Wilton Water Works (WWW)

Minutes March 28, 2007

Commissioners: Chairperson Jim Tuttle (JT); Tom Herlihy (TH) and Charlie McGettigan (CM) (all present)

Acting Secretary: Joanna K. Eckstrom (JKE)

Jim Tuttle called meet to order at 7:55 PM.

Minutes – February 28, 2007 – Motion: TH/CM to approve 2/28/07 minutes as written: unanimous.

OLD BUSINESS:

Pennichuck Water Works (PWW)

Extensive discussion about PWW current bills. A recent emergency resulted in a rather large, unplanned bill being rendered (Inv. 70013). Was a problem that took several visits to the water station over 3 days to resolve. Of the 14 hour truck charges, 11 hours are at overtime rate.

CM - you can disconnect a variable speed drive (vsd) and maintain water level at around 51 ft, but without power, you can’t ‘see’ what’s in tank. When you lose power, water service shouldn’t be sacrificed. Russ Prescott (R.E. Prescott Co.) says it’s ok to run manually. WWW agreed to pay bill as rendered and discuss options for similar situations.

TH – now has emergency fax number for PSNH if power out for more than 3 to 4 hours. JT – in long term, WWW needs own power source. PWW knew station had no power (from phone alert). JT suggests contacting Carl Boutwell to run conduit from pole to box on tank. CM – call phone company – if free installation have them do it. If not free from phone company, maybe have Carl do it.

TH – PWW invoices need to include on job reports whether meters, supplies are taken from WWW stock. TH will follow-up on this with Marco.

JT – spoke with Jane Farrell about work orders. PWW has sample ‘work order’ forms and WWW has forms but neither is being used. Eckstrom was asked to draft a form for WWW use that incorporates PWW sample and WWW preferences.

JT, TH expressed concern that Town Office staff (Jane Farrell) not following guidelines prescribed by WWW for activities that affect the department. (referred to later).

PWW has temporary tank to use for chlorination while main tank is being painted. Commissioners note that all other chemicals, etc. must handled differently while main tank is out of service.

TH recommended paying all three PWW bills. JT agreed. CM abstained.

Reduced Salt Use – TH believes this has been completed. CM to confirm with Peggy.

Protocol for Town Office vis a vis PWW –WWW is being billed for PWW services that Town Office thinks appropriate to be done off the regular schedule. For example, the meter read done at 40 Dale St on a Tuesday cost WWW $84; if it was done on Thursday, PWW’s scheduled day, it would have been at no charge. Instead of PWW coming off-schedule, Steve Elliott in the Highway Department could have used one of the Town’s (WWW) remote meter readers. There was also a service turn-on on Forest Road that could have occurred on a Thursday. If service is absolutely necessary on a PWW ‘off’ day, property owner could be advised he will be billed for the service.

Town Office always prepared a warrant for water bills on March 15 and September 15 routinely. As of 3/28 there is no warrant and no Town-wide meter readings have been done. It is not up to Town Office to decide when to run the warrant. Town Office needs WWW approval to change the schedule (and at least to notify the Commissioners of any delays).

TH will confirm the importance of regular reading dates (3/15 and 9/15) with PWW. All three commissioners will meet with Jane to resolve mutual questions, obligations and expectations.

PWW Rules for New Installations (from August 2006)

CM - doesn’t think they’re needed.

TH – WWW should adopt but (adoption) not effective for 60 days while details are worked out.

JT – WWW should adopt reserving to modify upon majority vote of WWW.

Motion: TH/JT adopt PWW Rules for New Installations reserving right to modify by majority vote of WWW commissioners. Vote: 2Y – 1N (TH and JT yes, CM no).

CM – expressed several reasons for his NO vote. Water users in ( ) spent an average of $243 a year; in 8/1/06 with PWW, average rate was $477. WWW has to make a PUC report because it sells water out of area to 26 Milford customers. PWW top employees are overpaid – this gets past on to consumers. CM doesn’t trust PWW and Jane Farrell has also expressed to TH and JT her displeasure with PWW.

TH – Jane is not a WWW customer; while she’s in town office, she represents the town and by extension WWW. Expressing her comments in public is non-productive. Better communication and cooperation between the Town and WWW might have prevented digging in the wrong place at Nelson’s Candy Shoppe.

JT - Town Office, WWW and PWW have to be able to work together for the relationship to be effective.

JT – In order to respond properly and effectively, all commissioners need to know what services exist in an area and what’s going on in the department. A few weeks ago there was a leak at the Yellow Block. Some time ago, the owner shut off service for the Laundromat but never notified the WWW. But Lavoie put a meter on the rear service instead of the new service at the front of the building. JT didn’t know about the service at the rear of the building until reading about it CM recap from his visit to site on 3/14/07. Per Ray Mahoney (property owner’s plumber), service at rear needs to be permanently shut off.

CM – when leak was found, Brian Adams (Highway Dept) found a split pipe, Digsafe wasn’t sure they’d located power line.

JT – this has been going on for a few weeks. Neither JT nor TH knew about it until Joan Lemire called TH from Florida. According to Ray, there has still been a problem (inside) since moving the service to the front of the building. TH asked if there was way to test. CM – yes at curbstop but they didn’t put a bucket there. The meter was tested. All agreed to resolve issue by digging up 2” pipe at rear and shutting it off permanently.

Merrihew – tank painting. TH apologized that he hadn’t followed up on this. Defer until next month.

CM suggested WWW consider buying a concrete tank. Will do so for 600K, 1M etc. Also will talk to Bob Courage (Milford) to get ballpark for their tank.

Main Street services – need to know exactly what services exist; copper or galvanized pipes. JT, if Town side is copper, WWW can work under sidewalk

JT – if backflow needed at new beauty shop on main street, Town can do it. If backflow needed, CM to call Marco and schedule installation. (Location of service accessed from rear of building.)

New Business –

Deschenes property – Holt Rd. Commissioners do not want plastic water line across driveway for Deschenes service. Water main is asbestos covered cement pipe. New Services will require saddles. Need to advise Ken Rocca (doing sitework) to dig / lay water line parallel to Buchanan driveway.

There being no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:50 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Joanna K. Eckstrom