HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-21 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesC,
WATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES.
May 21, 1997
A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:50 P.M. on Wednesday,
May 21, 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, 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
accept the minutes of April 16, 1997 as written.
It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to
accept the minutes of May 1, 1997 as written.
FY98 Budget
Ted McIntire indicated to the Committee that the Department will begin the process of preparing
contracts for the implementation of the FY98 budget. The Department will prepare the
implementation plan and to submit it to the Town Manager, a copy of which will go to the Water
and Sewer Advisory Committee.
Bedrock Well Contract
The Committee is concerned that the Department does not have sufficient availability of staff to
prepare a contract and bid specifications for the development of one or more deep bedrock wells.
Ted stated that it was true that the ongoings at the treatment plant with the construction and the
water quality issues that Peter Tassi and Ted have not had the time to put into the preparation of a
request for proposals for a bedrock well. Peter has completed a draft RFP which needs to be
reviewed. It was suggested that the Town hire a consultant to prepare the RFP and that it be
advertised as possible. Richard Moore submitted a list of consultants that he had found through
the internet that would be interested in either biding on the development of a deep bedrock well or
would provide engineering service to develop a request for proposals.
Water Supply Update
Ted McIntire, Peter Tassi, Paul Williams of Weston & Sampson Engineers, and employees of
Handex representing Cumberland Farms meet with the Department of Environmental Protection
(D.E.P.) on May 20, 1997 to discuss the activation of two additional Town of Reading
production wells. There have been no test results for the past nine months that show any
contamination levels above the drinking water standards and it was decided that pump test would
be performed on the two remaining production wells. On June 3, 1997 well #13 will be activated
and pumped through the treatment for a one month period. Water levels will be measured and
quality testing will be performed during that period. Well #13 will then be deactivated and one
week later well #66-8 will be activated with water level measurements and quality testing
performed from one month. At that time, well #13 will be activated along with well #66-8 and
water level measurements and quality testing will be performed for one month. If conditions are
favorable the Town will continue to operate those two wells and continue monitoring in the spill
site and the production well areas.
Ipswich River Basin
The Committee reviewed a letter received on 5/9/97 from Arleen O'Donnell of D.E.P. regarding
conservation measures requested during low flows of the Ipswich River. It was noted that Town
had already incorporated many of the conservation recommendations including 100% metering of
water users, leak repairs, pricing, enforcement of plumbing codes, providing educational material
to water users, and restrictions on outdoor water use.
Reserve/Emerizency Fund
The Committee discussed preparing an information package for and making a presentation to the
Board of Selectmen regarding the establishment of a stabilization fund for water and for sewer.
The Committee needs to identify problems both present and future that have developed because
the Town had not established such a fund and to identify solutions to address these problems.
The Committee felt that a presentation should be made to the Selectmen in September or October
of 1997 when the budget preparation has begun. Each Committee member should bring ideas
back for the June 1997 meeting for a brainstorming session. It was, also suggested that the
Committee may wish to invite Town Accountant, Richard Foley to a meeting in July.
If was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Stewart Chipman and approve by a vote of 3-0 to
adjourn the meeting at 9:30 PM_