Water & Sewer Commission

Town of Mount Airy Water and Sewer Commission Meeting Minutes March 3, 2021 Commission members in attendance: Chair Dick Swanson, Council Liaison Larry Hushour, John Cherry, Dave Difonzo and Mark Moxley. Ron Runkles was an excused absence. The meeting was called to order at 7:01. Director of Planning & Zoning and Assistant Town Engineer Chaslyn Derexson and Town Engineer Barney Quinn also attended. The meeting was virtual due to closing of Town Hall. Minutes: Mark Moxley moved to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2021 meeting. Seconded by Dave Difonzo and the motion passed unanimously. Old Business: 1. Rainfall/WWTP Update: Dick Swanson noted that the WWTP flow exceeded the well production by approximately 150,000 gpd for the second month in a row. This is a continuing problem exacerbated by occasional heavy precipitation during a time of normal to slightly below normal monthly precipitation. 2. Senate Bill 195 – PFAS Chemical Prohibitions & Requirements: The members reviewed the Maryland Rural Water Association's letter announcing a class action suit against PFAS manufacturers with a recommendation for member municipalities to join the suit to potentially help defray costs associated with testing for PFAS chemicals in the town's water/stormwater systems. By consensus the commission recommended that the Town consider joining the class action suit. Dick Swanson will follow-up with the Town. 3. Memorandum of Agreement – Stormwater Remediation: The Chair briefed the members on the status of the delay in the next generation MS4 stormwater permit and it's potential financial impact on the Town's participation in the MOA with the other Carroll County municipalities and the county. He stated that the two year gap (so far) between the December 31, 2019 expiration of the current permit and the estimated date of the next permit of January 1, 2022 raised the question of whether the annual dues paid in calendar 2020 and 2021 count against the remediation acreage of the previous permit or requirements of the next permit. The issue will be discussed further at the March WRCC meeting. Until the issue is resolved, municipalities will continue to budget the amount paid in FY 2020. New Business: 1. Cyberattack Vulnerability: Given recent media reports of a cyber attack on a small city municipal water system where hackers briefly increased the level of lye in the water system to dangerous level, the commission decided to discuss with the staff the vulnerability of a cyber attack on the Town's systems. Dick Swanson and John Cherry will arrange a meeting with Brian Johnson for a briefing on the security of the system. 2. On-Line Payment of Water Bills: The Town offers on-line payment of water bills at a fee of $0.35 plus 3% of the payment amount. All income goes to the system operator and costs participating residents approximately $13,200 per year. Council Liaison asked whether the cost should be covered by the Town or possibly looking into a less expensive on-line payment system. Larry Hushour offered to look into alternative payment systems and will report back in April. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 7:40. The next W&S meeting is April 7, 2021 at 7pm.