Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - WC - 08/15/2017 G4 PB Comissioners Cohasset Water L onoaC.Jenkins WF D E P A R T M E N T John W. Steinmetz RoIfN. Gjesteby N SeMiff the Ca mwud Since 1950 Minutes of the Cohasset Board of Water Commissioners 339 King Street—Water Treatment Plant August 15, 2017 @ 9:00 am Members Present: Leonora Jenkins, Chair John Steinmetz, Vice-Chair Recording Secretary: Brenda Douglas Guests Present: Joe Geary & Carl Hillstrom Woodard& Curran Lee called the meeting called to order at 9:05 am., 2"d by John all in favor. Looping S.Main to Ledgewood Carl reported that he is meeting with Conservation Commission on August 20 for the order of conditions. After order are received, the trees will need to be cut and borings done. Greg Morse and Jeff Summers felt that the order of conditions would be written that night and it would just need to be posted before they can proceed. Lee wanted to know if this could be done in the Fall or the Spring. Carl stated that the Fall would be the best time to do the project. Joe reported that Woodard&Curran is working on the specs for the project. Joe said that if they find a lot of ledge it will probably happen in the Spring. Sodium Hydroxide Everything is running great. Turbidity is much lower. Operation is easier. Ph is rock solid now. Bruce Meehan reported that it is running great. Lee mentioned that she thought Carl said that in the winter we could use only the wellfield. Carl said that is not possible. The wellfield only produces 140,000 gallons a day, and on a low day in the winter plant production runs around 400,000 gallons a day. Water level at Ellms meadow is currently at 12' it will shut down at 6' if we don't get any rain. It is full at 20'. Lee would like more data on the sodium levels. Lee asked if it would be helpful to do more testing of the raw water as the levels in the wellfield drop or increase if that would make a difference. Lee feels that the town is putting salt down only, and not always a salt-sand mix. Carl said that this should be brought up to Carl Sestito at the DPW. Joe said that if the sodium levels hit 100 then a notification in the CCR would be required. Carl said it would be a Tier III violation,which is the lowest. Carl said it would be wise if the numbers creep up close to 100 then they could change chemicals to reduce the sodium. Joe would like to test once a quarter, Carl said they will do it once a month. John said 339 King Street,Cohasset,Massachusetts 02025 Tel:(781)383-0057 Fax:(781)383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org that he would like to suggest if the raw numbers continue to go up that a letter should go out to the town manager, selectmen and DPW stating that the board feels that the salting is causing the increased level in sodium. Carl said that this brings them to THM levels. There is no MCL for sodium. THM's are a known carcinogen,with a MCL of 80 ppb. It's a balancing act to maintain a level below that. The organics have been extremely high for the summer season and we are getting ready to do testing next week. Joe gave the board an explanation of how the THM data works. It is done by each site, not a rolling average. Then there was a lengthy conversation about harvesting of the weeds in the pond. Lee asked if it would be prudent to have in front of the intake cleaned up again like last year. Carl explained that the company that did it before does not want to come back. There is a new diving company but they are costlier. Lee would like to know if this should be done annually, every other year or maybe even every 3 years. Dam Repairs/Grant Submission Expect it to be awarded on or about September Is'. Communication Upgrade John wanted to read over the contract before signing. Lee said they could have a quick meeting to sign. Beechwood Street Culvert Brenda reported water work complete and it is a road work only job. Power has not been connected to the weir gate yet and the ladder is still not in place. There is a conference call at 1:00 today with the engineer and NEBB. Updates will be coming. Report on New Capital Budget Procedures John attended the meeting while Lee was on vacation. They are doing a rollout of procedures not regulations. First change is everything needs to go thm Chris Senior before it goes to capital budget. Secondly there is a form which needs to be completed prior to meeting with Chris. It is a very lengthy and detailed form. They are trying to streamline the information and get all the information together before meeting with Capital Budget. John suggested having something on the form to show if they are borrowing or using their own money from a source like retained earnings or capital stabilization. Sam Wakeman said that it is not their issue of where the monies are coming from but to make sure that there is money available so that the board does not go without funds like what happened in 2006. Nathan Redman said that the board does not have a problem with the Water Department. The Water Department is the only department that has done a 10-year capital plan. Carl presented the board with an updated 10-year capital plan. John suggested getting the update to Chris Senior. Brenda will email to Lee for her to forward to Chris. Open Space& Recreation Plan Upgrade Lee asked if Carl has had a chance to review yet. Carl said he has read it and will work on rewording. Lee asked him to get it done as it is due by September V. Lee reported that there are no parking or salting restrictions at the James Lane condo's. She indicated that the permit used for the project is an older version that due to the recession, Governor Patrick allowed permits to have an extended life. The Planning 339 King Street,Cohasset,Massachusetts 02025 Tel:(781)383-0057 Fax:(781)383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org Board meetings for the current project that Lee& Rolf attended that included the Water concerns re salt and snow removal are in the newer permit that the developers choose not to use. 81 King Street Easement John said that there is a request to remove the temporary easement. John felt that there is no reason to give up any easement. John said that unless we are not using that easement the board should not give up the easement. John made a motion that we deny the request to give back the temporary easement but we allow the current owner or representative come to a meeting to discuss why they want the easement removed 2nd by Lee all in favor. Financials Mary was unable to attend meeting but supplied the board with FYI financials. She is anticipating retained earnings will be certified at$790,579. Abatements\Warrants\Minutes Leslie Fallon—450 Jerusalem Road Leslie is looking for an abatement on behalf of her mom that has passed away. Leslie said that she did not find the leak and she had to have the Water Department come out to find it. The board asked if she had thought of winterizing the property. She said she never gave it a thought and she had the home on the market and needed water for the heat. There was a review of the notes on the property. The last bill went out and she was notified of the leak. John said he was willing to take off$300.00 if Lee would be willing. Lee said that Rolf responded via email that he would deny. Leslie stated it is not fair that Rolf did not have the opportunity to hear her. The board said that they would table the request till next meeting. Peter Dennigan—92 Atlantic Avenue John said he rented the house out and received the bills prior to giving them to the tenant. The board felt that it was up to Mr. Dennigan as the owner to take care of the bills in a timely way,or withhold her security. John made a motion to deny this was 2nd by Lee. Lee made a motion to approve the July 18,2017 meeting notes 2nd by John all in favor. Public Comment No public comment Next meeting will be scheduled later when the.board can check with Rolf to his availability. Meeting adjourned at 10:3 8 am Respectfully Submitted, Brenda Douglas,Recording Secretary Approved By: Date: 57 1 Rolf N. Gj esteby, Clerk Cohasset Board of Water Commissioners 339 King Street,Cohasset,Massachusetts 02025 Tel:(781)383-0057 Fax:(781)383-2906 www.cohassetwater.org