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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-05-26 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATE)2 & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES May 26, 1998 T i_s A 111: 2 3 A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:50 P.M. on Tuesday, May 26, 1998 in the Conference Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell St., Reading, MA. In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Secretary Stewart Chipman, Committee member Richard Moore, and DPW Director Ted McIntire. Meeting Minutes It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote of 2- 0-1 (Moore abstaining) to accept the minutes of April 14, 1998 as written. Stabilization Fund The Board of Selectmen have scheduled discussion of a stabilization fund for their August 4, 1998 and have requested that the Water and Sewer Advisory draft a policy for their action. They have also requested that the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee meet with Town Accountant Richard Foley, Finance Director Beth Klepeis and Town Council Ted Cohen to advise on the establishment of a stabilization fund. Ted McIntire will invite them to the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee meeting on June 16, 1998. If those individuals are unavailable on that date, the discussion will be postponed until June 25, 1998. Richard Moore is draft the policy for discussion at the appropriate meeting. Water Treatment Plant Feasibility Study The Committee reviewed a memo from Peter Hechenbleikner dated Wednesday, April 22, 1998 regarding the establishment of a steering committee to evaluate."our water supply options". The funding of a feasibility study in FY99 was include in the capital plan and was request to evaluate issues related to the existing water treatment plant. Issues to be addressed would include, but would not be limited to the following: financial, impact on Ipswich River, 21E sites and impact on water supply, safe drinking water act (existing and proposed regulations), treatment plant efficiency, existing water supply, new water supplies (i.e. bedrock wells), alternate water supply, and risks associated with supply options. It was moved by Stewart Chipman to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that a water system evaluation steering committee be established by order of the Board of Selectmen for the purpose of 1. Frame the issues; 2. Develop a request for proposals; 3. Review proposals; and 4. Recommend a consultant to perform the feasibility study. The Committee recommended that the following be appointed as members to the steering committee: one member each from the Finance Committee, Board of Selectmen, Ipswich River Watershed association, Conservation Commission, water treatment plant staff, Director of Public Works, and Town Forest Committee. Also that the three members of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee and two members at large be appointed to the steering committee. The Committee would be made up of a total of twelve members. The motion was seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0. Old/New Business Staff provided the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee with the information outlining the savings benefit of the residual disposal through the MWRA sewer system verses the use of a lagoon and hauling to a waste water treatment plant. To date in calendar year 1998 (to be billed in FY2000) the Towns estimated charges to the MWRA amount to $46,300.00. The estimated cost to truck residuals would have been $164,000.00, the Town saved approximately $118,000.00 through May 15, 1998. Ted explained the extensive pitting on the interior of the Auburn Street Standpipe and the possibility that it may not be used for water storage. The consulting engineers, Stearns and Wheler Inc., are putting together a list of options and estimated cost for each. Through the efforts of Peter Tassi, the Town has applied for a zero percent loan through the State revolving fund. The application was signed by the Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner. The Committee will be discussing an ascending block rate for water and sewer usage during their September 1998 committee meeting. They will review what was previously done and report it to the Board of Selectmen with an updated recommendation. The Committee review a letter from Kim Honetschlager, on behalf of the Reading/North Reading Stream Team, which outlined a number of recommendations for reducing water consumption. It was noted that the letter was addressed to the Board of Selectmen and that a number of the issues outlined have been incorporated in education material supplied to the citizens of the Town. The Committee discussed the preparation of articles for local newspapers related to water issues. Specific topics will be developed at a later date. Meetings have been scheduled for the following dates: June 16, June 25 (if.necessary), and July 15, 1998. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Stewart Chipman and approved by a vote of 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 10:10 PM.