Draft - WMAC Meeting Minutes July 23, 2009
Attendees: David Crosby – Chair, Ann Carney, Paul Lauenstein, Rory McGregor – Secretary, Len Sekuler – Vice Chair, Bob Weeks
Guests: Eric Hooper – DPW Superintendent, Ian Cooke – Exec Director, Neponset River Watershed Assoc (NepRWA), Nancy Fyler – NepRWA Water Conservation Coordinator and town resident, Nancy Hammett – Consultant, Environmental Policy and Management and author of Sharon’s Water Conservation Plan
1. The minutes from the June 18, 2009 meeting were approved as amended.
2. Nancy Hammett presented the final draft of her report: “Water Conservation Plan for the Town of Sharon”. Final comments on the report by WMAC members are due to David Crosby by Thursday, August 6th. He will forward these to Nancy for follow up.
Nancy presented a 6-page document which summarizes the plan and suggested that it be used for public relations initiatives to promote the plan to town residents and businesses. WMAC response was positive. Further discussion is required. Some of the facts and figures need clarification. Nancy Fyler has permission to use the contents of this document for promotional purposes thereafter.
To have long term impact in our water conservation efforts, we need to keep educating the Sharon townspeople, both youth and adults, residents and businesses. In addition, a plan to enlighten residents on the benefits of minimizing lawn watering will provide the largest contribution to additional water conservation efforts. WaterSense will publish standards for lawn watering irrigation systems in the near future. WMAC should consider how to provide home owner training for lawn care, especially first time owners with lawn irrigation systems. Paul Lauenstein added that we could focus on new developments like Hunters Ridge that will not have lawn irrigation systems.
Nancy mentioned a “turf buy-back” program in California that reduces the amount of a resident’s yard requiring irrigation. David Crosby volunteered his property as a potential candidate if we elect to pursue a trial initiative in Sharon and he expressed interest in trying out deep-rooted drought-tolerant grass varieties.
3. Eric Hooper requested WMAC input for explaining the arguments for the water rate increases that are proposed to take effect starting next calendar year. The following points of information were offered:
a) The base rate has not changed in 7 years.
b) The cost of delivering water to a house or business is a base charge that all customers must pay for.
c) The maximum annual charge for the base rate is $90, which works out to $22.50 per quarter. That includes the first 30,000 gallons.
d) The long term cost of providing water to the community is driven by peak demand, so it is fair that those who use the most water, especially in summer, should pay the highest rates.
Nancy Fyler will compile a final list of arguments to support the proposed rate increase. Hopefully, future billing (from 2010 onward) to customers will be able to show the historical trend of consumption and cost information in each quarterly statement.
4. Eric reported that no drilling has been started at either the N-Star or Farnham Road sites due to wet ground conditions. The emergency water connection with the town of Norwood is progressing; our town has retained a consultant to create a scope of work and prepare a cost estimate. The installation contract for new water pipes on Norwood Street has started; cost will come in approximately $50,000 under budget.
Weston & Sampson has provided a draft report for the assessment of well conditions and improvement requirements at Wells #2 through #7. Total cost to refurbish all six wells would be approximately $2 million. The well field at Well #2 may require up to $1 million in refurbishment costs. This potential expense will be evaluated against the cost of installing a potential new well elsewhere in town (such as the ongoing investigation at the N-Star site). Reduce water usage attributable to the results of conservation efforts is providing the Water Department with the flexibility to consider alternatives to refurbishing all of the wells immediately.
5. Eric Hooper will arrange to have Dave Masciarelli conduct a tour of the town water system for WMAC members sometime in August.
6. Paul Lauenstein advised that the Treasurer’s office may, at some time in the future, be able to provide toilet and wash machine rebates in the form of water bill credits instead of cash.
7. The WMAC approved the new water bill insert proposed by Nancy Fyler.
8. The next meeting will be on Thursday, August 20th, at 7:30pm at the Community Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Rory McGregor