Wellfleet Board of Water Commissioners
Senior Center Conference Room
Thursday, December 6, 2007, 7:00 p.m.
Present: Chairman Mark Berry, Moe Barocas, Emily Beebe, Julia Willecke, Celeste Makely
Chairman Mark Berry called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
EPG Report
Paul Gabriel and Paul Millet of Environmental Partners Group (EPG) began their presentation with the mapped results of the survey with the planned Wellfleet Municipal Water System extension. Paul Millet showed the Boy Scout Camp well site, the plan for a new main out of the Coles Neck Well site, and the basic loop that would be created. Valves and branches can be placed at areas of interest, he said.
Mark Berry asked about the materials planned for the piping system for Stages 3, 4 and 5. Paul Millet said it was cement lined ductile iron, a reliable material, robust on the outside and a long lasting on the inside.
Paul Gabriel said that in the lead testing at the Boy Scout Camp five samples revealed an 850 and 950 concentration of lead that would need to be cleaned up. Further testing should be performed, Gabriel said. Lead rarely leaches far into the ground, Gabriel said, but soil would need to be excavated in a clean-up. Barocas requested updates on this process. A suspension of shooting practice in the area should be enforced to enable the lead remediation. EPG will send their additional lead testing report to Rex Peterson. Paul Millet described the Boy Scout Camp well facility as a small modular building.
Millet said that siting a water tank in the National Seashore Wellfleet-by-the-Sea area is too remote for the system. Beebe asked about Seashore approval of that location. Millet said that EPG’s preferred site was Site A, the location beyond the school ball field. He said that EPG would like to get closure on Site A in order to go forward with planning.
There are 419 abutters to the expanded line created from the Boy Scout Camp and from the Coles Neck Well site, Millet said. If those two well sites did not provide enough capacity, a well at Wellfleet-by-the-Sea would increase the system in later Stages 7 and 8. Beebe discussed the difference between initial rates and hook-up rates at a later time. Gabriel said with three wells there would be adequate water for all who wished to connect to the system.
The cost issue, Millet said, depends upon betterments assigned to those whose property abuts the water main. One option is uniform betterment.
Returning to the tank siting question, Millet wanted to set a time for a decision on the school site. He said the third week of January would be a suitable time for a definite location.
Mark Berry suggested that visualizations from now on should depict a skirted, hydropillar style tank instead of the spheroid style. The Water Commissioners had hoped to have storage space at the base of a hydropillar style tank. Millet said that EPG could get bids for each style tank.
A public hearing is advisable before the tank siting is finalized. The Water Commissioners said they should make their decision before the public hearing, according to Makely. The BWC vote would go to the Selectmen, and then the public hearing would be held.
Berry asked about the types of chemical treatment that the Wellfleet Water System now and what could be expected. Potassium hydroxide is used to get the proper PH level, Paul Gabriel said. Chlorination is used to clean up a system if there is a bacteria contamination. It’s an elective treatment, Paul Gabriel said. Paul Millet said the system would be planned so that the option was available.
Barocas asked about the potential for having a full time, licensed Water Supervisor, instead of using WhiteWater as the licensed water contractor. DPW Head Mark Vincent explained that a licensed operator would have to be dedicated entirely to the water system. Barocas was concerned about an increase in cost for WhiteWater contractors with an increase in the system.
Beebe asked about ozone as an alternative to chlorine as a disinfectant if it became necessary. Millet said chlorine is more efficient in a water system. Beebe discussed a prevalent negative attitude that the public has about chlorine. Millet said the ground water that is pumped out at present is very pure and needs treatment in emergency situations only. A tank has to be drained on occasion, and at that time chlorine is added.
Berry asked about emergency notification. SKADA notification of pump failure, chemical failure and high PH levels are all on the system now. Berry was concerned about notifying the public in case of a system emergency. Millet suggested a reverse 911 could be incorporated into later stages. Paul Gabriel said there has to be a person to initiate such a call. Mark Vincent explained how notification of emergency situations exists now through phone calls and e-mail.
Beebe asked about a next phase of “build-operate,” but Paul Gabriel said they were still working on the planning-design phase. Mark Vincent stated again that whoever is handling the water system should be responsible solely for the operation of the system. There would have to be another person hired for this. There are pros and cons for WhiteWater contracted services and for a full-time Wellfleet person. Barocas wanted to know Mark Vincent’s preference. This should be made known by the time of the Town Meeting at which construction decisions are made. Paul Millet and Paul Gabriel completed their report and left the meeting.
Further Considerations
Mark Berry asked about deviations from the planned Stages 3, 4 and 5. There had been talk of a sub-loop that went down part of Holbrook Ave., for instance. Berry said the Master Plan describes Stages 3, 4 and 5 street by street; that is what was approved for planning at Town Meeting. Specific variations could be presented at Town Meeting before getting approval to continue, the Board said. EPG can provide an estimate per foot for such additions to the water main.
Berry said that the number of initial hook-ups were would affect reversing the 80-20 ratio of Town and user costs.
BWC discussed the purpose of having public hearings. Mark Vincent discussed bringing proposals to Town Meeting. Barocas wanted to set a date for a public hearing on tank siting.
Tank Siting
Berry moved to take a vote on tank siting. Makely seconded. Discussion of Site A at the school centered around the attributes of the location from an engineering point of view. The school/recreation plans for a soccer field can be accommodated if the decision is made now. The motion to make a decision carried 5-0.
Berry moved to choose Site A at Lawrence Rd. for a water tank. Barocas seconded. Mark Vincent expressed his sentiments against siting a tank at Wellfleet-by-the-Sea. From the floor, Peter Karycki expressed his satisfaction with the EPG choice of the Lawrence Rd. site. After further discussion about eliminating other sites, the motion carried 5-0. The Board of Selectmen will be notified by letter of the decision. The School Department and Recreation Dept. will also be notified of the decision and assured that there will be room for a soccer field. A public hearing will be held before April Town Meeting.
Berry still wanted to know about dealing with the National Seashore if the municipal land within the Park was to be utilized. Peterson said conversation usually begins with the Park Superintendent and the Town Administrator, but it often goes to higher level of the National Park Service.
Mark Vincent said that he would keep the BWC updated on a monthly basis. He or the Assistant DPW Director will attend meetings with the BWC.
In January Mark Vincent will give the BWC an annual report on DPW water activities. Mark Vincent was looking for language in Rules and Regulations about transfer of property and the continuation of payment for the water connection.
Minutes of 11/15/07
Berry moved to approve the minutes of November 15, 2007. Barocas seconded. The motion carried 4-0.
Mail
Four Wellfleet Woods residents had sent e-mail messages against locating a water tank at the Coles Neck Well site. The secretary noted that there were four letters and read representative communications from John Burke and Jim & Noreen Speros.
Nick Kanavos, Site Director for the Wellfleeter Condominium Association, had sent a letter requesting a Wellfleeter tie-in to the Town water system. BWC will respond requesting an itemized list of owners by number and by registered voter number. The letter will also explain that there is no capacity at this time but the BWC would appreciate their support in moving forward with water expansion.
In response to an administration notice, The Board reviewed accomplishments of 2007 to include in the Annual Report, which is due in the administrative office by December 21, 2007.
Next Meeting
Agenda items for the next meeting January 3, 2008 include Rules & Regulations revision on transfers of property, planning for April Town Meeting, and the Budget for FY09.
Adjournment
Barocas moved to adjourn. Willecke seconded. The meeting adjourned by consensus at 9:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
_______________________________ __________________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary Mark Berry, Chairman
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Date
These minutes were approved by the Board of Water Commissioners at the 1/17/08 meeting.
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