BOARD OF WATER COMMISSIONERS MEETING
SEPTEMBER 4, 2008
A. CALL TO ORDER:
The Board of Water Commissioners meeting came to order at 7:00 P.M. with Chairman, Mr. Luther F. Hosmer absent, Mr. Peter Jakobowski, Edward Johnson DPW Director Jeffrey A. Neece, Mr. Peter Jakobowski Supervisor and Gail E. Cigal DPW Secretary present.
B. REPORT OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS:
Mr. Johnson made the motion to accept the previous minutes from August 7, 2008; Mr. Mr. Jakobowski seconded the motion, vote unanimous.
C. SIGNING OF WARRANTS, COMMITMENTS ETC:
There were no bills for the board to sign. Mr. Neece signed them.
D. ABATMENTS:
No abatements.
E. APPOINTMENTS:
1. 7:05 p.m. Mrs. Abby Albano from 54 Pinewood Rd came in to ask for extended time to pay her delinquent water bill due to just moving here and her husband not having a job. The board agreed to talk with Michelle and see if she would put Mrs. Albano on a payment plan. Mrs. Albano told the board that she owed $232.00 and will be able to pay it by Sept. 19, 2008. The board told Mrs. Albano that they would talk to Michelle Hill the Tax Collector, but that they didn't see any problem with a payment plan.
2. 7:15 P.M. MR. STEPHEN BACHER 128 POINT GROVE RD. DELINQUENT WATER BILL: Mr. Bacher and his friend Angela came in to discuss his delinquent water bill. Mr. Bacher stated that he never received a water bill, just the delinquent notice. Mrs. Cigal had proof that the water bills were going to the right address. Mr. Bacher stated that he never received a bill. The board told Mr. Bacher that the Tax Collector was in charge of the payment plans. Mr. Bacher stated that he could pay $600.00 on Monday and then bring the rest current in a couple of months. The board agreed for Mr. Bacher to pay the $600.00 on Monday and Mr. Neece will talk to Michelle Hill the Tax Collector for Mr. Bacher to start a payment plan.
3. 7:30 P.M. SHAUNA COX 16 OAK STREET DELINQUENT WATER BILL: Ms. Cox came in to ask the board if she could plea a hardship because she has been out of work and not able to find work so she can not pay her water bill. Mr. Johnson asked Ms. Cox how much was her outstanding bill. Ms. Cox stated it is $1,056.10. Mr. Johnson stated that is more then one bill. Ms Cox stated that she has made one payment and thought that she would be able to find work and then be able to pay the rest but couldn't. Mr. Johnson asked Ms. Cox if she had talked to Michelle Hill the Tax Collector. Ms. Cox stated she went and talked to her today and she told her to go and see Gail and Gail suggested that she come in and see the board. The board told Ms. Cox
that the problem is that she did not respond to Michelle's letter she sent asking her to come in and set up a payment plan. Ms. Cox stated that she thought she had a job and then she would be able to pay it off. Ms Cox stated that she has a 401K that she has been living off of but that was for the mortgage. The board agreed to have Mr. Neece talk to Michelle Hill tomorrow morning and relay the message to her and see if he could get Ms. Cox on a payment plan. Mr. Neece or Michelle Hill will call her tomorrow.
F. DPW DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
1. LETTER TO 535 COLLEGE HIGHWAY FOR BAD WATER SAMPLES TAKEN THERE: Mr. Neece gave a copy of the draft letter to the owners of 535 College Highway. Mr. Robert J. Tynam and Mrs. Jeannette M. Tynam of Westfield, informing them that in the event that Southwick is determined to have a Total Coli form Bacteria violation during the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009(sic) Southwick shall submit a permit application to Mass DEP within 90 days to provide for disinfection of the site or such larger area as may be appropriate. For they are responsible for the Bacteria violation. The board request there presents at the next Board of Water Commissioners meeting to discuss the options available to them. The board agreed
that the letter was good to be sent.
2. LETTER FROM DEP REGARDING THE MASS DEP MODEL CONSERVATION PLANS FOR REGISTERED PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS: Mr. Neece stated that the DEP just sent out new modified water management act permits. Mr. Neece stated DEP every period sends out a new permit allowing you to withdraw a certain amount of gallonage from each source and there are new restrictions on them and some of the restrictions on West Springfield's have changed so the Mayor of West Springfield through their Water Department wrote a letter to DEP saying that they are appealing the changes on their new water withdrawal permit, but it doesn't say what the withdrawal limits are. Mr. Neece stated that he didn't know if the Board wanted to respond to this, Mr. Neece suggested to the board that
we write a letter to DEP requesting copies of the new withdrawal rate permits for West Springfield and the history of their withdrawals for past 5 years and try and find out through DEP why they want to change West Springfield's limits and what they are changing them to. Supervisor Mr. Jakobowski stated that they want them to go to 7,000,000 gallons a day. Mr. Neece stated that after that the Board can form an opinion as to whether you support the limits by DEP or whether you support West Springfield's and their appealing. Mr. Neece stated that they are probably limiting them because they are limiting everyone 65 gallons per minute per day and I can show you that they now issue every water department a time limit of getting there and the year is 2017.
3. LETTER TO SELECTMEN REGARDING COMBINING THE WATER & SEWER COMMISSIONS: Mr. Neece gave a copy of the letter Mr. Hosmer wrote to the Board of Selectmen of the Board's interest to become the Water & Sewer Commissioners.
4. MODEL CONSERVATION PLAN FOR REGISTERED PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS: Mr. Neece stated that we have a model deadline for December 31, 2017 to get to 65,000 gallons per minute per person per day. Mr. Neece stated that there is a lot to read so the board may want to take it and read it. Mr. Neece stated that there is a lot that we have to do that we have already done. Mr. Neece stated that DEP is going to try and get everyone to conserve water to the point of limiting outside watering. Mr. Neece stated whether we are a stressed basin or an unstressed basin which we are an unstressed basin it doesn't seem to matter anymore. Supervisor Mr. Jakobowski stated that we do not have a water shortage at this end of the state why do we have to be
penalized.
5. TRACTOR SUPPLY STORE: Mr. Neece stated that the new Tractor Supply Store tapped in to the 16" water main on College Highway today. Mr. Neece stated that they noticed there is a lot of corrosion on the 16" main so they did a little research and they are concerned that there is some electrolysis going on there and it is prematurely rotting out the pipe. Mr. Neece stated maybe its local maybe its not. Mr. Neece stated that they found photos of when the pipe went in and it was coated and the problem with the coating is when you ding it and any of the coating comes off the electrolysis has to do with the electric magnetic field of the earth so we don't have much choice. Mr. Neece stated that you can control it and they
found a company that gave us an estimate on doing a survey of the pipe and then they would give us a recommendation to remedy the situation. Mr. Neece stated that they would basically connect the electros and running it off to a field were the electros and the pipe would be balanced with the earth. Mr. Neece stated it is a lot of money, it is $31,250.00. Mr. Neece stated that he didn't know if it is worth it or not. Mr. Neece stated there is no way of knowing. Mr. Johnson asked if it was just for the survey. Mr. Neece stated for the survey and a report. Mr. Johnson asked if maybe it would be smart to be proactive on this instead of letting the pipe deteriorate if there is a problem. The board agreed that we haven't had any problems so far and it is a lot of money. The board agreed to hold off for now and see what happens.
6. CHEMICAL INJECTION PORT AT THE WELL HOUSE: Mr. Neece stated that one thing that DEP would like us to put in at the well house and we have provision to put it in is a Chemical Injection Port. Mr. Neece stated that we don't need it now but in case we have to treat it for something it will be there. Mr. Neece stated that along with that we need to have a testing port for the solution a minimum of 100 feet away from the well house. Mr. Neece stated that Tighe & Bond is giving direction to the contractor to work up a price for the change order and it will not be astronomical it will be within budget. Mr. Neece stated that DEP will not approve the well house going on line until we
do this and they will also not approve the well house going on line until we adjust the floor drain by law that we just past at the last town meeting. Mr. Neece stated that we are waiting for the by law to come back from the attorney general's office. Mr. Jakobowski stated it is the redundant well it's not like it is a new well.
7. MEETING WITH THE SPRINGFIELD WATER & SEWER DEPARTMENT: Mr. Neece stated that he is meeting with the Springfield Water and Sewer Commissioners at the end of this month because they along with everybody else, received their new withdrawal permits and they received their new water management act registrations, so we sign a contract with them every year and this is a draft with various changes and we do not want to sign it unless we know what those changes are and what they mean. Mr. Neece stated he can't give any recommendation yet until he meets with them. The board agreed and asked Mr. Neece to get back to them with the outcome.
G. MAIL:
1. TRANSMITAL FROM TIGHE & BOND:
No discussion.
2. LETTER FROM ACADIA INSURANCE COMPANY REGARDING INSURANCE FOR DELRAY CONTRACTING, INC.:
Mr. Neece stated that the letter states that they are insured.
3. BUDGET BALANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR TO DATE:
No discussion.
4. MEETING SCHEDULE:
The board agreed to go back to their regular schedule meets. September 18, 2008 is the next Board of Water Commissioner's meeting.
H. OLD BUSINESS:
1. WATER RULES & REGS TO BE UPDATED:
No discussion.
2. HERB WRY 28 IROQUOIS DRIVE.
Mrs. Cigal asked supervisor Mr. Jakobowski if it was all right for Mr. Wry as seasonal water user to connect and disconnect his water meter before he takes off for the winter. Do we still charge him a shut off fee for turning it off for the winter at the street? Mr. Jakobowski stated yes, because he is only shutting off the water in his house not at the street.
There being no further business brought before the board, meeting adjourned at 8:36 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail Cigal DPW Secretary
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