WMAC MEETING MINUTES – SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

 

Attendees: David Crosby – Chair; David Hearne; Paul Lauenstein; Rory McGregor – Secretary; Jack Sulik; Bob Weeks

 

Others: Eric Hooper – Superintendent, DPW; Paul Millett – Environmental Partners Group; Jeff Hershberger – ESS Group Inc; Nancy Fyler – Neponset River Watershed Assoc

 

  1. The minutes for the August 8th, 2008 meeting were approved.

 

  1. Paul Millett presented information on the proposed emergency hookup to the Norwood water system.  The new pump house that Sharon would have to build is sized to deliver up to 2 MGD (2 million gallons per day).  Estimated cost for the Sharon portion of the project is $1.8 million.  Potential reduction of $375K is possible if connection is made at the new Avalon Bay site.  Eric Hooper has already met informally with the Norwood Water Dept; he will now arrange a formal meeting to pursue this issue.  The expense for Norwood to effect the emergency connection is yet to be determined; this expense would be picked up by Sharon.

 

  1. Paul Millet recapped his analysis presented at an earlier WMAC meeting for the proposed emergency hookup to the Stoughton water system.  Chemung Street is the preferred location.  The pump house would be located in the Violet Circle area.  Estimated cost is $900K.*   Sharon has not yet been successful in pursuing a discussion of this situation with the Stoughton selectmen.

 

*NOTE:  Paul Millet estimated the cost of an emergency connection to Stoughton at either Plain Street or Chemung Street at $745,000 ($550,000 for hardware plus $195,000 for engineering and contingencies, land not included) in a report dated January 2006.  He reported this information at the March 9, 2006 WMAC meeting (see http://www.townofsharon.net/Public_Documents/SharonMA_WaterMgmtMin/Minutesof2006/wmac20060309.htm). 

 

  1. Jeff Hershberger presented an update on the pump tests conducted in the vicinity of Sharon Memorial Park.  The most recent group of test wells had one (Well 3-08 on the ESS Document, Talking Points – Sharon Memorial Park Site) which delivered 15 GPM (gallons per minute) with decent quality.  However, this may  not provide sufficient volume to be of interest for a new well.

 

  1. Jeff Hershberger will compile results of Sharon’s investigation into different potential sites for new wells so that WMAC can decide how best to proceed.  All sites that have been looked at over the past 10 years will be included.

 

  1. There was discussion on whether Sharon might be able to negotiate an arrangement with Sharon Memorial Park for the following.  Sharon  would  provide  treated waste water from the center of town and the MacIntosh Farms residential area in exchange for access to a producing well on their property.  Dave Crosby will discuss this possibility further with Eli Hauser, chair of Sharon’s Economic Development Commission.

 

  1. Paul Lauenstein  read  a document left by Nancy Fyler promoting the upcoming Energy/Water Fair at the Sharon High School on Sunday, Sept 21st.

 

  1. Next WMAC meeting is next Thursday, Sept 18th, at 7:30pm at the Community Center.