SIC Meeting Minutes

Meeting date: 
Tuesday, February 28, 2017
OPENING:  A public informational special meeting of the Sewer Implementation Committee opened at 6:30 p.m.  The following members were in attendance:
Jerry Patria, Chairman
Present
Randy Brown, Vice Chairman
Present
Brian Pranka
Present
Freda Brown
Absent
Art Pinell
Present

 

Jerry Patria, Chairman, opened the meeting by stating that the meeting was being recorded.

 

MINUTES
Mr. Brown made a motion to accept the minutes of January 24, 2017.  Mr. Pranka seconded the motion.  None opposed, the motion passed unanimously.

 

DISCUSSION
Mr. Brown stated that he added a fourth option for the Congamond Road sewer project.  Option #1 would remain basically the same of gravity and force main installation from College Highway to around 48 Congamond Road.  The updated cost estimate would only be a minimal change from original estimate.  The Town would continue to pursue funding through grants and loans to reduce the assessment to the property owners.   Property on lot costs would include property owners abandoning their septic system.  In the event a grinder pump is needed, the on lot costs would be higher than a gravity connection.  These costs would be associated with all four options.  Option #1 – force main and gravity connections, option #2 just a force main, option #3 is low pressure similar to option #2, but the Town would charge a fee to the property owners to pay for a stub estimated at $2,000.00 with the property owner making the decision if they wanted a stub or not prior to the beginning of the project.  However, once reconstructed, the roadway cannot be disturbed for a period of 5 years.  Any homeowner having a septic system failure mandating repair or replacement would not be allowed to connect to the public sewer line.  Also, after the 5 year period, the cost to the property owner would be higher due to an installation that would then require the possible crossing of a sidewalk and reconstruction of the disturbed area.  Option #4 is a combination of a gravity and force main with all the connections removed.  There would be no option for a boring operation to go under the reconstructed road due to the grade level and the pipe being in the actual roadway.    In the event of a power outage, grinder pumps will not allow sewage usage beyond a 60 gallon reserve, however gravity connections would.  The Town currently pays approximately $2,400.00 for grinder pumps which are included in the cost from phase I.   On lot costs for gravity connections would be a lower cost option as a grinder pump would not need to be installed maintained or replaced and there is no electrical associated fees.
The cost to the Town for each option would be #1 - $860,000.00 #2 - $490,000.00 - #3 $410,000.00 and #4 $470,000.00.  Mr. Pinell and Mr. Brown reviewed the current financial status of the public sewer line and were surprised about the amount of deficit.  Mr. Pinell stated that the Finance Committee may not support shifting the burden to the general fund and is questioning if the public sewer system ever becomes self sufficient.   There are many variations that will impact the actual debt to the Town.
The SIC members agreed to a joint meeting with the Select Board and Finance Committee to discuss each option and determine which would be the best option for the Town and the residents.

 

Mr. Brown presented two options for a Veteran Street public sewer connection.  Construction and installation would be in conjunction with the roadway reconstruction.  Option #1 would be an estimated cost of $80,000.00 with 18 lots (4 of which are vacant) connections and option #2 would be $55,000.00.  Both options would be through a gravity line.  The street is densely populated.  There is an option of gravity service, but will require an approximately 20 foot deep cut.  Mr. Brown developed a survey to reach out to the property owners of all the property owners in the neighborhood to determine if there is any interest in public sewers.  Mr. Brown stated that there would be a minimal cost to the Town to maintain a public sewer line on Veteran Street.   Mr. Pinell stated that the Town may be more in favor of the project if a betterment fee was assessed vs. a connection fee as fees from the general fund would not be required.   A betterment assessment would mandate that all property owners will be required to pay vs. an assessment fee where a property owner will only pay when or if connected.

 

Mr. Patria and Mr. Brown attended a Select Board meeting to discuss the Lakewood Village potential sewer installation along Point Grove Road.  The Select Board wants the project to be part of Phase II.  The Sewer Use Regulations need to be updated.  The amount will have to be adjusted to include the interceptor line.  Mr. Brown will recalculate the amount of EDU’s.

 

There has been no new update concerning a public sewer connection to the American Inn.

 

Mr. Brown made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.  Mr. Pranka seconded the motion.  The vote was unanimous in favor.


 

Respectfully submitted,
Jean Nilsson, Secretary