HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-12 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesOWN CLERK
WATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT' ' _ r .
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
January 12, 2005 lugs i !Y -'o P 4: 12
A meeting of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee (WSSWMAC)
was held at 7:39 PM on Wednesday, January 12, 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, Selectmen liaison Gail Wood, DPW Business Supervisor John Sousa, Town
Engineer Joseph Delaney, Town Accountant Richard Foley, and DPW Director Ted McIntire.
Meeting Minutes
It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 4-0 to approve
the minutes of December 15, 2004 as written.
Water and Sewer Issues
Board of Selectmen: DPW Related Policies - Ted McIntire indicated that the policies approved by
the Board of Selectmen on January 4, 2005 were generally changing the article and section numbers.
There was a change to the water conservation program under section 4.9 where the previous Stage 1
was eliminated, previous Stage 2 was changed to Stage 1 which outlined mandatory water
conservation based on an odd/even address cycle; and the former Stage 3 which is now Stage 2
addresses no outdoor watering.
Water Resources Commission - Ted indicated that the Ipswich River Watershed Association and a
group of citizens have requested that the Water Resources Commission rehear information related to
Reading's interbasin transfer of water through its MWRA water connection. The Water Resources
Commission will be meeting tomorrow, January 13, 2005 and is expected to discuss the request for
rehearing. The Town Manager has written a letter to the secretary of Environmental Affairs and the
Executive Director of the Water Resources Commission indicating that he had received a copy of the
request for rehearing, the Town had spent thousands of dollars to date during this process and was
ready to commit millions of dollars for the benefit of the Ipswich River. He also indicated that if the
Town of Reading needs to spend additional funds to respond to organizations which are dissatisfied
because decisions did not go their way, then the Town of Reading may be in a position where they
have to cut their losses. It was noted that the rehearing request was made after the Water Resources
Commission had approved the interbasin transfer.
Storm Water Management Plan - Joe Delaney distributed a handout identifying issues that needed
to be addressed before the annual town meeting in April 2005. Richard Foley commented on the use
of a flat fee methodology which he indicated was generally used in the western part of the country.
If a flat fee was used for residential it may be difficult to determine what should be used for
commercial properties. He indicated that the impervious area and the lot size consideration may be
more equitable also that the Committee may want to look at fees based on zoning. He feels that a
major issue of discussion will be whether the assessment will be considered a tax as opposed to a
fee, but recommended a methodology that would appear to be equitable. Joe Delaney indicated that
there was a need to update the G.I.S. every three years to include a fly over and base maps at a cost
Minutes - WSACJanuary 12, 2005.doc
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of approximately $200,000. Another option for consideration in the methodology would be based on
land use.
Additional options that were identified would be residential flat fee for 1-3 family units, residential
flat fee for more than 3 family units, flat fee times the number of dwellings, separate commercial
and/or industrial fees. It was noted that the Town of Chicopee has a rate for residential, rate for non-
residential, and a maximum bill. Joe Delaney will work with Town Assessor David Billard on land
use, lot areas, and zoning categories that are available in the computer system now. The assessment
for storm water would be included with the water and sewer bill or it could be a separate bill. The
issue of exempting Municipal properties should also be addressed. At the next meeting, Joe will
work up total costs of the program, including projects that have been identified in the ten year
Capital Improvement Program.
The Committee will review and comment on the sample by-law on discharge and connection to
storm water and discuss the document at the February meeting.
FY2006 Water and Sewer Rates - John Sousa reviewed the draft handout dated January 12, 2005
which included information on the FY2006 budgets, Capital Improvement plans, reserve funds and
preliminary FY2006 rates. John noted that the FY2006 water debt was reduced to $555,000 from
$754,000 due to borrowing schedule changes by Finance Director Beth Klepeis. The MWRA
assessment for sewer is based on the most recent estimate for the MWRA. Included in the sewer
budget is a request for funding for the SCADA system that will be installed at the Water Treatment
Plant. This will allow us to monitor the twelve sewer stations that are located though out the
community.
The Committee requested that the total water and sewer increase each fiscal year be limited to a
maximum to 5.5%. The also requested that John include the water and sewer reserve balances on
the proposed ten year rate spreadsheet.
It was moved by John Wood, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote of 4-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 9:49 PM.
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