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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-19 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesRECEIVED R 1- 4, D IHG1, CLERK WATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTE M March 19, 1997 A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 19, 1997 in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell St., Reading, MA. In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Secretary Stewart Chipman, and DPW Director, Ted McIntire. Meeting Minutes It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote of 2-0-0 to approve the minutes of January 15, 1997 as written. Water and Sewer Rates The Committee discussed the projected rates as recommended at the February 19, 1997 meeting which will result in a 25% increase in rates. It was noted by Ted McIntire that although there is an increase in the operating budgets there is a substantial reduction in the available funds to be transferred from the Water and Sewer Reserve/Emergency Funds. The Committee identified the fact that if a depreciation fund had been established in previous years the result of having to do major capital improvements would not effect rate increase to the level that will 'be experienced in FY98. Water Quality Update The Committee reviewed the memo to Peter Hechenbleikner dated March 18, 1997 which identifies the discussions that staff had with the Town's consulting engineer, Weston & Sampson and their sub-consultant Battelle Ocean Sciences. Also attached to the memo were log sheets identifying sample locations and parameters to be tested by Town staff. Stewart Chipman requested a copy of the testing parameters to be performed by Battelle. Ted indicated that the contract with Weston & Sampson is in the amount of $9,900 and the Laboratory costs by Battelle are estimated at $10,000. Open Space Committee Stewart Chipman, WSAC representative to the open space committee, reported that they held their first meeting. They review the charter establishing the committee and are addressing the ten points in the charter. They have identified the following areas to be addressed: 1. Identify the open spaces, both public and private; 2. Identify those properties that should be protect and why (i.e.. uses, protection of water shed); funding; 3. Education. The Open Space Committe Discussed the establishment a Land Bank where property buyers pay an additional percentage over the purchase price. Stewart indicated that real estate transactions in Reading average approximately $75,000,000 per year, and if buyers were required to pay 1% into the land bank fund it would be equal to $750,000 a year. Payment to the fund could also be established on a sliding scale where the percentage paid into the fund could start at 1/2% to possibly a maximum of 2%, depending on the purchase price of the property. Production Well Activation Ted McIntire informed the Committee that he and Peter Tassi will be attending a meeting at the Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday, March 27, 1997 to discuss quality testing results in the monitoring and recovery wells at the gasoline spill site, and the possible activation plan of the production wells. Well Development Ted informed the committee that D.L. Maher was scheduled to go to the West Street site to install one or two 2 1/2" diameter wells as part of a program to determine if the Town could develop a production well in the West Street property, adjacent to Enos Circle, and owned by The Reading Open Land Trust, Inc. Drinking Water Week Beth Kelly, Water Treatment Plant Operator, will be attending a one day seminar this month at the New England Water Works Association Training Center in Milford, MA. The Department will be distributing booklets to schools, the Library and Municipal Buildings with a theme toward water protection and water conservation. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote of 2-0-0 to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 P.M.