BWC Minutes
Wellfleet Board of Water Commissioners
Town Hall Conference Room
Tuesday, May 3, 2016, 6:00 PM
Commissioners Present: Justina Carlson, Chair, Neil Gadwa, James Hood, Catharie Nass
Commissioners Absent:
Also Present: Gail Ferguson,
Chair Carlson called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.
Operator’s Report
Tabled until the May 17th BWC meeting.
Manager’s Report
Manager Miteva’s written report was reviewed. Questions were raised but discussion was tabled until the next meeting at which Miteva is present.
Public Meetings: Communication Procedure & Protocol
Concerns were aired regarding conflicts of interest and the public face of the BWC.
2016 Warrant Article Re-cap
The Board reviewed the events of Town meeting and Town elections.
Status of Tower Painting & Repair
Gadwa will be meeting with TA Terkanian at a future date to discuss the next steps.
Briar Lane/Outer Cape Health Services (OCHS) Expansion Discussion
The Board discussed the passing of 2016 Warrant Articles related to the expansion down Briar Lane to OCHS. Nass stated that the next step is to wait for the water test results for the test well, which should be available in July. Hood refrained from participating in the discussion.
Public Outreach/ Communication Points
Chair Carlson discussed the need for some communications points that the Board can use to help broadcast its message.
Master Plan Discussion
Tabled until the next meeting.
BWC Member Recruitment
No new applications have been received.
State Property Designations and BWC Connection Fee Policy
Abutter Ferguson presented a copy of a letter she had written prior to the lowering of discount rates on connection fees. She believes that there is an inherent unfairness in the structure of the connection fee schedule. This calls into question the BWC policy of charging connection fees based on State Property Designations without regard to building/property use. Ferguson also asked whether there is an appeal process that home owners can use when seeking a connection fee abatement.
Chair Carlson spoke to the need to apply rules uniformly.
Hood stated that he would like to revisit the Board’s approach to connection fee structure. He suggested that there may be other options to explore. Any changes could not be retroactive, but could be applied going forward, and may address the difficulty of recruiting new customers.
Chair Carlson suggested that the most productive approach would to be design an appeals process.
The Board agreed to discuss this matter further at a future date.
Minutes
Gadwa moved to approve the 4/19/16 BWC minutes as amended; Nass seconded; the motion passed 4-0.
Correspondence
- Notice regarding State funds for lead testing at public schools
Topics of Future Concern
- System Vulnerability, cyber and physical
- Impact of the Mayo Creek Restoration Project
Agenda: May 17, 2016
- Operator’s Report
- Manager’s Report
Next Meeting:
The next meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 6:00 PM in the Town Hall Conference Room, 2nd floor.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:46 PM.
Public Records Materials of 5/3/16
- Manager’s Report dated 5/3/16
- WMWS Connection Fee Schedule
- Letter from G. Ferguson, date unknown
- Notice regarding State funds for lead testing at public schools