Wellfleet Finance Committee
Minutes of Meeting of July 24, 2008
Senior Center Long Pond Room, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Chair Patricia Foley, Berta Bruinooge, Arlene Kirsch, Sylvia Smith, John Makely, Dennis Murphy, Dan Wexman
Absent: Mac Hay, Robert Kelly
Water Commissioners Present: Emily Beebe, Moe Barocas, Celeste Makely, Julia Willecke
Also Attending: Town Accountant Marilyn Crary, Town Administrator Paul Sieloff, Selectman Dale Donovan, Selectman Jerry Houk, DPW Director Mark Vincent, Board of Health Chair Richard Willecke, EPG Engineer Paul Gabriel, Fire Chief Daniel Silverman
Chair Patricia Foley called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Transfers
Town Accountant Marilyn Crary explained the end of the Fiscal Year 2008 transfer spreadsheet and requested FinCom’s concurrence with the Selectmen’s approval of the figures.
Bruinooge moved to concur with BOS approved transfers. John Makely seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.
There was a transfer request of $20,210.52 for legal bills in Fiscal Year 08. Crary said it would be proper to transfer it from the Fiscal Year 08 Reserve Fund. Bruinooge said she understood that the deadline for 08 transfers had passed. Crary explained that the transfer to cover legal expenses for FY08 and could still be done.
Makely moved to approve the transfer of $20,210.52 from the Reserve Fund to Legal Expenses 151. Smith seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
Water
Chair Foley explained why the Finance Committee had become interested in the Water System. John Makely asked a series of basic questions which the Water Commissioners answered in sequence dealing with fire protection, hookups, failed systems, benefits to businesses and homeowners, nitrates, salinity, high VOC’s, a plentiful supply of good water, alternatives to pipes and wells, the aquifer and the quality of water for the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.
FinCom directed the discussion to financial concerns. John Makely distributed material on estimated cost to taxpayers. His cost estimations did not take into consideration any money from grants. Obtaining a 30-year Farmer’s Loan or establishing an Enterprise fund would be other possible ways to approach financing. Water Commissioners said that the hook-up fees and hydrant fees were also expected to help defray the overall cost. All numbers at this time are hypothetical. Chair Foley had researched back to 2003 to find that Environmental Partners Group (EPG) had so far received $750,000 from the Town. Paul Gabriel of EPG verified this amount.
DPW Director Mark Vincent was asked to discuss his view of the system. He outlined the main reasons he considers expansion important: support of the Central District and the improved service that a tank and loop would provide. He mentioned the possibility of a smaller loop. The great amount of flushing that is currently done would not be necessary if the line were extended beyond Mayo Beach, he said.
The presence of lead at the Boy Scout Camp was discussed. The soil has been excavated and the lead removed. It will not reach the groundwater. Mark Vincent said the area would be discontinued as a firing range.
John Makely asked if the Master Plan was still a current document. Paul Gabriel of EPG said the steps and rationale remain in place. The costs need to be upgraded. Kirsch requested that the number upgrades be given to FinCom.
Ben Gitlow, who had submitted a study on wastewater, was invited to express his concerns about the water system. He had concerns about the extent of need for the water system, rising sea level which is not addressed in the Master Plan, MEPA review, and the gallons per day to be withdrawn from the Boy Scout Camp well site. He also asked about equitable allocation of costs and use of betterments.
Barocas discussed the Water Commissioners’ reluctance to go to a complete betterment fee. He said betterments are only betterments if you sell the property. Hydrant fees are real betterments, however. Barocas said around 700 homes would benefit from hydrant protection.
Health Agent Hillary Greenberg had submitted her letter of support for the water system and material regarding nitrates. Included was a map of Wellfleet Center depicting various nitrate levels.
Fire Chief Daniel Silverman, speaking on behalf of the Fire Department, discussed how important a working fire hydrant system along the mains would be. He discussed preserving the character of downtown. A loss of property is a loss of taxes, according to Silverman. There are indirect benefits of shuttling water in a tanker that draws quickly from a hydrant as well as the direct benefit of being in close range of a hydrant, Silverman said.
Steve Gazzano, Hugh Guilderson and Selectman Jerry Houk all expressed their concerns which included costs, filter systems, zoning bylaws, federal grants, and wastewater management. Jerry Houk hoped that the Selectmen could set up a meeting with the Board of Water Commissioners. Foley said the purpose of the current meeting was to start a dialogue between boards.
Paul Gabriel discussed the highly pure water from the two well sites in Wellfleet. He said the water is buffered so that it does not corrode pipes. Chlorination is only required if there is an incident of contamination, he said.
Before the close of the discussion, Selectman Dale Donovan expressed his concerns on DEP involvement; Dennis Murphy asked about redundancy; and Richard Willecke spoke on the costs of not being on the water system.
Other Business
~ Kirsch introduced a free magazine called Small Flows, which she recommended to FinCom.
~ Foley will bring a report on Legal Expenses to the August meeting
~ A memo from the Assistant Town Administrator regarding Vacant Town-owned property was distributed for consideration at the next meeting.
Minutes of 6/19/08
Makely moved to approve the minutes of June 19, 2008. Smith seconded, and the motion carried x-0.
Adjournment
Bruinooge moved to adjourn. Smith seconded, and the motion carried 7-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________ _______________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Patricia Foley, Chair
__________________ (Date)
Finance Committee approved these minutes at the meeting held 9/18/08.
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