Members Present: Chairman Douglas R. North, V. Chairman Marshall L. Harris, Clerk Stephen C. Lobik
Superintendent: Craig W. Jalbert
Secretary: Dale Barnes-Johnson
Open the Meeting: The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m.
Accept the Minutes: A motion was made by Steve and seconded by Marty to accept the October 22, 2008 and November 5, 2008 meeting minutes. Motion passed unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS:
S.R.F. Project ~ Ely Road Tank/Bethany Road Pump Station/Fern Hill Water Main Project Updates
Authorization was given at the November 24th Special Town Meeting to rehab the steel water tank. The town had authorized the borrowing of $1,800,000, current project costs should finish at approximately $1,500,000. The Fern Hill project will be completed under the budgeted amount; site work and drainage changes at the tank resulted in an additional $35,000 which is within the 5% allowance; Bethany Road is not yet complete but it should finish close to the budgeted amount as there were credits on some items and increases on others. In Jan/2007 the estimated cost to repaint the tank was $235,000 which includes encapsulating the tank to deal with the lead primer. It is expected to have enough money remaining to add the mixing system and address minor repairs to the tank. Craig will
obtain a notarized copy of the town meeting warrant and proceed in getting a separate engineering services contract drafted with Tata & Howard (T& H). The Steel tank could be painted to match the concrete. The software has been installed in the Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) at the Tank, Palmer Road Station, Bethany Road Station and modifications have been done at the Bunyan station, minor tweaks remain to be completed at all locations. Radios and Antenna’s are installed and running perfectly; we now have reliable and consistent tank levels at all of our stations. Craig, Tom and Randy measured the actual water level in the steel tank and the sensor was within 2”, which is terrific. The phone line telemetering has not been cancelled yet (waiting until software is complete). In addition to the cost savings from the missing bill, we will no longer have the summer communication issues caused by the poor line conditions and
weather which consumed many hours of overtime. Changes and additions to the software will include: Start and Stop Delays will be incorporated to allow all pumps in the system to operate at the same tank level set points while preventing them from starting and stopping at exactly the same time. Start and Stop Delays will be individually adjustable at each of the 3 pump stations for its respective pump. Individual communication failure alarms will be provided and added to the alarms for each site.
Start up of the Chemical Feed system is scheduled for Friday. Craig was pleased that Bob Parrott, from New England Instrument Services, who deals with our other systems will be on site to perform the start up.
Special Town Meeting ~ In addition to the tank rehab, the other articles that passed were to transfer $20,000 towards the Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Inspection and Repair Project from the Sewer Enterprise Fund, and a transfer from the Sewer Enterprise Fund of $17,180.07 needed to cover the deficit due for the 4th Quarter Bill for Fiscal 2008.
Budget 2010 ~ Discussion took place with regards to the Towns fiscal crisis and then the departments’ budget situation. Rate adjustments will be necessary to sustain the budget with its level services and minimal contractual wage increases, pensions and insurance requirements. Preliminary Water & Sewer Rates have been established and will require an official vote the next meeting.
Sewer ~ The Budgeted Surplus has been decreased from $27,000 to $15,000, Palmer’s Maintenance of Joint Treatment is a best guess estimate. A rate increase of $40.00 to the yearly $275 residential flat rate per dwelling unit appears to be required.
Water ~ FY2001 budget includes the first SRF Payment, the Commission agreed to decrease the Budgeted Surplus from $55,000 to $10,000. A rate increase of $0.65/m gal to the existing $4.10/m gal looks to be in order.
Sewer Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Program ~ Amethyst recommended a high pressure sewer jetting company out of Wrentham, Ma that has a bigger head which is what is believed to be needed. Craig met with the owner who honestly told Craig because of the winter weather (freezing and wind-chill) for better productivity and efficiency it would be more productive to hold off until the spring. The Commission agreed.
NEW BUSINESS
Water & Sewer Liens ~ Instead of our usual Shut Off Procedure for delinquent accounts, Dot Jenkins, Town Collector has suggested implementing tax liens for prior year unpaid Water and Sewer charges, the Town software has the capability and it has proven extremely successful with prior year Trash delinquencies. Liens appear on the Actual Real Estate bills, mortgage companies and banks automatically make the increases necessary to cover the Real Estate bills. All monies collected still go back to the Water/Sewer Enterprise funds. Craig just wants the Commission to have input on correspondence that will be sent to our customers and review the accounts before the liens take place. The Commission agreed this would save a lot of time, money and manpower. The Board will send a letter.
NEXT MEETING: The next meeting has been set for Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
ADJOURN: At 7:00 p.m., a motion was made by Steve and seconded by Doug to adjourn from open session to go into executive session for the purpose of discussing pending negotiations and not to return to open session. Motion passed unanimously.
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Stephen C. Lobik, Clerk
cc: Selectmen
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