HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-04-14 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
April 14, 2004
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A meeting of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee (WSSWMAQ
was held at 7:37 PM on Wednesday, April 14, 2004, in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16
Lowell Street, Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Richard Moore, Secretary Stephen Crook, Committee members Steven
Oston, John Wood, and Jennifer Lachmayr, Board of Selectmen Liaison Gail Wood, Town
Accountant Richard Foley, Town Engineer Joseph Delaney, and DPW Director Ted McIntire.
Minutes
It was moved by Steve Oston, seconded by John Wood and approved by a vote of 5-0 to accept the
minutes of March 17, 2003 as amended.
Storm Water Management Funding
Staff informed the Committee that the Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, Town Accountant
Richard Foley, Town Finance Director/Collector Beth Klepeis, Joe and Ted had met during the
week to discuss options for funding the Storm Water Management Program. Richard Foley
indicated that one of the main issues is whether a separate enterprise fund would be considered a fee
or a tax. He also indicated that attaching this enterprise system to the sewer enterprise funding is not
appropriate as sewer enterprise funding was adopted by Town Meeting and was based on sewer use
only. He also recommended that any proposed fee be reviewed by Town Council.
Joe Delaney highlighted sections of handout information regarding fee verses tax. He indicated that
a fee could be based on a residential lot size. One community had charged fees based on lot that
were under 10,000 square feet, 10,000 - 20,000 square feet, over 20,000 square feet, commercial,
multi-family, etc.
Additional comments during the discussion included:
➢ the Committee may want to eliminate some funding options;
➢ need to identify all costs related to the enterprise fund;
the water and sewer enterprise funds were full cost recovery funds as approved by Town
Meeting;
➢ one option would be to phase in the revenues over a number of years;
➢ need to receive authorization by the Board of Selectmen to set rates. Town Manager
recommended that new costs only should be funded by an enterprise system;
➢ would rather see a separate enterprise fund - easier to assess and explain to users.
It was moved by Stephen Crook, seconded by Steven Oston and approved by a vote 5-0 to eliminate
the two options that would use the existing water and sewer enterprise funds to fund the storm water
program.
Minutes - WSAC April 14, 2004.doc
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The Committee thanked Richard Foley for attending the meeting and providing guidelines to the
Committee.
Town Meeting - Storm Water Management Report
Joe Delaney read the report that he had drafted to Town Meeting. The Committee provide
comments and recommended text additions and revisions. Joe will revise as appropriate. The
Committee thanked Joe for providing information and comments on the storm water management
funding and for the preparation of the report to Town Meeting.
Storm Water Management - Internet Searches
Richard Moore handed out two packets of information that he had taken from appropriate web sites,
for Committee review. A third packet which was a survey of storm water utilities by the Maryland
Department of the Environment was also available to Committee members. Ted will have staff mail
a copy to Jennifer Lachmayr.
Water and Sewer Issues
Water Meters - Ted informed the Committee that Town Council Joan Langsam had sent a letter to
Northrup Grumman expressing our disappointment with their commitment to the Town of Reading
on the TranspondIt Units for the radio read system.
Water Conservation Program - We have received approximately 100 applications for rebates for
washing machines, toilets, and/or rain sensors. Change out of toilets, shower heads, urinals and
lavatories will be completed in the municipal buildings and schools by August 15, 2004.
Water Treatment Plant - Staff has approached CDM and requested that they evaluate the possibility
of constructing a new treatment plant within Water Department property. Evaluations will be done
on cost and pros and cons of each option.
20" Water Main - Staff has met with representatives of Stearns and Wheeler and recommended that
revisions in plans and specifications. The plan is to start construction of the remainder of the 20"
water main on July 6, 2004.
12" Water Main at Walkers Brook Drive - There has been no recent action on this project due to
the level of the water at the site.
Water Supply Protection - Staff is developing requests for qualifications to perform a risk
assessment of the Rt. 93 corridor. Selectmen Gail Wood and Camille Anthony, Town Engineer Joe
Delaney, Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Peter Tassi and DPW Director Ted McIntire are on the
review committee for this project.
. It was moved by John Wood, seconded by Stephen Crook and approved by a vote 5-0 to adjourn the
meeting at 9:52 PM.
Minutes - WSACApril 14, 2004.doc
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