MINUTES
BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
7:00 p.m.
The meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held at 7:00 pm in the Sharon Town Hall with Chairman William Heitin, Selectman Walter “Joe” Roach and Selectman Richard A. Powell and Town Administrator Benjamin E. Puritz
The meeting was called to order at 7:07 p.m.
hearing for acceptance of einsenhower drive extension
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to open the hearing
Town Engineer Peter O’Cain said that the purpose of the hearing was to allow the abutters to comment on outstanding issues. He said that there would be a second hearing on October 20th. He said that the Planning Board hearing regarding this issue would follow the same process. He provided a punch list to the Board and reviewed several of the issues including installation of lights and a grass strip that needs to be loomed and seeded. He said that he has spoken to the developer who says that he will be able to complete the punch list by the October 20th meeting. Jim Friedman of 31 Eisenhower Drive said he is concerned that the bollard will be hit when the snow is being plowed and that this will cause a power outage. Town Engineer O’Cain said that he had asked N-Star to move the bollard and they didn’t want to. He said he will speak to them about this issue again. Selectman Roach said he is concerned that the items will not be completed in a timely manner. Town Engineer O’Cain said then this item will be voted on at the Annual Town Meeting in May 2010.
VOTED: (Heitin/Roach) Voted unanimously to hold the hearing open until October 20th
DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED WATER RATES EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2010
Chairman Heitin said that the Water Management Advisory Committee has recommended these rates and that the Selectmen will not vote on the rates until the public has the opportunity to comment. Superintendent of Public Works Eric Hooper said that the last water rate increase was in May 2007. Prior to that increases occurred in June 2001, April 1999 and April 1991. He said that in 1991 the Town moved from a flat rate structure to a block structure which resulted in households that used greater amounts of water paying more per gallon.
Superintendent Hooper said that this proposal would increase all the blocks – the lower block being increased $3.00 per thousand gallon and the highest block being increased $12.00 per thousand gallon. He said the other change would be a move to quarterly billing from semi-annual billing. He also said the rates for summer and winter would be different. He said that the average annual water bill in Sharon is $330.00, which is low compared to other communities. He said Sharon ranks 36/43 in Southeastern Massachusetts. There was discussion about the impact of conservation efforts on water revenue. He said that it costs approximately $25.00 per head to cover the operational costs of the Water Department, which is approximately $100.00 per family. He said this is basically the rationale for the minimum fee of $90.00. Chairman Heitin said that the costs are going up between 23% - 50% and even though the actual dollars are not large it is still a big increase. He asked if there had been any thought to phasing in the increase.
Superintendent Hooper reviewed some of the capital projects that are going to be undertaken by the Water Department. He also explained that the change to quarterly billing is being driven by state requirements. David Crosby, Chair of the Water Management Advisory Committee, spoke about the five year capital improvement plan and stated that the rate increase is necessary to pay for these improvements. He said he believes the increase is fair. Paul Lauenstein, Chairman of the Planning Board said that he agrees with Superintendent Hooper and David Crosby. He said operating costs have increased as well for example the cost of potassium chloride has doubled.. He also said in the past five years water usage has decreased by 20%. Superintendent Hooper said in order to implement the increase by January 1, 2010 he needs to get approval by early November. The Board will not vote on the increased rates as they are seeking public comment.
APPROVAL OF MINTUES
VOTED: (Roach/Powell) Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Session Minutes and Executive Session Minutes of September 15, 2009 and September 22, 2009
CONTRACT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MUNICIPAL WELL DEVELOPMENT – NSTAR
Superintendent Hooper said that the Town’s water withdrawl permit is up for renewal and our existing permit is 650 millions gallons per year. Currently we are withdrawing 400 million gallons meaning we are under capacity. He said that a new well would protect us from emergencies such as a spill on the railroad trails. He said if the Town permits the well we have five years to put the well on line. Chairman Heitin said that we should go back to the Water Management Advisory Committee to see where this fits in the plan. Selectman Roach said that the Town has two wells (#2 and #6) that are not fully utilized because they need treatment which is very expensive. He agrees that we should look at the outside connection in case of an emergency but he also would look at the under utilized wells and determine their output if a treatment plant was installed. Chairman Heitin said that new well sites are difficult to permit and if we delay this long enough we may never get it permitted. He added that the Town does have five years to put the well online. David Crosby, Chair of the Water Management Advisory Committee, said that the age of the existing wells is a consideration as a new well will have a longer life.
Superintendent Hooper says this is a multi-step process and he is requesting $60,275 to move forward on the permitting process. David Crosby stated that the Water Management Advisory Committee is unanimous in its support of the Town moving forward. Chairman Heitin said that the Town has not had a new well in 25 years and he is in support as well.
At that point there was discussion about the Town’s need of an outside source for water in case of an emergency. All the Selectmen agree that we need an emergency hook-up and preferably a hoolk up with the MWRA. .
The conversation then returned to the permitting of the potential new well. Selectman Powell said that if the Selectmen authorize the $60,000 they really need to be prepared to go to the next step which will cost $247,000.
Both Chairman Heitin and Selectman Powell stated that the Town needs to proceed with both the emergency hook-up and the new well. Selectman Roach said he is in support of the emergency hook-up but not in support of the new well until there is further costs estimates on the treatment systems for well #2 and well #6.
VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted to approve the first phase for the new well as recommended by Superintendent Eric Hooper and the Water Management Advisory Committee
Heitin: Aye
Powell: Aye
Roach: No
SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
APPROVAL FOR BENEFIT FUNDRAISER, BONFIRE, ETC.. AND BANNER
Selectman Roach explained that there had been a tragic accident that resulted in a citizen of Sharon having life-changing injuries. Friends of the family are requesting approval for a benefit fundraiser that would include a bonfire, cookout, music and raffle at Sharon Memorial Beach at Lake Massapoag on November 7, 2009 with a rain date of November 8th. He said that Chief Mann was in support. Also is a banner request for November 1, 2009 – November 8, 2009 (2nd position).
VOTED: (Heitin/Powell) Voted to approve the benefit for both the scheduled date and the rain date as well as the banner from November 1, 2009 – November 8 2009 (2nd position)
VOTED: (Powell/Roach) Voted unanimously to enter into Executive Session to discuss collective bargaining and real property and at the end thereof to adjourn for the evening.
The Board adjourned at 8:52 P.M.
Heitin: Aye
Roach: Aye
Powell: Aye