DRAFT
FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES – FEBRUARY 3, 2003
TOWN HALL – 7:30 P.M.
Members present: Tuck, Heitin, Grasfield, Bluestein, Fixler, Gillen, Goodman, Hearne, Sirkin, (Garza). Members absent: Atlas-Gordon, Bergeron, Pietal.
1. Lake Management Committee Chairman C. Towner explained that the purpose of the water restrictions proposed in the Lake Management Committee’s Town Meeting article is to address the problems with the deteriorating lake water quality and quantity by taking less water out of the ground. He estimated that the proposed outdoor watering limitation of one hour a day, two days a week, along with the average rainfall, would allow for twelve inches weekly which he believes sufficient. DPW Superintendent E. Hooper expressed the belief that the wells do not affect the lake. He reported that the institution of an irrigation well program to take the playing fields off well water showed the soils between the well and the lake to be fine sand and salt and thus not to be water bearing. Towner replied that
there were two types of soil, the other being stratified drift. A staff gauge in the pond between the old Sacred Heart School and the lake showed the same drop of twenty-two inches in the water level as the lake. Towner added that with 58 inches of rain last year (the average being 42 inches) the lake dropped 22 inches. In reply to W. Heitin’s comments about the effect of construction dramatically changing the landscape, Towner said the wells are in the center of town with development elsewhere. Water is pumped out of two aquifers and returned to twelve. D. Fixler asked for responses to a document “ Sharon’s Threatened Water Supply”. In answer to Goodman’s questions about the amount of water saved, Hooper replied that the effect would be more on the peaks than the total and that the latest change in restrictions resulted in a peak demand of 2.4 million gallons per day down from 2.6 million previously.
2. Board of Selectmen Chairman A. Garf felt that the Selectmen have managed the water supply adequately. Puritz reported that the preliminary opinion of Town Counsel is that the article is not actionable by Town Meeting. Resident R. Kramer said that Town Meeting could take a vote anyhow. Garf reported Selectmen’s plans to get scientific data and involve other groups including the Conservation Commission and the Lake Management Committee. Puritz believed the issue to be important and complicated and said an initial meeting is planned for March with a mid May timetable.
3. Proponent E. Ruvich distributed copies of 69B from the Board of Public Works Laws Water Commissioner Powers and Duties highlighting an area referring to water rates being reduced proportionally in case of a net surplus remaining after expenses. Proponent R. Kramer explained that a group was concerned that the current water surplus is contrary to law. He explained that the Town Meeting petition article would require a reduction in water rates in form of a rebate of the surplus proportional to each customer. He added that this would give Town Meeting the opportunity to be in compliance with the law and that the surplus would not be rolled over year to year. Consultation with the Secretary of State informed him that a home rule petition to the legislature would be necessary. Garf reported that Town
Counsel had said that rates could be reduced, but not rebated, and is wording the possible recommendations to reduce rates. Garf reported a capital plan to use the surplus. Kramer stated that Town Meeting can take the vote and the state rules on the vote. Resident A. Cheyer suggested water rates should be as high as possible, that there should be more control over individual users and that the surplus should be used to develop new sources. Grasfield said that support of the goal of the article has nothing to do with the rates going forward. Goodman requested written confirmation of the amounts in the surplus and how accumulated.
4. Proponent Ruvich presented an article requesting an independent audit of the Water Department to get a clear and accurate accounting for the last five years. Kramer expressed awareness of questions regarding use of Water Department money. Heitin suggested that the water audit could be that year’s special project within the annual audit. The proponents explained the intent was to use water money rather that tax money. Garf pointed out that there had been no water issues raised by previous audits. Gillen thought two to three years adequate. Goodman explained the concern that expenses might be charged to water that should not be, that the Town is struggling to pay bills while the Water Department is profitable. Grasfield commented that, as the Finance Committee would be given the
authority, the scope of the audit would be up to the Finance Committee to define. Gillen commented that the auditor should be familiar with water departments.
5. Proponent Towner distributed a draft of a proposed motion to a petition article requiring the construction of an emergency 12-inch water connection between Sharon and Stoughton. He said that neither the Selectmen nor Water Advisory Committee had been approached. He stated that the DPW Superintendent initially was in support, then not. The proponents and DPW Superintendent Hooper essentially agreed on the importance of interconnections and that existing connections to Foxboro, Canton, and Stoughton had problems with lower pressure in those towns. Hooper reported that water associations are looking at regional interconnections. Hooper thought the specific nature of the article (saying connections must be at a specific site) needed to be discussed with Stoughton and the MWRA. In answer to Towner’s assurance
that he had talked to the water supervisor in Stoughton and the MWRA, Hooper reported that they had thought the proposal was for fire rather than long-term failure. Bluestein expressed the need to hear other plans. In answer to a question from Sirkin, Towner detailed his $150,000 cost estimate.
6. DPW Superintendent E. Hooper expressed the need for additional water sources and storage. He expressed the inability of the existing network to balance use and too much use of the Hampton road tank. He added that there were no plans for a high pressure service district for the coming fiscal year. He believed that “Rattlesnake Hill” will be developed or purchased before the following Town Meeting, so would no longer be an issue. The consultant thought the current model was not sufficiently accurate for a four million dollar project. He asked for the appropriately hydrologic solution regardless of ownership, dictated by engineering, not political, constraints.
7. Hooper said that the Fiscal Year 2004 water plans include the improvement of distribution system efficiency, replacement of asbestos cement pipe where problems exist, work in anticipation of the North and South Main Street project, and closing of the loop between Pine and South Walpole Street. Heitin reported that the plan had been presented to the Capital Outlay Committee.
8. Kramer thought exploration and well development shortchanged, and that the $100,000 budgeted was not enough. Hooper showed a map with possible areas for wells. Hooper estimated that permitting for a well at the cemetery near Edgehill Road will take at least five years. Conservation Agent G. Meister thought identifying the few remaining options should be a priority.
9. Hooper presented the plan for a radio read meter system which would allow for more control of the system. It would make it easier to comply with the mandate for quarterly billing and also to implement different summer billing. He documented a six or seven year return on the investment. Kramer pointed out that the under reading of meters depends on the age of the meter and thought it inappropriate to replace them all at once. Hooper replied that meters are under read after fifteen to twenty years, that it would be difficult to replace the meters little by little, and that he thought the billing software critical. Bluestein questioned the cost benefit and Goodman though it might be less expensive to pay meter readers.
12. The meeting adjourned at 10:30
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