be purchased from free cash.
The reasons for the Committees recommendation is that:
1. the land does not abut any Water Department property;
2. the land is downstream from the Town's production wells;
3. withdrawals from the reserve fund will impact funds to be used to offset water
rates;
4. the Board of Selectmen is considering 100% service.
➢ Article 19 - Article 19 proposes to revise the prohibitive uses in the zoning by-laws under section
4.8.6.2. It would allow underground storage of liquid propane products for normal household use.
It was moved by John Wood, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote of 4-0 to recommend
the subject matter of Article 19.
Water/Sewer Issues - Water Treatment Plant -vs- MWRA
Richard Moore offered some thoughts that he had developed.
➢ Selectmen indicated that they were not surprised at the WSSWMAC's recommendation to
construct a water treatment plant.
➢ What is best for the Town?
➢ What is best for the aquifer?
➢ No water treatment plant would mean no dealing with the Ipswich River Watershed Association,
no dealing with water quality, less harassment from the public, and less involvement with Town
staff. Less problems to deal with in general.
➢ Treatment plant site could be used for alternative purposes.
➢ If cost is not a major issue with the Board of Selectmen, why not pursue the MWRA?
➢ The model developed by Bob LeLacheur has some minor flaws in it.
➢ Cost assumptions would lead you to think that the water treatment plant and MWRA options are
equal
➢ There is a law suit pending that may have a real risk on the Town's ability to purchase water from
the MWRA.
Minutes - WSAC November 9, 2005
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Gail noted that the goals of the WSSWMAC have generally been:
1. supply clean safe drinking water;
2. at the lowest price;
3. in an environmentally appropriate manner.
She noted that it appears that number 2 and 3 have changed places.
Richard noted that one of the risks of the options is that the Town of Reading may lose its
registration. The other issue is that he believes that the Selectmen think that they have already lost
the registration for withdrawal from the Ipswich River Basin.
The Committee requested that a meeting be posted for November 16, 2005 and that Bob LeLacheur
be invited.
It was moved by John Wood, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote of 4-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 10:50 PM
Minutes - WSAC November 9, 2005
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