Harwich Water & Wastewater Department

Harwich Water Department

 BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS

 Meeting on February 28, 2012

Present:  Chairman Donald Bates, Vice Chairman Allin Thompson, Clerk Danette Gonsalves, Superintendent Craig Wiegand, Secretary Alexandra Bilek, Selectmen Angelo LaMantia, Town Administrator James Merriam, Barry Worth, Liz Argo, Paul Costello

Chairman Donald Bates called the meeting to order at 8:15 a.m.

The minutes for the previous meetings held on February 7, 2012, were approved with a motion by Vice Chairman Thompson and seconded by Clerk Gonsalves;  3-0-0.

Mr. James Merriam came before the Board to discuss the installation of solar panels at the Water Department property on Route 39.  He said Harwich is part of the Cape and Vineyard Electric Cooperative (CVEC), and have worked with the Town with the installation of solar panels at the Transfer Station during Phase I.  Mr. Merriam has asked Barry Worth and Liz Argo, who represent CVEC, to discuss Phase II of the solar panels.  He said under Article 97 of the State Constitution the installation of solar panels is considered a change of use and requires approval from the Board of Water Commissioners, Town Meeting and the State Legislature.  Mr. Merriam said if the Board wished to proceed with this they would need to submit a Warrant Article for the Special Town Meeting.  He said he is aware of the SRF funding for solar panels at the North Harwich well site, so there are now two funding options.  Mr. Merriam said the Town is at half of its capacity for solar meters.  Mr. Wiegand said it would behoove the Department to submit one article for both sites so we have both options.  Liz Argo discussed the option of installing solar panels through CVEC at the Water Department property abutting Thompson’s Field with a solar meter at the Treatment Plant.  Mr. Wiegand asked Mr. Merriam who would receive the profit from the solar panels.  Mr. Merriam said he believed that it would be considered the same as the money for the cell towers and would go into the Enterprise Fund.  Mr. Merriam asked Ms. Argo to produce a financial forecast for the Board to compare to the SRF funding.  Paul Costello of Polaris Consultants presented the Board with the proposed installation of solar panels at the North Harwich Well 10 site using the SRF funding.   Vice Chairman Thompson moved to file a Warrant Article for an Article 97 Change of Land Use for the Chatham Road Properties and the Well10 Site for the installation of solar panels with a second by Clerk Gonsalves; 3-0-0.

Mr. Wiegand suggested submitting a Warrant Article to accept the SRF funding.  He said the Board can always pull it if they choose not to accept it.  Vice Chairman Thompson moved to place an Article on the Warrant to accept the SRF funding from the DEP for $6 million for FY 12 with a second by Clerk Gonsalves; 3-0-0.

Mr. Wiegand suggested submitting a Warrant Article for becoming a Water District.  He informed the Board that the Highway Department is already being referred to as the Department of Public Works, and Linc Hooper as the Director.  Mr. Wiegand said it seems like a done deal.  Clerk Gonsalves suggested writing a letter of inquiry.  Mr. Wiegand said he would draft a letter.  Clerk Gonsalves asked if the Selectmen were aware of this.  Mr. Wiegand said most of the communiqués with this name are addressed to the Selectmen.  Vice Chairman Thompson moved to submit an Article for the Special Town Meeting to create a new independent Water-Sewer District with a second by Clerk Gonsalves; 3-0-0.

Mr. Wiegand said they have one proposal for the study of the Water-Sewer District.  Clerk Gonsalves suggested getting more bids.

Mr. Wiegand proposed that the Board of Water Commissioners negotiate Union contracts in the future.  The Board accepted this.

Mr. Costello distributed the summary of the executive report.  He said he will come back at a later date to discuss the Master Plan.

Mr. Wiegand presented the program City Sourced to the Board.  He said it would cost $5,000 initially, and the rest of the Town can try it out for a year.  Mr. Wiegand said it is a means for citizens to report problems throughout the Town. He said it is $3,000 per year with an initial set up cost of $2,000.  Mr. Wiegand said after the first year those Departments that would like to continue using it would contribute to the $3,000 per year cost.  Clerk Gonsalves moved to implement City Sourced in the amount of $5,000 with a second by Vice Chairman Thompson; 3-0-0.

Mr. Wiegand informed the Board that he would like to become a member of the Department Head Union.

The Board will meet again on Tuesday, March 13, 2012.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 a.m. with a motion by Chairman Bates and seconded by Vice Chairman Thompson; 3-0-0.

Respectfully submitted,

____________________________                                   ______________________________

Donald T. Bates, Chairman                                                   Craig Wiegand, Superintendent

____________________________                                   _______________________________

Allin P. Thompson, Vice Chairman                                       Alexandra Bilek, Secretary

____________________________

Danette Gonsalves, Clerk

Commissioners Meeting Minutes 2/28/2012 (pdf)