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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 12/09/2015 v�4 TOWN OF COHASSET o ` ` Sewer Commission 41 Highland Avenue Cohasset, MA 02025 YZ OHASSET 781-383-4108 sewer(&cohassetma.org DATE: Wednesday, December 9, 2015 TIME: 7:00 pm PLACE: Basement Meeting Room, Town Hall Meeting called to order @ Attendance: 1. Plan of Study Public Workshop a. Update on input from Board of Health, Water Department, Dept. of Public Works, and the Conservation Commission b. Solicitation of questions, comments, or concerns from residents 2. Plan of Study Final Draft a. Schedule b. Next Steps Meeting adjourned. Please note the following: This agenda includes anticipated items for discussion and/or vote; it is subject to change at the discretion of the board. This is a public meeting unless otherwise posted as Executive Session.Public comments and/or input are welcome however,we ask that you raise your hand and wait until the board recognizes you.Once recognized please state your name and address(or affiliation to the subject matter)for the record. ° - TOWN OF COHASSET t.. } Sewer Commission 41 Highland Avenue Z Cohasset, MA 02025 COHASSET ° N _ ,I ° 781-383-4108 Date: Wednesday, December 9,2015 Time: 7:00 p.m. Place: Basement Meeting Room,Town Hall Meeting called to order at 7:05 p.m. Present: Bryan Baldwin, Chairman Wayne Sawchuk Marc Drainville, GHD Environmental Plan of Study-Public Workshop Chairman Baldwin gave a history of the sewer in Cohasset, and the impact of the 2"d Amended Judgment imposed by the Commonwealth which the Town was under for 33 years. Following rescinding of the Judgment, there is currently surplus capacity in the wastewater treatment system. He explained the purpose of the Plan of Study document being prepared by the environmental engineering firm GHD, identifying and prioritizing potential uses for the current surplus capacity. The Sewer Commission has met with the Board of Health, Water Commission and Water Department, Department of Public Works, and the Conservation Commission to solicit and discuss concerns and rec- ommendations for areas of town that might be targeted for the study. Rather than spend significant funds on an exhaustive study of the entire town,the plan has been to focus on areas with environmen- tal need or justification. The two areas that have been identified that would benefit are South Main Street and the area surrounding Aaron River Reservoir. The Commission is asking for public input before the release of GHD's final document for the project. Baldwin noted that although there was near unani- mous expectation from these Boards, Commissions, and Departments that these two target areas should be studied for potential expansion of the collection system, no one to date has offered any data to support that there is a current environmental need to address. Baldwin discussed the North Cohasset area which flows to Hull for processing rather than to the Cohas- set wastewater treatment plant. The rate to process flow from North Cohasset homes was just in- creased 39% by the Town of Hull. Cohasset has recently taken approximately 25,000 gallons of flow back to Cohasset to reduce the financial impact of the rate increase. The Board will monitor for the next few months to see if it is prudent to increase the amount of diverted flow. Chairman of the Board of Heath Robin Lawrence asked about the population in the Aaron River, South Main Street, and Lily Pond areas? He would like to know the number of houses, bedrooms, and when the houses were built. Health Agent Susan Sarni is collecting this data for the South Main Street and Aaron River Reservoir tar- get areas. Dick Avery-22 Surrey Drive asked about the maximum capacity of the wastewater treatment system, and if it is ever exceeded during storms? Chairman Baldwin responded that the facility is licensed to process an average daily flow of flow up to 450,000 gallons per day, but that during storm events the Cohasset Board of Sewer Commissioners 1 flow can exceed 1 million gallons per day. The system is designed to handle such spikes in flow volume without risk to public health. Mark Drainville of GHD noted that the plant is currently being operated under an expired Federal permit which is common throughout the Commonwealth. It is possible that the new permit when is issued, that new requirement may be imposed that could impact the licensed capacity. Continuing study of the target areas while the USEPA is processing the permit renewal application may be prudent, but it may not be possible to continue into design before the permit is renewed. Baldwin stated the sewer plant has membranes with an approximate useful life of 6-8 years, and in the next few years they will have to be replaced. The replacement cost is approximately$1.2 million,which would likely be funded through bonds. User rates would have to be increased to pay for the debt ser- vice. The last sewer rate increase was in 2008. A question was raised if state grants might be available to fund further studies? GHD stated that grant funds are limited but can be explored. Concern was raised that if any design work is approved by Town Meeting, that drainage improvements also be incorporated into the work concurrently. Baldwin discussed the next steps. The Town funded this current planning effort, not the current rate- payers. The Plan of Study will be completed by GHD shortly, which will propose recommendations for continuing efforts including consulting fee amounts. These recommendations will be presented at An- nual Town Meeting for approval. Should Town Meeting approve additional in-depth study of one or more target areas,the outcome of these studies might be a recommendation to expand the collection system or creation of satellite facilities including cost estimates for design and construction. Town Meeting would again need to approve funding for design as well as construction if so desired. The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m. Cohasset Board of Sewer Commissioners 2 Sewer Commission Sign in Sheet Date: 1219115 NAME & ADDRESS: ity2���L1 ��/'72�e-,.L ' /Z,,-6 c �J2 NAME & ADDRESS: V97 L De NAME & ADDRESS: nrtv )d 1-4101 1 l�vd oa ' IkL1I13(1v L NAME & ADDRESS: NAME & ADDRESS: M GEC-C--bc'ctk vv i, l t� G-4+0 ,--F-nrc NAME & ADDRESS: NAME & ADDRESS: NAME & ADDRESS: NAME & ADDRESS: