WMAC Meeting Minutes November 17 , 2011
Attendees: David Crosby, Chair; Anne Carney, David Hearne, Len Sekuler
Guests: Eric Hooper – Superintendent, DPW, Chris Pimentel
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 PM
David C. asked that Agenda item #4 - Report of the Water Department be moved up until enough members arrived to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.
Eric stated that the nitrate levels were under 4 at three wells (No. 2, 4 and 6). He said that revenue of 2.2M was on target and said that the new rates will begin on Jan 1, 2012 which means there will be ½ year of increased rates in this fiscal year. He also said he has had several dozen complaints about water bills since the last rate increase. Unaccounted for water is at 12% (5.3M gallons) which is still high. He is now looking into the accuracy of the master meter. As far as water sources, the Canton Street site is still on the list but not a priority at this time. He stated that the Neponset River Watershed Assoc. is focusing on storm water and water issues at this time. The Massapoag Ave. water main project is shut down for the winter. The water main on Pond St. is completed and work on house connections is ongoing. These homes are being serviced by another line while the work is going on. As far as the emergency connection, Eric feels that a Norwood connection would be more costly on the Sharon side and less costly on the Norwood side while a Stoughton connection would be the reverse. He feels it would be easier to work on a Norwood connection. The next step would be preliminary design at a cost of 30,000-35,000 dollars. Eric stated that the Selectmen want the WMAC to identify the projects for the next several years. They will have to decide on how the projects are funded. Eric said there are two big projects in a five year plan – Brook Rd/Glendale (2.3M) and the Norwood St. connection (1.5M) not counting the Norwood Pump Station being moved down the hill. These were the top scorers on the five year plan. Both projects would not go on at the same time so there is some room for flexibility. The Moose Hill storage facility is also on the five year plan. Eric said that the Town did not get the grant to do the Massapoag Ave. rotary project.
Dave C. said the Selectmen should get the report on ranking projects to show what made the priorities. The projects have to be aligned to add up to 1.5M per year. Eric said street work had to be coupled with the water projects. A question on the land at the end of Oakland St. was brought up and Eric said that cement blocks were stored there only on a temporary basis.
At this time the committee went back to approving the minutes of the previous meeting. Dave H. suggested amending Item #3, fourth sentence to read – In the future the Water Dept. will discuss borrowing issues with the WMAC, Capital Outlay and Finance Committee. David H. motioned that the minutes be approved as amended. The motion was seconded by Len Sekuler and voted unanimously.
1. This item was postponed as Paul Lauenstein was unavailable to give his presentation on water rate fairness. This item will be placed on the agenda of another meeting of the WMAC
2. This item was covered under Eric’s report given earlier.
3. Dave C. suggested meeting with the Selectmen on Dec. 6th. The reason for the meeting is to discuss rate and revenue management. WMAC needs to have a sense of how quickly or slowly the Selectmen want to move to achieve fairness and enhanced revenue. The Selectmen, as the Water Commissioners , decide this and WMAC needs feedback from them. At this point in time there is consensus within WMAC that a base amount plus a narrowing of the differences in rates among the blocks for dollars per gallon (with debate still ongoing concerning irrigation rates) should be the goal in order to achieve fairness. WMAC needs to know if the Water Commissioners agree with this approach. One other question that has to be determined is how involved WMAC should be in recommending financing of capital projects.
At this point Sharon resident Christopher Pimentel spoke to the committee about performance contracts that might offer savings in energy and water. Eric mentioned that there might be savings on well pumps and street light replacement.
David H. spoke at length about the work he had done on trying to make the current rate and block structure more equitable. He suggests making more blocks while squeezing the rates toward an eventual single rate. He feels this is the way to transition and he will provide a spreadsheet where all members can take a crack at coming up with an acceptable formula to produce fairness and the revenue the water department needs. Len said he feels the answer might be to dramatically increase summer rates. All members should come to the meeting with their own ideas on how the transition should go.
The next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 6th with the Selectmen.
Adjournment at 9:45PM.
Respectfully submitted
Anne Carney, Acting Clerk