BWC Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, November 17, 2015

 

Wellfleet Board of Water Commissioners

Town Hall Conference Room

Tuesday, November 17, 2015, 6:00 PM

Commissioners Present:  Justina Carlson, Chair, Neil Gadwa, James Hood, Catharie Nass, Lori Vanderschmidt

Commissioners Absent:

Also Present: Town Accountant Marilyn Crary, System Manager Michaela Miteva, Fire Chief Rich Pauley, Town Administrator Harry Terkanian

Chair Carlson called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.

145 School St & 0 Off School St and the addition of fire hydrants

Chief Pauley explained the need for a fire hydrant near the School St. access for the proposed lots in this subdivision.  He will request that the Planning Board make their approval of this plan contingent upon the installation of a hydrant.  The developer will be responsible for the cost of installing the hydrant.

Water System Operations Report

Maher sent his report.  No questions arose.

Manager’s Report

Miteva distributed the WMWS Manager’s Report.  She highlighted the possible increase in the General Fund Subsidy for FY17from $45,000 to $60,000 in order to offset any capital and operating deficits, and the possibility of moving the Master Plan Update article to the 2017 Annual Town Meeting.  TA Terkanian elaborated on the General Fund Subsidy increase, speaking to his concern of a projected deficit in the capital funds.  Postponing the Master Plan Update Article may be necessary because of other requests for funding that may come forward with a possible expansion to OCHS and the repairs to the water storage tank.

System Flushing Authorization

Roy Maher of WhiteWater provided an estimate for flushing the system.  Miteva explained that flushing is part of routine maintenance, and is necessary for keeping drinking water fresh.  Chief Pauley pointed out that an autumn flushing schedule would be logical because flushing could be combined with checking and winterizing the hydrants.  Gadwa questioned the need to separate the flushing from the flow testing.  TA Terkanian questioned whether there is a regulatory requirement for water system flushing.  He suggested that part of the flushing might take place during the flow testing and the other half in the spring.  The suggestion was made to wait until Roy Maher could be present to answer questions.

Possible 2017 ATM Request for Extension of the Water Main to OCHS

Hood explained that the Outer Cape Health Center (OCHS) is about to submit an application to the USDA for funding of rebuilding the health center.  Because of stringent standards on new wells, drainage, and septic systems, having municipal water would be preferable for a potable water supply, as well as fire protection including a sprinkler system and a fire hydrant for the facility. 

A water main extension along Briar Lane from the Man St. would be the most logical choice because it would allow for 40+ abutters the system in addition to providing service to OCHS.  Paul Millett of EPG gave an estimate of about $900,000 to extend the water main down Briar Lane to Rte 6, then north to Gull Pond Rd.  This figure did not include paving.  Paving would most likely increase that amount by about $300,000.  Hood said that the existing wells would have to be decommissioned by the spring of 2017.

TA Terkanian went on to say that determining the mode of funding for this expansion needs to be the next project for the BWC.  A new financial model needs to be determined in order to promote the project within the community.  TA Terkanian pointed out that fire protection and favorable fire insurance rates are arguments for betterments, which can only be assessed on a property that directly receives the improvement.  Connection fees are currently too high to encourage people to connect.  The new payment plan will need to be a mix of general tax obligation, betterment, and connections fees.

The discussion centered on whether to change the financial model at the same time as the Board is requesting for funding an expansion down Briar Lane in order to provide OCHS with potable water. 

Terkanian recommends that the BWC change the financial model and then approach the Board of Selectmen with the new model and the expansion down Briar Lane.

Chair Carlson made the motion to put the request for expansion up Briar Lane to OCHS on the warrant, and include investigating a new financial model; Nass seconded; the motion passed 4-0.  Hood had recused himself prior to the vote.

Discussion of the Financial Models and Operations Presentation

Miteva re-capped her presentation on possible financial models for the WMWS.  Questions focused on the cost per connection, and what is included within that cost. 

Nass proposed using a progressive tax that uses property valuation as part of a new financial model. 

Gadwa cautioned that there is a limit to what can be drawn from the wells, and that the Coles Neck well is especially limited.  Once a certain threshold of connections is crossed then more infrastructures need to be put into place.  More well fields will have to be added. 

Master Plan Discussion

Nass, acting as a liaison between the BWC and Eastham, met with Sheila Vanderhoef, Town Manager of the Eastham, regarding their new water system.  Nass said that Vanderhoef had brought up the possibility of Eastham supplying S. Wellfleet with water.  She then updated the Board on the financing of the project. 

Terkanian said that he would add the request for expansion up Briar Lane and Rte 6 to Gull Pond Rd to the Capital Improvement Plan.

The recommendation was to focus on the OCHS expansion and the financial model in lieu of making a presentation to the BOS in the near future.

Town Land Disposition Discussion

Hood presented the information and suggested that the BWC support the transfer of land from Town Ownership to the Wellfleet Conservation Trust. 

Hood made the motion to support the transfer of the town-owned properties to the Conservation Trust; Chair Carlson seconded; the motion passed 5-0.

Review of BWC Charge & Re-Classification Study Job Descriptions for WMWS Clerk & EA to the Town Administrator

Before the discussion began, Chair Carlson pointed out her need to have more direct communication with Administration, probably a check in on a monthly basis.

Hood spoke to the confusion that may be lingering as to the role and charge of the BWC.  He noted that there may be parts of the charge that are out of date.  Miteva pointed out that there will be a charter review in the near future. 

2016 Meeting Schedule Draft

The BWC will look over the calendar and draft of the 2016 meeting schedule and will finalize it at the next meeting.

Minutes

Chair Carlson moved to approve the 11/3/15 BWC minutes as presented; seconded by Hood; the motion passed 5-0. 

Correspondence

None

Agenda: December 1, 2015

  • Annual Report
  • 2016 BWC Meeting Schedule

Agenda: December 15, 2015 – BWC goes before the BOS/Fin Com

Agenda: December 17, 2015

  • Tufts Project Final Presentation

Next Meeting:

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at 6:00 PM at the Wellfleet Town Hall in the 2nd floor Conference Room.  

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 PM.                          

Public Records Materials of 11/17/15

  1. Operator’s Report, dated 11-17-15
  2. WMWS Manager’s Report, dated 11-17-15
  3. OCHS Request for Service, dated 11-10-15
  4. BOS Policy on Disposition of Town-owned Land/Open Space Request, dated 10-31-15
  5. WhiteWater WMWS flushing Work Authorization Form, dated 11-9-15
  6. BWC Charge, dated 11-22-05
  7. Employee Job Descriptions
  8. Draft of BWC 2016 Meeting Schedule