HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-03 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
March 3, 1999
A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:50PM on
Wednesday, March 3, 1999 in the Employee Lounge, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell St.,
Reading, Ma.
In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Secretary Stewart Chipman, DPW Business
Supervisor Dave Lee, and DPW Director Ted McIntire. t
Meeting Minutes
It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote or-
0 to approve the minutes of February 17, 1999 as amended.
FY00 Water/Sewer Budgets
The Committee reviewed the FY00 Water and Sewer Budgets as recommended by the
Town Manager. A question arose as to whether the proposed meter reading system is
bondable, and if so how much would be bonded. This would be purchase of technology
and the staff feels that it is bondable. The Committee discussed the benefits of the new
reading system, which would include monthly billing, bills that reflect recent use, more
efficient use of manpower, and ability to address maintenance and upkeep of the
distribution system. Stewart recommended that notices be included in the water and
sewer bill regarding the installation of a radio system with the resultant benefits.
It was noted that there was no change by the Town Manager from the proposed
Department requests for either water or sewer in FY00. In the area of capital there were
no changes in sewer. The following changes in Water Capital were noted: remove
$193,200.00 for filters at the Water Treatment Plant, remove $20,000.00 for Treatment
Plant roof repairs, $30,000.00 for well building roof repairs is being phased $15,000.00 in
FY00 and $15,000.00 in FY01, and the computer system upgrade was reduced from
$8,000.00 to $6,000.00. Ted noted that the review of the Capital Improvement Plan does
not allow feedback from departments as is the case in the operating budgets.
The sewer operating budget increases from FY99 to FY00 by 10.7%. This is due to
union contract requirements, MWRA assessment, Household Hazardous Waste
Collection, and Funding of the Walkers Brook Drive sewer construction.
FY00 Water/Sewer Rates
The Committee reviewed the rate package developed by Dave Lee. The proposed sewer
rate is $5.37 per one hundred cubic feet, an increase of 7.2%. The proposed water rate is
$3.41 per one hundred cubic feet, and increase of 0.6%. The total proposed increase of
water and sewer over FY99 is 4.9%. The estimated consumption used in developing the
Stabilization Fund
The Committee noted that now is the time to establish a stabilization fund in water, as
there is an balance of $566,000.00. The Committee also felt that this would have been an
opportune time to use money from a sewer stabilization fund, if it had been established.
The existing balance in the sewer reserve is $173,000.00, which is below the Selectmen's
guideline of $200,000.00.
It was moved by Gail Wood to transfer $300,000.00 from the water reserve fund to a new
"General Stabilization Fund" the motion was seconded by Stewart Chipman. This would
be used as seed money for this fund. The motion was approved by a vote of 2-0.
Ted McIntire noted that if there were no second water meters in the system the sewer rate
would be $5.25 per one hundred cubic feet.
It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote of 2-
0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:45PM.