WMAC Meeting Minutes May 26, 20009
Attendees: David Crosby – Chair, David Hearne, Paul Lauenstein, Rory McGregor – Secretary, April Singleton, Jack Sulik
Guests: Eric Hooper – DPW Superintendent, Nancy Fyler – NepRWA staff and town resident
1. Prior to the WMAC meeting Eric Hooper and Nancy Fyler hosted a presentation at the Selectmen’s meeting at which students from the third grade in the Sharon schools read papers they had composed on the water cycle, Sharon’s water system and water conservation practices.
2. The minutes from the April 23d WMAC meeting were approved as amended.
3. The current slate of officers for the WMAC was nominated for another year and elected: David Crosby – Chair, Len Sekuler – Vice-Chair, Rory McGregor – Secretary.
4. Nancy Fyler provided a handout on Community Outreach Projects for the Sharon Water Conservation Program of 2008-2009. Nancy pointed out that the winning design for the proposed Xeriscape garden at the High School was submitted by Malhar Teli.
Nancy made a number of suggestions for next year’s outreach program. The education initiative in the schools will continue because the curriculum is now in place; Nancy has worked with Varla Smith who is the curriculum coordinator for the elementary schools. The Middle School Improvement project may provide opportunity for focusing on water issues. How to involve the high school students is a continuing challenge since the earth sciences curriculum has been discontinued. The leak detection program, which the DPW has championed, deserves promotion. There will be more public films. Paul Lauenstein suggested that we promote the drought tolerant types of grass to help home owners maintain attractive lawns while using less water.
5. Eli Hauser, Chair of the Sharon Economic and Development Commission, presented information on potential projects in the center of town that will have impact on the Sharon water system. Post Office Square has 63 parcels of land and 45 owners. One proposal is to tear down the 50 apartments behind Bank of America and across from Tedeschi (DiLapa property) and replace with 80 units. Another is to build a pedestrian mall from Mandarin Taste to N. Main St. Sewerage would be required in the center of town to support this development. One possible location to treat the effluent is at Hunter’s Ridge.
The WMAC must find out if the Selectmen want our committee to take on the responsibility of providing technical oversight on sewerage issues. Dave Crosby will review with the selectmen and we will bring this issue up at our next meeting.
6. There was a subcommittee meeting on April 30th attended by Anne Carney, Eric Hooper, Dave Hearne, Paul Lauenstein and Rory McGregor to review pricing for water rates. The transition to quarterly billing effective Jan 1st, 2010, was discussed with the intent of bringing all customers into the same billing cycle at that time. There was thought to have a winter rate (Oct through March) and a summer rate (April through September). Dave Hearne proposed that customers who consume up to the minimum of 7,500 gallons per quarter should pay $22.50 per quarter or $90 per year, up from the current minimum of $30 for usage of up to 15,000 gallons every six months, or $60 per year.
Eric Hooper will provide WMAC members with rate info on proposed water pricing in an interactive spreadsheet so that they can review and experiment with possible billing schemes. Eric will complete the expense picture for the Water Dept so that the budget requirements for future programs have target numbers associated with each. This allows the revenue generated from future pricing to accommodate the anticipated expenses.
7. There is the opportunity to purchase a small parcel of land on Wolomolopog Street adjacent to Well #6 within the 400 foot Zone 1 radius. The town is finding out the current market valuation for the parcel. If reasonable, the purchase will be arranged.
8. Paul Lauenstein will present a proposal at the next meeting for a policy on back flow preventers in in-ground irrigation systems.
9. Copies of the Annual Statistical Report are now available for WMAC members to pick up at the Water Dept. Eric Hooper has the master copy.
10. The next meeting is Thursday, June 18th, 7:30pm at the Community Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Rory McGregor