HARWICH WATER DEPARTMENT
Water Commissioner Meeting Minutes
October 23, 2007
Present: Chairman Donald T. Bates, Vice Chairman George Cavanaugh, Clerk Danette Gonsalves, Superintendent Craig Wiegand, Secretary Kelly Byrnes, Mark White- Environmental Partners
Meeting called to order at 8:15 a.m. by Chairman Donald Bates.
Vice Chairman George Cavanaugh made a motion to approve minutes from meeting held on Tuesday, October 9, 2007. Motion seconded by Clerk Danette Gonsalves. Unanimous vote to approve.
Abatement presented and discussed. Motion made by Chairman Donald Bates to approve abatements. Motion seconded by Vice Chairman George Cavanaugh. Unanimous vote to approve. Abatement signed.
Old Business:
Superintendent Wiegand gave an update on the union contracts. Contract negotiations have been postponed until further notice. A later date will be scheduled with Town Administrator James Merriam and the union.
Superintendent Wiegand met with the Board of Health last night to discuss adding fluoride to Town water. Upon giving his concerns and recommendations, the Board of Health is going to table the issue for right now.
Board discussed the water bill for account #6583, 22 Long Road. Mrs. Warner came before the Board on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 asking for assistance with her water bill as they had experienced an extensive leak at their property in the spring of this year. The Board explained to Mrs. Warner that they would make a decision once the fall bill was processed.
After reviewing the bill and reviewing the facts from the leak, a motion was made by Chairman Donald Bates to charge the base rate minus fifty percent (50%). Motion was seconded by Vice Chairman George Cavanaugh. Unanimous vote to approve.
New Business/Correspondence
A discussion took place regarding written request for abatement for account #2420. There was a leak at the property over the summer while tenants were occupying the property. Water Department investigated the high consumption and when tenants were asked what took place they described the leak “as a swimming pool where the kids were able to swim.” The owners of the property were told a different story and were unaware of how extensive the leak was until receiving their bill in September. The Board reviewed the situation and discussed options for assisting the customer.
Motion was made by Chairman Donald Bates to use the base rate minus fifty percent (50%). Motion was seconded by Vice Chairman George Cavanaugh. Unanimous vote to approve.
Representative from Zisson and Veara came into the Water Department to obtain copies of records and documents pertaining to the water main break that took place on Sea Street in February 2007 and the case for Mr. Allan Campbell.
Motion to award bid for radio read devices to Ti-Sales made by Vice Chairman George Cavanaugh. Motion was seconded by Clerk Danette Gonsalves. Unanimous vote to approve.
Superintendent Wiegand presented the drafted FY 2009 budget for the Department to the Board. The budget will be submitted on November 1, 2007. Superintendent Wiegand discussed projected changes to the budget and asked the Board to review the summary for approval.
Motion made by Clerk Danette Gonsalves to approve FY 2009 budget summary. Motion was seconded by Vice Chairman George Cavanaugh. Unanimous vote to approve.
Superintendent Wiegand presented documents to the Capital Outlay committee. Projections for Water Department were well received.
Discussion took place regarding concerns about a recent increase in iron and manganese levels in the wells. Superintendent Wiegand is going to pull records from the last six months to investigate how these levels have risen over this time period. This issue has brought up the possibility of adding a new treatment facility as these concerns take place.
Appointments:
Mark White from Environmental Partners came before the Board to give an update on the New Source and Well #10. Mark White explained that in July the Department of Environmental Protection approved the New Source with hardly any concerns. The long term pump test that was approved however is very expensive even when done over a long period of time. After approval was received, drilling began at the Well #10 site testing the sediment and material that lay in the different layers between the aquifers. In early September, drilling continued 200 feet below the aquifer and found quite a bit of sediment, material, and clay which brought up concerns regarding the efficiency of using this area for a well site. Digging went down to about 400 feet and samples were taken from different layers during the course of the drilling. Before beginning the long term pump plan for the New Source, Superintendent Wiegand and Mark White will need to put together a more secure financial picture and look at how this project will affect the Capital Outlay.
Further discussion took place concerning the iron and manganese levels and how to address the situation. Superintendent Wiegand and Mark White explained that sequestering is a course of action they are looking into. Sequestering means that phosphates will be added to the water to bring the levels of iron and manganese levels down.
Board discussed the decision made by the State Appellate Tax Board abating the water bill for account #8335, Mr. Louis Lacerra. After presenting a thorough case for the Water Department, the Appellate Tax Board voted in favor of Mr. Lacerra, requesting that the Water Department abate his bill for $3,064.00.
Motion was made by Vice Chairman George Cavanaugh to appeal the State Appellate Tax Board’s decision. Motion was seconded by Clerk Danette Gonsalves. Unanimous vote to approve.
Superintendent Wiegand will be contacting Town Counsel to proceed with the appeal.
November meeting dates approved and scheduled for Tuesday, November 6 and 20, 2007.
Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 6, 2007.
Motion to adjourn made by Clerk Danette Gonsalves, motion was seconded by Vice Chairman George Cavanaugh. Unanimous vote to approve.
Meeting adjourned at 8:55 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald T Bates, Chairman
Danette Gonsalves, Vice Chairman
George Cavanaugh, Clerk
Craig Wiegand, Superintendent
Kelly Byrnes, Secretary
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