UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
MAY 4, 2020
Mayor Cerino called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Council members David Foster, Thomas Herz, Ellsworth Tolliver and Meghan Efland, Bob Sipes (Utilities Manager), Jennifer Mulligan (Town Clerk) and guests.
Mayor Cerino asked if there were any additions or corrections to the Utilities Commission meeting minutes of April 6, 2020. Mr. Foster moved to approve the minutes of April 6, 2020 as submitted, was seconded by Rev. Tolliver and carried unanimously.
Mayor Cerino stated that cash on hands for the Utilities Commission was $2,116,121.86 with $1,024,400.00 set aside for capital projects.
Mayor Cerino asked for a motion to pay the bills. Mr. Herz moved to pay bills as submitted, was seconded by Rev. Tolliver and carried unanimously.
Mr. Sipes stated that there was a leak on Campus Avenue and the costs for repair were at $15,000.00. He asked for approval of the expense. Ms. Efland moved to approve the $15,000.00 expense for repair of the damaged valves on Campus Avenue, was seconded by Mr. Herz and carried unanimously.
Mr. Sipes stated that once the repairs are made he will have the road blacktopped or it will be cold-patched until that work can take place. He said that he was looking to call in his entire crew to begin the repair tomorrow. Mr. Sipes stated that notices would be distributed to residents if there was going to be an interruption of water service. Mr. Sipes stated that due to the Covid-19 virus he has been splitting staff on 50/50 shifts, but everyone would be called in to make needed repairs the next day.
Mr. Sipes stated that JCC hit the same private sewer line on Reed Court on two (2) different occasions and he was sending an invoice for the damage.
Mr. Herz asked if Talkie was current on their bill for repairs to the Utilities Commission. Mr. Sipes stated that they are current on their bill and had asked for a final billing on their account until this present situation on Reed Court. He said that there was still a problem with a homeowner in Coventry Farms that he was working on having repaired at the cost to JCC (Talkie) if the problem was indeed found to have been their mistake.
Mr. Foster stated that he believed there was a problem on Reed Court with a slow leak and thought it was due to the fiber installation.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that he had shared a letter drafted by Michael Forlini, Esquire to answer the Hospital’s request for a closeout of the oil spill remediation project. Mr. Sipes stated that the spirit of the letter was protecting the Town’s water supply and went into detail about slight detections in protecting the sentinel well on Campus Avenue. Mr. Sipes stated that he did not want the silica gel clean-up results to be used for determining the appropriateness of going to closeout. Mayor Cerino stated that MDE has begun the process of closing out the oil spill clean-up project and this letter was about that process and the Town’s concerns. Mr. Sipes stated that once the close-out begins there will be monitoring for an additional 3-years. If contamination is determined at any point after the pump and treat is stopped there would be additional testing required and/or the pump and treat system will be turned back on. Ms. Efland moved to send the letter from Michael Forlini, Esquire to the Hospital, was seconded by Mr. Foster and carried unanimously.
There being no further questions or comments, Mr. Foster moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:50 p.m., was seconded by Rev. Tolliver and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by: Jennifer Mulligan Chris Cerino
Town Clerk