TOWN OF
WATER COMMISIONERS
MINUTES
Approved
DATE:
TIME:
PLACE:
PRESENT: Water Commissioners
Mr. McGettigan called the meeting
to order at
1.) Approve the minutes of April 7th and April 14th
meetings.
The item was postponed to
the next meeting.
2.) Elect a Chairman to serve until March 2011
Mr. Tuttle explained that at
the January meeting the Commissioners discussed electing a person to hold the
position of Chairman until after town meeting but it is now April and the
Chairman position has not been discussed. Mr. McGettigan stated that he is
willing to continue as Chairman. Mr. Duquette recommended that Mr. McGettigan
remain as Chairman as he has been the communication point regarding the dam.
Mr. Tuttle stated that the Board of Selectmen appointed Mr. McGettigan as the
contact. Mr. Tuttle noted that he was the Chairman for the last 10 years before
his back surgery. Mr. Duquette stated that he, himself, is not the best
candidate because while he is accessible he is not locally available all day.
Mr. Duquette stated that since Mr. McGettigan is already in the position he
should finish out the year.
A MOTION was made by Mr.
Duquette and SECONDED by Mr. McGettigan that Mr. McGettigan remain as Chairman
for the 2010-2011 term.
Voting: 2 ayes; motion carried with Mr. Tuttle opposed.
Mr. Tuttle asked that he be
copied on the agendas and asked that the agenda be sent to everyone’s email.
Mr. McGettigan stated that it could be done
A MOTION was made by Mr.
Tuttle and SECONDED by Mr. Duquette to instruct the office staff to email out
the agendas, once they are prepared, to the Commissioners and the Clerk.
Voting: 3 ayes; motion carried unanimously.
3.) Discuss Roedel’s water bill and the
number of units in both buildings for clarification.
Kay Roedel stated that their
water bill is higher than normal due to the recent break. She stated that she
feels that their equipment was in good shape and the break was caused by the
surge from the Draper property. She stated that she does not feel that they
should have to pay for all of the water and asked that the Water Commissioners
figure out why there was such an increase and remove it from the bill.
Mr. Roedel stated that there
was a 54% increase in water going to the white building from last year. After
review of the bill and discussion, the Commissioners determined that the Roedel
bill had increased 4%. Mr. Tuttle explained that the break was in the other
building’s sprinkler line, which is not metered, and he assumes that there is
something leaking in the white building as they are only talking about an
increase in 9,000 gallons.
In response to a question
from Mr. Roedel, Mr. Tuttle explained that the sewer bill is figured on
occupants and not on usage, for instance a single family home is a unit and
commercial units are determined by the amount of employees and number of
customers.
In response to a question
from Mrs. Roedel, Mr. Tuttle explained that the Water department could have
charged them for the water lost by using the pump station’s meter but they did
not.
Mr. Rockwood stated that the
bill that the Board sent to the Roedel’s is criminal
at $2865. He stated that the Water Commissioners profited $1,699.99 which he
does not think is what the water department should be doing. He stated that he
thinks that the Board should stop overcharging the customers.
Mr. Roedel stated that he
never received a bill and Mr. Tuttle stated that Fred Roedel said he would pay
the bill. Mrs. Roedel stated that she is the person who pays the bills.
Mr. Roedel explained that he
bought the mill because it was good for the town and he is upset that the town
would send them a bill for these repairs.
Mr. Rockwood stated that he
doesn’t think that it is fair to charge the Roedel’s
for the break. Mr. McGettigan noted that breaks do not happen very often. Carl
stated that he does not know how the break could be attributed to the Draper
surge.
In response to a question as
to who approved the invoice, Mr. McGettigan stated that he was against it.
Mr. Roedel questioned
whether the town makes a profit and noted that he pays taxes and therefore does
not think that charging him was right.
Mr. Duquette noted a
discrepancy in the bills that were presented and asked that the issue be
postponed in order to get copies of all the backup documentation.
In response to a question
from Mr. Roedel, Mr. Tuttle explained that they were charged because they own
the pipe and the mark up is to cover items like freight. He also noted that tax
payer money and water user money are two different items.
Discussion ensued regarding
the discrepancy between the bills and the Water Commissioners agreed to
investigate the issue.
The commissioners discussed
their fee rate.
4.) Energy North building bill for Carl’s
labor.
The Commissioners reviewed
and discussed the Energy North bill with regard to the Water Commissions’ and
the owner’s responsibility.
5.) Discuss specifications and regulations for pipe materials.
Mr. Tuttle submitted a
booklet that included the Pennichuck specifications
and suggested that it may be a good idea for the Commission to adopt the
specifications so builders in
A MOTION was made by Mr.
McGettigan and SECONDED by Mr. Duquette to adopt the Pennichuck
specifications.
Voting: 3 ayes; motion carried unanimously.
6.) Write a list of the rules and expectations of operations of the
The Commissioners suggested
that Mr. Tuttle submit a proposal for the Commissioners to review with regard
to expectations of operations.
The Commissioners discussed
updating the Wilton Water Works Schedule for Water Service.
The Commissioners noted that
the Consumer Confidence Report is due by July 1st.
7.) Discuss Carl’s proposal of an addition to the pump station for
chemical storage.
Carl explained that he is
proposing a structure with three block walls and two doors noting that the cost
would be $2,900 for block or $1,700 for a stick frame structure.
After discussion, A
MOTION was made by Mr. Tuttle and SECONDED by Mr. Duqette
to approve the block frame addition as specified by Carl for the cost of not to
exceed $9,000.
Voting: 3 ayes; motion carried unanimously.
8.) Discuss
Mr. Tuttle suggested that
the Water Department give Mr. Meehan two to three yards of loam for
9.) Discuss backflow inspection proposal for 2010.
The Commissioners confirmed
that they will receive documentation of all the inspections.
A MOTION was made by Mr.
Duquette and SECONDED by Mr. McGettigan to accept the proposal from NE Backflow
as required by the state subject to the verification of Item 2 by Carl.
Voting: 3 ayes; motion carried unanimously.
10.)
Discuss bill paying for Mr. Duquette’s benefit.
Mr. McGettigan and Mr.
Tuttle reviewed the bill paying procedure for Mr. Duquette.
11.)
Discuss Carl giving report
on reading meters, repairs, progress on service
location books, pumping records for the month, water testing, and chemical use.
Mr. Tuttle explained that
his objective is to get a report from Carl regarding how many gallons of water
and chemicals have been used, any repairs that have happened, any pending
tests, and any extra meter reading that has occurred.
Mr. Duquette stated that such
a report would give the Commissioners a better handle on what is going on and
an ability to evaluate the amount of man hours with regards to rates to charge.
12.)
Discuss inspection fees,
re-reads, technical advice to customers.
The Board discussed fees for
re-reads of meters and decided not to charge for the service.
13.)
Discuss flushing hydrants in
May or June.
The Board discussed hiring
help for the flushing of hydrants and decided to place public notice ads and
hire workers for $10 to $15 an hour.
14.)
Discuss tank inspection.
After discussion, Mr. Tuttle
agreed to schedule the tank inspection with Utility Service Company in May or
June.
15.)
Discuss Quinn Brothers materials for water projects.
The Board asked the clerk to
send a note to the Road Agent and copy the Board of Selectman to use Quinn
Brothers materials because, as Mr. Tuttle explained, the agreement was that
Quinn Brothers would set aside materials for town use for the going rate minus
$1.50.
16.)
Discuss unit description
clarification on bills.
Mr. Tuttle noted that there
are still some multiple uses that the Commission has not caught up with yet.
Discussion ensued.
17.)
Other Business
After discussion, a
MOTION was made by Mr. McGettigan and SECONDED by Mr. Duquette to purchase from
East Tomb Associates a Granite State Water Line Locator for the cost of $3,221.
Voting: 3 ayes; motion carried unanimously.
18.)
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at
Respectfully Submitted by,
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