Wellfleet Board of Water Commissioners
Minutes of Meeting of December 1, 2005
Senior Center, Conference Room
Present: Mark Berry, Chairman; Erik Mitchell, Jean Schaefer, Lyn Hiller and Moe Barocas
Also Attending: Helen Miranda Wilson, Selectwoman and former Water Commissioner; Carl Caruso, liaison from Finance Committee
Chairman Mark Berry called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Presentation by Mike Quink
In a question and answer exchange with Mike Quink of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) the Board discussed a wide range of topics that included: the Coles Neck wells, gallons per day pumped, the Master Plan, enforcement thresholds for pumping, compliant and non-compliant wells in town, the distribution system, water tanks, monitoring, water test readings, creating and maintaining a data base of water tests, the economics of the water system, flushing, corrosion control, looping vs. dead-ending systems, hook-up fees, privatization vs. municipal systems, standards for fire suppression and fire hydrants, grants, history of the Wellfleet system, and flushing requirements for tanks. Quink left a number of informational booklets, which will be stored in the mail file cabinet for now. He said he would be willing to return
for further discussion with the BWC at a future date.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
Mark Berry moved to approve the minutes of October 20,2005 as amended; Erik Mitchell seconded; all approved 5-0.
Mitchell moved to approve the amended minutes of November 3, 2005; Berry seconded; all approved 5-0.
Berry moved to approve the minutes of November 17, 2005; Mitchell seconded; all approved 5-0.
Tour of Water Facilities
Mark Berry scheduled a site visit with DPW Director Mark Vincent to the Wellfleet wells and pumping facility for 2 p.m., Wednesday, December 14, 2005.
Annual Report
The Board considered the draft of the Annual Report and made suggested revisions. Jean Schaefer will prepare the second draft for approval at the Dec. 15, 2005 meeting.
Charter Review Revisions
The Board reviewed Charter revisions for Chapter 8, which pertains to the Board of Water Commissioners. Mark Berry moved to change “physical” to “physical operation” to line 2 of 5-7-2(h). Mitchell seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.
Berry motioned to replace the last two lines of 5-7-2(h) with “the Rules and Regulations for all Wellfleet Municipal Water Systems.” Mitchell seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.
The Board discussed 8-8-1’s membership requirements and suggested that the last line read “registered voters in the Town of Wellfleet.”
The suggestion for 8-8-2 was that it read: The Board of Water Commissioners shall exercise all such powers and duties authorized by CMR and its implementing regulations, including but not limited to MGL Chapter 40 and Chapter 41. Duly appointed Water Commissioners under the terms of this charter shall have all the rights, duties and responsibilities prescribed in the MGL for elected Water Commissioners. Additional duties and responsibilities may be prescribed by this charter and bylaws.
The Board reiterated its suggestion to delete 8-8-7. Mark Berry moved to state the reasons for the deletion, “At this point in time the Board of Water Commissioners does not have the budget or expertise to produce a Master Plan, but if it were provided with the means to do this in the future, the Board would be willing to prepare a Master Plan.” Mitchell seconded. The Board approved the motion to give this explanation 5-0.
Committee Secretary Mary Rogers will convey the BWC’s revisions to the Charter Review Chair Ben Gitlow.
Future Meetings
Berry outlined topics for future meetings. These included a survey, maintenance of the current system, learning more from the DPW, meter readings, Rules and Regulations, and hook-up fees (which were discussed again with Carl Caruso and Moe Barocas). The next meeting was scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, December 15, 2005. Jacqueline Wildes-Beebe will make a presentation at that time.
Adjournment
Mark Berry moved to adjourn; Mitchell seconded; all approved 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________ _____________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Mark Berry, Chairman
_____________________ Date
| 
