HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - SC - 12/13/2016 �Ga
° - TOWN OF COHASSET
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} Sewer Commission
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Cohasset, MA 02025
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781-383-4100 x114
Date: December 13, 2016
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: Hull Town Hall, First Floor Meeting Room
Present: Bill McGowan, Chairman
John Beck, Vice Chairman
Wayne Sawchuk, Clerk
Chris Senior,Town Manager
Phil Lemnios, Hull Town Manager
Carol O'Connor, Hull
James Dow, Hull
John Struzziery, Hull
Rick Matttila, Hull
Phil Lemnios called the meeting to order at 4:01
1. Administration
Next Meeting: Joint meeting with Hull Scheduled for Tuesday,January 10, 2017 @ 3 p.m. in Co-
hasset
Approve Meeting Minutes: no action taken
2. New Business
A. Phil Lemnios, Hull Town Manager-Opens discussions by thanking Cohasset for calling a
joint meeting. He recommends scheduling semi-annual meetings to keep a healthy dia-
logue.
B. Intermunicipal Agreement- Phil reviews history of the Intermunicipal Agreement. High-
lighting the DEP order regarding the Straights Pond pollution problem by failing septic
systems. Capacity in the agreement is for 80k gallons for a 30 year term. The Hull Sewer
Treatment Plant is licensed for 3.07M GPD and is currently treating 1.5M GPD of which
80k is reserved for Cohasset.The flaw in the municipal agreement is there was no floor
established, only a ceiling.
Cohasset Board of Sewer Commissioners Page 1
Carol O'Connor presents historical data chart.
Phil Lemnios indicates plant failure of 2014 was a singular event that changed the costs
and rates. O'Connor educates the Board on the new operator's costs,which are sub-
stantially higher.
Beck questions why the insurance company decide to litigate? They saw the plant fail-
ure was due to flooding. However, it was a piece of wood that got caught in the impel-
ler that caused the back-up. Town of Hull has reserved the right to litigate against the
operator.
Beck asked if the money recovered will be returned to the rate payers. Lemnios re-
sponded the money will go toward paying the bonds.The second cost element will go
toward the new permitting cycle.
Sawchuk outlines some similarities between Hull and Cohasset's plants. Lemnios asks
the Cohasset Board if they would consider a regional plant. Outlining many successes
the towns have had with regionalizing the EMS plan.
Beck asks what can be done with our agreement to mitigate the costs to Cohasset.The
two Boards agree to have ongoing working sessions to discuss maintain cash flows to
Hull's bottom line, while providing relief to Cohasset.The Boards will meet monthly or
quarterly to discuss long term strategic plans.
Next joint meeting set for January 10, 2017 at 3:00, place TBD.
Attorney Henderson-Letter regarding 10 Ocean Ledge Drive. McGowan asks Michelle to
reach out to Henderson and have him placed on next Sewer Commission agenda.
Motion to adjourn meeting at 5:47 by McGowan, second by Beck and Sawchuk. Unanimous
vote
Cohasset Board of Sewer Commissioners Page 2