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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - WC - 09/13/2016 (2) Cohasset Water D E P A R T M E N T Commissioners srm�ff c, now st9lw 1950 Rolf N. Gjesteby Leonora C. Jenkins John W. Steinmetz Minutes of the Cohasset Board of Water Commissioners 339 King Street - Treatment Plant September 13, 2016 @ 9:00 am Members Present: Rolf Gjesteby, Chairman Leonora Jenkins, Vice-Chairman John Steinmetz, Clerk Recording Secretary: Brenda Douglas Guests Present: Carl Hillstrom, Joe Geary, Paul Carlson, Chris Senior Rolf called the meeting called to order at 9.10 this was 2nd by John all in favor. Warrant Articles STM Lee said that from the last meeting this was what was decided. The capital projects are as follows: #1 - Radio Upgrade Joe said he received numbers last night but has questions on it and is awaiting confirmation on the numbers. Lee said she feels that they need to get something submitted to hold the place. Later in the month when there are better numbers it can be updated. The number of locations will need to be addressed and part of the description would be to remove Comcast and increase security. #2—Transfer $50,000 into Extraordinary Maintenance to purchase of new truck with plow. #3 —Transfer$100,000 into Sludge line item. This is due to increased organics has caused us to do sludge removal on an annual basis. Lee asked if we were able to find a place to dispose of that would be cheaper. Carl said Solid Waste Solutions could go from .85 per pound to .65. John asked if we could have it put on the property to dry out and save money that way. Carl said it would have to be spread out thin enough to dry. It would have to go through a freeze process for it to turn to coffee grinds. Joe said to add 1-2 lagoons this would be done. 1 lagoon could be used just for drying_ Carl said the addition of lagoons would be great, but does not feel it would dry enough to crystalize. #4—Extraordinary Maintenance—Transfer $60,000 for the upgrade to Ellms Meadow. Rolf will get this to town hall so that there is spots held for warrant articles. 339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org FY2017 Budget Status The board then reviewed their FY2016 numbers. The amounts need to be certified before they can be allocated. Lee said that the money available is due to the rate study. The study showed that the rates would allow the Water Department to get retained earnings as well as capital. Lee said that there may be another warrant article to transfer funds to Capital Stabilization and Retained Earnings. Lee asked how production has been impacted due to the drought. Carl said the numbers last year were 33 million as for this year we are down to 23 million. Ellms Meadow Pump Lee suggested that this issue go in front of the Selectmen. Paul suggested the building out back of the town hall. He stated that old fire engines will be stored there. Paul suggested the board speak with Chris Senior. Rolf asked the latest on the roof. Brian Joyce said it has been listed in the central register. Carl gave the board an update on Ellms Meadow. The fluoride system has been disconnected. Electrician was out today and he will be moving the electrical. The storage tank has been ordered. Containment wall needs to be built prior to the tank being put in. Lee asked if it could be up and running by October 15th. Carl said that might not be possible due to the fact that DEP has to come in prior to in coming on line. Chris Senior came in and the board explained about the pump needing a new home_ Chris said they don't have a lot of storage in town but he would explore the issue. Sale of Water Chris met with the boards counterparts in Scituate and Norwell. Chris said that there have been discussions about formalizing an agreement between the towns, but this will take some time. In the short term Scituate is on the edge of needing our help. Scituate's Town Manager wanted to have something in place just in case the interconnection has to be open. John said that we need to make sure something is in place to help them until it affects our customers. Lee thought about not allowing them more water than our customers are using. John said to make it simple. We are willing to sell water at X rate and a daily amount of X. Chris supplied everyone with a"Letter of Agreement between the Town of Cohasset and Scituate". There was a discussion of what to charge Scituate for the water. Lee stated the charge for Linden Ponds is $7.06 per 1000 gallons. Carl reminded Chris that if overtime is needed that there would be an additional charge for that. Woodard& Curran would bill the town separately for overtime. Carl updated everyone on the drought. He stated that as of today we have 328 days left based on 750,000 gallons a day. Carl said a week ago we had 340 days but due to no rain the reservoir is still dropping. Chris asked about Ellms Meadow. Carl said if it was on we could get 140,000 gallons a day, but with no rain it would only last about 30 days. John made a motion to adopt the letter of agreement with the amended provision as amended through the boards written comments which will be updated and sent to Scituate for comments this was 2'd by Lee, all in favor. 339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org Lee asked Chris if he had any suggestions about the Master Plan. Chris suggested going out to RFP. Woodard& Curran gave an estimate of$55,000 which Chris thought was very high. Chris suggested that Chris, Brian, and Carl get together to assess the needs. Carl stated that the master plan would include distribution but be more geared on Treatment. Carl stated that Rolf should be included as well. Lee asked Chris how the fiends were allocated. Chris said that currently water has been certified in retained earnings in the amount of S792,386. Chris asked if the board would want to pay outright for the tank painting and not borrow. Chris said that he would not transfer into Capital Stabilization due to the fact that if it's in retained earnings it allows for monies to be transferred easier in case there is a short fall in revenues this year due to the drought. Dumping Lee informed Chris that Brian Buckley has now cut down trees to park his truck. Lee contacted the police on September 1st. He was cited by the Police for a parking violation. Rolf contacted Con Com and they will work on what type of citation they will order. Wells Susan Sarni, Board of Heath Agent would like to have a line on next bill stuffier. Chris said that the Board of Health is looking at having people with wells not being allowed to irrigate. They are also looking for a complete list of homeowners with wells. Joe reported Lead & Copper results have come back and all were fine. Chris then requested that a discussion of taking over a part of N. Cohasset be put on a future agenda. Chris said that eventually Aquarion will settle with Hingham. The board should look at this before it actually happens. Warrants/Minutes/Abatements Warrants were signed off on and approved. 354 Beechwood Street- Brian Joyce has requested abatement of his 8/1/16 water bill. Rolf made a motion to approve $357.70; this was 2nd by Lee all in favor. Commission Comments Next meeting will be scheduled for Tuesday, September 27th @ 9:00 if necessary to meet. Motion made by Lee to adjourn the meeting at 11:18, 2nd by Rolf, all in favor. Respectfully Submitted Brenda Douglas, Rec rd� S tary Approved By: �"` Date: j Jo Steinmetz, Clerk C asset Board of Water Co .s ioners 339 King Street, Cohasset, Massachusetts 02025 Tel: (781) 383-0057 Fax: (781) 383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org