HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-06-17 Water and Sewer Advisory Committee MinutesWATER & SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
July 17,1996
A meeting of the Water & sewer Advisory Committee was held at 7:40 P.M. on Wednesday, July
17, 1996, in the Berger Room, Reading Town Hall, 16 Lowell Street, Reading, MA.
In attendance were Chairman Gail Wood, Secretary Stewart Chipman, Town Manager Peter
Hechenbleikner and DPW Business Admini "'tor David Lee. Also in attendance from other
Town organizations were Ben Nichols an on erry (Town Forest Committee) and Nancy
Eaton (Town Conservation Commission). 6
The Minutes for the June 10, 1996, and June 19, 1996, meetings were each approved as written,
by a vote of 2-0.
Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner reviewed the background of the Town's "Open Space &
Recreation Plan" which had received approval in January, 1996. He followed by stating that its
implementation now required the formation of an administrative structure.
Options under review included formation of a new committee, delegation of the duties to an
existing body and/or establishing a task force which would draw from existing bodies as well as
from the general body of interested residents. Identification of Town staff assignments in support
of the group was also required. Peter was in the process of talking to each of the five (5) existing
bodies (Conservation Commission, Community Planning and Development Commission, Water
& Sewer Advisory Committee, Recreation Committee and Town Forest Committee) identified as
having particular interests in Open Space concerns in order to obtain their ideas and thoughts.
Peter identified his current leaning towards restructuring and enlarging the Town Forest
Committee to create an Open Space and Recreational Facilities Committee. This new committee
would have representation from the existing interested committees as well as general residents.
The discussion noted that the interests of the various groups might be represented by past
members of the groups (appointed by the body itself) rather than a current member. The Board of
Assessors was identified as a possible addition to the "interested parry" list.
This new group would be faced with a large work-load initially, which would be expected to
taper off after about two (2) years. Among the immediate issues was development of an approach
allowing response by the Town to acquisition opportunities within the 120 day response
mandate. Having an approved plan/procedure inplace would be crucial to success. A general
discussion followed, using the known remaining parcels of land in Reading as examples around
which to elaborate the issues.
Peter summarized by focusing the issue around "what mechanism makes sense for an Open
Space Committee?" Points to be considered included: availability of residents and Town staff to
people another committee; great need to provide diversity within the group to ensure view points
are represented; very careful consideration of adding to any work of existing committees - or of
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trying to make Open Space subject to "work sharing" by some body. He also noted that the
question of allowing for "alternates" or proxies on any Open Space Committee was under legal
review, due to question of whether or not such substitute could legally vote or otherwise be parry
to any official action.
Peter asked that the Water & Sewer Advisory committee provide their comments and thoughts
to him by the end of the month.
The establishment of a depreciation fund to provide for certain periodic projects such as water
storage tank repairs was then discussed with the T-nwn Manager. Water and Sewer rate
stabilization was recognized as a primary goal of the depreciation fund. The discussion included
recognition that utility rate variations did not result so much from un-even expenditures as from
uneven funding availability from the Reserve Fund. Peter's view was that the existing Capital
Improvement Plan, coupled with an expanded (loosened) scope within which the existing reserve
fund would operate, should provide any needed flexibility for rate stabilization. He was emphatic
in his view that any movement in the direction of broadening the concept of the reserve fund
MUST be accompanied by a "five year plan" which would show how and why funds were being
used and accumulated.
Peter identified a sewer replacement program as well as a completion of the sewer system
throughout the Town as examples of beneficial long range planning opportunities. He questioned
any residual benefit from more I/I engineering studies.
Stewart Chipman commented on the need to plan ahead for sources of water - both as protection
against contamination threats as well as expansion of available quantities. The new treatment
plant contemplated for FY2001 was discussed, as an opportunity for both yield and treatment
technology improvements.
Peter urged the Committee to research prior studies on the Town's water aquifer, and on potential
for well development. It might require that we hire a consultant to make this search for us in
order to determine whether previously discarded studies might point to opportunities which now
make sense.
Hooking up to MWRA system came under discussion as an increasingly attractive option. Peter
noted that MWRA was committed to system expansion, and Town needed to follow these efforts
and get on board for the future.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 P.M.
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