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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-03-20 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Minutes91 WATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES March 20, 2002 _.i A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:40 PM on Wednesday,_ March 20, 2002, in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, iding, 1MAA 10. r15 ti In attendance were Committee members Steven Oston, Stephen Crook, and Kevin Walsh, Finance Committee Liaison Randy Mason, Town Engineer Joseph Delaney, DPW Business Supervisor David Lee, and DPW Director Ted McIntire. Steven Oston was acting Chairman. Meeting Minutes It was moved by Stephen Crook, seconded by Kevin Walsh and approved by a vote of 3-0 to approve the minutes of February 20, 2002 as written. Inflow/Infiltration Joe Delaney explained inflow and infiltration into the town sanitary sewer system. He indicated that inflow is the single largest problem with surcharging in the system, most recently in March 2001. There was also substantial surcharging following rain events in October 1996 and June 1998. The Town needs to inspect every building in town in order to identify inflow sources into the sanitary sewer system. The Town has hired the consulting firm of CDM to develop a program of removing infiltration and inflow into the sanitary sewer system. In the 1980's, developers were required to remove two gallons of inflow/infiltration from the sanitary sewer system for every one gallon that was being contributed from the development. The Town is planning to make a concerted effort to remove inflow into the system. In order to get the cooperation of residents who may have sump pumps, roof leaders, driveway drains, tied into their sewer service, we are recommending developing an amnesty letter to be mailed to homeowners. We would like to assist them in removing those illegal connections to the sanitary sewer system with no threat of monetary fines. The first step is to have the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee hold a public education session in order to explain the program to the homeowners. Following the public meeting CDM will be performing house to house inspections. The Town will be performing television inspection of the main sewer lines and analyzing the results of those inspections. The next steps to be taken by the Town would involve instituting and I/I reduction fee for developers so that they will be required to pay an amount per gallon to the Town equal to two times the gallons that their development would be discharging to the Town's sanitary sewer system. This money would be accounted for separately in the sewer enterprise fund and its use would be limited to removing inflow and infiltration from the sewer system. The Town would evaluate this pilot program (limited to 1,244 properties) a corrective action plan would be developed to correct the problems identified in the pilot program and a cost estimate developed Minutes - WSAC March 20, 2002.doc Page 1 of 2 to institute the plan. The Town would then implement the corrective action plan. The program would then be applied Town wide. CDM has recommended a removal fee of $4.00 per gallon. This fee is based on costs on Readings Walkers Brook Drive sewer replacement project and other community fees already in existence. Homeowners will need an alternative to existing connections in the sanitary sewer system in order to get rid of their storm water. The Town will look at existing storm water drainage systems that are presently available and also potential of extending existing storm water systems. In order to encourage homeowners to connect to a storm water system, the Town needs to evaluate the option of providing financial assistance to homeowners. CDM has talked to licensed drain layers in Reading and has estimated the average cost of a connection to be $1,000 - $2,000. Ted and Joe will meet with the Town Manager to discuss the proposed programs, related costs, and public meetings. Preliminary FY03 Water and Sewer Rates David Lee provided a water and sewer rate package to the Committee including a discussion of projected revenues, use of water and sewer reserve funds, and the Town Manager approved FY03 water and sewer budgets. The projected FY03 water rate using reserve fund monies is $4.38 per one hundred cubic feet, a 19.5% increase over FY02. The projected sewer rate is $5.21, an increase of 1.2% over FY02. The total water and sewer rate is $9.59 which is an increase of 8.8% over the combined rate of FY02. David indicated that if no water and sewer reserve funds were used, the resultant combined rate would be $10.41, an increase of 18.2% over FY02. The combined rate of $9.59 per one hundred cubic feet assumed using reserve fund transfers equally over a five year period and sewer reserve fund transfers being used equally over a three year period. The Committee requested that the Department identify a scenario which uses water reserve funds over a ten year period. The Water and Sewer Advisory Committee will finalize their recommendations at the next meeting which is scheduled for April 10, 2002. Ted McIntire will try to set up a meeting with Selectmen Matt Cummings possibly by invitation at the next Water and Sewer Advisory Committee meeting. FY03 Water/Sewer Budgets Ted McIntire reviewed the FY03 water and sewer operating and capital budgets as recommended by the Town Manager. There were only minor changes from the Departments requested budget. WSAC Membership Kevin Walsh announced that he would be resigning from the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee. He will submit a letter of resignation at the April 10, 2002 meeting. It was moved by Steve Oston, seconded by Kevin Walsh and approved by a vote of 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:05PM. Minutes - WSAC March 20, 2002.doc Page 2 of 2