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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-15 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES March 15, 1999 A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:47PM on Monday, March 15, 1999 in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell St., Reading, Ma. In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Secretary Stewart Chipman, DPW Director Ted McIntire, and resident Steven Ippolito. Meeting Minutes It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote of 2- 0 to approve the minutes of March 3, 1999 as amended. FY00 Water/Sewer Rates The Committee reviewed the projected rates with a stabilization fund. David Lee prepared the information based on the guidelines for the establishment of a water stabilization fund and a sewer stabilization fund as presented to the Board of Selectmen. The present balance in the Water Enterprise Fund is $566,660.00. The distribution recommended for this amount in FY00 is to maintain $200,000.00 in the Emergency Fund, $300,000.00 in the Capital Fund, $33,000.00 to be used to offset water rates so that the increase does not exceed 8% on the proposed water rate, $33,000.00 to be kept in a general rate stabilization fund. The Committee also recommended $200,000.00 to be added into the Capital Stabilization Fund which represents one-fifth. of the cost to construct a new water storage tank. The Committee discussed the projected expenditures in the FY99 Water Division budget and felt that as a conservative estimate there would be well in excess of $77,000.00 of unexpended monies. On a motion by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood it was approved by a vote of 2-0, to use an additional $77,000.00 from the Reserve Fund to reduce the projected water rate by $0.10 to $3.56 per one hundred cubic feet. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote of 2- 0 to recommend a sewer rate of $5.41 per one hundred cubic feet. This rate was arrived at based on the guidelines for a Sewer Stabilization Fund as presented to the Board of Selectmen. The recommended water and sewer rates as identified above are to be effective on the August 1, 1999 billing with minimum bills being equal 300 cubic feet per quarter. Second Water Meters The Committee Members and Mr. Steve Ippolito-from -Fairchild Drive discussed-the-pros - and cons of second water meters. The Board of Selectmen has scheduled a hearing for April 6, 1999 which the Committee will attend and make a presentation. It was requested that staff investigate the law, which the Town of Winchester has adopted, to transfer a portion of the bonding costs of the MWRA from the Town's water and sewer rate structure into the Town's tax rate. Annual Town Meeting Warrant Article 14 - This article deals with the rental of space for cellular phone antennas on the elevated water storage tank on Auburn Street. It was moved by Gail Wood to recommend the subject matter of Article 14. The motion was seconded by Stewart Chipman and failed by a vote of 0-2. The Committee felt that the location of the antennas is located on a water tower and the income should go toward maintaining the water system. Article 16 - This article is related to the debt authorization for the construction of a sanitary sewer main in Walkers Brook Drive and acceptance of a grant, plus a no interest loan. The project will reduce infiltration into the sanitary sewer system in the area of Walkers Brook Drive. It was moved by Gail Wood to recommend the subject matter of Article 16. The motion was seconded by Stewart Chipman and approved by a vote of 2- 0. Water/Sewer System Revenues The Committee reviewed the revenue sheets developed by David Lee. It appears that, based on three complete billing cycles, the revenues for FY99 may exceed projections. Bedrock Wells Ted Marine of the D.L. Maher Company has recommended eight locations within the Water Treatment Plant/Town Forest area and the Bare Meadow conservation area off of Pearl Street. Stewart Chipman announced that he (and his family) has accepted a job in Seattle, WA and will be resigning from the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee. Stewart indicated that he has thoroughly enjoyed working on the Committee and will surely miss the members and the important work that the Committee has been involved in. Gail Wood, after acknowledging the disappointment, wished Stewart and his family the best of luck in their new endeavor. She thanked him for his dedication, many hours of work and important contributions he brought to the Committee and to the community. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote of 2- 0 to adjourn the meeting at 10:OOPM.