BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS MEETING
FEBRUARY 7, 2008
A. CALL TO ORDER:
The Board of Water Commissioner's meeting came to order at 7:00 P.M. with the following members present. Chairman, Mr. Luther F. Hosmer, Mr. Edward Johnson, Mr. Peter Jakobowski is absent. DPW Director, Jeff Neece was present, Mrs. Gail E. Cigal, DPW Secretary. Supervisor Mr. Peter Jakobowski is absent.
B. REPORT OF PREVIOUS MINUTES:
Mr. Johnson made the motion to accept the previous minutes of January 17, 2008 as amended. Chairman Mr. Luther F. Hosmer seconded the motion, vote unanimous.
C. SIGNING OF WARRANTS, COMMITMENTS, ETC.:
The board reviewed and signed the Commitment for January 2007 in the amount of $538.00.
D. REVIEW OF ABATEMENTS:
No abatements.
E. APPOINTMENTS:
No appointments.
F. DPW DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
1. LETTER FROM DEP REGARDING THE REQUEST FOR THE BOARD TO SIGN TWO COPIES OF A DRAFT ADMINISTRATIVE CONSENT ORDER:
Mr. Neece stated that the letter we received from DEP is in regards to the two bad samples that were taken up at Subway. Mr. Neece stated that one of the reasons we are getting bad samples is because of the location where they are taking the samples. Mr. Neece stated that it is a Lean To with a dirt floor? Mr. Hosmer asked if we are taking the sample from another area now. Mr. Neece stated yes from Napa Auto Store. Mr. Neece stated that DEP wants us to sign a consent order. Mr. Neece stated that he sent it to Town Counsel for their review. The board refused to sign the consent
order.
2. BUDGET MEETING:
Mr. Neece stated that there is a budget meeting next Saturday morning at 9:10 a.m. with the Finance Committee and the Board of Selectmen.
3. THE WATER DIVISION FLOOR DRAIN BY-LAW:
Mr. Neece informed the board that the Building Inspector will take care of the Floor Drain By-Law.
G. NEW BUSINESS:
1. THE HYDRANT METER AT TUCKAHOE TURF:
Mrs. Cigal was questioning the hydrant meter at Tuckahoe Turf and why that meter all of a sudden gave that huge reading. Mrs. Cigal asked if they don't use the hydrant meter why it is there. Mr. Hosmer stated for fire protection. Mrs. Cigal stated that if they are going to use it then they should let us know so we can take a reading before and after. Mr. Hosmer asked where the water line is. Is it after the meter or before? Mr. Johnson stated after the meter he is assuming. Mr. Hosmer stated we should find out. Mr. Hosmer stated that there should
only be a line that feeds the hydrant and that's all. Mr. Hosmer stated that there shouldn't be a line going off that line. Mr. Neece stated that he would find out.
2. DEP SEMINAR REGARDING THE STATISTICAL REPORT:
Mr. Neece stated that the seminar for the Statistical report is coming up next Monday at 9:00 a.m. in Northampton. Mr. Hosmer and Mr. Johnson stated that they will attend.
3. LETTER FROM TIGHE & BOND:
Mr. Neece stated that in the letter from Tighe & Bond he is basically telling us that the Engineering is running over by $25,000.00. Mr. Neece stated that the $25,000.00 that Mr. Michalski is asking for is for additional work that was required by the well builder and the schedule got pushed back and he is spending a lot more time on Engineering and permitting but not that it is costing us anything and here is the reason why. Mr. Neece stated that there is a list of items that were done and there was a savings of $41,000.00 to the work that we already completed. Mr. Neece stated he went to Linda Carr the Town Accountant and said that he wanted to take the savings from those four purchase orders and put them into the Engineering line item for the work that Tighe & Bond is working on now. Linda Carr stated that is no
problem. Mr. Neece stated that we don't have to transfer any more money he just shifted everything around.
4. TOWN CLERK, TREASURER & TAX COLLECTOR MICHELLE HILL:
Mr. Neece stated that we give the town $10,000.00 in administrative fees each year. For the use of the room the office etc. Mr. Neece stated we also give the town $8,000.00 for gas and oil and we give them $6,000.00 for postage. Michelle Hill came to him and said that her postage line item is running over because the Water Division had the extra mailing for the bad chloroform test and for the certified letters for people who were delinquent so you notified all of them. Mr. Neece stated that Mrs. Hill was asking him to ask the board for the balance we have in our postage line item. Mr. Neece stated that he asked how much have we spent so far; we usually give you 6,000.00 right off the bat every year.
F. DPW DIRECTOR'S REPORT CONTINUED:
4. TOWN CLERK TREASURER & TAX COLLECTOR MICHELLE HILL:
Mr. Neece stated she said 3 to $4,000.00. Mr. Johnson stated he would like to see it in writing. Mr. Neece stated she said 3 to $4,000.00. Mr. Johnson stated he would like to see it in writing. Mr. Johnson stated he doesn't mind giving them more money if we go over our limit, but he would like to see it in writing. Mr. Hosmer stated how do we know what we spend in postage every year. Mrs. Cigal suggested we get a bill for the postage we use. The board agreed.
5. NOBEL STEAD SUB-DIVISION:
Mr. Neece stated that at our next meeting Attorney Mark Beglien from Bacon & Wilson is coming in about Noble Stead the new Sub-Division that T J Welch is building. Mr. Neece stated, remember we told Mr. Welch to run the line up and we were going to pay the difference between the 8" water line and the 12", for material only. Mr. Neece stated that our Lawyer and his Lawyer are drafting up the agreement so we can talk about all the specifics.
6. DEP IS HANDING OUT MONEY THROUGH A GRANT:
DEP is handing out money to Water Departments for purchasing land to protect their well Systems. Mr. Neece stated that DEP has 9 grants totaling 2.6 million dollars and we can apply for one of those grants. Mr. Neece stated that the piece of property that we could apply for is 33 acres owned by George Hankin located near our well or close to it. Mr. Neece stated that he is asking the board's permission to submit a grant application to target getting that piece of property. Mr. Hosmer asked if Mr. Hankin is willing to sell it. Mr. Neece stated he didn't know. Mr. Neece stated that we will have to get an appraisal on the property and then apply for the grant around the appraisal and if we get the grant money if we are successful then it will be contingent on the purchase and sales agreement with Mr. Hankin. Mr. Johnson
made the motion to get started on the grant application, Mr. Hosmer seconded the motion, vote unanimous. Mr. Hosmer stated we will have to ask Mr. Hankin first. Mr. Neece stated that he stops in here all the time. Mr. Neece stated maybe we could get 3 or 400,000.00 worth of grant money then maybe we could buy part of the land or what ever we can get. The board agreed.
7. WATER RATES:
Mr. Neece asked the board if they wanted to discuss water rates. Mr. Hosmer stated no let's leave the rates the way they are. Mr. Johnson agreed we don't have to raise the rates right now. Mr. Hosmer stated we have enough money and we are doing ok. Mr. Neece stated ok.
8. MONITORING WAIVERS:
Mr. Neece stated that he applied for some monitoring waivers from DEP so we don't have to test for organic compounds. Mr. Neece stated that we test for inorganic compounds, synthetic organic compounds, volatile organic compounds, Arsenic and pre-chlorine. Mr. Neece stated that we have tested negative for all of those for some time so we are asking for a break in testing for those. Mr. Hosmer stated so we get a grace period and then we have to start testing again. Mr. Neece stated yes.
9. CONSERVATION COMMISSION:
Mr. Neece stated that he had to go to the Conservation Commission to ask for permission to work down at the new well for building the well house and they said ok.
There being no further business brought before the board, meeting adjourned at 8:33 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail E. Cigal,
DPW Secretary
| 
