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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-11-20 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesRECEIVED 'fi't}' CLERK READING, MASS. lB 3 WATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES November 20, 1996 A meeting of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:45 P.M. on Wednesday, November 20, 1996 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 or 3-0 to accept the minutes of September 18, 1996 as written. It was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Gail Wood and approved by a vote of 2-0-1 (Stewart Chipman abstained) to approve the minutes of October 16, 1996 as written. Water Budget Ted McIntire reviewed the proposed Fy 98/99 Water Budget. The Budget represents basically the same level of effort as Fy 97 with minor changes in contractual obligations in the area of personal services. Requested additions include a Treatment Plant Operator Grade III, residuals disposal in the amount of $108,000 and a photo copier in the amount of $4,000.The additional Treatment Plant Operator's requested to efficiently staff the laboratory for 40 man hours per week and to increase the maintenance of the facility from 16 man hours to 48 man hours per week. The residuals disposal represents the estimated cost or MWRA charges for sewer usage at the Water Treatment Plant. The funding requested for the photo copier is for a replacement of an existing photo copier machine which is necessary for the operation at the Water Treatment Plant. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to recommend the Water Department Operating Budget as presented by staff. Water Capital The projects presented to the Committee by Ted McIntire represented requests from the Water Distribution Supervisor and the Water Treatment Plant Supervisor. It was noted by Ted that the list was in draft form and that he expected other items to be included in the final project listing. It was the feeling of the Committee that there should be an attempt to fund Capital Programs at an equal level over the 10 year period. The Committee recommended that the water main cleaning and lining program be started after the completion of the repair and the painting of the water storage tanks, and that the equipment replacement budget be set at approximately $50,000 per year. The Committee will re-visit this program at it's next meeting on December 18, 1996. Sewer Budget Ted McIntire reviewed the operating budget of the Sewer Department with the Committee which reflected a similar level of effort as FY 97. The requested funding for the MWRA assessment is based on the quoted amounts from the MWRA. The Committee recommended that in each fiscal year of the commentary sheet the staff should indicate the percentage of the Sewer Budget attributed to the MWRA assessment. It was also recommended by the Committee that the Department develop a maintenance cost accounting for the sewer pumping stations within the system, similar to that which is done for vehicles and heavy equipment. This should be used as a basis to evaluate maintenance versus replacement. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded .by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to recommend the Sewer Operation Budget as proposed by staff. Inflow/Infiltration Richard Moore, who resides at 5 Elm Street, indicated that he experienced a sewer backup into his basement and noted a large quantity of earth worms. He noted that this would indicate that there are locations within the sewer system that allow for infiltration and that a great deal of work in the area of inflow/infiltration needs to be done. Storage Tanks-Space Leasing Richard Moore asked what the revenues generated from leasing space on the water storage tanks for antennas was planned to be used for. Ted indicated that according to Peter Hechenbleikner that he had discussed such items as improvements of the property where the tanks were located, sidewalk and curbing improvements in the neighborhoods where the tanks are located and possibly downtown improvements. Stewart Chipman moved that the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee Chairman draft a letter to the Board of Selectmen suggesting that the revenue received for the leasing of antenna space on Water Enterprise facilities benefit the Enterprise. It was seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0. The cost of maintaining the water storage tanks is increased with the presence of antennas and the Committee felt that the revenue generated from the leasing of this space should be used to offset these maintenance costs. Sewer Betterments The Committee discussed the recent Town Meeting approval for funding for sewer main extensions on Longwood Road, Kelch Road and Elliott Street and the decision to assess sewer betterments in the amount of 30% of the total construction cost. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore that the Chairman of the Water & Sewer Advisory Committee draft a letter to the Board of Selectmen recommending that the sewer betterment be - assessed at a higher than 30% amount with interest at the present borrowing cost, over a 10 year period. The Committee feel that it is unfair to the rate payers to fund the remaining 70%. The motion was approved by a vote of 3-0. Well Development any Ted McIntire informed the Committee that the Town intends to hire D.L. Maher Comp to install two 2 1/2" test wells in the property owned by the Open Land Trust off of West Street in the vicinity of Enos Circle. Staff is attempting to gain access to this property through the Johnson Poultry Farm on West Street. Cemeteries Ted McIntire had a received a request from Cemetery Supervisor Robert Keating to waive the requirement of the Cemetery Division to pay for water useage within it's cemeteries. This request did not include the cemetery staff and equipment storage building located at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Mr. Keating feels that the same policy established for the Parks should be consistent with the cemeteries. At the present time water useage for irrigation purposes in the Parks are metered but not charged for useage. It was moved by Stewart Chipman, seconded by Richard Moore and approved by a vote of 3-0 to establish a consistent policy for all open space areas within the Town and not require the Cemetery Division to pay for water useage related to irrigation of their facilities. Future Agendas "December 18, 1996" Review letter to Board of Selectmen regarding sewer betterment charges Water & Sewer Capital Improvement History (1980 - present) FY 97 - 07 Water/Sewer Capital Program "January 15, 1997" G.E. Update Water Supply Update Well Development Invite DPW liasion Daniel Ensminger "February, 1997" Zone II Delineation it was moved by Richard Moore, seconded by Stewart Chipman and approved by a vote of 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 10:46 P.M.