HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-09-17 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
September 17, 1997
A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:53 P.M. on
Wednesday, September 17, 1997 in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell St.,
Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Secretary Stewart Chipman, Committee
member Richard Moore, Selectperson Sally Hoyt, and DPW Director, Ted McIntire.
Meeting Minutes
It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote
of 3-0 to approve the minutes of August 27, 1997 as written.
North Reading Stream Team
Kim Honetschlager from the North Reading Stream Team stopped in at the meeting to
invite the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee to a walk of the Ipswich River. The
next scheduled walks will be Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 at 1:30
PM.
Water/Sewer Rates
The Committee reviewed the matrix with six communities outlining water and sewer
rates and pertinent information on budgets. One factor which has caused Reading's rate
to increase is the mandatory water conservation program.
Finance Committee
The Water and Sewer Advisory Committee recessed at 8:45 PM to meet with the Finance
Committee and returned to their regular meeting at 10:05 PM. Jim Francis is the liaison
to Public Works from the Finance Committee and all packages and agendas are to be sent
to him.
Water and Sewer Rate Stabilization
STABILIZATION OUTLINE
1. Rates are unstable
2. Stabilization fund
- Basic Concepts
- Variations
- Recommendations
VARIABLES
- j - Weather'
- Water Restrictions & Well availability
- MWRA Rates
- Reserve Fund Transfers
The Matrix developed by Richard should reflect a ten year period.
Gasoline Spill site update
Reading DPW was notified of sampling done in August 1997 at monitoring well MW-11
of benzene level 194 parts per billion. Subsequent retesting on 9/8/97 resulted in a level
of 14.8 parts per billion. The drinking water standard for benzene is 5 parts per billion.
The Department has been in contact with DEP and will be working with them, our
consultants, and Cumberland Farms to develop a sampling and testing program. The
Department had recommended to the Board of Selectmen that they reduce the mandatory
outside water restriction to voluntary restrictions. The Selectmen were scheduled to vote
on this at their meeting on September 9, 1997, however, with the notification on
September 8, 1997 of the elevated benzene levels in WM-11 it was decided that the
existing mandatory water restrictions would remain in effect at this time.
General
The next meeting is scheduled for October 7, 1997 and the agenda will be limited to the
Water/Sewer Stabilization Rate discussion.
Ted will request a meeting with the Board of Selectmen for October 21, 1997 to discuss
Rate Stabilization.
If was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Stewart Chipman and approve by a vote of
3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 11 :05 PM.