MINUTES  -  WMAC MEETING  -  OCTOBER 18, 2007

Attendees: David Crosby - Chair;  David Hearne; Paul Lauenstein; Rory McGregor - Secretary; Len Sekuler; Bob Weeks

Other attendees: Eric Hooper - DPW Superintendent

1.  The minutes for the meeting on August 8th, 2007 were approved as amended.  The minutes for the meeting on September 6th, 2007 were approved.  Copies will posted on the Sharon town website.

2.  Metcalf & Eddy is providing consulting services to the Brickstone project on water planning.  Brickstone is proposing a pressurized bladder tank to store water for the facility.  Eric Hooper will engage a planning consultant to assist the town in scoping the town requirements to support Brickstone as well as related issues in the so-called "High Pressure District" nearby.  Eric's preliminary assessment is that the proposed tank is not large enough to serve the town's broader needs.

3.  Brief discussion was given to the possibility of pumping waste water from the Salvation Army facility to the Middle School and then on to the High School.  The Middle School has an aging septic system; the Salvation Army camp has a combination of septic system and cesspools.

4.  Eric Hooper recommends that we have an outside consultant update the Water Master Plan to account for the 40B Development Projects, other build-out projects, and the establishment of new water sources.  Eric handed out a summary table of Improvements recommended in the last Master Plan and the accomplishments.  Eric will resend to WMAC members the scope of work proposed for the new Master Plan and invite comment.  Timetable to go to bid is January 2008, so this gives us a couple of months to finalize the scope of work. 

4.  Eric Hooper will pursue discussions with Stoughton concerning the proposed Emergency connection to their water system.  Locations under consideration include Chemung Street and Plain Street.

5.  Water meter installation is progressing slowly.  Approximately 200 units have been installed.  WMAC wants to accelerate the project.  Dave Hearne will speak with Chuck Goodman from the Finance Committee to determine possible ways to make this happen.  Eric Hooper will include an accelerated work plan in his capital budget plan for FY 2009, which begins July 1, 2008.

6.  David Crosby will invite the Finance Committee to the next WMAC meeting to review the Capital Projects Plan which Eric Hooper will have ready for discussion.  Dave Hearne wants to review the philosophy of how projects can in general be accelerated when necessary.

7.  Paul Lauenstein will send a CD and pdf file for the Water Bill Insert to Eric Hooper.

8.  David Crosby requested Paul Lauenstein to present a total plan for water Conservation.  This would include the toilet rebate program which Paul has urged the WMAC to endorse.  David wants a "total program" so that priorities can be set.

9.  The Water Dept. will evaluate pumps throughout the Sharon water system for possible energy conservation opportunities.

10.  Eric Hooper announced that the town had been awarded a grant for $44K by the Massachusetts Dept of Environmental Protection to provide education to the Sharon School System on water conservation.

11.  Next meeting will be Thursday, Nov 29th.

Respectfully submitted,

Rory McGregor