Finance Committee Minutes

Wellfleet Finance Committee

Minutes of Meeting of May 27, 2015

Wellfleet Fire Station, 7:00 PM

Commissioners Present: Stephen Polowczyk, Chair, Sam Bradford, Janet Loewenstein, Linda Pellegrino, Sylvia Smith, Robert Wallace, Ira Wood, and Alternate Fred Magee

Commissioners Absent: Thomas Reinhart, Liz Sorrell

Also Attending: Town Administrator Harry Terkanian, BWC Commissioners: Justina Carlson, Chair, Neil Gadwa, Jim Hood, Catharie Nass, & Lori Vanderschmidt; Wellfleet Fire Chief Richard Pauley,  Fire Captain Thomas Ferreira, Executive Assistant Michaela Miteva,  WhiteWater Regional Manager Russ Tierney, WMWS Clerk Miriam Spencer

Chair Polowczyk called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.

Wellfleet Municipal Water System

Justina Carlson, Chair of the Board of Water Commissioners, explained the intent of meeting with the Finance Committee.  Members of the BWC and staff introduced themselves and their backgrounds, and the Finance Committee did the same.  Justina Carlson and Michaela Miteva narrated a PowerPoint slide presentation on the role of the BWC, history of the Wellfleet Municipal Water System (WMWS).  Town Administrator Harry Terkanian had prepared a financial report on operating and debt service costs to the Town from 2007 to the present.  Chair Carlson reviewed basic information on the infrastructure and staffing of the WMWS.  Russell Tierney, the regional manager of WhiteWater, the system operator, explained WhiteWater’s role.  Miriam Spencer reviewed the duties of the Water System clerk.  Justina Carlson discussed Michaela Miteva’s supervisory position.   Fire Chief Richard Pauley reported on the fire protection afforded by the expanded Municipal Water System.   Harry Terkanian summarized the benefits the Water System has brought to Wellfleet.  Water Commissioner Jim Hood explained WMWS current debt.  Catherie Nass discussed sound capital improvement planning and asset management.

 A question and answer session followed the presentation.  Topics raised included: WhiteWater’s role, betterments, affordability, expansion to South Wellfleet, the scarcity of grants, debt service, financial models to handle debt, use of an enterprise fund, properties without potable water, lower connection fees, incentive packages, partnering with the National Seashore, fire hydrant fees, commercial properties, Town-owned buildings, an updated Master Plan,  the status of the Local Comprehensive Plan, wells in the Central District, water testing, district taxes for fire suppression benefits, and support from the Board of Selectmen.    

Minutes

Wood moved to approve the minutes of 4/27/15.  Magee seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

Correspondence

Three items were in the correspondence files: a letter from the WEA that the Committee determined that Harry Terkanian should handle; the latest issue of the Beacon, and the quarterly Police Department report.

Agenda for Next Meeting

Agenda for the June 24, 2015 meeting will include:  ideas for saving tax payers’ money, CIP, Police details, liaison reports, minutes and mail.

Adjournment

Stephen Polowczyk made the motion to adjourn, Wood seconded, and the motion carried 5-0.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Public Records of 5/27/15

1. WMWS PowerPoint presentation of 5/27/15
2. Letter from WEA dated 5/26/15
3. Police Department quarterly report dated 5/11/15