Um it is now 4:00 pm. We're call to order the board of water commissioners meeting for the town of Kingston. Uh first agenda item is reorganization of the board. Um >> so this [clears throat] point um I'll take nominations for the chair's
position. >> I nominate Barbara Lansson as chair. >> I'll accept [snorts] the nomination. Any discussion? Hold on a second. I'll >> check. Someone else can do it next year.
>> Okay. And uh nomination for vice chair. >> Oh, I'll nominate Bud for vice chair for the wealth of it. >> Yeah, I'll second it. Okay. So, [clears throat] as a slate,
um, we can do a motion. >> I'll make a motion to give Barbara Lensson as chair and Richard Lauren Jr. as vice chair of the second water department for the 2627 year.
Seconded and so voted. We have signed off all the bills uh minutes. We're going to table the minutes from May 26th until next session. Uh, which leads us to Miss Burgerer. What do you have for us? >> Okay, I have a several updates. Uh,
first one for the South Street well cleaning. Um, I did receive the contract forms, the bonds, and the insurance back from MAR services this afternoon. So, I will assemble the contract books and deliver those to the water department so
you can get the the signatures to finalize that. And um that's work that's planned to occur this fall. So um there's no uh need to you know try to expedite getting the signatures other than just you know don't let it linger.
>> Um the sorry >> so we can schedule it. We need >> Yes. Right. Yeah. >> That will be after after the summer when the uh demand is somewhat less. [clears throat] >> Correct. Yeah. after September 30th.
The new well project um Kleinfelder is continuing to work on the pump test report. They are still waiting to get water quality laboratory results. Uh in the meantime, they're pulling together what they can on that. They're also
working on permit applications. Yep. Sorry. Is there a particular element that would cause it to take that long for them to um finish the analysis >> for the lab testing? >> Yeah. >> Um yeah, there it's probably getting
hauled up on the the VOC testing and PIA testing that tends to take longer. So it's not just iron and maganesees and >> that sort of thing. Um they are Kleenfell is also working on the permit applications
and um that's for that new source approval process including the environmental notification form that requires a newspaper notice to be posted. So they sent some information over to um Chris and Stacy and and copied me on that what needs to get
posted in the newspaper in advance of them filing that environmental notification form. They're also continuing to work on the pump station design kind of keeping that in a concurrent path. Uh they did mention that mass DOP
question Mass D questions the portion of the zone one that's on town owned land but not specifically water department land. There's a parcel that's just east of the parcel that you bought and the well itself is going on the one of the
parcels that you bought. But the 400 foot radius around the well goes into that town owned. It's protected land. It's article 97 land that so that has environmental protections on it and D may be satisfied with that. Their
concern is could the the land get used for something other than you know protected space like recreational type space. Um article 97 you can't do that on that land. So hopefully they're accepting of that. If not they may
require the town to transfer ownership of the portion of that 400 foot circle that goes into that property. Um, that's would be a little bit more complicated than just having the town
approve it because it since it's article 97 designation, it would require state legislative approval to do that. >> Right. >> So, uh, we'll just keep you posted on what we find out from D about that.
Can we continue to proceed with the development of the well and the building and everything else irrespective of what happened with that particular parcel. So that in fact if in fact it ultimately required state approval or legislative
approval, we would still have all the documents in in place and in hand so that if that was required the minute that was uh approved through uh Mass Legislature, we could go out to bid with
it. >> Well, Mass D won't give their approval. And if they're hung up on that, they won't give their approval on the permitting. Um, so I think it would get held up. We wouldn't make it to that point before D would say, "Nope, we're
not going to issue. We're not going to let you go forward on the path of the new source approval process until you take care of that land issue. >> Possibly proactive and try to talk some of the D people who might be responsible
decision to >> Yes. Yeah, we um we provided right as of now Kleinfelder's been having the communications with D. >> So, we gave the information back to Kleinfelder last week and
asked them to follow up. So, but I'll check back in with them and see, you know, if it would help to have a discussion with the board in D about this issue. >> Yeah. Whatever we can do to help smooth that so it doesn't become a major
problem. >> Yes. >> That would require that that portion of the land be reservey so in fact it could be documented and and turned over to the water department. Is that what you're saying? >> Yeah. Yeah. And it would be carving out just the portion that you would need.
And there might need to be some give and take on some of the other parcel that you own to say, "Okay, this over here will swap." >> Mhm. [clears throat] >> To have like, you know, on paper just for the legislator purposes if it gets
to that point. might want to might require seeing something like that because they hate to give up that article in 97 land and it might still have the article 97 designation on it. It just is it's messy.
>> Yeah. >> So fingers crossed. >> Yes. >> Um so follow up about that. And then the next item, the water risk water system risk assessment. This is something that's it's required to be updated every
five years. The initial one was done five years ago in 2021 in accordance with the American Water Infrastructure Act. It's required to get reviewed and updated every 5 years. So Chris and I went over the the risk
assessment updates and I finalized the report. Um, and Chris was able to file the online certification of completion with EPA in advance of the deadline, which is this month, the end of this
month. So, that's been taken care of, and there's nothing to follow up on on that particular item. Um they really want you to go through the the steps of taking a look at what some
of the risks are to try to mitigate the impact of those risks and have um preventative measures having you know their emergency response plan in place which is in place. it's been updated and
some other provisions just to help if something does happen even as simple as power loss that you have provisions in place to have emergency backup power things of that nature. Uh next up is the unaccountable water
compliance plan. Um that we are just keeping on the list because it needs to get completed once the findings from the M36 water audit that's being completed by Mass D's consultant
Tybon. So once they get those findings over to Chris, we can take a look at those, pull the findings into that unaccountable water compliance plan and file that with D. And I believe they should be aiming to
wrap up that water audit this month. >> I haven't had any correspondence from them. So they by the end of June. >> Yeah, they typically are required to get that done by the end of the fiscal year. So I'm sure that's their target.
Um the next item, the zone two for the grassy hole and the 186 wells that we talked about at the last meeting. Uh this is in relation to the proposed gas station over in Plymouth. Uh Chris and I did meet with Kleinfelder to get their
thoughts on that since they have the expertise with um hydrogeeology and doing zone 2 modeling and mapping. and they said that to redo an existing zone 2 D would require conducting pump
testing of the wells. So it's not as simple as just what um the other consultant did uh Haley and Ward did. They wouldn't accept just a desktop analysis and
um more did with the was a desktop analysis. Yeah, that's all that they did. Yep. Um and it so it doesn't meet all the requirements of what D would require for a zone 2 um redo. And
they also caution that [clears throat] the redoing the zone 2 may have unforeseen consequences. It could shift in other ways that would encompass current land uses
that are outside of the zone 2 that might not be um allowed if it were done today. So it wouldn't be something that you would say, oh you know that that use has to stop. It would just mean that you would have a non-compliant zone too and
it shifts some burden to the water department because of that. So >> we could be under a a whole can of worms on this, right? >> Yeah, it seems like it. Yep. Yeah. And anytime you want to redo a pump test, it
that could that could have some unsustaining issues, too. You could lose some capacity because of that. You don't want that. Um, and the other part of it too is, um, I've seen this come up for other
communities that Mass D only asks water suppliers to take best efforts in requesting neighboring communities include their zone 2 in the other neighboring communities zoning bylaws. They recognize that you have no control
over what the neighboring town zoning does or doesn't do. So D says, "Okay, you just need to take your best effort, send letters to the neighboring community to ask them to help protect
your zone 2." Now the, you know, between Kingston and Plymouth, that's always been a partnership because part of Plymouth zone 2s go into Kingston. So there's a mutual desire to protect the water supply in both communities. So,
you've worked to try to do that. Um, so it's overall like modifying the zone 2 area if that were to happen still wouldn't require Plymouth to comply with the the
Kingston zoning bylaws. And um so it overall seems like it's more potential risk to redo the mapping versus just continuing to request Plymouth to
kind of honor the historical partnership and trying to protect both communities water supplies. kind of like what [clears throat] we did with them when we um stopped trying to develop a well on camp no.
>> Yep. >> Right. So that you didn't inadvertently >> Yeah. influence their wells and Right. So, it could be they I know they had a deadline for getting
comments and letters, but if you were able to communicate with the DPW in Plymouth to try to get them to say to to tell the ZBA about the importance of both communities working together to protect water supply, uh maybe that's
something that could help. >> And that was done. We sent that over on June. Yep. We'll see what they do then. >> I think they meet >> deadline was Monday for stuff I think. Yeah.
>> Did that continue to the 16th of June? >> Okay. Any questions about that? >> Nope. >> Okay. >> Your recommendation would be just leave it as is then. >> Yes. Definitely seems more harm than good. >> That could really cause more problems
townwide as opposed to >> is it right there. >> What if a local resident wanted to try and reclassify the zone too? Is that something they could do or is that all on us? >> That's all on you. Yeah. To >> thank you >> the prompt. >> I see individuals who might want to try
to do that on their own, but All right. >> Yeah. No, that D would not entertain that. >> Okay. Okay. Uh the next item, comments on the revised plans for the 314 street development. Um I took a look at what
was sent over and >> plans. [clears throat] The plans were definitely different from the previous set, but there were several comments that we brought up on the previous set that were not addressed.
So, I'm not sure if they >> had seen the comments. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. [snorts] Yeah. >> Yep. >> Yeah. This is the one that we talked about planning for the future and having an
easement, a water line easement in between two of the parcels to, you know, if it became beneficial in the future to have a loop from the culde-sac, the proposed culde-sac over to Rabbi Road that would connect a
loop to Country Club Way. Um, like right now if that all that pipe was put in now, it would be too much water just sitting there because there's not there's no customers along the way on Rabbath Road. But that's something that should be
planned for and they weren't showing any kind of proposed easement or anything on that plan. If I recall correctly, when we the approvals went through for the development at Royson Drive, that loop was through with a smaller size pipe on
the around the buildings, but a large size pipe that runs down Roy Reyson with intentions to loop through to Rabbath Road or a future expansion opportunity. So, those provisions were installed as we trying to anticipate a future growth. >> [snorts]
>> I I it bothers me that you know in you know Kristen's review uh the easement isn't defined and it clearly needs to be defined and needs to be recorded uh with the registry of
deeds before [clears throat] this department moves forward with any approval because it's the only way that the department can protect the town in the future is to have a recorded easement. 20 ft in 20 ft in width as defined in uh
Kristen's letter and Chris has told the developer that uh as well. So I think it's both written as well as verbally, you know, communicated. So we should be telling the planning board not to do anything until such time as that
documentation is fully recorded. Are they coming before the planning board soon or what's their plans? You know, >> that got postponed also. >> We did send them Yeah. request. >> Okay. >> Should we send the reminder just to be
>> I mean it's in the packet. >> We just sent it over last week. >> Okay. I I think it's important to note also that the reconfiguration of this from a uh Rodeos uh open space is going to a standard
subdivision. They've increased the lot sizes and I think it's important that we watch where that water man ends. It ends on the far side of that culde-sac for future growth to that easement. So that should growth need to be done with expansion that water mean is already laid across that culde-sac across that
roadway and is stubbed within that easement. So with less disruption >> that'll also minimize the amount of spaghetti services that we'll have running across that intersection to the houses that run around that culde-sac because those can always be a challenging feat [clears throat] other
infrastructure that's in the ground. So if we keep that pipe right to the end, that's going to increase this length of their run, which will I think put in a different bracket requiring them to loop it. [snorts] All right. Um, yeah, in addition to that, there
were just more technical type comments that still needed to be clarified. The connection on Four Street, um, uh making sure that there's a hydrant at the actual end of the main. Right now
they're showing one before the end of the main and we really needed something at the very end of the main to for flushing water quality purposes. Uh there were still a couple of leech fields that were in close proximity to the water services. So, um, they really
need to show a note saying those specific locations need to have 10 ft horizontal separation. Um, otherwise, you know, the contractors don't typically scale off the map to figure out where
does this need to be. They'll just approximate it. So, they really need to know it's serious that it needs to be 10 ft or more. Um they had still had a note that referenced Ducksbury Water Department and they hadn't changed that yet. They
need to show um include standard details for hydrants and thrust blocks and joint restraint. And then finally on um the planting plan, there were a couple of trees that were close to being
overwater services. So, I just didn't want them to end up with tree roots that were right on top of the services. >> Yeah, it seems like they always just put those things on just for like [clears throat] appearances without
having but >> Yep. [clears throat] All right. >> Yeah. And Chris might have some additional comments to make on that. I think >> that was what I had. >> Thank you. I think my comments what I
had already stated that to get that water mean as close to that easement that's being requested for the future growth with minimal disruption to the existing residents once that's established. Um and then the triple gate auto for that connection. It'll be a minimal shutdown, but I think that's the
appropriate way to tie that in uh for the future growth. It was stated uh I believe in a correspondent from the town planner that that property on Rabbath Road is a current path that's currently proh privately owned property. So still
that being privately owned it gives you avenues for potential development or anything of that use. So keep that in mind as we look forward. If it was conservation land that was restricted, it be kind of pointless to request an easement. >> We can't control it >> out there. But we're but private
property that has a potential for future growth. I think it's a a good move for the easement. >> Anything else, Kristen? >> Nope. That's it for me. >> Thank you, Chris. So, I sent you guys the um yep,
>> leak detection stuff there with my my comments and my thoughts on which direction I think would be best uh for the department to go forward with leak detection um as far as a contractor based on conversations I've had with the contractors themselves uh with other
departments that have utilized these different vendors uh and not just looking at cost but looking at what's going to be the best for a i.e. production of leak detection. >> They use the term comprehensive and acoustic kind of here and there. Is that
basically the same thing? They all use acoustic leak detection. Are there any other methods they're using? >> Well, correlation and acoustic. It's they're all listening. >> Yeah. >> It's just different methods of listening and know how they put on valves and they correlate the sound between two points
as opposed to going along and putting a microphone directly on the ground as they go. So the methods are basically the same. Is that the same? >> No, the methods are different. That's two different methods of of acoustic and of correlation. >> Okay.
>> Use kind like a graphing system where they kind of drown out other noises and it's two two different methods. >> Is there any reason we should consider anything but the lowest better because the difference in in price fairly fairly dramatic between the lowest and the highest?
>> Yes. and I'm wondering does it matter? >> We've used one of the vendors before. Um, I was satisfied. I'd like to try a different vendor. I've taken many classes. The guys taken many classes with the other vendor that they put on for leak detection. They sell equipment.
They service equipment. And I've been pretty impressed by, you know, his reviews that I get from other departments. >> Which one are you talking about? >> Uh, that's Panther. >> Prowler. probably problem
>> I assume be lower [clears throat] >> initially probably probably got my attention. >> Yeah, I mean it's but it's in looking at the they have like a lot of the latest technology that's curated. Well, um >> that's probably why it does it's it costs less because they've got the
technology already in place and they can do things faster >> and they're a vendor so they not only do they use the equipment to take and locate leaks but they also sell and service the equipment that they use. Um I've seen you know the other company
consulting engineering incorporated I've heard great things about them. I think that's something that is a great option down the road, but budgetary wise, I think right now that I think for what Prowler has to offer for their scope of work, the scope of work is going to be [snorts] comparable.
>> Should we uh vote vote today? [clears throat] I'm I'm ready to propose a motion. >> How much is it? >> $9,900 to Pro Underground Solutions LLC. Is is
CI basically because they're working outside normal hours? Do they work nights and weekends? Is that where >> they all they'll all work nights and weekends depending on where they are uh for background noise whether it's in a busy roadway or >> Okay. >> for noise levels. They may come in, you
know, the New England water distribution. I know he came in many times and worked on um evenings and weekends. Guess he reach out to me to ask me questions or anything like that. >> I assume we have uh this budgeted. >> No, no, that's why not.
>> But there's a line item we can go to for it. I'll probably talk in the beginning of next fiscal year, not this this fiscal year. >> Don't we have to have it? >> I think it has to be done this this coming fiscal year. >> So, we got to find it in our budget between now and July 1st.
>> That that leads towards >> which is another important reason to go with. >> Yeah. Do we have money within the budget to cover a $10,000 contract? >> Meaning you have that equipment lease
line. I don't know use it under that. >> I would say yeah leasing their services. >> Um the well cleaning is coming out of that though, isn't it? Oh no, we have a separate >> Yeah, except for the well. >> Um yeah, I mean probably
>> I don't really see where we have much of a choice. We really have to do this. We got to show good faith. >> Yeah. Keep in mind D is going to be looking for you to do this each year. So carry a line item for it going forward. >> Yeah.
>> Right now we could entertain a motion to approve Prowler for the $9900. And if we have any issues with budgetary lines, let us know and we can >> address that in the future. Um, I move that we uh choose Prowler Underground Solutions at a cost of $9,900
to do our leak detection. >> Second. >> Second. >> And so voted. >> All right. Thank you for that. >> Did that require our personnel to be available on nights and weekends to assist should they need it?
>> They didn't. There's nothing said that in their descriptions of what they're looking for. I think we'd be proactive enough. They're looking to do something. If they're going to come in on nights or weekends, it's usually because it's they want to listen to an area of a 3A card or there's a high volume of traffic or anything like that. So, uh, to my understanding, if the way that
they spell things out, no, >> I was going to say in the past, have we had to put, you know, no matter who the vendor was, did we have to put employees on on an overtime basis? Not that I'm post at all. I just want to know as we move forward, is it something that
should be anticipated? Not with regular leak detection. We have we've had leak detection come in when we're trying to isolate one particular spot. We'll have staff come in to show them and operate gates and what have you. But in a case like this, no. [clears throat] It might be something like, "Hey, I found a spot here.
Tomorrow I want to look at it or set it up." But >> the likelihood I think is seems very unlikely. >> Okay. Um, [snorts] I've reached out to different infrared contractors. Uh,
and I've the highway department has a an agreement with US pavement for infrared and some paving stuff. So, I've scheduled US paving pavement to come in and do infrared uh next week before the end of this fiscal year. >> How many sites are we looking at? >> There's about six sites we need to
repair over the winter. So, they feel they should be able to do that in a in a day's work. >> Great. Does that come from >> they do um the work around town now for the highway department with satisfaction. It's a vendor that Sean's dealt with in the past and he's happy with their work. So I think it's a >> makes no sense. That makes complete [clears throat] sense. Let's go ahead.
>> It's going to keep the road patches up to his his standards because that's how they do it. The June water bills are processed and are in the mail or going in the mail uh within the next day or two. So I'm sure once those go out it'll get busy in here
with the phones as usual. Uh it was a trying time this year this cycle with the bills and transitioning with the reads over. There was some software glitches that uh Stacy and Lori were very patient and worked through and and figured out. There was
>> I don't know about patient they they they got the end goal achieved. So >> is related to that. Um, I have one of the new meters. So, they contact me when there's something odd going on. And they did contact me about [clears throat]
excessive water use because I blew a pipe that's a pump to the pool and I lost about 2 inches of water. And so, I I refilled it during my time. I can refill it. And uh they immediately
noticed the the increased water use. >> She looks at it every day. She's like, "Can you see the water? >> [laughter] >> Well, that that's that was all that plus plus I've got a very clean daughter-in-law who >> does a lot of laundry. [laughter] So, that's one of the benefits of those
meetings is that the resident can download that app and they can set the parameters on there. >> And I'm looking at this at the um amended item here for um an abatement. And if she had that that meter, there
wouldn't been a problem. If it's a quite a long period of time that the hose was running and she didn't know about it, it would have been a day. >> People are going to save money in the long run. We're all going to save money. >> Yeah. I think it's going to be best in the in the long run. Like I said, you can set that app up for those parameters. It'll alert somebody to
>> offhour usage. You know, in the middle of the night, they have a toilet that hangs up or is running. >> Yeah. >> It'll tell you the exact time that's >> good. >> I just find it a little hard to believe that it ran for that long, you know, even though it's outside.
>> Yep. Uh so the bills are going out. The time meeting seem to go well uh till the end. seemed a little contentious, >> but as far as the articles pertaining to this department, I think things went very well. There was no opposition that I saw
>> uh in the fall town meeting has been scheduled. Tentatively now for October 27th, >> Tuesday, >> we have any items for the the fall time meeting >> scheduling related to the uh the well or anything? >> At this time, I can't say that we do or do not. >> Okay.
We need to see where things progress with the well project and >> we're a couple months away. >> That's going to be a Tuesday night. They have it >> scheduled Tuesday night. We have water commission >> tonight that we have a a meeting. So, >> all right. >> We could meet and then go >> unusual.
>> Yes. I was wondering if that was the correct. >> We could meet and then um adjourn over to there. >> You sure I got the right date? >> I might have messed that up. >> So, take a look and see. I put in the thing already here, but let's see what's up.
[clears throat] >> I was thinking 27 >> possibly. >> I have it in my notes in the other room. >> I'm currently working on the employee evaluations for the employees that are not uh have not
reached top step. So that should be done those have need to be done before the end of the month. So those will be completed and submitted to HR for their records. >> Do we do employee evaluations even if they've reached the top step? >> No. >> No.
It's weird. >> I think it's weird too. I've always [clears throat] >> But I'm at top so I'm not. [laughter] [snorts] That's all that I have. Right. We have a >> I got one question going back to the
unaccounted water compliance. Do towns departments when they're using water to clean their areas, do they let you know that they're using water? And again, not that they shouldn't be doing it, don't get me wrong. They were washing the
areas where the uh rubbish dumpsters >> Yeah. Sean Sean keeps a log of know >> the frequency. Usually he'll take and send me a text, give me a call. Hey, they're going to be doing that up. They just at first it would cause some disruption. And it's kind of good that they do that because that section up
there used to always built up with lime because it was dead end when it makes that loop around. So when they would first do it, they would get copious amounts of lime. But now that they do it and it's all the lime's gone, the lime grass, what it used to be kind of a a good flush that Matt Matt [clears throat] kind of encouraged and
we kind of tracked that. We use that as when we do the ASRS for waterless you use for wash. [snorts] >> Okay. And now that town meeting is done. I know I want to meet with Marion. She the town build one. >> Carol. >> Carol. Carol. Uh I want to meet with
her. Um I know you and David both had some questions we want to get get answered first here. Have you had a chance to reach out with David and kind of put that together? I want to reach out and maybe schedule something for the summer where we can sit down as a at least water and waste and account and
figure out what the appropriate numbers would be uh for our costs. So, not at this time. Dave just got back from uh two weeks vacation and he's got >> several things. He actually called me today with an issue that he's trying to deal with there looking for some
guidance and direction on how to go with that. So, I was able to give him some good guidance. So, He's He's got to get through. >> Okay. >> He probably needs a week or two or more just to get >> I can't do anything to July anyways, but I want to at least make sure we [clears throat] send something out to her so she can gather the info. But I'll email you and Dave at the same time and
we'll see if we can get that move while moving to our summer. >> We have a abatement request. This looks like one of those like uh >> So this is your first formal new project. >> Yeah, I was going to say this is the new new document. >> Yep.
Mr. Patel did send a letter which is attached. Um he does understand that during this he will he will pay what he paid last year at the same time frame >> um until such decision has been made. I explained to him that um well what is
eligible what's not eligible and [snorts] I said you can always ask but I can't be guaranteed anything will happen. >> Would you like to be part of a pilot program? can [laughter] pay for a new meter. >> You can review his basically he has a
severely autistic daughter who >> was outside playing in the winter time opened the faucet and then we got that dump of snow. Um so they were unaware. Um he was not notified until a neighbor
>> Yeah. >> had noticed it running and notified his 10-year-old [snorts] son. But the 10-year-old son that told >> his father, >> first thing I do in the winter time is I shut off the inside. >> That's >> Yeah. And he he said that he has done that before in the past and this year it
got he just didn't do it. >> Yeah. >> He's also going to put a lock he didn't write that letter, but he told me on the phone he's going to put a locking device on the outside. >> You can even remove the the spigot too sometimes. >> Yeah. I don't know. But >> and lose it. >> I know that other places have put like
boxes around them with a lock on them so you can't >> Yeah. I don't know. That's you. >> I've got a lot of sympathy for her because a similar situation happened to my sister. Um, her, long story short, a challenged young man
took an important piece of the pool apparatus and threw it in the woods and didn't tell anybody and it's been a massive problem. However, I'm concerned [clears throat] about um right in the first time we make an exception >> to the new rule we just did,
>> right? >> What's the point in having rules if if we can completely make constantly make an exception? I think what we can offer a payment plan or something like that, but I don't see how we can do it. And it breaks my heart to say that >> because I know exactly what poor guys
aren't true because >> I've been talking to my sister extensively about it. So, it's it's problematic. Yeah, we mentioned before, you know, people have to do their own due diligence and to not have turned off the spigots on the inside is, you know, that's asking for a problem
[clears throat] and then something freezes here and there. >> Not that one case has to do with the other, but I did get a letter, a request from um another res resident in town who kind of had a similar thing happen. Um they think it was vandalism, but there's
again no way to prove it. They weren't there. didn't recognize it. They recognized in their letter um that they understand they have to pay for the water even though it wasn't what they used, but they their issue was with the sewer department. So, I forwarded their request.
>> Was there physical damage that was done to the materials? But that's still >> just outdoor sp and I can see um since it probably didn't go through any of the sort department stuff. I can understand why they would request it and why it would. So this is like similar in that it was
an outdoor spet. It was left open for no for reasons they can only assume were something. So >> but unfortunately the treated water was what one >> exactly. But if you if you excuse one then you just open. >> Yeah. I think we can't and I I I would
vote no but not with very a lot of reluctance because I really feel for that. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. any sort of um allowance you can have for payment plans. I would encourage that, but I think we have to stick to our guns. Yeah. >> Yeah. I I told I told him that worst
case that's what we would do. We would, you know, he wouldn't have to worry about a shut off issue. We could work out. >> Yeah. Any thoughts? Any thoughts? Okay, guys. No. [snorts] >> All right. >> So, do you want to just do no motion on
it or do you want to I think it might make more sense to do a motion to deny because that way when other people come up the same thing, you can you can point to a motion to deny before as opposed to
>> kick the can down the road. [clears throat] So I I move we deny the request >> for and for reasons being that you know the homeowner if the home owner had taken some you know basic steps that you would do in the winter time this this wouldn't
have happened. So so sorry. >> Okay. >> All right. >> You got to take a vote. >> Motion. Do I have a second? >> Yeah. >> And so volume. >> Okay. All right. Um, un unfinished business
acco stuff. Anything going on there? >> Still in the hands of the D. Waiting to hear back from there. >> All right. >> About a week and a half now. >> Okay. >> I know it was it kind of hung up because Jim McGloffin was taking two weeks off. So, he says nothing's going to happen till I come back.
>> Yeah. We know we I mean we the same thing here. I mean, we get people leaving and >> we get I get vacations. >> Yeah. >> All right. Any more meter? >> Any more meter replacement funding discussion? That's all.
What are we waiting for on that >> discussion? >> Because I think we we've already we got a pilot going on right now. Do we need to and what do we have in terms of amounts and funds to start? >> I think I think the department needs to
put together a plan that addresses the replacement of the meters. not just, you know, >> it's great that we've got a pilot program and we're seeing how >> beneficial that program is, but we need to go from that pilot program to a meter
replacement program. And we can't really do that until we figure out what the funds are. >> Yeah. >> What it's going to cost to replace, you know, 5,000 meters. >> Okay. Can I can I make a suggestion then so [clears throat] we don't have this on unfinished constantly? Why don't we
invite mass installation back and give them parameters which you want to look at and have them bring some numbers with them have some serious det? >> No, I think we phase it out. So, >> what would it make sense to do first?
>> Well, right now we're getting to a point now where we need to purchase more meters to install. um we just have the banner that we currently use in they're doing some big end of these fiscal year sales um some discounts. So it's either we're going to say that we're going to continue with the census meters we have
now or say that we're going to stop purchasing those meters and stop purchasing the new style meters because that's the direction we're going to transition to. We've been having a lot of problems with the uh handheld device for programming and getting remote reads. That's an expensive unit to replace. So it's kind of a transition
period. Do we say we're going to pump the brakes in this for another year or two years, which I don't think we can under the accomplish, >> but we start transitioning that we're going to start installing those meters. There's no real added infrastructure that needs to be done anywhere in the system
>> other than a different programming device that's very small and simple to use. >> What amounts do we have right now budgeted for replacing meters? Can we use that funds and unlimited amount or we need more? Well, one of the special articles that we got um reinstated this
last weekend was about $40,000 in need replacement program. So, there's $40,000 in there that we could do. >> So, they do some stages and see what they come back to us with. Um >> I would want to use all of it because we
still need to maintain the meters that are currently out there. >> Okay. >> Well, we figured out what we need to save from that then. what do we have available in there? And was that would that get us a decent chunk of of some community that we want want to choose first? And
>> I think to to phase into this that would give us the ability to purchase some meters to have on hand to meet the demand of new installations for new construction, have some replacement meters here and use the balance of that to focus on towards the large meters that we're under the timelines for.
>> Can I make a suggestion? Sure. We still have not a ton, but we still have probably 60 meters out there that are the telephone brand meters. I would love to replace those with those newer meters. >> Absolutely. >> And get that off my monthly.
>> So, why don't we do that? >> Make the [snorts] P >> phase one would be replacing those meters. >> We could bring mass [clears throat] what's the company? >> Mass installation. mass installations to come in and give us an estimate of what it would cost to do that >> including whatever we need for new install
>> and get extra meters for all new install should be the new meter. I think it's a waste of money to use an old meter. >> That that's what I'm getting at is that I think it's >> because it does report the new meters report just like the old meters did only now we got the meter that will be there. >> I think you need to be careful though. I
mean we're talking about replacing all the meters in town. I don't think we should be talking to the vendor, you know, peacemealing it so small that in fact, you know, the initial costs are going to be higher. What we want to do is while initial cost should be
reflective of doing the entire town over a period of time. So don't don't take don't take $20,000 whatever the number is and say we're going to buy new meters for $20,000 but it's going to cost us 2 million to do the town. We need to be
talking about that to a million and then how we fund it, you know, back feed it so that we're >> So, it sounds to me like we need to get some kind of a contract with mass installation where they give us a price and then we talk about phasing that thing in all the time because we are
clearly not able to do that >> quickly, but we need we need to start doing it and start doing it >> and and you do it that way at least then you can say to the in the acco Yo, here's the program we're using. You may not like the speed that we're doing it,
but we're trying to balance your perceptive needs and our financial responsibilities given not only the the meters, but we also have this thing called new well that we've got to fund
somehow to you guys. Chris, let's get an appointment with them as soon as they can. Maybe as soon as they can come to a meeting and you can give them the parameters of what we want to talk to them about. >> Yeah. >> How would I think they'd be eager to come? >> They have been eager to come. They've been calling us.
>> Yeah. Whether we say we're going to buy >> a large quantity of meters that are going to be housed here and then whether we install them inhouse or we contract with them and it there might be a contract agreement that you know the first round of meters includes 500
installations. I know when we did the MXUs years ago [clears throat] we we purchased those it came with a large number of installations. They would install x amount and then the rest was up to us or we could hire them contract with them to come install the rest of the MX. We went to the radio reads. >> Yeah.
>> So, >> so let's get them in here and have a discussion and lead with the plan. >> The media you're talking the ones you want to replace first, Casey, the radio ones. >> No, the telephone. >> Telephone ones. Are those easy to replace accessibility wise? Or
are those some of the older ones that, you know, we're going to have to fight with the residents? >> You got to get in. >> You got to get in the house. >> You have a mass installation contacts. They do all the hard work of get get in there. >> Well, but that's all going to be part of a price. All I'm saying is we need to
look at that. If those are the ones that we want to replace first, is that going to be a higher cost because of the >> inaccessibility? I don't say no. That's they they're they're part of their agreement
[clears throat] when they do the installations is they set up the appointments. They handle all that and they just come back with us with the final paperwork and the old meter and say here's the old meter, here's the old paperwork, here's the new meter with the they document everything. They handle all the appointments and setting up. >> I just want to make sure that we've covered all the basics.
>> I understand that very well >> because [snorts] they you can speak to that. They called you to set it up. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> And there was nothing in and out. >> The pool was full. >> Didn't take long. >> No, there was no pool water at the time. the meter ch I went on with a couple of
the meter change outs on a large meter and a residential meter that was in a crawl space and I think even the residential crawl space meter I think 15 minutes he was in and out it was as fast as it was faster than the guys going in to troubleshoot a radio read that won't
work and that was shutting the water off taking the meter out putting it back in and programming it >> I guess when you've done thousands of them you figure it out how to do it as quickly as possible >> yeah but I I was right there watching the guy in the crawl face and I mean it was not going to end anything that we
would have done. It's not it's not rocket science so it's it's pretty [clears throat] straightforward. The best part is you're not deal with any wires. >> Nobody sitting at this table could have got into the crawl space. But we'll let that go [laughter] in >> for sure.
>> But there's there's no wires to hassle with. There's no secondary equipment to mount. It's the meter and that's it. You know, right now you mount the meter. You got to run a wire, mount the the radio read device, and then program it. And that literally it looked like a a magic marker. Little electronic thing. He
holds a meter, it beeps, he looks at it, done. >> And he doesn't leave until he gets that signal. >> Yeah. I think we could pick the right company. We can pick the right technology. Now we just got to get it done. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, invite them to the next.
>> Okay. So that would be uh >> 23rd. Again, I want to make sure that we're doing this, we're documenting why we're using, you know, this particular vendor >> so that if it comes back in the future
that you didn't take, potentially the low bidder that >> we wanted technology wanted the technology and and we need to make sure that that's well documented, >> but I believe they add a little bit on top of all this. Okay, then [clears throat]
>> even better. But but >> yeah, >> I agree with Bud. We got to say it anyway. We got to figure out a way to make sure that's there anyway. >> No, for future. >> The biggest selling point that I see with this company in their product and talking with other towns that have used
this product is that there's no additional infrastructure they have to add anywhere in their system. So other companies you have to do propagation studies. You have to add repeaters and antennas whether it's on your water tank or set a pole someplace or rent space on a telephone pole. Now
you have something else you need to maintain >> that you're liable for >> and pay for >> you know. So in that that infrastructure then you have to on top of that you have to pay for a radio license for it. With this there's no radio license because it sell based there's no additional
infrastructure you need. So to me it's it's minimal impact of additional infrastructure and it's reliable and it's this a lot of the features that you offer for monitoring the water use and consumption the other vendors offer that
also but with a greater infrastructure networking needs to be done >> and a price. >> Yes, that's additional. One thing we should do as we further start using this meter is using a system similar to what
you saw as far as water conservation and access to the annual report. We should start to put together a simple pamphlet that we can slip in to the next a future water bill that sort
of tells people what it is similar to what >> I bet you they got something. I bet I bet you they got something. They must do for this is what they do for the Yeah, >> believe me, they got almost as many problems as text does right now with Pass. They're not worried about, you know, making sure you know how to reach
your meter, >> but you the vendor may have something. >> That's what I'm talking about. The vendor. I'm talking about the vendor. >> Yeah, >> the vendor has done enough of this. They should they should have be able to to to instruct us really how [clears throat] to do it.
One one last thing about the town me about this Elm Street tanks. So they're they're talking about putting up leasing up for sell service. Are we involved in any of that process with that? >> Yes. So that's been an ongoing discussion now for probably two years.
>> They have some in mind coming in now or >> Yeah, there's uh Verizon wants to come and put some antenna. This is a big >> dead zone that they have here that they >> Verizon is a dead zone. they're trying to mitigate it and uh in their propagation studies they found that that location is going to suit them
>> best. Um and there's additional space that's on the tank with the refurb that we did so we can generate some additional revenue. >> I think what Bob was was referencing though is make sure that we're in the loop. I mean the town's doing the negotiations for everything and we got to make sure the installation is done
according to your your >> Oh yeah. I I've done lots of reviews with USG and this has been >> they've been waiting for the town meeting because the next step is they they can't proceed any further any other discussions >> until you get the blessing of the town meeting for the the RFQS and stuff. So
>> I thought the important part was at town meeting they clearly stated that we get 50% of the revenue >> it was set it was said a couple of times. So, >> all right. >> So, that was just a a formality before
they could proceed in any other discussions or anything like that. So, >> you can't even you can't even talk about what potential rates would be until you did this procedure here. So now that they've done this procedure [clears throat] now they can entertain
uh rate you know then a lot of that I believe that ne negotiation happens between the board of selectment and then and the vendor and then the final approval from the board of water commissions. >> I mean the final approval basically from
our standpoint is the mechanism the way it's attached to the tank. Yeah. Well, no, it's also there's also provisions in there on how they don't have unlimited access to saying there's all kinds of other things that
>> that always been negotiated by the board of selectment sent down here for final review by the board of water commissioners and if there's anything that needs to be addressed, it can be addressed then. So, >> it's definitely more than just a reg. You guys do have a say. >> Yeah. And make sure we get a copy of
whatever. Oh yeah. >> Yeah. We just haven't we haven't done it in the time that I've been here or Chris has been here. These contracts are like 20 to 30 year contract. >> I remember when they started. >> Yeah. So we've done the renewals but never won from the beginning.
>> Then renewals were done when they one company merged and they took equipment off. Yeah. >> That's all I've ever dealt with. So >> all right. I think that's about it. We have that letter we sent to the ZBA for Plymouth and we talked about that. I think we're good to go. Entertain a
motion to adjourn to >> the next meeting 4 p.m. >> Yep. [clears throat] Will be a journ. So voted.