HARWICH WATER DEPARTMENT
Water Commissioner Meeting Minutes
December 13, 2005
Present: Chairman Donald T. Bates, Jr., Vice Chairman Danette
Gonsalves, Clerk George Cavanaugh, Superintendent Craig Wiegand,
Secretary Carol M. Connor
Meeting called to order at 8:15AM by Chairman Bates.
Bills approved and signed by Board members.
Danette Gonsalves made a motion to approve the minutes of 11/22/05
as written. Donald Bates seconded. Unanimous vote to approve.
8:30 AM - Thomas Flynn - (did not appear for appointment) Board
discussed a leak at the property at 70 Hoyt Road. Apparently the
meter is in a pit quite some distance from the house where a leak
developed. The foreman, Dusty Eldredge responded to the call and
found the meter pit full and thought possible the water might be
going into an adjacent bog. As per the rules and regulations of
the Water Department, it is the responsibility of the homeowner
to make sure there are no leaks at their property, and they are
also responsible for any water which passes through the meter,
whether used or wasted. The Board therefore does not vote in favor
of this request for relief from payment of the bill.
The Board also discussed a similar request of the owner of property
on Uncle Venies Road. Dusty Eldredge met the owner's representative
Paul Luciano on site and both agreed and verified that the pipe
after the valve on the owner's side of an irrigation system was
leaking. As per the rules and regulations of the Water Department,
it is the responsibility of the homeowner to make sure there are
no leaks at their property, and they are also responsible for any
water which passes through the meter, whether used or wasted. The
Board therefore does not vote in favor of this request for payment
relief.
Superintendent Wiegand spoke to the Board about two purchase orders
he has drawn up and would like to use with funds that are left
from the tank article. One is in the amount of $10,953.13 and would
be for chain link fence around the Route 39 tank, and the other
is in the amount of $4,145.96 to be used for a plow assembly for
the stations. The Board has agreed to these expenditures.
Discussion re: $40,000 for submersible pumps, VFD's and communications
to put wiring underground so as to avoid power outages and another
weekend like during the past storm where the standby operator had
to respond to numerous calls starting on Friday and going through
Sunday evening. The total would come to approximately $131,000.
Mark White of Environmental Partners spoke to the Board regarding
a new source at well #10. Exploration has been moving along. Iron
and manganese treatment will be needed. USGS model in operation
by them at this time, and can use data from Dennis and Brewster
also. Clay layer is more extensive that first believed. Drawdowns
on ponds will not be significant. (1.65 ft). Brewster has a well
in the area that can pump 500,000 gallons per day, and both wells
can co-exist. This is a viable site, and could produce up to 2
to 3 million gallons of water per day. Mr. Wiegand is investigating
funding - possibly a temporary surcharge. This should be pursued
per the Board members. George Cavanaugh made a motion that we go
ahead with this proposal. Danette Gonsalves seconded. Unanimous
vote to approve.
Public meeting adjourned at 9:30 AM.
The Board then went into Executive Session to conduct confidential
interviews for the position of Comptroller.
Donald T. Bates, Jr., Chairman
Danette Gonsalves, Vice Chairman
George Cavanaugh, Clerk
Craig Wiegand, Superintendent
Carol M. Connor, Secretary
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