All right, let's see. Yeah, I'm Scott D, vice chair of the sewer commission. Uh, let's see. We're calling to order the sewer commission meeting for March 10th, 2026. Um, let's see if we can start with the
pledge of allegiance. Let's see. Let's see. Oh. Oh, there we go. Put a firm face. All right. And I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> In accordance with the requirements of the open meeting law, please be advised that this meeting of the sewer commission is being recorded and will be able found on the Lunberg Access YouTube channel after the meeting. The follow information is provided for members of the public that would like to
participate in the meeting remotely. To participate remotely from a computer, please use the link to join the public meeting webinar found on the posted agenda or from a telephone. Dial the toll-free number 888-475-44.99 and enter the webinar MD ID 831-874
uh 87249940. If you have not registered with Zoom, you will be asked for your name and email address. Note that no participant ID is needed. Just press pound one. I will do a roll call to confirm that all members are present and can hear me. Members,
when I call your name, please respond in the affirmative. Uh well, maybe we'll start with uh let's start with our newest member, uh Chip Wilson. >> Present. >> There you go. Dan Proctor >> here. >> Arthur Kadis
>> here. >> Brett Ramson is not here. Um should go through the staff now. We'll start with with the most important Jane Rangley >> here. >> Andrew Valeri >> here.
>> Is that right? Get the promotion. Bill Bernard >> here. >> And what are we doing anything here or comment? >> Public comment. Okay. All right. So, ask for public comments from the committee and staff first. Well, does anybody have
any comments from the staff or from the attending or viewing public? >> Am I on the agenda? >> No, it's not on the >> Okay. So, I'm here. My name is Ian Brennan. Um I'm I'm a home builder. Uh I
came here today. Uh friend of the family is looking to potentially sell um the driving range over on Wham. >> Um and we were looking to build duplexes by right. And here I got the for you
guys. I can pass these out super my house. >> Yeah. And then the back page would be kind of how we'd carve up the ANR lots. >> Going that I Okay. >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Um if you go to the second page, you can kind of see how the lots would be configured. Um you know, you need 175 ft of frontage, but on but on Pawn Street, the sewers at the Circle >> and um it is actually snubbed off on
Mark's Land now. But, you know, engineered standard, it needs to be in the road. You can't run easements really through >> Yeah. through each other. >> You know, people don't want homeowners associations, this that and the other thing. >> How much is the frontage? >> It's it's 175 minimum here. And that that's I mean, it's I think you need
100, but you need 175 width through the building. >> See? So, but I mean, it just makes sense. I think these the way they laid out is is minimum 175. the So, what we're asking is to run the sewer up Pawn Street. Um,
and so so the sewer would be you could connect right in perpendicularly to lots one, two, and three. >> Um, if you look to the first page, the the orange um area is the sewer district and there's sewer there. Um the green
district is potential sewer and then um the area that is just in the GIS is kind of nothing. It that little stretch for whatever reason wasn't in the initial um >> yeah I think even going back there was
nothing really even on and this is great for TV. Uh there was really nothing here until they built the Wham uh lots. I'm talking about right on the water across the street from where he's proposing, >> but we would be just at like the green and correct me if I'm wrong,
Commissioner. I would be able to do it in the green. You know, I could, you know, go in there and extend it, but this doesn't have the green. So, that would have to be considered under the future expansion of the sewer. Am I correct?
>> Right. So to get that sewered, you would have to put in a a warrant article for the town meeting. >> Town meeting would have to agree to extend the sewer service area to those lots. >> Okay, >> Bill, looking at this, is this
the green area on this? Is anybody on sewer here yet? Coming from the other way or >> no? Yeah, that's on sewer. But >> but it's in our district. Yeah, in our >> potentially potentially. >> Okay. >> Do we know why that wasn't put in the
sewer area? >> No. I wish it was probably just >> housing maybe was limited. I don't >> Well, that's what I was saying. There was nothing here on the edge of the lake before they built those. >> It's just weird. It's weird that things >> driving. How long has it been at driving range?
>> For a long time. I was involved 35 years ago and my father >> um >> I just kind of odd that they didn't put it in. I don't know. But anyhow, >> so your proposal is just to tie the
extend the sewer line into the potential district. >> Yeah. So it's here at the circle. I would just run it up >> um to kind of where the batting cages are now in in front of this third lot. And then that way I could connect this duplex, I can connect that duplex, and
then this duplex. Yeah. Um yeah, so we just need to be extended. >> And is there plans for the back? Yeah. The the rest of the lot? I mean, I'm >> I'm seeing three Yeah, three three duplexes. Is that a pattern that's going to continue? that. So just like one,
two, three. Yeah. >> And that's it for the whole entire property. >> Well, he's going to sell these right here. I mean, because they're ANRS. >> You can do them by right zoning. I don't need a special permit. >> Um I mean, >> yeah, I just don't we we did talk about
getting I'm just not interested in spending two years and probably spending $100,000 to get a a special permit in there for there be a 40B or I'm just >> Well, no. I mean, I was only asking because if there was, >> you know, potential that we needed to
>> add more >> bigger con or actual common connection to service that property without having to go through future reasons. >> Uh, say that again. >> Unless we Oh, I'm saying if we if you're talking about three tieins just on these >> Yeah.
>> WS here. I'm talking about if there was future expansion where you're coming up to here. If the plan was to future expand this, would you be better served, you know, with a a T even running up into the middle? >> You could without car. >> Yeah. Is Car Avenue
mean >> zone? No, it's not. >> So, I mean, if we if you were to do something on this lot over here, >> you know, you'd have to bring it up. You could you'd have to come back. >> And then you'd have to run it up carav you could break off it. You could
probably do one, two, three more ANRs up there as well. Um, in, you know, just doing just the jigsaw puzzle. But I mean, >> I'm that's not I mean, I'm just asking to do the three ends on pond. >> But >> And where are you in this process now?
Is this all just exploratory or have you? >> No, I'm I mean I'm going to do it. Yeah. I mean, so but um I mean I I if I buy the lot to get permits, >> I can't I can't do anything unless I buy enough land. I don't know what the minimum septic requirement is, but the
soils up there are, you know, Paxton probably. They're like sea soils. They're kind of they're kind of crappy, but >> yeah. >> Um >> I mean I I mean I could do a septic, but I don't I got to look into that help. But we So it's kind of >> I mean I know we're even not at the this
is just exploratory to put a permit in, right? >> Yeah. I remember when I came to see you said come to the sewer commission first. Well >> yeah. >> Well it was it was kind of something that we've had addressed you know fairly recently and we were up to the point where okay well
here this will expand the possibility of more people connecting on sewer. in the future and you know we get our connection up through here and then we also get our tie-ins without easements
>> right I mean you know directly at the address >> at his expense and all that I mean I don't I mean I'm just speaking myself I wouldn't >> No well I'm assuming yeah >> I probably shouldn't assume that too but yeah >> um you are incorporating
are you asking the town to build no >> I mean I've never I've never had a town give me No, I you probably wouldn't this town. So, >> but I wouldn't be surprised. >> You guys want to help the right direction? >> No, we don't. >> But I guess the big thing is if he did go to town meeting,
>> yeah, >> could he ask for our blessing prior to going to town meeting just because obviously that would weigh in at town meeting >> that he has support of the the commission. >> Yeah. And just to add on to be clear, I mean I would need that approval, but
like to be clear, I'm fully open to the scrutinization of the plan once we get engineered plans and we start spending the tens of thousands of dollars on that. Totally open to you guys >> giving feedback and you know, I'm I I'm open to that. You know, I'm so you know, I'm good. >> Well, I think so. Yeah,
>> just stating that point that we were conditionally talking the connections at the physical address on the >> street of the address without going through easements or worrying about anything that or even you know trying to
do something extra creative. I mean this is pretty straightforward. Our biggest challenge is what um town meeting. Well, no, no, not just town hall meeting, but the fact that it's on the edge of our potential. >> Is this fully in our district
or do we have are we looking Do we have to uh amend our >> It's not in our district area, right? It's not just the first. >> No, no. I'm asking Bill I I you know, >> it's not in that orange or brown area. So, it has to be extended to that.
>> No, no, no. But I'm saying I'm talking about we have that >> the master plan. This is in the rights uh the the area of our sewer jurisdiction. No, it's not. That's what he's saying. So >> Well, that's what I'm asking. >> I knew the green was like
>> you guys would have to make the town would have to make it green. >> I guess I could do one duplex there because that part of that's part and Mark does have a snub. >> You know, >> he brought it to the hill >> at some point. I was I'm wondering if that's the reason
why this wasn't incorporated in the sewer. Could Mark Tester have actually asked the town to keep it out of the sewer just so he didn't get charged betterments and that type of thing? >> It's a possibility. >> That might be the case. Yeah. No, >> because obviously he's looking at a piece of land where he could have been
charged numerous betterments. So he might bar right here >> like the Lake View Club. >> Yeah, it's actually on the other side of >> Yeah, it's right there. >> Yeah. Oh, it's down there. >> I don't think he owns that anymore. >> Because if you look at some of Jack
Rodic's notes, I mean, there was that gentleman on the corner, Sunny Hill, that was the same thing. He was adamant about not paying a veteran. I have a working septic, >> right? >> Do not run the stuff by my house, blah blah blah blah. Then his system failed and then he had to run the stuff, you know. So, that that did happen and that
could have happened there. >> Sure. Mark could have said, "I don't want sewer because then I'm going to pay a big Benaman and I don't want it and you know I'm I just it seems odd that you know there's sewer all around it and that is gone." >> Yeah. Even if it was in phase two type of thing. So that would be my guess, but
that's just >> right. So Ian, my recommendation if you want this to happen soon, you have to have that warrant article to town manager by next Wednesday. >> Yeah. the 16th >> for for fall town meeting >> May by by Monday
>> fall town meeting you got months but yeah >> my brain moves slow you say that again >> yeah March 16 >> that's how you post something to be discussed at a town meeting >> yeah you can do a citizens petition
>> okay March 16 citizens petition >> the meeting is May 2nd the Frank time. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. If you want to go that fast, then that's your cut off date. >> You don't mind waiting. >> And you're hoping for a special town
meeting in what? September. >> November, right? >> Okay. March. Okay. And I send it out. Is there someone downtown I can talk to about this? >> Town meeting if there's >> Okay. I'll I'll talk to them before. Okay. The 16th. Yeah. No, that'd be great. Um, I mean, in my mind, I was
already thinking we could maybe hit this in 20 is a 2027 project, but we can slam a couple foundations in before the next winter. Okay. I mean, I'm good with that, but Oh, I appreciate that. >> Yeah. And then >> Yeah. So, we'll have to do some homework
and then >> you should schedule to come back so that we can discuss it and vote on it. >> Okay. So, say that. Okay. >> Yeah. We'll do some >> I thought that was going forward tonight
but we'll do it next month. >> It's not on the agenda so they can't vote on anything. >> Yeah, I didn't. Yeah. >> Okay. Was I supposed to do something? >> Um >> I thought that email I did. Yeah, I think I Yeah, >> you did send me an email. I thought Yeah, that we were tonight.
>> I have an email. I didn't. Sorry about that. >> So, I apologize. And he needs what? Like a month, right? Basically before I can get on because it's going to be public notice two weeks. No >> something. No. >> No. We can do it's like what? Five days. Yeah. Five days.
>> Oh, it's 5 days. Okay. >> Next meeting is the 30. >> So our next meeting Yeah. It's at the end of the month on Tuesday. >> March 31st. >> So I can definitely I can't get you on the agenda. >> But you are >> that might be more well served for you. the other part right if you want
>> because you already have discussions with us. >> Okay. >> But yeah, you want to get that. It's a Warren article, right? >> Right. You can always pull it. Right. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> If he falls through. >> So then when he came back to us on the 31st, he would just be asking would we
give him the blessing to do this if at town meeting it's accepted. >> Right. >> So then the would say >> I need your blessing first, right? Before I go to town meeting. Yeah. So, this is March 31st, right? Okay. >> I mean, this is basically, >> right? So, we we have March in April, so
we have we have plenty of time because >> Okay. >> Yeah. As long as you don't come back to the plan, then all of a sudden now it's seven units and there's four easements and >> um cuz isn't this all new construction over here too with the Yeah. Putting
inside the hill? Is that on sewer or No, >> this is all he's tying it in right here. Those are the ones down. >> There's sewer now. Okay. >> It's already tight in >> those houses that are >> No, I saw them popping out of nowhere. >> Those that goes down to prospect. >> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Here. I'm looking at it
a little different. But >> All right. >> Yeah. Which is the one way that they stopped. Was it I mean uh ended up being a dead end. Supposed to be a third. >> Yeah. Car rev. >> Is that car? >> Yeah. Car is right where the line is. This is carv right there. There's one house on carv
>> all the way at the end. Yeah. >> Yeah. But this stops right here. This used to go all the way through. >> You guys can keep it guys. All right. Um, you guys have any other questions or anything like that? >> No.
>> All right. Let me know what you're trying to do. >> All right. Go for it. >> Yeah. No, it makes sense. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Maybe they'll be different looking towns. There won't be the life of the place. All right. Thank you. >> All right. Thanks. Appreciate >> it.
Somebody else if I can right there. >> Yeah, that's the actual >> it's the whole those are the batting cages right there. So that his driving >> the actual little office is like >> Yeah. Yeah. That's more like the first I
thought each one of these. No, >> each one of these was a union. >> Oh, the way the grid So this is the mini >> look at the second I thought this was >> small. >> Look at the second. >> So these all these lines right here
in future. >> So >> there's actually a plan of land from 1950. >> Oh that's what that is. >> It was called whales. 310 houses that were going to go in that whole area that >> they just never did it. >> Yeah. Crazy.
>> That's interesting. Well, look at how small they were. Know what the footprint was. >> I did email them about that, but they didn't confirm with me. I emailed them in February, so didn't get them on in March. >> Uh, all right. There was no public
online. I know. >> No, thank uh any double check any public comment here? No. >> No. >> All right. We want to walk start with uh the demand fees. You want to go with
that, Andrew, or you want me just >> What did I miss? I get that. >> I make a motion to approve the minutes of >> Oh. Oh, I thought I'm sorry. I was on the announcements above that. >> I'll second that.
>> Minutes of 224 and minutes of 33, which was the joint select board meeting. >> All right. I have a motion and it's seconded. Uh let's start with the roll call vote to accept the minutes. Uh, Arthur Kadis. >> Hi. >> Let's see. Dan Proctor. >> Hi.
>> I suppose I'll call Brett Ramsen, >> who is not here. >> Do we have to call him? Uh, if he's not here, >> we already established he's not. Okay. And sorry then we have our newest member. Let's go. >> Sorry. I want to call you Chip, but is
that your official? But >> yeah, do you prefer Chip or sign? All right. All right. Well, I got I have your name as Chip on hand. >> Yeah. I just didn't know if you call me out and I won't be very confused. >> And Chip Chip Wilson.
>> Yeah. I >> All right. The the eyes have it. It's going to be accepted. All right. We want to uh let me just run back to the announcements. The demand fees will be mailed out the week of March 16th. If you've not paid your sewer bill, please
send payment in before Friday. And you can pay online also. All right, let's see. Time for let's go with the sewer business manager DPW director updates. We'll have uh Andrew
talk about the follow up on the user rates for fiscal year 27. Um, so it's pretty much the same thing that we've talked about last time with the rates of u the 1838 um per cubic square feet, right? And the
minimum charge of 139. >> Yeah, it was uh we talked about that and we also talked about the minimum um >> right. So it be on the >> rate page >> staying at 5% for the
>> going up to 5% >> going up to five sorry but keeping it low um >> yeah for the minimum charge we only went up 5% and the regular charge we went up 16% >> which was on point >> on a scale over the past 20 years
>> right >> I mean >> so it puts more of the burden on the people who are actually using the water so Will we use it under the minimum? >> In full disclosure, we will state again that it's, you know, we're we're
directly held u by what Lun, I'm sorry, Lemonster and Pitchburg are charging for the sewer for our sewer >> and we're just trying to do the uh the right thing honestly for everyone. >> I believe it's fair.
Um, >> I guess Bill, do you have any updates on the ongoing fiscal year 27 budget? >> So, any updates? >> The presentation I have here. I can email it to anybody. If anybody wants to look at it now, they can.
>> Um, it's Thursday night. You're all welcome to attend. You're welcome, Scott, to come and do the presentation or they want me to do it. I can say they they love you there. Yeah. They know they know that your your presentations are spot on and they don't waste anyone's time and they don't have a ton
of questions. So, and they love the format of your budget. So, >> yeah, >> that's FinCon. >> Fin. Yep. Thursday night at 7. >> I'm sure it's time. >> Just to bring Chip up to speed. Last meeting, we
>> we voted that budget in for 27 >> so he could get it in for the uh between the warrants. Right. It would have been >> if that was >> it would have been >> Yeah, it's the whole here's the budget.
>> But it was pretty straightforward and we had the PMS and the still at the capital uh gains albeit a little knocked down, right? because we're trying to
>> somewhat not dipping in too much of retain. >> Yeah, we're not gonna use any of our retained earnings this year. >> Next year. >> So, we have the past couple years and our retained earnings are not dropping. So, we >> want to study that out. >> Yep.
>> And the big projects coming up this year was pump two. >> Uh we have a few lined up. >> I forget. I besides the uh the sewer >> I'm sorry the manhole covers and >> it has to be reset right I mean we have
to they order the wrong >> size the right they have the right size >> in warehouse ready to be put >> they're ready to go that's good April 15th >> okay >> and then I think the only other >> was he something else we probably should
have brought him up to speed on but I'm trying to remember what it was on the budget um oh just part of the rate increases and everything were all driven by >> the betterments are slowing down and you know you know the betterments are yeah
so that income is increasing less and less coming through right >> so we want to try and stay >> level >> um so >> have the half >> yeah I mean but that was those are really only the big shocks and they're
not even shocks >> nothing dramatically change from last year, which is a good good thing. >> Do we have a simple math number for how much water we're billing our customers and how much water we're getting build by Fittsburg and Lemonster
combined? >> Yeah. >> Like what is that percentage ballpark? >> Like are we will we billing out a million cubic feet and we're getting charged a million and a half cubic feet or what is it >> meaning the infiltration >> profit off of us?
>> Well, no. Well, the problem is there's a lot of water infiltration into the system. Correct. >> Oh, right. >> I have I I have our previous I mean >> Lunberg sewer flows, right? It was
pretty much accurate, but I mean we the problem meaning the sewer system >> is we have leaky pipes, manholes, catch basins, whatever. >> Okay. So, water is come ground water is coming into the system. >> Okay. So when it comes in, it goes to Fitsburg and or Lemonster. We're getting
charged for it. >> Well, we're not charging our customers because they weren't using the water. It's water infiltration, >> right? So it's just if there's a leaky pipe and it flows 24 hours a day, it's a huge amount of water, >> right? Do we have a number for that? We don't. >> Right. I can tell you where most of our
flows go to. Um, which is obviously lemon. >> Um, >> so you're asking just for the comparison. Well, I guess what I'm asking is like these manhole repairs, are we seeing a >> change in how much water infiltration we
are getting, right? >> That should help. >> Same thing with and what have you. >> Fluid supposed to another question I have. >> Every quarter is different, right? >> It is. >> Okay. >> You know, so it's hard to tell. >> I mean, the only way to really check is
to go down in the manhole and see if water's coming in. All right. pretty much at night. That's the test. You go at night when nobody's flushing their toilet. >> I mean, you could put a stick some kind of measure down. >> I'm more looking at is it cracks and >> you know active infiltration,
>> right? Exact type of thing. Not not necessarily coming down the pipe. >> We should be repairing the cracks before we are repairing the sewers. Well, repairing the sewers is just as important, but I guess the point I'm making is I know we keep looking at these numbers, but I just don't feel
like we're solving the problem. If there's if there's problems there, we should be solving it because it's just going to keep going up and up. And I just the manhole repair contract that we have in place right now, >> that's targeting the the manholes that were inspected that were suspected of
having INI. Okay. >> Right. So hopefully it it lessens after we fix all these Well, you're talking about even not for that reason where there could just be some compromise. >> Oh, absolutely. >> I mean,
>> did we ever do cameras in some lines? Cameras up lines to see if there's water coming. >> There are reports. Yeah, >> we have a couple of reports from like 2014, 2011. >> Okay. So, >> do we ever does the city of Fitsburg or
city of Blemister ever have their meters calibrated? >> Calibrated. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um >> uh floor assessment. Yeah, they do. They come out and we have to have a police detail. >> Yeah. >> Um so they can >> make sure
>> I mean the meter is the meter is at like Central Mass Powers Sports. Is it right there for city of Fitsburg? >> Is there a Is there a meter right there? That's where it actually registers as water flows by. >> Right. >> Okay. >> Right. So, they're about what once or twice a year to check them. >> I think it's twice a year because I just
I just uh I just did a PM a couple months ago. >> Well, I mean it's just questions that you know. >> No, we know >> if we can not have to go up. >> And again, I'm just thinking, you know,
the whole the whole you know, I just sense >> I kind of want to be proactive and kind of solve some. Either way, you're getting charged more, right, from lemon. >> Yeah, we can't control >> regardless infiltration or not. Getting charged more would make a difference. >> That's the charge. >> Yeah. Right.
>> Yeah. Right. Yeah. No, I understand that. But I also see what he's saying about, well, why are we could be possibly paying for >> But that's also But it's also a PM thing because it's not like cracks heal themselves and they just get worse. >> You know, you end up with a pipe cave
in, right? But yeah, I mean, but we also had kind of the failed effort for those wireless transmitters they tried to put in, right, to monitor it really didn't >> quite worked the way it was sold. Yeah,
>> we can revisit that. >> Our problem was getting signal to it. >> Yeah, we can't get >> Either way, it's worth >> data live, but we can get the data downloaded, you know, once a month or something. Well, that's true, too. Yeah, you could just have it storing the data.
>> If we suspect the area has a lot of INI, we can put it in a manual there >> and then even still >> and monitor how much is going through and then >> and then bas and then compare it >> base it on the meters of that particular
street or area or whatever. >> I'm sure it's pretty easy with 30 inches melting in two days. >> Well, that's it exactly. It's not today, >> right? >> Thank you. >> Can we vote for Al to go crawl through
the house, >> put a camera on his bust and put the cockpit cameras? They're great. Just put them on your phone and stick them down. You can buy a 30 foot run for like 20 bucks on eBay.
>> Yeah. At least we're not, you know, 1,700 through a system of brick and mortar. Um, >> well, lots of clay pipes out there in the area. >> Yeah. Well, >> right.
>> Before I water in the way area is at like 18 in. So, >> yeah. >> So, this time of the year there's a lot of leaks. That's where it comes from. Absolutely. >> Most likely. >> Yeah. >> Um, all right. I think we're good on the quality. Um the budget presentation will
be the >> people can see it on uh they broadcast it live on the local cable access and then that'll be on YouTube uh on the town's YouTube channel. All right. So uh all right. Next up is the
discussion of the town war article uh bylaw wording that we were looking to have revised. Do you you have this? Okay. Uh, and it was >> okay. >> I mean, the memory serves me right. It was just >> we put it together, the town manager
tweaked it just a tiny bit and then she asked for an explanation of why >> summary that we >> so we gave her the summary. So >> and this was >> yeah it was the blessing of town the town council too which we got in >> front of him and it was just to reward
it to be um >> the sewer bylaw to be standard with the new >> for the ADU. So we just had consistent language. So this wasn't anything um >> out of the ordinary. Um and this will be
is this read at the >> town meeting? Yeah, >> it is voted on. >> It's voted on. Okay. >> Um, and I think we only we changed Well, I don't know if anything changed now, but initially it was just changing two words. >> There was just a few words in the sum and the summary explains it.
>> Yeah, it wasn't fees, it wasn't restrictions, it was >> two words to be nicer. Uh, does anybody have any comments on the bylaws amendment? And we're still gonna have uh go in front of
the town. I mean, it is what it is at this point, but >> Skype town meeting you presented, right? >> Sure. >> Have to figure out what the two words were changed. >> Emergency. >> Yeah. Yeah. I
>> extraordinary circumstances and Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, there's a lot bigger fish to fry at town meeting than >> Yeah. Yeah, it's fairly simple. It's >> uh All right. So, the uh sew storm sewer
and storm water and uh we'll go to Bill for this. Is this the storm water task force or is this just >> Yeah. So, as discussed at the last meeting kind of threw it out there, see if we can combine a storm water and sewer commission. >> It can be done but it can't be done in
town meeting alone. The sewer commission here was first it was an act of the state legislature that established this. So we'd have to go to the state first get a know law passed there and then it
would have >> this is just to have the same >> to combine a storm water and sewer commission. So, >> oh, I didn't even think it was that until I thought you would just have to sign out at one and you know. >> No. So, maybe that'll happen at some
point, but it's not going to happen now. >> Okay. >> So, I was a little confused about that whole thing. So, we have the the group that made the presentation the other night. >> The task force. >> The task force. So they're really just doing >> going in front of town meeting to to
vote on either one of those two and then what whatever method gets adopted by the town then there's going to be a committee. >> Right. So right now the bylaw will say the select board controls storm water. >> Right.
>> Ideally I don't know I don't know we're going to end up combining sewer storm water the new storm water commission at some point. >> Right. But right now it's to get it out of the way in the water right now. >> Okay. >> But yeah, to get the bylaw in place
right now it's going to say select board. >> Okay. >> So this isn't going on basically at the town hall or going >> it is going to be voted on. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I was >> by law to establish a storm water utility. >> The president to the state get that. No,
no, he was >> maybe we don't know. >> Yeah, >> but the storm water utility is going to be on town meeting. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's establishing the utility as a separate entity >> in which method is used and what have you.
>> Right. So right now that you that bar will say um that the select board oversees it. >> Right. >> Right. So maybe we'll have to go to a future town meeting. establishes the warm water commission or
again we could combine but that's going to go to the state first >> but we have time to figure that out so >> right okay >> so this is going to the town to establish >> to establish a storm water utility
>> and devil's advocate if they vote it down where this is isn't this a mandate from the state >> from the federal government >> from the federal government so >> well the mandate is to clean up the water before you pump it into all the lakes and streams, right?
>> We're not doing that. So, >> yeah, >> they could find us. >> Pretty big finds potentially. You just drive around, you'll see it. >> Right. But, >> but >> again, when they were consultation the other night, there's only a handful of communities that are on board at this
point that are in full compliance. Correct. >> Full compliance. Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, so out of 300 342 towns or whatever municipalities in the state of Massachusetts, there's like a five that are in defiance. >> Okay. So, I mean, you know, I'm not
downplaying I'm not downplaying it. I think they're going to start years ago >> quite a few years back. >> I bought a task force over 10 years. >> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. They've been talking about it for 10 years >> and this is where it's at now.
>> Yeah. So, we're close now. >> Yeah. Oh, absolutely. I mean, it was a good presentation she made, you know, for sure. I I don't Is there a deadline? I don't 100% some of the methodology, but, you know, it's just me being a business owner. >> I don't think Arthur was here
>> the last meeting when we were talking about it, right? Because I think the full-blown part of it was the right was the street sweeping twice a year and the, you know, clean out of storm drains, right? all the stuff they do in
our former town, you know, um that would become utility. >> So that's why they need to charge >> like you pay a sewer bill, you would pay a storm water bill. >> Yes. >> Right. And that would that money would just be used >> to fund that >> to fund activity
>> those activities. Yeah. For storm water for the federal permit. So we get in compliance with the federal permit, >> right? I mean, >> you have to head in that direction no matter what. Right. So eventually, >> well, you have to be in compliance, right?
>> It's better to be a mechanism to pay for that. >> No, it's great. >> Mhm. >> And we like clean streets. >> Yeah. >> Um, all right. Are we good on the sewer and storm water uh talk at the moment?
>> All right. I guess uh is there anything Well, let's see. Is there anything we want to keep as future agenda items or anything you want to add as future agenda items? >> We're going to add Ian, right? >> Yeah. >> Mhm.
>> Presentation. Yeah. >> Um I mean I get the user rates and >> that's I think the user rates and the budget. I guess we can talk about >> budget in them. So we can talk about how it was received >> committee meeting.
>> Exactly. Talk about it. >> Yeah. if they, you know, have any input back to you. Um, and well, the town warrant, that should be done before the next meeting. >> Five days. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. No, no. I'm just trying to think of the date of the next meeting and when the >> Yeah. So, probably leave that. >> Yeah. Uh, does anybody have anything to >> We probably should add the uh the manhole contract. The contractor has been in touch with us. He wants to get going. >> Really? as opposed to the
>> woman that, you know, didn't talk to you for 6 months. The last time you try to get the hold, >> you fix that. >> Yeah. >> Maybe sooner than later if they can get it in. >> Yeah. So, they want to get going. >> What up there? >> I don't especially before the rainy
season would only help us. Um, any other future business you guys can think to add? any old business we need to cover? Yeah. I mean, I don't think so either.
Let's see. Is there any public I think somebody There is somebody on. >> You have any uh Let's see. They're on They're muted. They have any public comment right now that they can speak now if they'd like.
No, it's okay. >> Um, let's see. Uh, I would like to bring up just before we head into wrapping this up uh with the next meetings. um was
randomly saw read an article that Fitchburg's mayor is trying to push to draw new business to the area of their old sewer treatment plant, you know, that's on the other side of town there. Is there been any grumblings of them
maybe bringing that updating and back online to process more? I'm just wondering, it was an article I saw like a week ago and that's just sad that I'm reading sewer articles. Um but >> nobody's contacted us. >> Yeah. No, it was just out there. I
>> how I saw it, I don't know. But um >> that brings up a point. Where are we at on that capacity to the Fitsburg line? Like are we at full capacity? >> No, there's there's plenty of >> Oh, okay. >> It just depends on Well, it's not a big part of the town that's even
>> draining to that, right? most instead. Yeah, we have a big amount preserved there again. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. So, our next meetings coming up that are scheduled, we're looking at
March 31st, 2026, 6 p.m. that will be a Zoom meeting. Um, April 14th, 2026, 6 pm regular in-person meeting with the hybrid option. uh April
28, 2026, 6 p.m. Zoom meeting. Um and May 12th, 2026. It'll we'll still be on our 6 p.m. schedule and that will be a in-person DPWhybrid option. Um
at this time, if we don't have any other business like to >> motion to adjurnn. Second that. All right, we'll take a roll call vote to accept to adjourn this meeting of the sewer commission. We'll start with Chip Wilson.
>> Hi. >> Dan Proctor. >> Hi. >> Arthur Cadis. >> Hi. >> And I for myself, the meeting is closed. Now go about your