Tuesday, May 25, 2010
8:00 a.m.
The meeting was called to order at 8:05 a.m. Those in attendance were Commissioners Salerno, Spath, and Demko, Supervisor Jim Dow, and Office Administrator Kate Lathrop
• Minutes of the April 27, 2010
Commissioners Spath and Salerno unanimously approved the minutes of the April 27 Commission meeting. Commissioner Demko was absent from that meeting.
• Election of Board Chairman
It was moved, seconded and voted unanimously to re-elect Commissioner Salerno as Chairman of the Board of Sewer Commissioners.
• New Business
a. Commissioner Salerno informed the meeting that the Industrial Park project is moving forward. He will endeavor to see that the other board members and the sewer supervisor and office are kept informed of progress.
b. Mr. Salerno further informed the meeting that all of the sewer articles on the 2010 Town Meeting warrant passed without difficulty.
c. Kate Lathrop explained that the proposed Biergarten at 6 Station Street (formerly Settles Glass) will be subject to a high connection fee based on the number of seats in the restaurant. The project manager was in the office to discuss the possibility of constructing a lateral from Station Street to the property line prior to paying the connection fee because DPW is going to pave both North and Station Streets in the near future. Once the paving is completed there will be a five year moratorium on opening the street. The Commissioners agreed that this is reasonable. Jim Dow will meet with the project manager on site to determine the best way to proceed.
d. Jim Dow has proposed we hire a company like Veolia Environmental to produce an Underground Asset Management Plan, this would included a cleaning, videoing, and GIS layer of the sewer system to identify sources of I&I and create a criticality list for system improvements. The cost will be somewhere from $1.20 to $2.00 per linear foot. Kate Lathrop explained that the town currently has $296,000 available through the MWRA Financial Assistance program for I&I reduction on a 45% Grant and 55% interest-free loan basis. However, in order to spend funds we need authority from Town Meeting. In 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2003 we had I&I appropriations totaling $802,200. Of that, $589,500 was expended leaving $212,700 in unexpended appropriations. Ted Alexiades is asking bond counsel to look into the pertinent warrant articles to be sure that we still have the authority to spend the $212,700. The Sewer Commission moved, seconded, and voted unanimously to allow Kate Lathrop and Jim Dow to proceed with looking into the project if it is determined to be allowable by bond counsel.
e. The Fed Corp contract for lower Central and Thaxter Streets includes a figure for final paving of the two project areas. DPW is proposing to do the paving. Kate will ask Dave Polcari at CDM how this should be handled vis a vis the Fed Corp contact amount.
f. Jim Dow reported that Walton Cove needs extensive work. Enterprise Equipment will provide the needed new valve at a cost of approximately $4,800. Jim will contact Margetts to use pump trucks to isolate the incoming flow and bypass the station so that the installation can be done. In addition, a vactor truck will be used to clean the wet well. The total anticipated cost of the project is about $7,000. This amount can be paid from Capital Outlay since the work is a priority and other Capital Outlay projects will be re-evaluated as to urgency.
g. Jim Dow informed the Board that the upgrading of the WRSD grinder pump systems is moving right along with an average of 4 pumps a day being taken care of. 7/1/10 is the target date for tuning over ownership of the systems to the property owners.
h. Jim and Ed Demko have been working on a manual for pump station operations. While there are no new policies or procedures in the manual, it pulls together all the existing required routines; rules for all phases of operations and personnel issues. Copies of the manual will be placed at each pump station, in each vehicle and in the office. There will be checklists at each pump station so that everyone will know exactly what needs to be accomplished and when.
i. Mr. Dow informed the Commissioners that there have been on-going personnel issues. He feels that the new manual may help to prevent some future problems but needs guidance on handling current personnel problems. Commissioner Salerno suggested that the Sewer Commission request that the Town Administrator, Kevin Paicos, conduct a disciplinary hearing on behalf of the Sewer Department. It was moved, seconded, and voted unanimously to authorize Jim Dow to work with Kevin Paicos toward that end.
j. Ed Demko and Jim Dow have worked with the Board of Health and, to a lesser degree, the Building Department over a long period of time to create a new Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) policy for food preparation establishments. Letters will be going out at the end of the week with the new policy provisions. The new policy will take effect on August 2, 2010 and will begin with restaurant to restaurant inspections.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 a.m. No future meeting has yet been scheduled. 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.
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