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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-03-02 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES - March 2, 2000 - A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:37 P.M. on Thursday, March 2, 2000, in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Rin p ]p In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Secretary Richard Moore, Committee member Gerald MacDonald, Finance Director Elizabeth Klepeis, DPW Administration Supervisor David Lee, and DPW Director Ted McIntire. Also in attendance was Chris Richards from the Reading Advocate. Water/Sewer Billing Options Ted McIntire reviewed the summary of the billing options package and noted that under "Option B" there would be a need for a total of three meter readers. Dave Lee indicated that the last reading software/hardware was in use for eleven years, and we expect the new software to be functional for 10 to 15 years. There is no estimate on the useful life of the software/hardware for the radio read system. David noted that there is now available a portable radio read system that can be used in any vehicle. Richard Moore recommended that the comparable costs be carried over a ten year period. Gerald MacDonald noted that the personnel costs should include benefits. Beth Klepeis indicated that there is a need to bill on the fifteenth of the month so that collections would not be the same as the Real Estate Taxes. That would also help the people on Social Security because they do not get their check until the first or second of the month, and presently they often miss the first of the month payment due to the timing of receiving their check. She also noted that "Option C", Reading and Billing on a Two Month Period, is less disruptive to the users. She also recommended a bill stuffer to address the timeliness of the bill and the attempt to reduce the cost per bill. It was noted that "Option B", Reading and Billing 1/3 of the Town per Month, would cost the average user $5.50 per year. "Option C" is estimated to be $11.00 per year. Beth indicated that she would take a look at the personnel costs for collection under "Option C" this option may not require additional personnel in the Collectors Office. Incremental costs in personnel would also include benefits. It was move by Gerald MacDonald, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that the Town initiate "Option C", Reading and Billing Every Two Months, for water and sewer. The billing schedule under "Option C" would commence on August 1st, then October 15th, then December 15 h, and every two months thereafter. DPW Staff will prepare a revised Water and Sewer Budget for the Town Manager with a cover letter requesting a meeting of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee with the Board of Selectmen to discuss the issue. The Committee also requested that options D & F be removed from. the Water/Sewer Billing Options summary sheet. Meeting Minutes It was moved by Gerald MacDonald, seconded by Richard Moore and approve by a vote of 3-0 to approve the minutes of December 15, 1999 as written. Minutes - WSAC March 2, 2000.doc Page I of 2 FY01 Water/Sewer Rates David Lee presented a rate package based on approved water and sewer budgets. He noted that these rates will need to be revised based on the actions of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee tonight. The information presented to the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee is included in David's memo to Ted McIntire dated 2/11/00 entitled "Preliminary FY2001 Water and Sewer Rates". David indicated that these projected rates reflected a change in the MWRA Sewer assessment, and no use of reserve funds for either water or sewer. He indicated that under the guidelines established by the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee for a stabilization fund, an additional billing of $158,000 would be necessary in sewer because the increase of 2.3% did not meet the minimum increase of 6.5%. That would result in an additional $0.22 to the base rate. The preliminary water rate for FY01 is $3.50 (increase of 2.6%) and $5.42 (increase of 2.3%) for sewer; reflecting a total of $8.92 per one hundred cubic feet a total increase of 2.4%. David noted that the system wide rate increases for the MWRA Communities are 17.5% for water, and 3.6% for sewer. Following discussions of the sewer budget, Richard Moore recommended not to increase the billing by $158,000 for the purpose of adding to the Sewer Reserve/Emergency Fund. Sewer charges from the MWRA appear to have stabilized. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Gerald MacDonald not to move assignment of reserve fund monies between Emergency/General Rate/Capital and to maintain the levels as outlined by David Lee in his 2/11/00 memo. The motions was approved by a vote of 3-0. It was moved by Gerald MacDonald, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to recommend the FY01 rates as identified by staff but to incorporate the additional costs identified under Water and Sewer Billing Option C. FY01 Water/Sewer Budgets Ted explained that the changes recommended by the Town Manager were insignificant compared to the proposed Department budget. General The Water and Sewer Advisory Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed FY01 water and sewer rates on Wednesday, April 12, 2000. Richard Moore would like Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and Board of Selectmen liaison George Hines to attend the hearing on April 12''. The next meeting of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee will be March 15, 2000. Items to be discussed include the Water/Sewer Rate Study, Update on The Distribution Study and the FY01 Water and Sewer Rates. It was moved by Gerald MacDonald, seconded by Richard Moore and approve by a vote of 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:50PM. Minutes - WSACMarch 2, 2000.doc Page 2 of 2