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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-10-29 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesF r J WATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES October 29, 1997 A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:35 P.M. on Wednesday, October 29, 1997 in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA. In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Secretary Stewart Chipman, Committee Member Richard Moore, Selectperson Sally Hoyt, Finance Committee Liaison Jim Francis and DPW Director Ted McIntire. Meeting Minutes It was moved by Stewart Chipman, and seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to approve the minutes of September 17, 1997 as written. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, and seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to approve the minutes of October 7, 1997 as written. Gasoline Soill Site Update Ted McIntire highlighted three monitoring wells that had tested positively in August and September 1997 and the additional monitoring wells that DEP had required Cumberland Farms to sample and test as a result of the levels of contamination. MW-11 was the only monitoring well that has shown levels exceeding drinking water standards. The most recent round of sampling completed on October 7, 1997 showed no detectable levels of contamination in the three monitoring wells. DEP and the Town of Reading is awaiting a response from Cumberland Farms to the October 3, 1997 letter from DEP which requires Cumberland Farms to add additional monitoring locations, explain the increase in contaminant levels, and outline what should be done to address the increased contaminant levels. Cumberland Farms is required to respond on or before October 31, 1997. It is expected that a meeting of the involved parties will be scheduled for mid-November to review all the data and outline procedures and testing to be undertaken. Water Capital Ted McIntire reviewed the proposed Water Capital Program with the Committee. The Finance Department had requested the use of $150,000 for a computer system upgrade in FY99. The total cost of this project is $350,000, with the total $300,000 coming out of water and sewer. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, and seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to recommend that an amount to be funded by water and sewer that is a percentage of the total based on use by water and by sewer operations. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote 3-0 to delay the trading-in of a dump truck in the amount of $67,000 from FY99 to FY00. November 1997 Town Meeting The Committee reviewed the subsequent Town Meeting Warrant dated November 10, 1997, article 5, regarding the modification of the FY98 budget. Line item M4, Water Capital, includes a amount of $45,000 to replace water mains in King Street and Wakefield Street and recommends the source of funding as coming from the Water Reserve/Emergency Fund. Jim Francis, Finance Committee Liaison, joined the meeting. On a motion by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore it was voted 3-0, to recommend that the $45,000 under line M4 not be included in the FY98 Capital Program and that it be pushed back to FY00. The Committee felt that the projects were not of extreme importance at this time and could be delayed and the Reserve/Emergency Fund should not be reduced at this time pending the decision on establishing a Water and Sewer Rate Stabilization Fund. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote 3-0 to recommend the transfer of $24,500 from the Water Reserve/Emergency Fund to cover a change order at the Water Treatment Plant related to the construction of a holding tank. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote 3-0 to recommend the reduction of $100,352 from the FY98 budget under line N2, Sewer Non-personal expenses due to a reduction in the MWRA assessment to the Town of Reading. Sewer Capital After much discussion, it was moved by Richard Moore to recommend the following: delay the sewer main construction on Mill Street and Short Street in the amount of $275,300 from FY99 to FY00; delay the inflow infiltration project in the amount of $155,400 from FY00 to FY01; move the sewer station rehab in the amount of $30,000 from FY00 to. FY01; and move up the sewer main reconstruction projects on Sweetser Avenue ($16,100), High Street ($47,600) and Pleasant Street ($31,000) from FY00 to FY99. The motion was seconded by Stewart Chipman and approved by a vote 3-0. (It should be noted that the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee, under water and sewer capital, voted to recommend the computer system upgrade be more consistent with the water and sewer use and be reduced accordingly.) Water/Sewer Rate Stabilization Program The Committee discussed the handout provided by Richard Moore and Stewart Chipman. After much discussion it was decided to make minor changes in the overhead panels for the presentation to the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee on Tuesday, November 4, 1997. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Stewart Chipman and approved by a vote 3-0 to recommend the development of a stabilization fund for water as outlined in option 3, which calls for a minimum advance of 2%, a maximum advance of 6%, reduce the reserve by no more than 1/3 and if the stabilization fund grows to more than 50% of the budget, the fund may grow by no more than 1/3 each year. The Committee decided to show only options 2 and 3 in the overhead panel. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Stewart Chipman and approved by a vote 3-0 to recommend that a stabilization fund be established for sewer as outlined in option 3, which calls for a minimum advance of 4%, a maximum advance of 9%, no more than 1/3 of the reserve can - ' be used to reduce rates each year and if the fund grows to more than 50% of the budget, the fund may grow by no more than 1/3 each year. The Committee scheduled a follow-up meeting to discuss the stabilization fund presentation and recommendation for Saturday, November 1, 1997 at 8:00 a.m. at the Louanis Water Treatment Plant, Strout Avenue, Reading, MA. Miscellaneous Richard Moore expressed his concern about the Reading Chronicles report of the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee's meeting with the Finance Committee. He felt that the report did not reflect the discussions which took place at that meeting and would consider drafting a letter to the Editor. Stewart Chipman reported that he has been appointed to a sub-committee to. study the purchase of the Longwood Poultry Farm. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 10:40 p.m.