WMAC Meeting Minutes, Sept 16, 2010

 

Attendees:  David Crosby – Chair, Ann Carney, David Hearne, Paul Lauenstein, Rory McGregor – Secretary, Bob Weeks

 

Guest: Eric Hooper – Superintendent, DPW

 

1.  The minutes from the September 2nd WMAC meeting were approved.

 

2.  Line item 13 in the Capital Projects list, SCADA improvements for the chemical feeds at the well pump stations, is the top priority project based on the evaluation process that we went through.  The state-mandated work is already in progress and should be completed shortly.

 

3.  The work to rank all capital improvement projects was completed at the last
WMAC meeting.  The purpose of this meeting is to review the information and decide which projects to recommend to the selectmen.  These projects constitute a 20 year plan that will upgrade the water system infrastructure to desired standards for efficient and cost effective operation.

 

David Crosby handed out two separate charts which showed the overall position of the Rehab Projects and the Growth Priority Projects. The Rehab Projects chart plotted the projects on axes which showed Probability of Failure vs. Consequence of Failure.  The Growth Projects chart plotted the projects on axes which showed Financial & Strategic Alignment vs. Project Impact. 

 

David Crosby also ranked the projects by computing the sum of their scores and the products of their scores.  See attached score sheets.

 

4.  WMAC needs guidance from the Selectmen on how to finance the projects.  The current revenue generated by the Water Department is inadequate to finance the projects on the capital improvements list.  The total estimated cost of the Rehab Projects is $14 million and the Growth Priority Projects is $10 million.  The available funds in the annual operating budget for capital improvement projects is on the order of $600,000 and can vary from $400,000 to $800,000 depending on revenue/expense issues for operations.

 

One reason for the variability in available funds is explained, for example, by the lawn watering ban imposed this past summer due to system leaks.  Estimates for lost revenue are on the order of $200,000 to $250,000.

 

The general sense is that the Water Department will need to raise water rates and establish a borrowing plan in order to accomplish the capital improvement projects.  Ann Carney will prepare a document which outlines this in more detail.  This document will be reviewed by the WMAC and then go to the Selectmen for review/approval before being circulated more broadly.

 

5.  Eric Hooper reports that ground water levels are low and that there is an area wide drought condition.  Water consumption has returned to normal volume for this time of year with the lifting of the lawn watering ban on Setp 1st.  Invoices for the last quarter, April to June, totaled $600,000 of which $550,000 has been received.

 

The short term pump test at the NSTAR site (proposed new well) starts September 20th and runs for 24 hours.  The long term test starts September 27th and runs for 5 days.

 

6.  The Water and Energy Conservation Fair takes place at the Sharon High School on September 25th.

 

7.  Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 21st, at 7:30pm at the Community Center.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Rory McGregor