BWC Minutes
Wellfleet Board of Water Commissioners
Town Hall Conference Room
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Present: Neil Gadwa, James Hood, Catherie Nass, Lori Vanderschmidt; Coordinator Michaela Miteva
Regrets: Justina Carlson
Guests: Eastham Water Commissioners John Knight and Wally Adams;
Wellfleet Resident Richard Wulsin
Acting Chair Jim Hood called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Discussion of Eastham Water System
Eastham Water Commissioners John Knight and Wally Adams were attending the meeting to discuss their experiences with bringing a municipal water system to Eastham. Mr. Adams discussed the use of betterments in their town, the meeting schedule and public involvement. Mr. Knight explained their approach to financing issues and informational sessions. These sessions covered system design, homeowner responsibility, average pricing, Town borrowing, use of the website for information and meeting recordings. An oversight committee follows the activity of construction of the Eastham water system. Mr. Knight also praised the educational efforts of EWAC. Mr. Adams described the flow of water in the “bubble.” He discussed the advantage of fire suppression protection with the system. Mr. Knight recounted the problems in the water, including dioxane 1,4 and vinyl chloride. Eastham offers basic water testing for nitrate, they said. Both commissioners were hopeful that they would get financing for a town-wide system. Mr. Knight and Mr. Adams answered questions from the Wellfleet BWC members.
Non – Abutter Connection Request
Richard Wulsin distributed a packet on the history of his efforts to connect 25 Masonic Lane to the Municipal Water System. 1 In it, he included a plan of his land and estimates for a non-abutter connection to the system. He planned to get one more estimate because of the big difference in the two estimates he had received. He discussed the possibility of connecting from Main Street if there was a curb stop put in for Masonic Lane. He will return to another meeting with more information.
Water Operations Report
WhiteWater Representative Roy Maher gave the Water Operations Report of November 18, 2014.2 His report included: problems and the overall success with the latest reader meter reading; new connections; seasonal turn-offs; work on backflow devices; and pumping and usage reports for August and September.
BWC Office Report
Michaela Miteva presented the BWC Office Report of November 18, 2014.3 She included: financials; applications in Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015; total connections; Phase II project costs; an update on the Chequessett Neck Rd. drain; and meter readings.
Master Plan
The Board discussed the possibility of using betterments in another phase of development of the Water System. Connection fees from the earlier phases would not be refunded, but they could count towards their taxes. The Board agreed that the Master Plan should be updated. Lori Vanderschmidt said that she had contacted a Tufts professor about finding graduate students interested in research that could be utilized in planning for the system. The BWC will ask the Selectmen about putting out an RFP through available funds to develop a new Master Plan.
Minutes
Nass moved to approve the minutes of October 21, 2014. Hood seconded, and the motion carried 3-0.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________ __________________________
Mary Rogers, Committee Secretary James Hood (Acting Chair)
__________________(Date)
The Water Commissioners approved these minutes at the meeting held 12/2/2014.
Public Records Material of November 18, 2014
1.) Packet from Richard Wulsin
2.) WhiteWater Operations Report of 11/18.14
3.) BWC Office Report of 11/18/14.