WMAC Meeting Minutes, April 15, 2010
Attendees: David Crosby – Chair, Ann Carney, David Hearne, Paul Lauenstein, Rory McGregor – Secretary, Len Sekuler – Vice-Chair, Bob Weeks
Guests: Eric Hooper - Superintendent, DPW; Bill Heitin - Chairman, Board of Selectmen, Nancy Fyler – Neponset River Watershed Association staff member and Sharon town resident
1. The minutes for the March 18 meeting were approved.
2. Bill Heitin reflected on the goals that he had set for our town water supply program during the 6 years that he has been a selectman. He sees the completion of the Water Master Plan, currently being prepared by Weston & Sampson, as the blueprint for what we will do going forward. The town can raise the money for any water related project as long as we have the justification.
3. Paul Lauenstein said for the record that he was wrong to vote against the Master Plan. W&S has done an excellent job on the Plan, identifying needed improvements to the wells, water mains and storage tanks, and revealing the substantial cost of those improvements.
4. Bob Weeks identified the next 2 major projects to be the emergency water connection and the establishment of a new well for our water supply. Although Stoughton represents a less expensive alternative for the emergency connection, the uncertain political situation there has influenced us to look toward Norwood. Eric Hooper commented that in 20 years, there is a strong likelihood that all towns will be interconnected in a regional water supply system.
5. Dave Hearne identified a potential need for more project management capability in the DPW office to handle a potential larger volume of work as identified in the Master Plan. This workload might justify hiring an Assistant Town Engineer.
6. Nancy Fyler commented that the water conservation program has proved successful and that our education efforts need to continue. Eric Hooper emphasized the need for more regional efforts, especially by environmental advocacy groups like NepRWA and Mass Audubon.
7. Paul Lauenstein asked for more investigation into the recent increase in water consumption of 30 million gallons over the past 5 months, a 20% increase over the same 5-month period last year. Eric Hooper said he believes the increase is probably due to system leakage rather than higher residential usage. He added that the Water Department has spent $15,000 over the past few months searching for leaks. Paul Lauenstein added that Sharon may not have to tie in with the MWRA if the improvements in Sharon’s water use efficiency achieved over the past few years can be restored.
8. Rory McGregor asked how we will plan to fund all the capital improvement projects while maintaining our water system. Bill Heitin explained that an annual review of Sharon’s water rates, coupled with the ability of the Water Department to borrow as an enterprise account, should ensure that all required work can be accomplished.
9. Dave Hearne reported that there is nothing new to report on the chart of accounts for the Water Dept Enterprise System. This will be revisited after the Town Meeting in May.
10. David Crosby requested that we prioritize all the projects identified in the Master Plan. Eric Hooper said he would prepare a spreadsheet to assist with this task.
11. Eric Hooper suggested that Len Sekuler present the capital improvement plan his firm prepared for the MDC in Hartford CT, which has 600 miles of pipe and sustains 200 breaks per year. The plan identifies whether to fix, upgrade, or replace in each case.
12. Eric Hooper reported that revenues will total $500K per Quarter. There is no late fee penalty assessed to bill payers until the subsequent bill goes out 90 days later. Sharon Finance Director Bill Fowler should investigate bringing this in line with the 30 day policy for other late fees.
13. DEP will perform a site assessment at the N-Star site on April 20th. This is a prelude to the pump test later this year.
14. Eric Hooper met with John Carroll, Norwood’s Town Manager, who is satisfied that the emergency water connection at Tiot Street is feasible. Norwood would charge Sharon an annual fee to keep the pipes clean in anticipation of flow reversals associated with an actual emergency.
15. Eric Hooper advised that the Town has won a water conservation award from DEP for the second year in a row, to be presented at the State House on May 4th.
16. Nancy Fyler and Eric Hooper reviewed a number of upcoming events: poster contest in school on conservation, rain barrel special purchase offer program ($50), Energy and Water Conservation Fair on Sept 25th or 26th.
17. Eric Hooper will review the notification to consumers about the higher summer water rates in conjunction with the annual postcard mailing announcing lawn irrigation restrictions.
18. Next meetings will be May 13 and May 27 to prioritize the projects in the Master Plan.
Respectfully submitted,
Rory McGregor