Meeting of the water commissioner is called to order. Thursday, November 20th, 2025 at 6 PM and this meeting is being recorded. Chairman Johnson present. >> Commissioner Dave Msmore present. >> And John's not in the waiting room. >> Not at the moment.
>> Okay, >> Rich. >> Oh, DPW Director Rich Bozac. >> Assistant Director John Goddard. >> EPW office manager Jetty. >> There you go. Is there any public comment? Is there anything anybody in the waiting room? John,
>> nobody in the waiting room. >> Okay, go ahead, Norm. >> You want to put it on the screen? >> Oh, yeah. I missed the second most important thing here. Let me get your sharing.
Did I shut it off? There we go. Fantastic. Let me close this. Let me pin you, Norm. And you're ready to rock. You're good. show.
Okay. Okay. There we go. Okay. Okay. So, what I decided to do after our last meeting here was is uh not knowing what Randy had shared
with you back when this whole process started, I decided to go back to the master plan and and try to give you some of the flavor of why this particular action item came into being
and um and some of the frustration behind it. So, the actual questionnaire that went out to the public had 40 questions and over 900 people responded.
And for question number 23 was, rate your satisfaction level for each of the following services that are currently provided by the town of Southwick. and they included police, fire, ambulance, roadway maintenance,
plowing, water systems, sewer systems, transfer systems, senior services, and board of health. And you are asked to rate it extremely unsatisfied, somewhat unsatisfied, neutral, somewhat satisfied, extremely
satisfied, and do not use. And when the results came in, I just so let you know, I combined extremely unsatisfied and somewhat unsatisfied together. And I also combined somewhat satisfied and extremely satisfied
together. And it'll show you the results on the very next chart. So police got the most most number of positive responses at 701 and pink is the negatives.
And then the purplish color is um do not use. Okay. And you'll see water systems was seventh on the list of 10. Okay. With 305 people saying that they were
satisfied, 234 were not satisfied, and 187 did not use. So what I did next was I said okay let's take out the do not use categories and repopulate it and see what happens.
And here is the dissatisfied paro road maintenance was the highest dissatisfaction at 51.6% and water systems went to 43.4. Okay. So what this chart says behind
potholes water systems is the number two negative response from the big survey. Okay. And question number 26 said, "Do you use public drinking water?" You responded, "Yes or no." And
67.5% said yes, they use it. And 32.5% said they do not use it. Okay. Then question 27 says, "If you answered yes to question 26, do you use do you use the
public system? Is the quality of the town public drinking water acceptable to you?" And here's our results. 442 people or 74% yes. 155 said no or 26%.
So this tells me that slightly more than one quarter of the population believes the water is unacceptable from a quality standpoint. Now one of the options that occurred on the 40 question survey was the
opportunity to give in your own words their opinions to different subjects. And I spent a lot of time back in 2021 capturing this stuff. And these are the ones that had to do with with water or
with drinking water. Okay? I'm not going to read them all, but I'm going to read the ones that are in yellow. And there are 60 of them. Insufficient well capacity, safety, and of water quality. Appreciated communication when there
were issues with the water supply. This and understand that the issue is mostly on the end of the Springfield supply. I wish there was a way to prevent ensure that this does not continue to happen. Chemicals in our drinking water are very
distressing. I would like to be notified via phone alerts when the water is affected with cancer-causing chemicals and not by letter weeks later. Concerned about safety of drinking water? Our water purity should be a top
priority for Sulfur. I do not feel safe drinking the the town water. Having to rely on Springfield to supply our water in my community puts us at their mercy. We have had water bands for the last two years and I've that I've lived here and
our property looks deplorable. Water systems has had problems with contamination. The drinking water provided to homes shows to be cancerous long term. So residents need to source alternative drinking water. Serious concerns with
water quality. Some improvement needed in water quality and abundance. And the water is one of the worst I've ever had. It's bad enough the water bill in this town is insanely high, but the water is basically toxic and I don't feel safe
drinking it. It is absolutely unacceptable that we can't even use water because we are on restrictions every year. The water situation in Southwick is awful. I hope something can be done in the near future. Water bands are awful.
Water system is now not drinkable. Sending warning for liability. Very unhappy with water situation. Water systems. My water tastes terrible and has dangerous levels levels of halo acidic acids. I have to buy bottled
water to drink and cook with. Yet, I have no choice but to bathe and do my laundry in contaminated water. And the level of cancers in Rosewood condos is extremely high. Get it fixed immediately. I question the quality of water in town.
We should be make sure that we have enough water supply before we approve more development. Also relying on Springfield water to supplement our water supply has proven bothersome. Too many chemicals in water being forced to buy bottled water to drink.
Water system. Why are we selling water to other towns especially in drought conditions? The water needs to be filtered better. Water system drought every year. Think we need to fix this before we think about growth.
We should have water supply capacity to handle the population. Insufficient well capacity, safety of water quality, cost and scarcity of water. Do not like that we need to get water from other towns. I
believe the town water supply systems should be augmented so as to become independent of Springfield or other town systems. The only actual concern I have with adequate supply of clean water that is safe to drink.
Some improvements needed in water quality and abundance. The town needs to resolve the problems of the lack of water before any additions are made in town. I'm fine with everything the town except the water availability. If I knew it was going to be this bad, I
would have put a well when I bought here. >> Okay. How many more you got of these, Nor? I'm not going to sit around like Listen to this. I drink the water every single day. We send out reports and when there's a chemical, the people are notified right away. We're trying to get our water withdrawal change so we can
draw more water and we don't sell water to other towns. I don't know where you're getting that information from. We do not sell water to any other towns. >> I if I can >> go ahead because I'm not going to get we've got a good water system and this is this is a lot of this I I drink the
water every single day. >> I think >> don't tell me there's chemicals in there. Don't tell me that >> it's a it normally you don't mind introduction for just a moment to to spur this conversation along. Um I can see that a lot of these comments are inflammatory. We are talking about a
segment of the public that chose to respond to the questionnaires, right? And that doesn't by any stretch of imagination capture everything, but it captures something here. Um I do think we see a reflection of and you'll pardon me using the term but I think it's fair
in this form right here uh of ignorance um because fuel the hard work uh and the regulations in place that go towards providing consistent um reliable clean and safe water that's not reflected at
all um through what we see here. I think you know nor I'm sure there were a few positive comments uh in places but that not being the focus of we're going to call what what developed a concern under the master plan process. Um >> and we send out a report every year. It's in the post office. It's in town
hall. How many people read it? >> You know >> how many people read it? >> I'm sure very small fraction of the 900 that respond to a number probably approaching zero >> if uh we could use that comparison. Um so Norm if I could uh again in an effort
to try to facilitate I think the message um is starting to come through about I'm going to call it just a general concern um but one that comes from I suppose a lack of contact with the safety of materials. Everybody who's on water gets the robo alerts when we got to put them
on restrictions, right? um everybody that's on public water uh gets the notices when there's disinfectant byproducts or if there's a you know process. Um and to be fair, scrutiny is not likely to lessen in coming years um
as our growing awareness towards compounds in the environment man-made influences so as that continues to grow. Um so I I think the message has gotten through. Norm is uh uh can we see where this is building towards?
>> I have quite a bit more but uh >> I think I think that message has gotten through that generally speaking >> um that >> could we how many gallons a minute can we pump out of those wells? you're for for I do I haven't retained those very
>> but we're capp and the only time we have to go out to Springfield water is in the summer when the the use is high if the water restriction is in the replace and the only people that get hit with that is in the middle of town cuz I my I don't get that taste >> right where they're drawing some of that
>> and then at one time we had where Springfield overcllorinated that's when Randy was here and we had to straighten out the mess because it was their water, but we paid for it, but we had to suffer the consequences. But that's been We don't use sprinkle water hardly at all.
I think Kevin opens it up like once a month just to flush the system. I think that's true. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Because we very we cut way back on sprinkler water. Okay. I'd just like to read the last two before I go to the next slide. Have a clear written research water
preservation plan. Water systems. I'm all for conserving water. I failed to see the relationship between frequent annual outdoor water use bands and flow rate of the Westfield River. You have been using the same explanatory memo for
years, predicting that other towns will eventually have the same water use license renewals with the state. However, I don't see that happening. >> Well, it is happening. We told you that the last meeting that West Springfield egg one had a buy. That buy is over. Right. Just as you are as frustrated.
These people are frustrated and that's why they made these. >> And you fight with D. Norm. >> You fight with them. We've had people in here before. That's water restriction is not going to change. >> It's not just water restrictions. It's water quality. >> I drink it every day. >> So don't I, but I filter it every day.
>> I don't filter mine at all. Mine comes right out of the bag. >> Okay. And by the way, John, there were no positive comments about the water cost water quality. Water supply water bands. Good. >> Okay. Also, we had public visioning
sessions that looked at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to the town. And under weaknesses, we had these two show up. Drinking water quality issues, water restrictions, threats to the future of the town, aquifer protection, resolving water
shortages, water quality, and supply. Okay. And next I went in to look at the mission statement that's for the water commission and it states the board of water commission is responsible to adopt issue and administer ordinances rules and regulations for the administration
and operation of the town's water distribution system case. So, I went in and and we have a handout for you for several other cities and towns in the state that have more progressive
um mission statements. And I'll hand those to you later, but the number one that I thought could be used for modeling after would be Southampton. And it states, "The water department is under the elected board of water
commissioners, which consists of three members, one elected each year to who serve a three-year term. The water commissioners have exclusive charge and control of the town's water department and water subject to federal and state laws and bylaws. Provide the town of
Southampton with abundant, safe drinking water. Provide the town of Southampton with adequate water supply and pressure for firefighting where hydrants are available. Maintain well pump station and distribution system. Manage and protect current water supplies. Seek the
sources of future water supply demands when needed. Respond professionally to the public and government official requests, inquiries, and problems. Follow enterprise funding to offset all water department expenses and user fee.
Okay. Now, there are 140 recommendations that came out of the master plan. Okay. Of which the water commission has one. Planning board is 31, select board 21, and economic development 16. Now, not
all these organizations are aggressively pursuing, but many of them are. Okay? This is the same item that this is your charge that you've received. I'm not going to read that again. But here's what I would recommend that
you incorporate the follow into the normal mode of operation. And this is my opinion only. More frequently and more timely communication on water issues. Explore using code red when water quality measurements are out of EPA
standards. Educate on education on state mandate water restrictions. Education on the water testing results, what they mean. Update your mission statement to include education, improved communication, and research. Quantify the number of water restriction
bans that have been issued in the length of each. Research what other states are using for restrictions and can they be used to challenge our state rules. Do your own survey on water satisfaction, cost, quality, supply, and
bands. How many residents actually buy bottled water? Expand the board to five members and have two members be appointed by the select board. Publish all water quality testing results on town website. Okay.
Now each of the 140 organizations master plan action items have support groups to help them solve their their issues. And there were three for your particular charge. the Conservocation Conservation
Commission, the DPW and Select Board were the three boards that are there to support you on this. And we had them prioritize their act all their support actions. And on the Conservation Commission, they
ranked your item 10 out of Total of 19. DPW ranked it number two out of 24. The select board rated it top seven out of 59. One select board member said wrote it to
be number one. >> Another one number six and the third one never never prioritize the final seven. That's why it says stop seven. So your support groups believe is an important subject.
Okay. This is my opinion and my opinion only. Of the 140 master plan leader action items, this water commission action item is in the top 10% of importance to the town and its residents. A successful completion of this action item is critical to the
future itself. In closing, thank you for listening to me. I understand your frustration, but you need to understand there's a lot of frustration out there in the moment. copies of your presentation.
Now, I can I can go along with the fact that we need education because all those all those comments are basically out of the fact that they don't understand that we have plenty of water
in town, but we have we have an extraction permit >> that limits us on how much we can throw in. >> People just don't want to hear it, you know. We know West Broomfield Field is drawing three times as much water from
the Sulf aquifer that Sulf is. We know that they're allowed to do that. We know that sometimes because of the way that they manage their permit that they're not on water restriction when we are and they're drawing the water from this
town. We understand that. And we could we could easily give everyone in the town of South two days to water 30% above the the water the water usage rate per person in this town
>> because we have 1acre lots trying to grow turf on South's famous red scene and you're not going to do it >> right >> now. that doesn't have any effect on the water on the water table because any excess water in the deer goes right back
down into the aquar's all sand. >> So, we understand that, but >> water restriction and we've been fighting this battle for for years. It's we have a permit. The permit is expired. We're operating under the old permit, >> right?
>> The DPW will tell us how much water we can draw when that new permit comes out. and they're still haven't done right >> the water needs the water use for the next 20 years. >> So when they tell us how much water we can draw based on the the use of the
tow's growth, >> we will have more water and we'll have use less of Springfield's water. >> Right. This education, I agree with you 100%. We need to be more transparent and let people know. We had people come in here
and complain and wanted us to sue the DPE because, and this is the language they use, the the DP is the Water Management Act is targeting the white suburban
residents of South and their lush green lawns. They wanted us to sue over that issue. And it's >> right. Yes, you can. I understand you're you have an acre of grass and you want to you want to keep it watered, but you're going to have to drill a well if you're going to want to do that because
we can't we're providing clean drinking water, not not irrigation water, >> right? >> We have enough farms in here drawing off the drawing off the system. We have a lot of we have a lot of things that they just they're never going to see
because they just, you know, people in people just don't pay attention to local politics. They don't pay attention to what's going on. >> They go off when when their lawn dries up. They come in here every >> June, July, and August and say, you know, West Springfield's not on us.
Well, we're not West Springfield. We're South. We have to we have to go by our permit. And I understand Westfield River has nothing to do with our aquifer, >> right? >> So why why did we do that? But it was put into our permit. You know, we have
test wells in town. We have we have a a water management committee that that meets every month and tells us whether or not we're in a drought. Right. >> There's three ways that can that can trigger a water restriction. And we just we don't have any input into any of it. >> No.
So, I mean, I don't know. I don't know what what we can do to change that, but it's, you know, we can go, we're a town of less than 10,000 people. We can go there and and bang our fist on the D and
they're going to do exactly what we do when they come in here and bang their fist on this table. >> There's nothing we can do and they're not going to they're not going to change it for us. >> No, they're not. Especially since we're using 30% more water per person than we're supposed to be using. >> And the only way we're ever going to get
that down is if you put an action item on there to get a thousand units of section 8 housing put in town, >> right? >> To lower to lower the to add the number of people that are using the water and that don't have lawns, >> right? >> You know that it we're we're backed into
a corner because the town is what the town is. It's the west half of town is farming and the east half of town is all is all development and they all want to water their lawns. >> Yep. >> And they're all and they're all on the
water system. Everything east of of of 202 is on the water system, >> right? >> Everyone over there that wants to water the lawn is is got to is is got to ask the D for permission and they're not going to get it. >> They're not going to get it. We've already been through all that.
>> And we've been telling them this. You know, if if you really want to spend $10,000 a year, then sink a well. Sink a well. If you're going to spend that kind of money get getting putting turf into your on your property, you're going to have to sink a well because we just
cannot do it >> right. And if everybody was watering their lawns every single day the way some people water their lawns, we we wouldn't be our our entire system wouldn't be able even the Springfield water wouldn't be able to keep up with
that water demand. >> It's not a matter of it's not a matter of our supply. It's a matter of people's demand. It's at 90 it's at 90 gallons per day per person, >> right? >> It's supposed to be at 65, >> right? If you give everybody seven days
a week to water, it's going to be at 150 gallons a day per person, >> right? >> And there's just nothing we can do about that. I mean, that's that's an individual person, you know, that's an individual person deciding whether or not they're going to irrigate their lawn. I'm on a well. I have a pond in my
backyard with an irrigation pump, and I don't want my lawn. I just mow whatever grows. you know, if if you want to if you want to have a nice greening lawn, you're going to have to figure something out. You know, it's I understand where
we're going from here and I understand the concerns when we put out a report that says we've got, you know, we've got the high hits of hale haleionic acid or whatever we call it. You know, we get that, but we get that from Springfield,
>> right? >> We get that from Springfield because there's a lot of demand from water, right? that we're opening up the Springfield gates to give people water for the lawn. And now we get now we get a hit. >> No, we get a hit. We got to pay for it. >> So, but as far as the water being
unsafe, there's there's no indication that the water is unsafe or causing cancer. We're not Flint, Michigan. There's nothing. There's >> But there's a perception out there that there is. >> Well, there isn't. >> I mean, I don't Donald Trump is a good businessman and it's he's never proved
that to be true. So, Mr. Chair, if I can offer some a conversation here. Um, I think Dave brings up a couple of good points. Um, Rich and I were uh speaking with D today
from a fundamentally different division, but he brought up a good point. Um, because I think the survey responses reflect expectations, right? Or desires or aspirations in some uh some cases. Uh
but the the kind comment that uh Rich and I received and I wish Randy was here so he could receive someone as well is that you know Southwick does um a lot with a little. Yeah. >> Essentially from a municipal standpoint we are a sizable community but you know we try to manage that as well as our
services um with tidy budgets and and lean staff right um >> education and outreach. Um, you know, although sometimes it's a luxury, right, to to be able to put the time to that, I think perhaps that's a growing component
perhaps of this discussion. How do you break it down into more bite-sized chunks? I mean, uh, Norm, when we, me as the town planner and and Norm with the master plan, um, advisory committee were working on that, the town didn't have,
I'm going to call it a social media presence, but there are ways to break down messages into bite-sized chunks and and and get that word out. So, maybe there's going to be maybe this is an appropriate time um for us to look at um
our education and outreach. How do we convey messages better? How do we uh convey the message that Southwick historically has been an award-winning um water quality institution, >> right? >> Um that certainly isn't something that's reflected certainly in the
questionnaires or perhaps even the general public's awareness. >> Um >> uh so I think there's opportunity to improve. >> That's right. >> In that direction for sure. >> Yeah. Um everything else I think that you're mentioning is that it it is
rooted in logic and sense. We are we are kept at certain rates. We are uh >> uh shackled I guess is one word to use if you want to use it. >> Following the letter of the law. That's what we're doing. >> And there's there was some comments on rates. Our rate was so low
>> two years ago that we could we were not eligible for any any grants because >> our water rate was too low. >> So We're on break in. We're on break in. >> We're trying to We're trying to keep We're trying to keep rates from going up. We We balance When I When I started
as a water commissioner, it was $1.2 million in in >> retained earnings. >> retained earnings and now there's a million. So, we haven't we haven't gained anything. >> We haven't been spending money crazy >> and we haven't been and and we haven't
been overcharging people and putting the money in a in a rainy day fund either. And we do we're with a step program so we don't do it all. >> Yeah. So we you know we've been doing everything we can I think >> with what we got. And I think if if
there was a way to educate the public and say this is what Sulfix's water was, maybe if they had if if we published a a chart every every quarter or every time we did the we did the the uh the survey
at the end of the year and publish that, put a chart in how the other towns are doing for water because I mean Westfield's not doing too hot. Sure. you know, Westfield's got some issues, issues that we don't have. We have we get hits on PAS, but nothing like what
they have, right? you know. >> Uh so I mean there's there's other issues that other towns are saying that we're we're just not seeing, you know, because we do have abundant clean water sitting under us at all times,
>> you know, and if if we could just drill another well and not have to ask the D, you know, we would have popped we would have popped three or four more wells in there and we would give everybody all the water they want because watering your lawn doesn't hurt us at all. >> Yep. Right.
>> What what hurts us is we're restricted by a state regulation that we can't we can't circumvent. >> And we're one of the few towns that's that's actually locked in by that because everybody else is is on a registered system. But >> that's going away too.
Are going to be within the next two years. They're going to be all on the same water restrictions where >> it's all going to be. Yep. >> You know, we're a blue state. talk about environmental regulations. They're they're they're here to stay. There's no way you're going to get Boston to do
that. Especially when you see the water problems they have out in the eastern part of the state, Cape Cod, you know, when you see those problems, we're locked in. You know, there's a lot of there's a lot of issues that we can't that we just can't go around. And the
one that we can't go around is managing the water restrictions, right? We could give you another day, but everybody has to cut 30% of their water. >> And how are you going to do that and water your lawn at the same time and then add another day? It's going to be right back up. We're going to have to
cut it out again. It's just the nature of our town. We're we're more rural than than suburban and everybody's got, >> you know, we we went to with with zoning to have larger lots to give people more room and now they want
>> they want beautiful beautiful lawns and I understand that, you know, >> you know, there's if I could make it rain more, I would because you can water your lawn as much as you want when it's raining, you know, but but this past year, we we didn't
have as We didn't have any complaints about it. >> No, we didn't really. No. >> And the Westfield River goes down like that. I lived next to it for 20 years. It goes down like that every year and it stays down like that till >> Oh, yeah. It's like that all summer. >> Yeah. >> It's like that all summer.
>> I wish we I wish we weren't. It was my big This is my big hassle. Why Why do we look at the Westville River so when we're not even on that? >> Yeah, I know. So, >> I just wish, Norma, I I I mean no
disrespect, but I just wish that that there was more discussion with with the board about these things before the the action items were made. And I I'm fully on board with with outreach and education. And I think if the perception of our
water quality would would go up if we >> if we threw other towns under the bus and show them what what they're what they're going through. >> Exactly. >> At least by comparison how well South does perform. >> Yeah. Because we don't have much we don't have much to filter out when we
don't have much pollution, you know. >> And that's and it's only going to get worse because of all the agriculture that been here. We're going to find more stuff in the water as soon as D figures out what to check for. We're going to start checking for it. We're going to get hits.
>> But it's the same water I grew up on. You know, >> I lived here my whole life. >> I'm still here, >> you know. So, I don't know. >> Yeah, we'll have to work out something for education. >> I I think that education outreach
discussion is something positive to come out of this discussion. I I think we could we can do a lot of that action item, but the perception that we have no abundant water supply is something that that comes from the water restrictions and >> right,
>> you know, it's just >> it's down there. >> You know, we can't get to go down and get it. >> A lot of the people don't understand that. >> Yeah. And I think I think that's where where a lot of this stuff like the quality issues. Yeah. >> Like we we publish what's in our water
and they look at it and go, "Oh my god, it's poison. >> It's not poison. It's nowhere near becoming poisonous." >> You know, but we publish it because we have to, >> right? >> And then when they look at it and they, >> you know, they don't call a they don't call a water quality expert and ask
what's going on with this. you know, they they just look at it and look online and this is this is what's in there. But the D tells us how much is safe and how much we got. We publish we publish that every single year. So
>> So can you work on that, John? >> Long time rich. I think we can look closer. I mean uh I guess there's a lot of opportunity and sometimes perhaps even drawing opportunity to uh another forum uh that perhaps PVPC is hosting uh
other we'll call it you know regionwide water quality uh education opportunity. Do you think we can draw attention to that? >> Okay. >> Um but Mr. Chair, if you give me 30 seconds norm if you'll allow me. Um, I don't want to lose sight and I I just have a little bit of a a little a global
perspective on I think Norm's presence here and that we uh I should say the water commission um still only has one action item and the education and um and outreach component is an offshoot of this discussion uh stemming some from of
from some of the comments we saw and the discussion here at this table. that action item actually still remains um the I'm going to call it exploration andor formation of
uh that multi community um roof that would have paralleled what the Barnes Act for protection uh committee used to do >> used to do before they and you'll pardon me because I'm going might be paring some of the um
coordination emails that we had. Uh but so that particular action item at least has begun um through Randy Brown's efforts um alongside uh uh PBPC to figure out did the replacement group for
the Barnes Aquifer uh protection advisory committee, did that group ever gain any traction? because Randy along all the other towns attended a forum um to see if they could reconstitute um that group which would be a good opportunity for us regionwide to talk
about you know aquifer protection >> right >> um so that uh request remains outstanding uh the good news is I get correspondents from Patty once a week uh the bad news is it's not always on the topics I'm trying to talk to her about um so though if you will I only want to
bring this back home to that action item norm and I think that the Good news is that the action item work has begun, but I think there's another chapter we can layer in there and see what power limited um Southwick has to at least
satisfy or promote that um multi community resource. >> Yeah, because Randy used to he worked on that. >> Yep. Yep. One thing is I know the Barnes aquifer
is not our aquifer but is there is I know it's not within the state but I think our aquifer is shared with like Sfield and Rani so I'd have to look at the the aquafer map but I think ours
extends into Sfield >> or it does >> so maybe we can reach out to those two towns if we're in the shared aqua for and see, you know, and see what they're doing, >> what their water departments are doing as far as is
aquaer protection. And, you know, >> I think that's a good idea. And if you'll let me also throw in a footnote. Uh with my plan PL prior planning work when we had a project come in that was within the um protection district uh I'd
be in contact uh Jeff was his name but he's the former foreman over at uh in West Springfield given that we have you know wells with the same okay resource area. So there's already some if you will history of independent collaborative efforts uh underway and
but I think it's you make a good point. Let's explore and see um what they are doing. I know that I've seen I've seen the map. >> Yeah, it doesn't make sense. I would end at the state. >> We don't get a lot of input from them but we get a lot from Pioneer Valley. So >> yeah, right.
>> Maybe if we if we reached out to the people who were actually sharing the aquafer and West Springfield would be a perfect >> perfect uh candidate to to be invited to this because they're directly using the aqua. >> Oh yeah, >> quite directly. And I think that might
have been the source of the we're selling >> Yeah. >> water could be. >> That that goes way back. >> Yeah. >> That goes way way back. >> Yeah. >> Back when Luca Hosmer was on. We tried to take them to court. >> Oh, no kidding. >> Oh, yeah. >> Wow.
>> Yep. And they said, "Don't. They can do it." >> That's it. >> It was all over a bottle of booze and a box of cigars. That's >> No kidding. >> We were We were told don't even >> Long time ago. >> Yep. We were told, "Don't even try to don't even try to touch it." That was I've been a commissioner for 15 years. Luther was and his father-in-law. They
were under what? 30 years. >> No kidding. >> Yeah. And they This goes way back and that's why people think we're selling water to West Springfield. We're not. >> That's Landville Company. Sure, too. And then they wanted to put in a second then they wanted to put in the second well and Randy found out about it. And then
we hurried up and put in for our well because if they put in that well we wouldn't have two wells. We'd only still have the one. >> No kidding. >> So Randy jumped right on it and got memory. He said let's go. We got to drill number. We got to go quick. We got to go quick. >> That's remarkable. >> And we beat we beat West Springfield. So they couldn't put another well in our
aquifer. And Randy jumped right on it. Otherwise we'd still have the one well and we'd be all Springfield water. >> Yes. we'd be having a very different discussion at this point. >> We have so that goes way back many years now. Many, many, many years. >> So, >> yeah, we'll work on that education
thing. And >> thank you. >> A lot of people don't realize about the West Springfield deal, but I do. I've been a commissioner 15 years. >> I really like it because it would make our job a lot easier. Start changing perceptions. But we get those comments all the time. and they come in here and
they say, "Oh, I I spent $5,000 putting in a lawn and now it's turning brown." Well, you know, we're the drinking water people. >> And how many people do we have coming to our meetings? >> Uh, our guest of one today is is
probably maxing out. >> We haven't had one person in except for their high water bill. Other than that, we've had not one person come in complain about the quality, nothing. my neighbor across the street that she had cancer. Her husband had a
heart attack and she got right on me about it and I I pulled out the report and I showed it right to her. Here's a copy. Take that to your doctor. >> Take that to your doctor. >> She came back. Oh, everything's within. >> Yeah.
>> So, the education would be a good thing. >> Thank you. >> I wish >> I wish we could do more, you know, but >> we only we only do so much. Yeah, >> there's no shortage of water in South. There never has been. That's why West Springfield has wells, >> right?
>> You know, but >> even if I withdraw from >> this happened almost 100 years ago, it must have been when West Springfield came in and >> Oh, got bit the same way. They they gave half their town to Springfield, that reservoir.
>> And they're still only getting $300,000 a year for all that property. Yeah. >> So, Sprinkle was very smart about the establishing and protecting their system. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> So, >> so we'll work on that.
>> Okay. We'll keep stepping this out there, you know, and >> thank you very much. >> Okay. Nor, thank you for your time. >> I know I brought frustration to you. >> For that, >> everyone that comes in here does the same thing,
>> but we do have good water. We do have good wall. We do have good wall. >> Yeah, >> I agree with you. >> We have some followup to do on that action item once I connect with Patty. Uh and I'll >> because on like on the community forum, I don't even respond. You see that? I read some of the things in there. I
don't even respond to them. I don't even respond. >> I can't >> I can't drink that water. I can't. It's so tasteful and I can't Okay. I I drink it right out of the faucet. I'm going to be 75 years old. I drink it right out of the faucet every day. And I I'm still here. I'm still here. There could be the
fountain of youth yet discovered. Okay. Thank you for your time, Norm. >> Thank you, Norm, for listening to me. >> Okay. >> Mountain, too, >> cuz I have a well. >> Yeah, >> I'm chill.
You're killing me. >> Okay. Elly rate application 8 Road. Is there any name or anything on it or >> Yes. I'm sorry. What was that name here? No, >> you meet all the requirements. >> Uh, yes. This is the household Nathan
Strav. Um, I did review both the deed history um and assessor information and he makes all four assertions. >> He notes that uh he he wishes notices of elderly policies should be uh placed periodically in Southwood's magazine just as another way to try to get the
message out. Um I know we saw a big bump um during this year's push with the town crier and a little bit of outreach. Just another person like oh I didn't know about it. So >> yeah. Okay. >> Either way uh they met all the qualifications. So >> I have a motion >> make a motion to accept the uh elderly
rate application for bro. >> I second that. All in favor at Johnson I >> may as well. >> Motion carries. Okay. What do we got here in monthly commitments? I don't know if we got anything in here to wait on this.
JohnW director's report. >> Well, good sir, Mr. Johnson, chairman Johnson. I am going to pass that torch over to >> Okay, there we go. >> Director, but this remains a collaborative. >> Okay, you guys are doing awesome and congratulations.
>> Um, so first of all, obviously Julie is now our office administrative and she's doing fantastic. Thank you, Julie. >> That's what I heard. I heard good word about you already. >> So far, uh, we did send out our water bills earlier this month. They should have arrived at all the households by, uh, last week.
>> I got mine. >> You got yours? >> I got mine. >> And payments are due mid December into the holiday season. Um, we have also turned on all the turnoffs for non-payment back on. >> Okay. >> Um, one party did not pay the outstanding fee will be abandoned to the
property tax bill as restoration of service was a health director mandate. >> Okay. The time bond has sent us updates for the lead line survey and statistical analysis and we are seeking a non-LED status based on our prior results which
uh it's been very good. >> Good. Good. >> Uh and a clarification from D. Uh the statewide ban indicated on drought related materials did not apparently apply to South Lake and remain remaining restrictions were lifted. D acknowledged our prior understanding that restrictions may only lie in place
during the stated calendar interval. our regulations in the draft accessory dwelling unit policy remain under an internal review at this time. We're working on it and uh we did also fix a leak at Boyce Road for a service to a house and also we are scheduling
hopefully I'm going to talk to Kevin next week or this week for next week for Robin Road leak >> sack. Um and I did get our tank inspections are scheduled for December 4th and 5th both tanks. >> Okay. And then I'm working on quotes for exterior cleaning, which I assume will
be part of the inspection and all that. Anyway, >> I'm trying to think how many years ago that we did we quote those tanks. Do you remember? >> Uh I know the inspection was five years ago. >> I was going to longer than that, but I think we had to recode it. I thought >> Okay, I can look into it, but the the inspection
>> every five years, right? >> Five years, right? Three to five, but they say yeah, >> right window. Now, I believe in the inspection report, it'll probably come across saying exterior cleaning and all that stuff cuz >> Yeah, that's what they usually do. Yeah, we had to sand it, paint it, and whatever, primer, whatever.
>> So, yeah, I got that scheduled up. So, >> how did we make out with that gentleman on um Point Grove Road that had that >> So, that meter did get swapped out. Okay. We were just having an issue with our system to read the meter >> to see what's going on. >> Correct. So that is on as I alluded to
Jean earlier that is one of my notes to make sure that we get that situated so we can see it and see his levels and his uh usage. >> I still believe he's got a leak. I I I still believe >> I don't believe it was meter but >> I don't >> I think I think it was one >> we've only had one meter that we sent out and they didn't want us to test it.
So we sent it out to an independent company >> and they said it was to their favor. They still didn't believe their company. So they said, "Well," we said, "The only way you can do it is send it with this other company and they'll totally destroy the meter, but you got to pay for it." So they wanted to pay for it.
They totally destroyed the meter and it was to their favor. >> No kidding. >> Yeah. Remember that one? You don't remember that one? >> It was It was to their favor and they ended up one meter. Really? The things are bulletproof. They just they just read. They don't >> Just like everybody worried about the
new electric meters. Same thing. I went a community page. Oh, just like our water meters. Just like them. the pieces of junk and what these are accurate. They're accurate. >> They are made of plastic. >> Yeah. >> You know, like my $500 ice maker, but
>> plastic. >> Well, respectfully submitted. >> Okay. Very good. Thank you. They match their plan action. We already talked about that. >> Yes, sir. >> Okay. Discussion of completed elderly sewer rate policy as related to the water commission policy. Oh, this is a
new form that they've come up with. >> Yes. And um it was just to see really I want to know your guys respect Didn't we put something in there about the U back with barrel?
Well, some of the rental or some of the summer if you got to be there so many >> 180 days. >> Was it 180 days? >> Yeah. >> That's still in effect then, right? >> Yes. >> To be eligible for the >> Yep. >> Okay. I want to make sure that's still in there.
>> Yes, sir. >> Now, this is just for the water, right? I thought it was supposed to be combination water and sewer. What we're looking at here, I think, is just a draft force sewer and they were looking for feedback to see.
>> Okay. So, this is this is No, this is this is so >> Yeah, >> it's it's contemplated for >> Okay. Right now, there's no change in the very parallel >> uh form of theirs versus ours, but this is a contemplated change.
Do they just want to add more restrictions to the policy? Because I mean, we don't we don't right now have a an assessed value qualification. So, nobody's house. And we also do not have
an income, >> right? We don't we don't ask that. >> That's Yeah. I don't >> I think if you're 65, you should be >> That's good enough for us. So I don't, you know, >> I don't think we should or >> none of our business is what the people make or what their income is. I don't think that's >> I mean I don't
>> AP gets you get all the discounts no matter how much money you have. So I I'm >> It's a good point. >> Yeah. I'd just like to keep >> I'm not really excited about adding income limit. >> No, I'm not either. I'm not in favor of that.
>> to to just to keep it simple, you know. >> That would be my input back to them. Yep. I'm not in favor of anybody's about the assessors, what the property is, but I don't care about any of that. My assessment went up 28,000. You going to help me out?
>> Me? >> Yeah. >> My neighbors went up 53,000. >> I don't think it's >> Yeah. This is any anything in South Asess. Then when I went to get the print out, when I went to get the print out, the woman will say, "Uh, we're showing
that your seller's unfinished. Is it?" I said, "Oh, it it sure is." >> Hopefully, they don't come in my house. >> Yeah. I don't want I don't like any of this with the the assessor's office and what they make from it. I don't want any of that in there. Yeah. I basically want
to keep it just the way we had it, I think. Except for, you know, the uh Yeah. I I just I don't want all us the co-owners and all the retirement benefits, pensions, that's none of our business. I wouldn't want >> Yeah, that'd be awful.
>> Yeah. Just for a elderly rate application. >> I mean, I just my feedback I just like to keep it the way >> for the sewer. It might might make a difference. >> Yeah, sure. But for us, we're >> you know, for us, we don't get take a big enough hit, >> right?
You know, you got somebody between a $500,000 house, they live alone and they got an entering lawn. Let's go. You know, they're not paying anywhere near that. >> I think that's a fair point to make as Julie's taken in a number of, you know, inquiries this week from people saying,
"Hey, what's wrong with my water bill?" I think as you've been comparing >> the $30 savings, >> it's we're not talking about earthshattering amounts of money, >> right? Exactly. Exactly. I think, you know, from my point of view, adding income in and property value
restrictions to >> Yeah. For 20 $30. I mean, >> if you're elderly, once >> you pass that threshold of 65 or whatever ours is >> 65. Yeah. >> You're el you're eligible. As long as you don't have, you know, your kids living with you paying.
>> Well, I've had people say, "Well, oh, the dump is 62. How come you guys are 65?" because that's the way we adopted years ago and that's the way it is. That's the way it is. >> Okay. >> That's my That's my own. >> Yeah. Yeah.
Okay. Is there anything else under new business? >> And are you good for the 18th, Dave? The next meeting that >> I'm not sure. I know I'm going to be in Boston on the 18th, but I believe I'd be
out of there by morning. Well, just let Julie know if you can't make it and then we'll just go up into January. >> I usually get an email from somebody. Are you okay? And and I >> Yeah, >> right now it looks like the 18th I'm going to be in Boston. They're flying out, but they usually fly out in the
morning. So, I should be >> The only thing I can see coming up next month is possibly abatements >> for sure. And if you allow me to interject for a moment. Uh so we have a couple of months of we'll call commitments to catch up on. If we have the three member board,
then we'll sign, you know, series of minutes um that are out. So we'll do a little catch up on paperwork, but frankly nothing, at least from the administer side, that could just spill for January if need be. >> Okay. >> So we'll let you know if anything more pressing that >> something. Yeah. Yep. In the meantime, I
I once I connect with Patty Gamarini, I'll loop you into that conversation and see if anything formal needs to go a norm structuring. >> Okay. >> For that's all >> I have a motion to adjourn. >> I make a motion to adjourn the meeting.
>> I second that. All in favor at Johnson I. >> Leave I. Meeting is adjourned.