Welcome to the town of Deerfield select board of health and sewer commissioners meeting for December 10th, 2025. The time is 5:15 p.m. This is a hybrid meeting both on Zoom and in the main meeting room at 8 Conway Street, South Deerfield, Massachusetts. This meeting
will be held in a hybrid fashion with the opportunity for both in-person attendance and remote participation. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and/or participation is being provided as a courtesy of the public, the meeting or hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the
virtual broadcast unless otherwise required by law. Members of the public with a particular interest in any specific item on this agenda should make plans for in-person versus virtual attendance. Accordingly, the meeting will be held in person in the main meeting room of the Deerfield municipal
offices in accordance with Mass General Law Chapter 38. Anyone intending to record the meeting must identify themselves so the clerk can provide their name and address for the record. So, I'll call the meeting to order. Um, we've suspended public comment. We'll resume at the next regular meeting. Um,
we've got two items on the discussion decision items today. Uh, the first is to vote the fiscal year 2026 sewer commitment and the second will be to vote on the auto abatements. um meaning automatic abatements not auto cars but
um so let's see so I'm going to make a motion then we can discuss so I move that the select board authorize the collector treasurer to collect from the 972 bills named on the commitment with the amount set against their respective names amounting in the aggregate to 1
million7786.15 to pay over all monies as soon as collected to to the town treasury and to make a report as of such payments to the town accountant. >> Second. >> Thank you. [snorts] Um so so these are our uh summer reading summer bills. So
these bills as we'll get to next have um the winter you know abatements uh which means people water their lawns that kind of thing fill their swimming pool all of that. they uh people won't pay more than 125% of their previous winter readings.
Um so that was the winter readings of FY25. Um so we have um a commitment here. the service we've um for the service fee we've collected $145,800
and then the uh the sewer charges would be 932,286.15 for a total of $1,78,86.15. the sewer consumption is is a little down. Um, which has has us a little concern. Um, and the abatements you'll see are are are up. Um,
so, you know, we still need certain amount of money to to run the system each year. Uh, so that's why we kind of think about this stuff and and look at consumption when we, you know, decide on a sewer rate along with other, you know, other projects we need to do. But the
sewer consumption was 35,679,834 gallons of consumption this time. Um, so are there any questions on that or anybody ready to vote? Anybody? Tim, do you have any comments or questions? Are
you good to vote? >> Does DPC have any ideas about why consumption is going down? Um, I don't think so. I'd like to, yeah, talk to Eric a little bit about that,
too. You know, we've done INI work. Um, I'm trying to think of any other reason other than um, you know, we we didn't we didn't have much rain. you know, we had rain early, but I think
most of the summer was was fairly dry. So, sometimes I would think, you know, with a lot more rain, people aren't out doing as much or all that, but I don't I don't have an answer really for that. Yeah, it just um
seems to be trending slowly downward. Although that's kind of I guess FY24 it was 37 >> um >> yes >> million and then in >> 40 >> 25 it was 38
>> million and now it's down to 35 >> summer readings >> the high water mark was summer readings of 23 was 45 million gallons um >> right >> so we're we're you know we're about you know uh 10 million
less. Um, so that's quite a bit, you know. Um, so we just, you know, we have to adjust the rate or somehow it still costs us a certain amount of money to pay the bills and >> the plant. So, uh, and then the abatements, you know, DPC is always
saying like, why do you abate? You know, we do it because it, you know, it kind of makes sense, right? You're you're thinking you're watering your lawn, you're filling your pool, it's not going into the sewer system. We're not treating that water. Uh but they're they're we're very one of very few towns who do
that. Um you know most just say look this is what it costs to run the plant. It is what it is you know but I think ever since I've been here this has been the practice and you know I I I do think it makes sense and and to be fair to people um that's that's kind of what
we've done but and I'll get to that in a minute because that's up a bit too. So, okay. All those in favor? Wake Gilmore. I >> Tim Hilch I.
>> Trevor McDaniel. I >> Okay. Um the next motion I move the select board authorize the abatement of the sewer accounts provided in the meeting packet for single family owner occupied properties above 125% of their
own winter consumption for the fiscal year 2026 commitment number one totaling 96,987.39. >> Second. >> Thank you. So again, there's um these are these are the automatic, you know, abatements that
that we do when people water their lawns and wash their cars, that kind of thing. Um we have had a policy for quite a long time where the residents would um would not pay more than 125% of their previous winter
usage. Just kind of benchmarking that. Um, and you know that it it's it's large. 96,000. It's almost $100,000. Um, and that's that's high. You know, um,
last year was 70,000. 2024 was uh 46,000 and um although you know summer of 23 was 109. So, you know, it fluctuates really depending
on again how wet it is. I think in a year and how many people are are washing it. Um, you know, I've always mentioned to the residents to kind of pay attention to when the water is being when your water is being read so that
you can shut your shut your irrigation off, you know. So, um, you know, don't turn it on until you really have to until after they've read and then shut it off before they read again. So, um, so you're not you're not winding up in
those, um, in that winter month time frame by watering because it only helps your, you know, your abatement. But, um, it's a little confusing, but, um, so that's it. I I guess I don't have any other comments on this. So,
>> I know it's been a policy to abate these things and I don't have any objection to it, but it would be interesting next year to see what the actual effect on an average average home would be if we didn't obey. I mean, it probably wouldn't really make five or six dollars
difference, but >> right, >> just data point in case people ask. >> Yeah. Yeah. And it's that's a good point. you know, the the abatements start at $27 and finish at $7,000. So, $7,200. So, it's really um
and I don't I don't know how many are actually here. I couldn't count, but um but you know, they they they creep up pretty fast. So, it's a lot of you know, a lot of the water irrigation is where it's happening. um which is again fair, reasonable, but
it just you know again it's just money that we don't have to to um to run the plant. So anyways, >> do we have a way of tracking the individual homeowners as far as as their consumption
trending up and that sort of thing? So >> Oh yeah, we could check year overyear kind of where people are for sure. I was wondering if >> maybe the consumption rate is >> Yeah. going. >> Yeah. I mean, because some It's interesting that a lot of the same street names show up.
>> Yes. >> Particularly like Crest View >> is where all the higher numbers are, >> right? >> And we have King Phillip. >> A lot of King Phillips. >> Yep. Um, so I don't I don't know if that means anything or if those are just high
um, you know, >> high irrigation >> consumption irrigation streets, but um, >> they're also >> Well, that's enough said. >> Yeah, I think that's Yeah, I think that's right. It's where most of the
water irrigation happens. So, um, okay. Um, a sign. Oh, signature on this one. So, all those in favor? >> Blake Gilmore. I >> Tim Helychi. I >> Trevor McDaniel. I
thank you very much. Um, those are both done. We can get stamped back. That's all set. Now, is it correct that we have to log out of this meeting and log into a different one? >> I I believe it's the same Zoom. I will I will just double check. So, you can probably stick around, Tim, but just
give me one moment. >> Yeah, because it looks maybe it looks different, but maybe it's not. >> It's it's the same one. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> Could hang right out. >> Yep. >> Um but we are adjourning this one,
right? Okay. And then opening another. Okay. >> So, um, >> any comments? Do you have any? No, you're good. Okay, good. Just didn't want to leave you hanging if you had something to say. >> She heard some numbers and she came running. So, >> yes, I know. Thank you. I appreciate you hanging out and being here in case we
had questions. For sure. >> Holly's just off screen, Tim. So, >> Holly's here. Yep. Um, >> hi, Holly. >> Um, okay. So, entertain a motion to adjurnn and move to. >> Thank you. Um, >> second. Thank you. All those in favor? >> Blake Gilmore I.
>> Tim Helgi I. >> Trevor McDaniel I.