Water & Wastewater Commission

WATER/WASTEWATER FACILITIES COMMISSION COMMISSION MINUTES April 9, 2014 A meeting of the City of Fitchburg Water / Wastewater Commission was held on April 9, 2014 at the JA Provincial Building, 1200 Rindge Rd, Fitchburg, MA. The meeting commenced at 4:45 p.m. Members present: Lenny Laakso, Commissioner DPW Rick Healey George Siener Michael McLaughlin Ron Lubianez Members Absent: Joseph Jordan, Deputy Commissioner W.W. Carol Brown Others present: Denis Meunier, Deputy Commissioner Water Janet Morrison, North County Land Trust Mary Jane Franklin ITEM # 1: Approval of last meetings minutes: The minutes for the March 12, 2014 meeting were approved by unanimous vote. ITEM # 2: Public Forum: Ms. Morrison representing North County Land Trust proposed a new pedestrian trail that would be cut along the western edge of Overlook Reservoir. An existing path slightly north of the proposed new path would be abandoned due to erosion concerns. North County Land Trust will be providing the labor to clear the new trail. This item will be put on the agenda for next month. ITEM #3: Review FY 2015 Draft: No questions or comments were made regarding the draft budget that Mr. Meunier presented to the Commissioners at the last meeting. A motion to recommend the approval of the budget was made by Mr. McLaughlin and seconded by Mr. Laakso. It was approved by unanimous vote. ITEM #4: Update on Kirby and Zins property: Ms. Morrison stated the Conservation Restriction for the Kirby Property is expected to be completed by May. The balance of the project, which is the purchase of approximately 110 acres by the City, will be done by the end of June. It will involve a survey of the property surrounding the Kirby’s house. The survey is reimbursable to the City under the grant guidelines. Mr. Meunier is waiting for the final contract in order to schedule a public hearing through DEP. Mr. Meunier explained the Zins petition went before the Conservation Commission, Property Committee and City Council and was enthusiastically accepted by all parties. This is expected to close in mid-May. The only cost to the City will be for an appraisal of the Conservation Restriction value. Because the Conservation Restriction will be recorded in the deed, an Order allowing the City to accept the donation will need to go before City Council one additional time. ITEM # 5: Mandatory summer watering restrictions: Mr. Meunier announced that the state mandated water restriction would occur again this year and would most likely be in effect from June 1 through October 1. ITEM # 6: Review FY 2015 Wastewater Budget: Mr. Healey, per Mr. Jordan, explained there would be only a few changes in the FY15 budget. A new electrician will be hired and trained by the current electrician, who will be retiring, which will cause a temporary increase in that line item. The personal, vacation, and sick time buy backs will double due to several people retiring. $200,000 will be budgeted for combination manhole rehabilitation. Mr. Jordan may revise his budget to add an additional line item for $50,000 for a Procurement Assistant. ITEM # 7: Approve a sole source procurement request for the Secondary System Upgrade (SSU) project at plant Mr. Laakso explained this project will be delayed and a request for an extension from EPA/DEP on the Consent Decree deadline has been made. ITEM # 8: Approve Loan request not to exceed $24M for the SSU project: It was decided that this item would be considered at the next meeting. ITEM # 9: Brief review of meeting between EPA, DEP and City regarding decree compliance: Mr. Laakso reported that DEP/EPA expressed to the Mayor, City Solicitor and Purchasing Department their concerns about some Consent Decree deadlines not being met. EPA warned the City about fines that may be imposed for failing to meet deadlines in the Order. The Commission discussed ideas and ways to organize projects in Purchasing so that the Commission could review project status on a monthly basis. There was a lengthy discussion about the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Commission expressing their concerns on this subject to the Mayor and City Council. ITEM # 10: other business: The next meeting is scheduled for May 7, 2014 at 4:30 pm at the JA Provincial Building, 1200 Rindge Rd, Fitchburg, MA. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM Minutes Prepared by_________________ Mary Jane Franklin