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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-01-21 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Minutesn WATER, SEWER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES January 21, 2004 A meeting of the Water, Sewer and Storm Water Management Advisory Committee (WSSWMAC) was held at 7:35 PM on Wednesday, January 21, 2004, in the Conference 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, Selectmen Liaison Gail Wood, DPW Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Peter Tassi, and DPW Director Ted McIntire. Minutes It was moved by John Wood, seconded by Steve Oston and approved by a vote of 4-0-1 (Lachmayr in abstention) to accept the minutes of November 19, 2003 as corrected. New Member Chairman Moore welcomed newly appointed member Jennifer Lachmayr to the Committee and asked if she would tell the Committee a little about herself and her history in the Town of Reading. Jennifer and her family moved into the Town of Reading in 1989 and she has two children. She previously served on the Conservation Commission, the Ad Hoc Storm Water Advisory Committee, and has been a Town Meeting Member for a number of years. She is a Professional Engineer and works for an environmental consulting firm - her expertise is in combined sewers and storm water, and she has also worked on water treatment design. The Committee members introduced themselves and welcomed her as a member of the Committee. Water Conservation & Management Program The Committee reviewed the existing program as approved by the Board of Selectmen in April 2003. It was moved by Stephen Crook, seconded by Steven Oston and approved by a vote of 4-1 to recommend the following changes: change the date to March 2004; revise the hours for outdoor water use from 4:00am to 11:00am to 4:00am to 9:00am, the afternoon and evening hours are to remain the same; put in bold the first sentence under the "MOWING" section on the reverse side of the sheet. It was moved by Stephen Crook, seconded by Steven Oston and approved by a vote of 5-0 to recommend the Water Conservation & Management Program to the Board of Selectmen as revised. Ted McIntire will send a letter to the Town Manager outlining these recommendations and requesting the Board of Selectmen approve them for inclusion in the March 2004 water and sewer bill. Chloramines in Drinking Water A Public Meeting was held to discuss the use of chloramines as a secondary disinfectant for drinking water, instead of chlorine. Eight citizens of Reading, including Reading Health Minutes - WSAC January 21, 2004.doc Page 1 of 3 Administrator Jane Fiore, and one Wakefield resident attended the meeting. Peter Tassi, Water Treatment Plant Supervisor, explained the change in regulations of the levels on trihalomethanes in drinking water effective in January 2004. Trihalomethanes are a suspected carcinogen and the maximum allowable level is being reduced from 100 parts per billion to 80 parts per billion. In order for the Town of Reading to meet these new regulations, it is necessary for us to change from the use of chlorine as a second disinfection to the use of ammonia. Notices were sent out to all residents in the Town of Reading and residents in the Town of Wakefield that are served with Reading water. Peter explained that MWRA water contains Chloramines so that there would be no change in the use of a secondary disinfectant if and when the Town of Reading uses the MWRA water. He explained that the issue is with people that are on kidney dialysis machines and people with fish tanks. In addition to notifying the local residents, the Town also sent notices to doctors, hospital, clinics, and pet stores within the area. Peter answered many questions from the Residents in attendance and will follow up on questions that were unable to be answered at the meeting. FY2005 Water Budget and Capital Improvement Program Ted reviewed the FY2005 proposed water operation budget and capital programs, he highlighted the major changes from FY2004 and answered questions of the Committee. He will follow up on why there was a substantial increase in the liability insurance over FY2004. Ted will also provide the Committee the most recent updated Water Capital Improvement Plan. FY2005 Sewer Budget and Capital Improvement Program Ted reviewed the sewer division operation budget and capital program, with the Committee and answered questions of the Committee. He will follow up with the reasoning for the reduction in liability insurance from FY2004. Water Svstem Vulnerability Assessment Program Ted explained that the Department is working with Weston & Sampson Engineers to identify the vulnerability of the Town's water system and develop an emergency response and training plan. The Department is also working closely with the Police, Fire, and Health Departments in the development of the plan. Water Conservation Program The Town continues to work with CDM in implementing the water conservation plan. Within the next few weeks the details of the washing machine, toilet, and irrigation rain sensor rebate program will be finalized. Water Meter Radio Read Program The Town is under contract with Northrup Grumman for the installation of the radio read units. The units are manufactured by a company named RAMAR, which until recently has been unable to supply units that are dependable. RAMAR has committed to change out approximately 400 Minutes - WSAC January 21, 2004.doc Page 2 of 3 units within the next few weeks and replace all other units which were manufactured and installed in Reading prior to October 2002. The Town has not received the same commitment from Northrup Grumman, however, Ted has sent a letter to an official of Northrup Grumman requesting such commitment. Debt Service Selectmen Gail Wood informed the Committee that the Board of Selectmen had discussed the option of putting the Debt Service from water and sewer on the tax rate, thereby reducing the water and sewer rates. One of the issues discussed was how to handle municipal properties and also properties in other communities that we serve with either water and/or sewer. She brought this up because it may be an issue that the Board of Selectmen would like the Water, Sewer & Storm Water Management Advisory Committee to review and make a recommendation to them at a later date. General Stephen Crook indicated that he has not completed the letter to former Committee member Robert Salter, but would be working on it in the near future. Due to school vacations and availability of Committee members the WSSWMAC will meet on February 4, 2004. The main discussion at that meeting will be the Storm Water Management Program and the budget development. Ted McIntire will request that Town Engineer Joseph Delaney attend that meeting. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Steven Oston and approved by a vote 5-0 to adjourn the meeting at 10:03 PM. Minutes - WSAC January 21, 2004.doc Page 3 of 3