HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - WC - 07/26/2016 C o_ �iset water
µ 0 E P A R T M E N T Commissioners
1 mwy stwff 1950 Rolf N. Gjesteby
Leonora C.Jenkins
John W. Steinmetz
Minutes of the Cohasset Board of Water Commissioners
339 King Street - Treatment Plant
July 26, 2016 @ 9:30 am
Members Present: Rolf Gjesteby, Chairman
Leonora Jenkins, Vice-Chairman
John Steinmetz, Clerk
Recording Secretary: Brenda Douglas
Guests Present: Carl Hillstrom,Joe Geary, Brian Joyce, Ronit Goldstein, Mary Gallagher,
John Amonte, Andrew McDonald, intern for Brian Joyce
Rolf called the meeting called to order at 9:32 this was 2nd by John all in favor.
Woodard & Curran MOR
Ellms Meadow Update: Joe spoke with Jillian Tardea at DEP who stated that she would
review this week. This would be for the upgrade to the Ellms Meadow pump station as
well as implement new chemical sodium hydroxide to station. Lee asked if the approval
comes in next week how long will it take to implement. Joe said a couple of months
before changes are made and the well turned back on. Lee asked why so long. Joe
explained that there is electrical to be upgraded as well as chemical feed lines and pumps.
Carl wanted to know once the approval comes in do they have authorization to start
spending. Carl said that we are going to do everything in house. Carl said that it would
be approximately $60,000 which will come out of the expenditure budget. Carl said this
would include upgrade to communication. Rolf wanted to know since we were approved
for $400K and only $250K is needed can we use the other monies. It was agreed that the
monies could only be used for tank painting. Rolf says that he is concerned that the
contractors bid was so much lower than the other bids. Carl said as far as repairs it would
be spot sandblasting and painting. They are painting around the antennas. Next time
they will be completely taken off when painting.
Lee asked about the color that the tank will be painted. Carl said that they will try and
match the original. Rolf said that if they can match exactly to make a dimmer color
instead of a brighter one. Lee asked about the experience of the company who won the
bid. Carl said they have a lot of experience with tanks mainly sewer. Lee wanted to
make sure that it would be inspected. Carl said that we would hire an inspector to
339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025
Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org
oversee the job and be onsite every day. He said that it would be at a cost of$20,000.
Lee said that they would have to wait to go out to bond.
Removal of Sediment from Intake--Carl would like to have this done again in early
spring, March would be preferable. Last year we spent around $10,000. Carl then said
that the reservoir and pond have not been surveyed in many years and he feels this needs
to be addressed. Lee wanted to know if we had volunteers for weed removal if it would
be beneficial. Carl said unless it was taken by the root it would not be beneficial. Lee
suggested next year getting a bigger bag and letting the divers go out even farther into the
pond to maximize the removal of the silt. Rolf wanted to know how much the survey
would be Carl thought it would be around $1,500. Carl said he would reach out to the
company that did it before. He would like it done this summer.
Water Testing & Leak Detection—Carl has contacted Greg Pyburn and signed a contract
to have it done in the spring. For the last billing cycle unaccountable water is down to
6%. This just shows that we have a tight system. Last year unaccountable was reported at
11% and DEP would not allow one of the breaks which brought it up to 12%.
Interconnect Meeting with Aquarion & Erickson
John Amonte said that Linden Ponds is at normal water usage. Their irrigation comes
from a well not the domestic. Carl reported that June is down from last year. Lee asked
if they were expanding in the fall and John said that they were planning to do so. 104
more units are being added. Currently they are at 98% capacity. They are planning on
putting in assisted living but this is still in the planning stage. Currently a new residential
building is needed before anything else. Lee asked if the site had any issues with the
storm that came thru over the weekend. John reported no issues were reported. Carl
asked John about the connection thru Comcast. Carl said that we are not receiving the
readings here at the plant. John said that there is a Comcast connection that goes to a
router and normally would record but it is not recording now. John said the router on his
end is dead. He is going to replace the router. Joe gave him the name and number of
Woodard & Curran SCADA guy and they will work to get the connection up and
running. When issuing the monthly bill Carl goes by Linden Ponds end of month read to
true-up. Rolf asked how Aquarion is doing with their wells. Ronit stated that they are
looking at each well and looking to see if they have to go into complete restrictions. Next
interconnect meeting will be Tuesday, October 18, 2016 here at the treatment plant @
10:00. I will send out an invite to Ronit, John, and Steve Olson.
Brian Joyce Updates
Jerusalem Road Causeway—Brendan& Sean met with Brian Joyce they shut down the
valve which shuts the main on the causeway. The flow test was done before and after
and the results were favorable. The next step is to have RW Rosano cut and cap either
side of the causeway and abandon it. Brian reported that Woodard& Curran ran a model
stating that it would be fine to disconnect main but Brian wanted to confirm these results.
Rolf wanted to know about the timing of this. Brian said that he will do a code red call at
the end of this week to get out to the customer in the area to organize a meeting. DEP
said that they should receive the license in a couple of weeks. One service has already
been relocated. On or about August 151h the new gate will be cut in. As far as traffic
flow it will be one way and there will be signs on Nichols and N. Main, detour/one way.
339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025
Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 393-2906 www.cohassetwater.org
Water Testing—Andrew McDonald reported that they are running tests on the un-
sewered sections of town, mainly Beechwood. They are looking to see if septic is
seeping into reservoir or pond. The study will run till end of September beginning of
October. Rolf asked if they have found anything yet. Andrew stated that Doane Street
seems to be an area of interest. Brian said that this is dry weather testing only, which is
perfect for this year. Next year if we decide to continue with this they would look at wet
weather testing. This would report the results of run off.
Rolf then brought up the drought restrictions. There was a review of the bill stuffer.
There was some confusion as to if there was no irrigation use or if it was allowed. There
is irrigation allowed only on the days even/odd. If we go to the next phase then there will
be no irrigation usage. Chris asked that one of the board members come to the meeting
on the 91h Selectmen's meeting to talk about the restrictions. Rolf said he would be there.
Lee asked if Brian has had any luck with getting the removal of debris from Cushing
Road. Brian said he had not talked to DPW but would be meeting with them next
Wednesday. Brian said that currently they are working on removal of overgrown trees
round town. Brian suggested that the board get ahold of a couple of contractors to get
quotes. Brian looked at a harvesting machine a few years ago and it was approximately
$175,000. Joe said that Wesley College has 2 of them he will check to see if they have
someone to come and harvest for us or maybe we can borrow.
Energy Audit—Mike Skinner from National Grid was going to contact the plant and Carl
said that we have not heard anything yet.
James Lane—Does not seem that anything is happening. They have not looped the main
yet or done any taps. Last word was he was working on sewer, but that does not seem to
be done yet.
Bound Brook Culvert Replacement—Bids are in, the low bidder was New England
Building & Bridge. The bid came in at 1,073,275.00. The bid came in a little higher than
the estimate. The main will be replaced when and new valves installed. Contract has
been awarded and culverts have started to be delivered here to the treatment plant. There
are still 6 more to be delivered. The Wildlife& Fisheries wanted the work to be done by
August 31", but this is impossible. The town is looking to waive the restrictions so that
the work can commence by August 15t'. With the drought this would be the perfect time
to get the work started and not have to fight the water.
Financials
Mary reported that the Water Department looks good for end of year.
The next selectman's meeting they will get an advance on the bond. Lee asked if they
have to go back to town meeting to rescind the remaining. It would just be a line item on
the warrant.
Are Flash Program--The plant was looked at when Woodard& Curran took over, but
now the regulations have lowered the voltage so the outside sites must be looked at as
well. This would be Ellms Meadow& Whitney Crossing. Rolf suggested waiting until
339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025
Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org
Ellms Meadow is up and running. Joe was advised that everything must be running and
in place before an Arc Flash study can be done.
Commission Comments
Lee wanted to know how many hours the plant is running. Carl reported at least 16 to 20
hours.
John made a motion to approve the June 7, 2016 & June 17, 2016 commission meeting
2nd by Lee all in favor.
Next meeting tentatively scheduled for 8/11. Rolf will contact Brenda with agenda items
and have her post.
Motion made by Rolf to adjourn the meeting at 11:44, 2nd by John all in favor .
Respectfully Submitted,
Brenda Douglas, Recor n cre
Approved By: i ' Date:
Jo Steinmetz, Clerk l
lasset Board of Water Commission s
339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025
Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org