Water & Wastewater Commission

FITCHBURG WATER & WASTEWATER COMMISSION MINUTES March 9, 2016 A meeting for the City of Fitchburg Water/Wastewater Commission was held on March 9, 2016 at the J.A. Provencial Water Treatment Facility Building 1200 Rindge Rd, Fitchburg MA, 01420. The meeting commenced at 5:08 PM Members present: Lenny Laakso, Commissioner DPW Rick Healey Ron Lubianez George Siener Others present: John Deline Jr., Deputy Commissioner of Water Jeff Murawski, Deputy Commissioner of Wastewater Janet Morrison, Member of North County Land Trust Ralph Baker, Director of Nashua River Watershed Association Mayor Stephen Dinatale Jennifer Lambert Members absent: Michael Mclaughlin Item #1 Approval of last meetings minutes: Motion to approve minutes from February 10, 2016 meeting was granted by unanimous vote. Item #2 Public Forum: No public forum comments were received. Item #3 Water Division:  Janet Morris of the North County Land Trust discussed with the commission land purchases/conservation restrictions. She stated that she is working with appraisers and still trying to get in touch with land owners. The city still has plenty of time to work with land   Ralph Baker, director of the Nashua River Watershed Association conducted a presentation on Forestry and Climate Change. He explained the importance of protecting our forests and how Fitchburg is in a great position by owning a lot of forestry land. He recommended changing the practice of harvesting 50% of standing biomass with each harvest and also to work with Foresters to achieve future goals of water and forestry protection. He also proposed creating a Forest Reserve in Management Area South that he and his wife will make a $50K charitable gift to offset the Water Enterprise Funds loss of income.  Mr. Deline informed the commission that he is still working on and will be presenting FY17 budget to Mayor Dinatale sometime next week.  Mr. Deline also discussed the term ICE PIGGING, which helps with the cleaning of tuberculation buildup in water mains. The Ice Pig is a semi-solid that is pumped like a liquid and flows through changes in diameter, bends and fits without blockage. The ice pig is simply pumped into and recovered from a hydrant at each end of the pipe section without excavation or modification to the hydrant. Looking to hire a contractor to do this work around the 3rd week of April for the Shea street problem and other areas as well. Item #4 Wastewater Division:  Mr. Murawski updated the commission on the SSU Project. Informed us that the OPM services agreement w/ CDM Smith should be finalized by the end of this month. Hoping to execute the bid phase, construction phase & post construction phase engineering services which are in the preliminary stages. Waiting on procurement. Wright Pierce is under contract already to provide us some assistance in the development of the RFP document.  The FEMA LOMR (letter of map revision) will be jointly advertised for both Fitchburg & Leominster. This public advertisement describes the Flood Hazard revisions that are located between the former Wheelwright Dam in Leominster and the Duck Mill Dam in Fitchburg.  Mr. Murawski also gave an update on the SEP Project. This project has successfully been completed and the completion reports have been sent to the DEP and EPA. The CSS-4D Project wrapped up and the final payment requisition was given to the contractor. No finality on the engineering services as of yet.  The commission was also informed by Mr. Murawski that the mill-business sale of FiberMark/Crocker Tech to Neenah Paper has fallen through.  Mr. Murawski talked about the proposals that he had in hand for solicitation of services for both professional/engineering. He recommended a motion to award contracts to both Tighe & Bond and Wright-Pierce before funding approval. Motion to approve was granted.  Handouts were given out to the commission members regarding FY-17 Wastewater Services & Needs, FY-17 DPW-Wastewater Draft Budget & the Organics-to Energy Feasibility Study report from Weston and Sampson on the Fitchburg West Plant.  Mr. Murawski discussed with the commission his meeting on the preliminary budget with Mayor Dinatale on March 1, 2016. There was heavy talk about the estimated high costs of the Engineering/Professional services especially the Sewer Rate Study, and the Affordability Study that he is budgeting for. Item #5 Other Business:  The commission members were given copies of resumes for the two applicants that would like to become commission members.  The next meeting is scheduled for April 13th, 2016 at 5:00 P.M. at the J.A. Provencial Building, 1200 Rindge Rd., Fitchburg, MA. Meeting adjourned at 6:27 P.M.