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WATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES 2005 JUL -8 P 2: 00
April 13, 2005
A meeting of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee (WSSWMAC)
was held at 7:35 PM on Wednesday, April 13, 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, Town Engineer Joseph Delaney, DPW Business Supervisor John Sousa
and DPW Director Ted McIntire.
Storm Water Manaeement Proffram
Joe Delaney indicated that he was working on the annual report to EPA on the status on Reading's
Storm Water Management Program during the last calendar year.
Joe indicated that resident Bill Brown had spoken to him about the fact that he believes that any
assessment to Reading residents under the storm water program would be a tax and not a fee.
Joe will work on identifying a methodology for the May 2005 WSSWMAC meeting. A hearing
should be scheduled for June 2005 and an article should be placed on the November 2005
Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant. Richard Moore has volunteered to attend the Board of
Selectmen Meeting on April 19, 2005 to talk about the Storm Water Management Program.
FY2006 Water and Sewer Rates
John Sousa reviewed the 10 year water and sewer rate plan with the Committee. The combined rates
vary from a high in FY2011 of 11.9% increase to a low of 0.9% increase in FY2015. Richard Moore
pointed out that the water reserve balance in FY2011 is in the range of $575,000 as opposed to the
$146,000 as shown on the sheets. He felt that additional funds may be available to offset the
FY2011 water rate. John has been working with Finance Director Beth Klepeis in developing a
financing plan for all the water system project.
John walked the Committee through the FY2006 water rate projection package and answered
questions as necessary. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by John Wood and approved by
a vote of 4-0 to recommend a water rate of $4.78 per one hundred cubic feet with a minimum bill of
$14.34 effective on September 10, 2005 billing.
It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 4-0 to
recommend a FY2006 sewer rate of $5.78 per one hundred cubic feet with a minimum bill of $17.34
effective on the September 10, 2005 billing.
Water Issues
MWRA Waterworks Membership - Ted informed the Committee that the Water Resources meeting
to discuss Reading's inter-basin transfer was held on April 8, 2005. Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner recommended changes to the Water Resources Commission staff recommendation
Minutes - WSAC April 13, 2005.doc
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to include language that would insure that if Reading purchased the full 219 million gallons from the
MWRA prior to October 31St that it would be able to use the Ipswich River basin water above one
million gallons per day in order to meet the demand of the community. After much discussion the
Water Resources Commission asked all interested parties to provide comments on the WRC staff
recommendations to the Committee prior to the end of April. The next meeting of the Water
Resources Commission is scheduled for May 12, 2005.
Water Treatment Plant - There is a study ongoing to determine the presence of endangered species
in the area of the proposed site of the new water treatment plant. There is a presence of blue spotted
salamanders in the site which could require mitigation in other areas in order to build on that site, or
could effect whether or not the Town could actually build the treatment plant at that site.
West Street Water Main - The completion of the new water main in West Street from Willow Street
to the Wilmington line is expected to be completed by the end of May. The section from Willow
Street to Enos Circle was completed in the fall of 2004. The section of water main to be replaced
from Willow Street to County Road was recently bid. There was a mistake in the low bidders
submittal and will be referred to Town Council as to appropriate award.
Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Article 6 - Approval of Article 6 would transfer monies from the Water Reserve Fund to the
FY2005 budget in order to fund additional costs for the design of the Water Treatment Plant and
provide monies for bidding the construction of the water treatment plant.
It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 4-0.
_ Article 14 - Approval of Article 14 would rescind debt authorization for the construction of the
Summer Avenue water main from Woburn Street to Hopkins Street, up Hopkins Street to Main
Street. The original debt authorization was in the amount of one million dollars the total cost of the
project was $800,000 and this would appropriately rescind the authorization for the unneeded
remaining $200,000.
It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 4-0.
Performance Evaluation - Ted indicated to the Committee that one of the requirements of the yearly
performance Evaluation of Town employees is for Committees to submit an evaluation to the
Liaison Supervisor. In this case the request would be for the WSSWMAC to submit an evaluation
on Ted to the Town Manager. Ted will email the forms to the Committee members.
It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote of 4-0 to adjourn
the meeting at 9:45 PM.
Minutes - WSAC April 13, 2005.doc
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