Water & Wastewater Commission

FITCHBURG WATER & WASTEWATER COMMISSION MINUTES October 11th, 2017 J.A. Provencial Building 1200 Rindge Rd. Fitchburg, MA 01420 A meeting for the City of Fitchburg Water/Wastewater Commission was held on Wednesday October 11, 2017 at the J.A. Provencial Water Treatment Facility Building 1200 Rindge Rd, Fitchburg MA, 01420. The meeting commenced at 4:39 pm Members present: Lenny Laakso, Commissioner DPW Rick Healey Mike Mclaughlin George Siener Others present: John Deline Jr., Deputy Commissioner of Water Jeff Murawski, Deputy Commissioner of Wastewater Janet Morrison, Land Conservation Consultant Jennifer Lambert Principal Clerk Water Office Members absent: None Item #1 Approval of last meetings minutes: Motion to approve minutes from September 13, 2017 meeting was granted by unanimous vote. Item #2 Public Forum: None Item #3 Water Division:  Janet Morrison our Land Conservation Consultant started meeting off by giving us an update on potential land prospects. She has spoken to many homeowners within our Southern Watershed about Conservation Restrictions, Tax Credits, The Forest Legacy Project and the Quabbin to Wachusett Project. We have a total of 11 prospects/ Tracts of land, and out of those Eleven, three of them declined altogether. There are 5 tracts that are already in the Q2W Projects, and the remaining three tracts are considering a tax credit for conservation restriction.   The commission voted to accept the donation of a CR on approx. 20 acres of land located on Harrington Rd in Westminster which is known as Tract #7 in the Q2W Forest Legacy Project.  The commission voted to accept a CR on approx. 102 acres of land located on Lanes Rd in Westminster which is known as Tract #9 in the Q2W Forest Legacy Project.  John spoke next and gave updates on the Water Main Project- The project is approx. half way done. There is patching left to do on Shea St, & temp lines were laid out on Highview St, pressure tested, disinfected and tested for bacteria. This all needs to happen before any service connections can begin. We have added a few small streets to the project due to additional monies being available as a result of bids coming in lower than anticipated. There have been a few complaints from city residents concerned about equipment, pipes etc.…being left on the street and also the cleanup. I have spoken to M.E Smith (the contractors) and when they are finished the main lines and restoring water to residents, they will return back to previous streets and tidy them up.  Updates were given by John regarding the MA DEP Sanitary survey and potential ACO. John informed the Commission that he will be speaking to MA DEP sometime this week to go over items that we have fixed, and also items that we are in the process of fixing. Cleaning of the tanks will be done on the 13th of October, and then on the 19th of October the Tracer study will be conducted. We will bid on the roofs come winter, and will also deal with intrusion alarms and are still working on lighting. We are also still working on the Oak Hill tank, and will most likely drain it in November for inspection. Item #4 Wastewater Division:  Update: Mr. Murawski informed the Commission that the Aldrich’s of 111 Highview St. continue to make the $300.00 a month payment towards their past due sewer charges satisfactorily.  Updates again were given by Jeff regarding the SSU (Secondary Systems Upgrade Project) at Fitchburg’s Easterly Wastewater Treatment Facility. This project started in the spring of this year and is scheduled to continue through October of 2019. With this being said, we had a minor oversight with not distributing a notification flyer to surrounding businesses and neighbors about construction activities. Sample flyer given to Commission members that will be mailed out and posted publicly once construction begins again in spring. The CMHs Separation Project work has been completed. There were a few manholes on Lunenburg St and John Fitch Hwy that we did not get to do because of state permits for street closings. We hope to tackle those sometime next year.  The drafting of the Fitchburg/Westminster IMA is still in progress pending the CWMP & Hydraulic Model Jeff informed the Commission. Wright –Pierce submitted a supplemental report to MassDEP & EPA to address outstanding review comments and questions from MassDEP & USEPA. We are waiting to hear back from them. A CWMP “stake-holders” meeting was held on October 3rd by Tighe & Bond with Westminster & Lunenburg regarding the Fitchburg CWMP. Copy of letter To Mr. Murawski from Weston & Sampson regarding the Agreement for Wastewater Management Plan was handed out to Commission Members.  Regarding City Code Chapter 147 & “Rules & Regulations”, a service proposal request has been received from the Firm Arcadis, and execution of NTP (Notice to Proceed) is pending. Input was received from City Solicitor Vincent Pusateri, and drafting of the adaptation of “Right of Entry” form, is also still pending. A service proposal request was sent to On-Call Engineering Firm, regarding “Infiltration & Inflow” compliance with NPDES, State Regulation (314 CMR 12) and  Consent Decree. Memorandum was given to Commission members regarding the Consent Decree & “Wastewater Management Plan”.  Planned and budgeted service assignment to Weston & Sampson Engineers has been issued for compliance with the 314 CMR 12 requirement for an Infiltration & Inflow Plan to be submitted to MassDEP.  Motion was raised requesting the Commission’s approval to execute a supplemental budget appropriation for the Consent Decree required “Wastewater Management Plan”. Motion carried. This work will focus on the first CD deliverable, which is dues to MassDEP and USEPA on July 1, 2018. This service assignment is not intended to include services associated with the supplemental Wastewater Management Plan submissions which will be due on December 31, 2020, and on December 31, 2023. Item #5 Other Business:  Set next meeting date and location. Meeting adjourned at 6:12 P.M.