Draft: WMAC Meeting Minutes, December 2, 2010

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

Guests: Eric Hooper – Superintendent, Nancy Fyler – Water Conservation Coordinator, Blake Martin – Weston & Sampson, Barbara Cook – Weston & Sampson

1. The minutes for the November 19 WMAC meeting will be reviewed at the next meeting.

2. The WMAC will present the Sharon Water Master Plan to the selectmen on December 14, 2010.

Weston & Sampson reviewed the slides which synopsize their report and make specific recommendations for infrastructure rehabilitation and improvement projects. The average annual cost in present dollars to accomplish these projects is $1.1 million. This amounts to a charge of $190 per household if the cost were to be shared equally throughout the town.

David Crosby reviewed the slides which summarize the WMAC recommendations concerning financing requirements for projects identified by Weston & Sampson in the Water Master Plan. The average annual funding available for these projects from Water Department revenue is $650,000 with the current water rate structure.

The WMAC will recommend that the selectmen raise water rates for Fiscal Year 2011- 2012 by an amount equal to or greater than this year’s increase. This amount is almost 13% for the average household.

The broader question is how to finance all the recommended projects over the next 20 years. The WMAC will request guidance from the selectmen on how to develop a long term financing strategy toward this objective.

Respectfully submitted,

Rory McGregor

Secretary