UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 3, 2020
Mayor Cerino called the meeting to order at 7:31 p.m. In attendance were Council members David Foster, Thomas Herz, Ellsworth Tolliver and Meghan Efland, Bob Sipes (Utilities Manager), Town Manager Bill Ingersoll, Jennifer Mulligan (Town Clerk) and guests.
Mayor Cerino asked if there were any additions or corrections to the Utilities Commission meeting minutes of July 6, 2020. Ms. Efland moved to approve the minutes of July 6, 2020 as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Foster and carried unanimously.
Mayor Cerino stated that cash on hands for the Utilities Commission were $2,182,422.75 with $1,068,400.00 set aside for capital projects.
Mayor Cerino asked for a motion to pay the bills. Mr. Foster moved to pay bills as submitted, was seconded by Ms. Efland and carried unanimously.
Mr. Sipes stated his main issue for the meeting was the letter to MDE regarding the oil spill. He said that a testing method does not change what is in the ground, but the silica gel being added is changing the numbers. Mr. Sipes stated that there was a reason for the TPH-DRO test, and it was important that the test ran the numbers on what was in the ground and not what was shown when run through a filter. He said that the number after the silica gel testing showed at less than 90%, which was an artificial reduction of the numbers. Mayor Cerino capsulized the letter which asked that the silica gel testing be stopped. Mr. Sipes stated that he thought the proposed letter covered all issues.
Mr. Sipes stated that there was a lightning strike at the wastewater treatment plant, and it is still not functioning at 100%. He said that they were working to fix the problems.
Mr. Sipes stated that there were problems with a fire hydrant at the water treatment plant because contractors purchasing water from the Town are overtightening when they close the hydrant. He said that he was going to limit purchase to those contractors who are working in Town limits. Mr. Sipes stated that it cost more to fix the hydrants when they are broken than they pay for the water.
Mr. Sipes stated that chemicals (aluminum chloride) accounted for a large bill in the amount of $7,000.00 in the bills.
Mr. Sipes stated that the Department spent a large portion of the day preparing for the approaching Hurricane Isaias.
There being no further questions or comments, Rev. Tolliver moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Herz and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by: Jennifer Mulligan Chris Cerino
Town Clerk Mayor