TOWN CENTER SEWER ACTION GROUP
A Sub-Committee of The Harvard Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes Friday, August 15, 2008
Meeting called to order @ 8:30AM at Hapgood Room
Attendees: Chris Ashley, Wade Holtzman, Pat Jennings and Joe Sudol. Tim Clark arrived after the meeting started. Also present: Loren Johnson, Paul Willard
Old business
Sudol moved, Jennings seconded that the Minutes for meeting of 7/25 be approved. Unanimous.
New Business
Ashley had a schedule conflict for 8/29. The meeting was rescheduled for Thursday 8/28 at 8:30 am. Ashley was to schedule and post the meeting.
Discussion
Holtzman reviewed an e-mail discussion with Jack Purdy providing background information to the group.
Ashley provided an update on Hildreth House senior housing developments. Ashley provided Jennings with a broadcast e-mail letter of support for ’08 ATM Article 14 with contact names and e-mail addresses and will forward this e-mail for development of e-mail contact lists.
The group asked if Bromfield House was tied into the school’s system. This remains to be determined.
Sudol has not yet completed needs/status analysis update. He pointed out that from a use standpoint most of the contemplated sewer district is within the Historic District. Ashley pointed to matching available capacity with near term flow usage as best way to preclude unintended, unfriendly development made possible by sewer construction. However, 40B trumps everything but health and safety issues.
Clark described three possible sewer district options
1) Municipal only
2) Home rule district
3) Standard district
Holtzman will look at developments in alternative waste water treatment technologies to see how new technologies might impact sewer needs
Johnson asked if the engineer working on waste water treatment plant modifications will “sign-off” on the plan providing some guarantee that the plant will meet its discharge permit requirements. He also asked if the driver behind sewer system development wasn’t ultimately to accommodate changes in use for municipal, residential and commercial buildings in the center rather than meeting current needs.
Holtzman asked about the criteria for gravity system design in the 2005 plans versus pressure system. His investigations suggested that pressure systems had lower costs due to smaller pipe sizes, less concern for ground water intrusion and a shifting of cost to the property owner to install and maintain the required grinder pumps.
Ashley replied that this was a question for Norfolk Ram to provide the group an understanding of the design trade-offs.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 AM
Minutes recorded and submitted by Chris Ashley – Chair, TCSAG
Minutes approved 8/28/2008
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