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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - WC - 05/14/2015 v : Cohasset water Mi " D E P A R T M E N T Commissioners Leonora C.Jenkins aoc°r,nssT o ` �' 1950 Rolf N. Gjesteby John W. Steinmetz Minutes of the Cohasset Board of Water Commissioners 339 King Street— Water Treatment Plant May 14, 2015 @ 10:00 am Members Present: Leonora Jenkins, Chairman Rolf Gjesteby, Clerk John Steinmetz Recording Secretary: Brenda Douglas Guests Present: Carl Hillstrom, Joe Geary, Paul Roux, new Board of Health member; Dr. Harvey Dickstein, Ed Goff, Mark Picot, Paula Linhares, John Chapman Motion made by Lee seconded by Rolf all in favor to call the meeting to order at 10:01 am. Reorganization of Water Board Rolf nominated Lee for Chairman, all in favor. Lee nominated Rolf for Vice-Chairman, all in favor. Lee nominated John for Clerk, all in favor. Public Comment John recused himself from speaking in regards to Mr. Picot due to the fact that he is friendly with Mr. Picot,their families socialize together. Back in 1965 there was an easement put in place on Mr. Picot's property to service the 6 homes out back. He explained that during the Little Harbor Water/Sewer project the town cut and capped the pipe and the homes out back were put on the new main. Mr. Picot stated that at that time he was shown a piece of pipe which was galvanized pipe. He assumed that the entire service line was galvanized pipe. Mr. Picot signed off on the relinquishment of easement back in 2008. He stated that he took responsibility for the pipe at that time. Iaria Bros. did work for the Cohasset Water to find drainage problems at the end of 2008. Mr. Picot stated that the town was trying to figure out where water was coming from on his property. In a letter from Iaria Bros., it was stated that they fixed a drainage problem at 48 Nichols Road. In October of 2013 a leak was detected on Mr. Picot's property which he had Schirmer Excavating fix. At that time he felt that the town should pay and came before the Water Board but was denied since he accepted responsibility for the line in 2008. At that time the Board recommended that he replace 339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 his entire line. Since it is leaking again, Mr. Picot feels that the town should pay to fix his line. He had Schirmer Excavating dig up where the leak was and found it to be copper pipe not galvanized. He stated that there is a 2" galvanized attached to a 2" copper pipe. Mr. Picot said that he would never have signed off on this if he knew this was in the ground. Lee asked if Mr. Picot had ever been asked to replace service and he said that he was never notified. Lee reiterated that when he signed off on the easement that the pipe was his responsibility and that back in 2013 he was instructed to replace the pipe. Carl noted that this type of connection is done all the time. Mr. Picot said that he keeps getting pin holes in his pipes. Carl indicated that the town water is not corrosive. Mr. Picot stated that had he known that it had a copper pipe he would have added this to the loan he took for the sewer betterment and replaced the service. Then he requested that the Water Department put a 1"plastic line through his existing pipe. Lee read from the easement that Mr. Picot signed off on that states that the town would not be responsible. Mr. Picot reiterated that the agreement is null and void. After the town was not using the property he would have automatically gotten the easement removed. Lee reminded him that a packet went out prior to the start of the Water/Sewer Project telling people to look into replacing their old water services. Lee stated that he has had more than enough time to fix it and that it is his responsibility. Rolf made a motion that the Water Department not repair the leak on Mr. Picot's property, and that it's the responsibility of the owner, this was seconded by Lee. Warrants/Abatements/Minutes Abatement 44 Border Street—Atlantica Restaurant: John stated that the Atlantica was notified by the Water Department that they had a leak prior to the February 2, 2015 bill going out. The charges being requested for abatement are $17,302.80. Johns view is that Atlantica should be held responsible. Lee concurred with John and Lee stated that they should be able to apply to their insurance. Lee pointed out that after the leak inside the building that there fire sprinkler outside then inside the building both froze and burst. Both of these lines are unmetered and 100's of 1000's of water were lost. John made a motion to deny this was seconded by Rolf all in favor. Rolf made a motion to approve the minutes from the April 29, 2015 meeting this was 2nd by John all in favor. Warrants were signed off on and approved. Financials Lee stated that it is going to be tight thru the end of the year. Lee stated that Toby Fedder of Woodard and Curran have requested an additional $1500.00 for additional work done on the rate study. John felt that it was a reasonable amount. Rolf made a motion to authorize payment of the additional payment, seconded by John all in favor. Bill Formatting Brenda gave an update to the status of the multi-unit charges for each customer. Lee stated that the board can put in a bill stuffier in regards to the new charge on the bill. This 339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 also can be put up on cable as well. Lee thought that it would be a good idea to mention g that the additional charge will assist in paying down the debt. Monthly Operating Report Carl reported that this months reported has not been completed yet. The only issues that the department is currently having with treatment are that the lime has been clogging the feed lines. Paul stated that the lime is the chemical feed system that he is looking into getting a dollar amount on to upgrade. Paul stated that the benefits would be to upgrading the system would be to maintenance as well as sludge. The current lime system is high maintenance as well as causes a lot of sludge. Also it will allow for a better reduction in aluminum. Lee wanted to know what the cost would be to remove the silt from the intake. Paul stated that he would have to check to see if the state would allow a vacuum to suck up muck and have it discharge into hay bales and then the water to drain back into the pond. Water Withdrawal Permit Carl has about 70% done on the response to the DEP. Restrictions would be May- September. The restriction of 65 gallons per person per day per person would be put in place. Carl recommends going with calendar restrictions,not stream flow. He told them how much rain we have had for the past 2 months. He stated that we are going to be in advisory mode as of July 1"if we don't get any rain. Lee asked how the wells are doing, Carl stated that they have dropped a few feet but right now we are in good shape. Carl stated when we exceed the 65 per day the water restrictions become more stringent. Lee asked if it would be beneficial to insulate the pipes at Ellms Meadow so that it could run year around. Paul stated absolutely. Carl reported that they had reduced the amount of Fluoride into the system. This went from 1 to .7. Dr. Dickstein asked when this was implemented and Carl stated they changed as soon as the letter was received from the state, which was May 1, 2015. Dr. Dickstein stated that we should not hear from the state for another 10 years so that they can compile the information. He then offered to write an article for the Mariner and Lee encouraged him to do it as a joint article with his position on the Board of Health. The board then recognized that Mr. Ed Goff, of 100 Pond Street Unit 12. He couldn't wait for Mr. Picot to finish his public comments and the board indicated they would hear him when he came back to the meeting. Mr. Goff spoke to the board regarding his own bill vs. his apartment building bill at 87 Cushing Road. He stated that it is highly discriminatory. He felt that it is so unfair and he has to pass this on to his tenants. Ed noted that the Assessor's office does not charge a higher rate for those who have businesses in town since they are so few and far between. He brought in his bills from Abington and Quincy for other apartment buildings and it is a fraction of the cost. Lee explained that the new fee was part of the rate study that the town requested the Water Department have done. Lee stated that this is an important industry standard that is done in other towns. 339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 James Lane Lee said that it is still with the Planning Board but what was passed at town meeting changed the business district,the garage and unfinished attic space to be counted toward the total square footage as soon as this town meeting vote passes the state Attorney General. Lee then inquired whether or not the town ever checked into the right of way that the developer is eliminating that is adjacent to the town property. The developer plans to put parking there and Lee wanted to make sure there was not a legal problem if the right of way is owned by the town. Brian Joyce is going to check on the easement. Woodard& Curran Contract Brian said Chris Senior has asked to speak with Paul today. Paul said he would go over and speak with him directly. Paul then spoke and introduced Joe Geary. Paul explained that Joe will be the new Area Manager. Paul stated it would be a slow transition. Joe then gave some of his background and the different plants he has worked with. Lee asked how long he had been with Woodard& Curran and he stated it has been 14 years. Motion made by Rolf to adjourn the meeting at 11:42 pm this was 2"d by John, all in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Brenda Douglas, Recording Secretary Approved By: Date: 01 a��i5 Joh4W. Steinmetz Coh sset Board of Water Commi rs 339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906