Wellfleet Board of Water Commissioners
Minutes of Meeting of January 19, 2006
Town Hall Hearing Room
Present: Mark Berry, Chair; Lynn Hiller, Erik Mitchell and Jean Schaefer
Excused: Moe Barocas
Chairman Mark Berry called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
Presentation by Paul Gabriel, Environmental Partners
Paul Gabriel discussed a list of topics the Board of Water Commissioners had presented to him prior to the meeting. Mark Berry added the subject of market analysis to the list. Mr. Gabriel agreed to provide updated estimated costs for the multiple stages of the WMWS Master Plan; figures that are now at least two years old. He reviewed the workings of the Water Bank and how it can be used in the future to manage the limited water supply. He also discussed the possible causes of performance erosion.
From the floor, Jacqueline Wildes-Beebe from the Health Care Campus study committee presented the water needs of a future health care campus for Mr. Gabriel’s comment. She informed the Board of Water Commissioners that her committee was stepping back. Instead of going to Annual Town Meeting this April with a proposal for the COA site, they will be looking at other possible locations in town. She agreed to provide to the BWC the water consumption figures for the existing Outer Cape Health Service location and the projected water consumption figures estimated for the proposed Health Care Campus with 8 doctors.
Paul Gabriel discussed flushing at the end of the system, the fire hydrants, backup wells, and the Water Management Act. Jean Schaefer asked about the concept of neighborhood wells. The BWC discussed survey ideas with Mr. Gabriel. Mark Berry requested any market analyses that would provide concrete examples of questions to ask. Mr. Gabriel said that the public needs to become aware and informed about the water system and the survey. He also said water quality and explanatory information might accompany the survey.
Discussion continued and included review of site visit to the Orleans Water Treatment Plant on 1/12/06.
BWC consensus and Paul Gabriel gave permission to Jean Schaefer to ask Mr. Gabriel further questions in the future about the water system and the Master Plan.
SIGNATURES ON LIENS
Prior to this meeting, liens on 6 properties were signed by 3 of the Water Commissioners (Erik Mitchell, Lynn Hiller and Mark Berry) and turned over to Tim Smith, TA.
DEP WELL PERMITS
Upon completion of a DEP review, a summary document listing the major points of the DEP well permits for the Cole’s Neck and Boy Scout Camp wells, will be distributed to the Water Commissioners and any interested persons.
MINUTES OF 1/5/06
Minutes of 1/5/06 BWC meeting were approved, as submitted. Erik Mitchell moved to approve, Lynn Hiller seconded the motion and all agreed. Mark Berry abstained because he was not present at the meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS:
WMWS SUBSCRIBER INQUIRY
Jeanne Woodes, whose property was connected to the WMWS September 2005, wrote a letter to the Water Commissioners, asking “whether the present BWC is planning to review water use and the fee structure with the potential of a rebate program for those that use less water than was projected”. The immediate answer was “yes, the present BWC plans to review water use and the fee structure but not specifically for the single purpose of rebates.” After much discussion, which included questions about what, why and how the prior BWC made their decisions about rates and fees and possible rebates, the Water Commissioners did not feel prepared to make a decision without additional information.
The BWC granted permission to Lynn Hiller & Jean Schaefer to represent the BWC in the acquisition of the information. The required data includes (but is not limited to historical, financial (debt, income, expenses), current water system status (customers, configuration, problems & remedies) and analytical (water usage, capacity, projections, survey, etc.).
Jean Schaefer will send a written response to Ms. Woodes, explaining that the BWC will consider her question as part of their overall review of the WMWS fee and rate structure.
OTHER BUSINESS, Cont’d
Russ Tierney of Whitewater, is currently the licensed operator of the WMWS. He will attend the next meeting of the BWC to discuss his responsibilities and answer questions about the operation of the WMWS.
The WMWS budget is part of the Dept of Public Works budget. The DPW proposed budget for FY 2007 will be presented to the Finance Committee and the Select Board on 1/26/06.
Several members of the Eastham Water Group (Water Resources Advisory Board & Waste Water Management Planning Committee) will attend the 3/16/06 BWC meeting.
A joint meeting with the Wellfleet Board of Health and BWC is scheduled for Wednesday, February 8, 2006, 7 PM at the Wellfleet Senior Center.
Jean Schaefer received the 2003, 2004, 2005 meter readings for the individual subscribers of the WMWS from Jim Dalton, Whitewater IT support.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the BWC is Thursday, February 2, 2006, 5 PM at the Wellfleet Senior Center, 715 0ld King’s Highway.
ADJOURNMENT
Mark Berry moved to adjourn, Erik Mitchell seconded, all approved 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________ _____________________
Jean Schaefer, BWC Secretary Mark Berry, Chairman
_____________________ Date
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