Sewer Commission Meeting
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
8:00 a.m.
Approved 5/5/2009
Present: Chairman Michael Salerno, Ed Demko, Andrew Spath, Kate Lathrop, Joanne Carpenter, and Jim Dow
Meeting was called to order at 8:05 a.m.
Modification to Thaxter Street plan:
• Residents involved asked to modify plan
• Kate: Reprint of Article 15 is being done so it is not a problem to change it
• Change of proposal eliminates lots at #53 and #50, and an exempted lot; eliminating these properties cuts the project in half
• Reduced project would involve four residences; all are in agreement with extension of line
• Michael made it known to all residents involved that this is the best time and will be cheapest opportunity to tie into the sewer system
• Mounded septic systems will be necessary in that area when systems need to be replaced
• Properties would be bettered if line is run by their house even if they don’t tie in
• Worst case would be $225,000 per residence for running line by that address
• Michael suggested getting a statement from neighbors who want out saying they understand there will be a moratorium on extending line after this
• Kate: Project must meet borrowing deadline in fall – to extend in the future costs would be much higher
• Kate: Dave Polcari estimates shorter project will be about $150,000
• Kate read letter from Hugh Kilmartin regarding cost
• Kate needs to let John Asher know today if article is to be changed for town meeting
• If total cost per residence were $250,000 for project, it will be close to $18,000 per year without interest as betterment
• MWRA grant money is for I & I removal only
• Ed: What about stimulus package for funding support
• Michael: There has been no money available since WRSD One
• Discussion of betterment policies
• Andrew: Cohasset policy
• Kate: WRSD One, history
• Michael: This will be a gravity system
• Kate: original proposal will cause a lot of discussion at town meeting and probably failure due to objections by some affected neighbors
• Discussion regarding presentation at town meeting
• Andrew: people are going to miss a great opportunity; these people will want to tie in eventually
• Ed: How many times have these systems been pumped during recent years? Who has talked with the residents about pumping costs vs. hooking in?
• Michael: Going for stimulus money now is very difficult because it is the last minute
• Kate: Option: withdraw project? Not fair to those who are willing to fund their portion
• Ed: Should the project be done now at all?
• Kate: Are there serious water table problems in area?
• Ed: Concern about town meeting reaction to doing short piece
• Michael: Those using the extension will be paying for it.
• Kate: Dave Polcari said it would be more cost effective to combine lower Thaxter and Central St. projects into one project and he included an estimate to do projects this way
• Michael: Problem with tape…meeting suspended
• Michael: Tape was fixed …. meeting continued
• Ed: Are there health and conservation reasons to go ahead? Yes.
• Michael: Today is last possible day to decide about changing article
• Kate: 51 has been against it from beginning, others have changed mind, one is ambivalent
• Michael: Doing partial project is not ideal, but it isn’t fair in this economy to force residents to take on an additional large expense
• Ed: Not comfortable with doing half system
• Joanne: Is this an opportunity to get four more houses into system?
• Ed: Do we want to call DEP regarding availability of money?
• Michael: We can take a vote, if Ed can find more money from DEP we can offer amendment on the floor of town meeting to have all eight properties tie in
• Motion: Contingent about the signatures of James and Julia Flynn at 37 Thaxter, Dan and Coleen Quaile at 38 Thaxter, John and Janet Holleran at 43 Thaxter, and Hugh and Susan Kilmartin at 4 Kents Lane that the higher end of project will be $150,000, that we will go ahead with the half project to allow 37, 38, and 43 Thaxter Street and 4 Kents Lane to tie in as the Thaxter St. project. Motion made by Michael Salerno; seconded by Andrew Spath: unanimous vote
Personnel Management:
• Michael: Took responsibility three years ago for personnel on Sewer Commission; now thinks it would be good if Andrew would take those responsibilities
• Motion: to make Andrew the Director of Personnel for the Commission Made by Michael; seconded by Ed; unanimous vote
MWRA Grant Loan for I & I:
• Kate: A letter arrived in February with an update on grant and loan funds available from the MWRA; HSC currently have $152,000 available to Hingham
• Kate: Jean Montgomery said we have had a number of funding articles in warrants over the years – has been authorized by town to spend money available
• Michael: Requested Jim to find I & I project to use this money
• Kate: We have to tell MWRA soon; John Sczrak is contact
• Motion: to accept grant loan from MWRA Made by Michael; seconded by Ed; unanimous vote
Arbitration:
• Kate reported there is an arbitration meeting called by the union and is scheduled in July
• Michael gave a general review of the events that led to this arbitration: complaint brought by employee was considered by Commission and voted against; matter was grieved by employee and Commission won grievance; employee is now taking the matter to arbitration.
• Michael will attend arbitration if he is re-elected; Andrew will take over if Michael is not re-elected and will get background information from Jim Dow
• Ed: Can we sit at the arbitration as a board on the matter?
• Michael: You can review this matter with Kate and look at the minutes; Andrew will get background on this matter
Minutes of March 18, 2009:
• Kate: Change needed on last page: projects must be completed by October 1, 2009 instead of going out to bid by October 1, 2009
• Motion: To accept with one change as stated. Made by Michael; seconded Andrew; unanimous vote
E-mail from Ted Alexiades :
• Advisory Boards needs to know if transfers are needed from Reserve Fund
• Michael: Money will be taken from Connection Account instead of going to reserve fund so that rate can be stabilized from year to year. No need to go to Reserve Fund at this time.
• Kate: We will be way over budget on Hull bills because the Hull rate went way up, but we are under budget on the MWRA budget for 2009; she thinks that will cover the overage
New flow meter in Cohasset is in and functioning
Other Discussion: None
Motion to adjourn: made by Michael; seconded by Andrew; unanimous vote
Adjourned at 9:02 a.m.
Minutes prepared by Joanne C. Carpenter
This summary does not include every item discussed by the Board, nor the full extent of the discussions. The full meeting is available on tope in the Commission Office.