Good job. All right. There. >> I aliance 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. has that the minutes are meeting on the June 18th and September 30th. Is there a motion to approve? All >> in favor? I
>> upcoming meetings. Maybe we should figure out what we're doing first and then we'll set the meeting at the end. >> Well, we can do that. Um, organizational business always came at the beginning though. But um, you want to do it at the end? That's that's
>> let's see let's see what our next steps are. Then we can figure out what we need to meet to do them. >> Okay. But we have been meeting about every 3 months. >> Yep. >> And whether we have to meet more or not, I think is an open discussion.
So, uh wrapping up primarily what we we extended this meeting from when we were originally uh earlier scheduled to do that so that um both Roger and Jim could
close out the contracts that we have now get the final numbers and see where we stand in all of that. So, why don't we tackle that first? I don't know who which of you wants to lead that. probably going to defer to Raj. I think there's this nice memo on that. >> Okay. Anybody has a copy of it?
>> Yep. >> So, thank you, Mr. Chairman. So, uh it's a summary in terms of work completed to date. As a you know, as a reminder to folks, you know, the project has installed approximately uh 13,200 ft of minal feet of 8 in and 12in water main
that included the Gford Road, Osborne Street, and Route 6 portions. Um we um additional water main was added beyond the original bid extense that included East Bridge Road. Um and that
funding was uh was segregated from the grant as was required by the uh grant requirements. We couldn't use that money at that location. Um and we also added Fifth Avenue and 6th Avenue um to the project as well. Uh the project also
installed 24 new hydrants providing increased fire protection in in the area of the in this area of the town. It's helpful to the residents to consider reaching out to the individual insurance companies. They might see a benefit or break on the insurance because of the hydrates now located next to their
properties. Um also within the the the the the project um we paved uh fully paved um all those sections of Gford Road, Osborne Street, Greenwood, um Greenwood Avenue, Fifth, 6th, and East
Bricks. So if you would drive down those roads now, they they look pretty new in good shape. >> Very nice. Um so as you might as you remember or you might remember that the impetus behind the original PAS grant was to uh take care of some of these
public water systems um that may or may not have had hits with respect to PAS or elevated levels that may or may not have exceeded the uh D thresholds. And we had a number that we
supplied to the D that we were going to target and try and try to get done. That included uh the M school 7 main street, 655 State Road Plaza, and 875 uh State Road Plaza. And I'm happy
to report that the project was able to get to all those projects. All those properties and all those properties are connected. So we did fulfill the we went actually a little beyond what was required and but they fulfill all the um the requirements of the PAS grant.
>> So Roger when you say they're all connected are they paying customers of our enterprise fun? >> So as a matter of fact today we connected lickety splits um and there was one little issue I was helping 875 had to do with some type
connections within their building but they're ostensibly connected as well. Okay. And Yep. So when they turn the faucets on, it's it's town water. And also the um Alice Mack school >> Yes. >> is a paying customer, right?
>> Yes. >> They pay the water enterprise fund. Okay. Right. >> Which savings to the school as well. They they had is considered a public water supply for the well. So they were paying for treatment. Uh they were paying for a public water supply operator. They'll no longer have to pay
for. So you say the bills are actually gone down a little bit. >> They're going down substantially. >> Substantially. Okay. And um looking ahead, the British Road Fire Station will also be a paying customer of the water enterprise fund. Okay. Good. Okay.
So, uh, with respect to the residential and commercial connections, the project set aside a certain amount of money to, um, assist, uh, the early adopters, folks who decided they did want to connect to the town system. It
provided an opportunity for the project to pay for that connection from the street actually into their buildings. And we had 48 properties who took advantage of that. Um, and to date we've connected 26 of those 48. And part of
the reason that it's not all 48 is because we the Route 6 portion was relatively recently put online to where the water was ready to be connected to. By that I mean it needed to be pressure tested and disinfected and that happened a few weeks ago. Notwithstanding, we've
already got folks uh on Route 6 like Splits that that are connected um as we as we sit here. Um uh and I say that in the next bullet. Um >> but that in in the building plumbing is
is there is all that their cost. >> Correct. So we bring the pipe into the building whe it's through their foundation or by some other means and then they take we the town provides them with a water meter which is not unusual. We procured and ordered a number of
water meters 2 in uh 1 in and 5/8 and depending on the use we provide them with that water meter. Um and they and they hire the plumber to connect. Uh so we've traced we've traced the the connections and we work closely uh with
the building department, the plumbing inspector, Evan who's been great who's helped us coordinate opening the valves um at the curb stops. And so, uh, those values in terms of connections and, uh, we we've obtained from from the permits pulled and obviously the valves that
we've opened. >> Uh, let's see. Uh, >> so the highway department's helping out. >> Yeah. Yeah. I agree. We pick up the phone. We try to get folks to give us a little notice, >> but it doesn't always work out. >> Seems we don't have water. That's good.
Yeah. Um so just in terms of impacts, you know, many of the many of the properties addressed in the project were previously served as you know by uh groundwater wells in poor condition that uh including documented PAS contamination.
But the other contamination we wanted to highlight was there was, you know, in the process of interacting with the residents in the service area, we found that a lot of those folks were actually dealing with feal indicator bacteria and chloroform contamination. And that in large part had to do with the proximity
of either cesspool or septic system to their well. And so these folks didn't drink their own water. A lot of them were reluctant to take a shower in their water, wash their dishes in their water. So those are a lot of the early adopters were those folks and they really saw tremendous benefit of connecting to the
Tom system. Um let's see uh senator so we are >> in six you just mentioned is that room six that you just mentioned >> both both in six. >> Can I ask a quick question? >> Sure. Um so
um the lady from Harvey Industries came to my driveway u when my property switched from half mine to all mine a couple months ago um to sign a contract and she lives next to Cumberland Farms. Her mom was I actually ended up her mom
was a superintendent of schools on for river. Um and she has children in Westport and um she saw some signs in my garage and stuff. It was the garage was open and um we started talking and she said uh
their water was bad >> on Route 6. She lived next to a couple of farms. >> Okay. >> So that's all set now. >> Yeah. >> Great. >> That's available. >> Yeah. She had a couple of small children. >> Yep. It's been fantastic. >> Yeah.
>> Thank you. >> You're welcome. Um and you know, just by happen stance, we um just the next bullet talks a little bit about some folks that were along the Route 6 portion. Um I think I won't be our
school to mention, but like 875 uh 719 719 was dealing with issues with sediment in the water. It's an apartment building. They were really looking and we did that today as well to connect their property because the residents there were really struggling with bad water but also we had another property
that was under administrative consent order facing a fine like a substantial fine um and by virtue of them connecting um they were able to really big fine really of being able not to be charged that fine by being being able to get off their wells and get onto the public
system. So that was also a positive on the uh on the project in terms of construction and uh and closeout status. Uh so we did issue a substantial completion to the contractor. A certificate of substantial completion is is a formal process where
we recognize that the a certain percentage of the work is been completed. We can release a certain u most of the retainage. We're still holding money for some odds and ends but it really means um and it's statutory requirement. So this it really means
that the contract is just about at the end and we're hoping just a little bit to like I said to finish a couple of things. Um did the board of select I mean select board on Monday night vote to >> um approve that final Okay, good.
Certificate of substantial condition. Yep. Uh with respect to our state highway access permit close out where uh there's because there's some pavement markings that need to take place um before the state will issue uh the final acceptance
uh that's still open. Uh but we did talk to the state make sure that there wasn't any other outstanding so issues. So the two remaining issues are the pavement markings minor pavement markings just where they cut the road and some luminance seat. Um, and the contractor is aware of that. Uh, the reason why
they couldn't get that done is the season just ran out some of the thermoplastic down during certain temperatures and as you know at this time we can't put down lumin seed. So, they're going to have to come back at some point next year and finish up those uh those odds and ends. An additional
requirement for the state highway access permit is going to be providing the state with an asbelt, but the town's also going to want their own as so they can recognize where their existing infrastructure is. Uh, I talked about the seasonal constraints regarding the shaft. Um,
just getting back. So, we went by about 150 properties with the new water line. Some 150 plus or minus. A third of those have agreed to tie in and provided services to their to their buildings. Um, the remaining properties, some have, I'm sure, have very good water, well
water. Um, I'm sure some because their private wells have never been tested, so they may not know what's their quality of the water is, but uh, as time moves on and they have to replace septic systems and they get the property sell and their wells get tested, I think you're going to see
few more properties tying into the system, they won't have a choice. >> It's often when uh, people anticipate selling their house and buyers, you know, need a mortgage from a bank and a bank requires a well test. And one of the >> we ran into a lot of the a lot. I was on
the board of health for three years. We ran into about a month. >> And one of the big restrictions to the businesses on Route Six is the water the public water supplies that they have which are actually private wells limited the uses that they could put into those buildings. Limited expansion. Sometimes they had enough room for septic systems
to expand but they didn't have the approvals to expand their public water supply. So um this helps. like there was a daycare in 875 that was having issues um for restaurants, for any business that uses water. Having a reliable source is is key to these businesses.
Wickety Splits is another one. Um you know, they have very small lot. They have a perfect water supply, but had no um protective area because the lot was just so small. So, you know, these things uh are beneficial to the businesses as well as the residential properties out there.
>> D would be very reluctant to Some of these wells are grandfathered and you know you have these very small lots and a lot of them are mostly paved and and D doesn't want to issue new weld permits
cuz they can't meet any of the subject standards. >> Yeah. So the um so the grass is in the spring. How about the laterals? Are the laterals permanent past yet or still temporary? >> All the pavement is done. The only payment that's left to do is the little
bits that we're doing on private properties where the people have where property owners already have a driveway apron on. Okay. So, we're going to do that on Friday. >> And um Okay. So, they're permanent. And um when will the town own them? When will the responsibility be off the
contractor? >> Uh in terms of the >> if a trench fails. >> So, the the contract actually we have uh warranties. Uh I think the warranty in the state and the town layout is a minimum of a year but it might be a year.
>> Yeah. And in the state layout it's actually I think like three years minimum three years might be more than that. And the contract is bonded. >> So that means the state holds the bond and if this doesn't fulfill they pull the bond and they have to you know the bonding company will have to
pick it up. It's exactly true. Yep. So, yep. >> Uh, I'll skip down to the grant administration because I touched upon the other two things regarding where we are with respect to the uh, private service connections already. Uh, so grant administration. Um, so we did have
a meeting, closeout meeting um, debrief with the PAS um, folks which is the mass DP who are the administrators for the EPA grant um, on December 10th um, during the the the debrief. Um, uh, Mass D came back and
were very complimentary of the way the project went. Um, talked about it being a real good model for other municipalities. I think, um, it was very positive and I think it just shows a strength and working relationship between the town and the mass DP to sort of advance a
project like this. And the other important aspect of that is, you know, the town did get a big grant and they do like to spread the love around. Yeah, but it does mean >> police department attack me. >> But they but they, you know, if there's an opportunity to pursue the same grant
again, it doesn't mean the town's going to get it, but at least they know that if they do give the town of Westport money that the town can fulfill its obligations and get the job done. So that that was kind of the general sense coming out of that meeting. Um, so uh
the final reimbursement request for the PAS funds went in on December 9th. Um uh $1 million earmark funds have been expended. Uh uh once the final checks are deposited, the town will need to seek reimbursement for the final two
payments totaling $376,931. >> So that number that amount comes out of the uh million dollar mark. Yeah. >> Now we can see sort of the budget summary um for the project. Uh we've we've got a total available out of the
offer 1286 consisting of $189,000 and some change. And then we've got a couple of bills, the 141486 um it's got to be paid. Um and then we've got a as part of the last uh
payout 10 and um balance to complete. And then we have an estimated retainage of $110,000 uh for Fern Corp and Kleinfelder. We've got a balance of $19,000 left to pay.
Grand total remaining, depending on how these final service connections look, is u the remaining balance of between 28 and $60,000 on the project. >> So under contract, we still have we dig it. We um have a contract. So we owe
141,000 paperwork items to get that. We anticipate we're hoping be around 100 tops 120,000. So there should be some money coming back. >> So whatever leftover is coming from the Bristol County ARPA. I call it the 1 2 3
4. They have numbers. >> Is that number four? I guess that ARPA 1286. >> Yeah. And just just so that everybody on the committee understands, we had a number of different funding sources. We had a million dollar ear mod from Senator Rodri going to used on Route 6. We had a $4 million PAS grant from the
state and the federal governments that could be used on Osborne, Gifford, uh Greenwood and Route 6. And then we had the Bristol County opera money that we had more flexibility with. So we were able to use some of those funds to actually tie in properties. Um but
>> and that was about $2.8 $8 million. There were four tanches of about 700 each, right? >> Yeah, they we've used some for design. We've used some for construction. I don't know if that wasn't I'd have to look again to see how much we use for construction.
>> But what's left over is some for county and we have till the end of 2026 to spend it. >> All the money has to be expended by December 26th. >> All the opera money. >> Yeah. So, we've been down the shore a little bit before, but now we're getting
down to brass tax when somebody's expected and only so much left. Do we have enough to keep our consultings? >> Well, we're going to have to in order to get them, we kind of have enough just to get them up to this point. any
additional work we're gonna have to do in the contract >> because um >> extension of the existing contract >> because I'm I'm going to stick my neck out and say um for the price we're paying him he's our engineer he's our water department
he's uh our consultant he's he's got his finger on the pulse I would >> Yeah I totally agree with that >> for a little bit of change at the end Yeah. >> Yeah. This was a complicated project,
right? So, >> you're dealing with mass DOT, so you have their requirements. We're dealing with federal funds, so those are different requirements. OPA had different requirements. >> The million-doll EMA had different requirements. >> You know, it wasn't your typical water project where you just bring it up to a property line and stop. We brought it
from the property line into the house, right? >> Roger was actually drilling the foundation, >> the sand, coordinating with all the stuff. We're very fortunate to have you with all your past experience because you've been doing filling in just like he has >> for another 12 days, >> but you're you're on the payroll. He's
not >> and I just don't want to lose him. >> I just as as a father, you know what I mean? >> Yeah. No, I I fully agree with you, Joe. or you're going to have to hire a >> I think going forward, you know, we have to, you know, finish up the details here
and um you know, we do have another project coming next year >> and we do have a change of uh town administrators and uh you know, Jim has been crucial to do this. He came from Fall River with a lot of experience with water and sewer and so we were able we
were able to benefit from that. Uh but going forward, I don't know how much the uh the new TA is going to know about water and sewer. used to be Darm. >> Yeah, except Dartmouth I talked to him briefly. Dartmouth has a DPW which kind of runs itself and he was assistant town
administrator and I'm not sure how much he got his hands dirty with the DBW stuff. I think he just sort of depended upon them to run it. So, we'll have to educate him. I've already talked to our chair. Maybe we'll take him out to lunch. And uh I I think they u you know
we we look at all these these grants and everything and I think they're they're you know it's just sort of free money that falls in our laps but but it comes with a lot of strengths in which we have to administer that money and account for it. Um you know so it's it's
closing out with both the as through federal monies and the state monies that we have. The these grants do take a lot of administrative time. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And they're all different, right? Every reporting for each one of these grants has different reporting requirements.
Some are quarterly, some are monthly, some are just re some reimbursements, some of u the money up front. It's just it's but I think we're getting to the point where we only have a couple left and we have a couple of new grants that we haven't started yet. So why don't you why don't you bring us
through the rest of this? >> Sure. This might be more appropriate for you to talk between the next section repurposing whatever. >> Yeah. So after we close and we'll know this week um they're doing final service connections along with six I think there
were roughly half dozen five >> five um so once we know that we'll know how many days work they need and we should have a very good idea as to how much money will be returned from the digit contract but we're looking anywhere from 28 to $60,000 available.
Um I I would suggest that we put 30,000 aside for the highway department. We still have We didn't do primitive patches. So on Route Six, we did permanent patches, but on the side streets, we stubbed the water manes into the side streets and we didn't do permanent patches on those. They're
relatively short patches, 15, 20 ft. The patches are in good shape right now, but um they should be converted to permanent patches. Um, we didn't include it in the digger contract because when Chris from the highway department does his chapter 90, he he's able to do it at a reduced
cost. So, we would be paying $310 per ton to do it. He can probably do it for half of that. Um, so that's if the money's available, we'd like to put the 30,000 aside for the highway. next year they can have their as part of their chapter 90 contract uh do those
site patches and then you know the additional 25,000 and again this may you may want to wait for the new town administrator to kind of take a look at this and give his recommendation as well but um my feeling
is you need a project manager um to continue this Roger's been on board from very beginning he knows the history um and He's been great to work with. That'll be fantastic. So, there is we do
have some money right now set aside unless something extreme happens over the next few days and I don't anticipate that. Um, and if there is any remaining money, we put that towards addict stock. We buy a couple fire hydrants, um, whatever we could to just close out that funding source.
Um, that would close out pretty much everything except the OPA 1244. This was set aside for sewer design of Gford Road and Osborne Street. And as funding for Route Six sewer project did
not get approved, we told them to stop at the preliminary design. So there's roughly about $75,000 remaining in that contract with Kleinfelder. Uh we've asked them to provide an estimate for design of the water lines that we're
looking to do uh with this new grant uh going out to the Bridge Fire Station and then along Oakland Avenue um to give us a a price on design and bidding. See where that lands us. He did I did see a packet over the other day. I
haven't gone through it thoroughly. I don't know if I sent you. Um, it's a I think it was about $85,000. Um, so I think that's something we can negotiate with them and get them back down to the people we want. There's not a lot of design work that needs to be
done with the water man. It's not like we're going down Route 6 and putting in sewer and water and we need to find a place to put it. We got to meet highway requirements. So the design standards we can basically just quantities. The only difficult part is we have to cross route 88. So we have to deal with mass DOT
again and the permitting with that is complicated. They want some pretty detailed plans. So, >> so the end of fiscal year 26, is that calendar year or is that our June fiscal year? Is it the federal September fiscal year? What fiscal year?
>> December 30th or 31st. >> September December. >> December calendar. >> Yes. Has to be done by the end of December. And I, you know, that's not something that um I'd be concerned about if if we got them under contract, we got somebody
else under contract. There's no reason why that can't get done. >> Okay, good. >> And then we have the two federal grants and I think Roger Mory know a little bit more about these two. We we got the one one grant already and thanks for Mory
for pushing. We got the state matching funds for that grant. So, >> and now I know I've been I've been uh calling it the wrong name all these months, right? Because um CDS is a senatorial grant and we've been getting a House of Representative grant which is
called a CPF, community project funding, >> right? >> Yep. >> So, for for two years, you've let me use the wrong word. >> So, so even with that grant, we got the funding appropriated, but there's still requirements for that grant. Um I
Roger's looked into it. I haven't looked into it, but um there's some permitting or there's some filings that have to be done before they release the funds. >> Yeah, we've got to put together a work plan. Uh we have to request a category categorical exclusion of environmental impact so we
don't have to file a um national environmental policy act, which I uh um filing with the state uh I'm sorry, with the federal government. I think we're going to be able to avoid all that because there isn't any real resource um
impacts associated with Bridge Road. So, there's some administrative upfront process that needs to take place with the um with the next project money. Um I did send Jim a list of what I think needs to happen. Um and we did uh we did
meet with the folks at the EPA. um they administer that that that fund itself themselves and they're willing to help and get some feedback from them in terms of what the um deliverables need to be. >> So the EPA administers the
personal spending. >> Yeah. Yep. We didn't speak to anyone from the uh unlike PAS where they administer this the uh CDF and CPF. I'm our meetings directly with your folks at EPA. >> This a federal grant so we have to do
the buy back by America build America whatever that is requirements the bacon davis act wages all the stuff. The good news is that we have the model from the PAS grant that need to satisfy those same requirements. So we can copy and
paste the >> kind the next part goes towards your letter. >> Yeah. So as we mentioned before I think we had you say there were like 28 out of the 40 some that were connected. >> Yes. that we have 22 that have not converted from their well to the town
mortar. Um what we're seeing through the building department is many of these are in the process of doing it's just everything takes time. Sometimes tough to get a plumber sometimes just don't have the funds and they got to wait a bit. But um
they agreed when we we signed in they signed the paperwork saying that they agreed to tie in with in 90 days. So, um, how easy that is to enforce is is is another another issue, but we'll we'd like to do I'd like to send them out a
letter. Um, just stating that, um, we're extending the time to the end of March for them to tie in. Um, we give them plenty of time to do it. Uh, and regardless of whether they tie in or not, they would still be responsible for the quarterly um, administration fee, which is $30 a quarter, which all award
users use. the properties that didn't want to tie in that just have the curb stop at the property line, they did not pay anything. It's just the properties that we brought the water line up to their foundations cuz we expended considerable amount of money to do that.
>> So, in essence, a homeowner could have it connected into the home but not use the water. They could still use their well or there people that are doing that as a backup. >> So, have we seen that? >> When the plumbers, I think, are following plumbing inspectors are following up. they're supposed to
convert over. So, all the domestic use should be the the town water. If they want to keep their well for watering their yards and stuff like that, they they can do that. But, um I think we're seeing that everybody's pretty much just converting over. The majority of people that have have requested water ties were
having issues to begin with. So, you know, it's >> So, Jim, you want to send this letter out to 22 houses? >> Yes. Okay. >> They've agreed and so it's $30 a quarter. And um
that's the uh the fixed charge before any commodity charges um are added on. So that's 120 a year and I think that's fair because first of all they agreed to hook up and um second
thing is the border enterprise fund needs the money um because when we went before the select board last June or May or June to u raise water rates I did a projection and the projection
um as close to break even as it was was still $4,000 negative. And I assumed that there would be growth into that to wipe out that that negative. And so that part of that growth was the collection of the
quarterly fixed charge of just 30 bucks or 120 a year. So I think this is fair and I think it leads to a health the healthier finances of the water enterprise fund which is our little utility. >> Is the committee in in agreement with
that? What do you think? >> I'm in agreement with our TA on this letter. Yeah, I questioned it at first because you don't want to charge people something they're not getting on the one hand, but on the other hand, they did get something. They got a connection
from the street to their basement and second of all, they got a meter and um and you know, they also agreed to to pay once they they had that. So, it was all set up to to do that >> pipe. That pipe
>> to the house is a lot more than $30. >> Yes. >> So, I think we should we should do that. >> Okay. >> Do you want to take a vote on it? I've I'm in favor. You're in favor? Shall I do we need to make a motion? cuz I'll
make a motion to uh have our town administrator send this letter out to 22 houses who do have hookups but have not actually become customers. >> I second that. Okay. >> All in favor? >> I
is that unanimous 6? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And then just just for information, a couple were hooked up I think before the um previous bills went out, but they've only been hooked up for a week or two. So, we didn't bill in that first quarter, but bills are going out in
January. Um, this fee won't be charged until April. Um, but for people that are online, they'll be getting the first bills this month, beginning of January. >> So, we
you've got the the new administrator coming in. Uh it looks it looks as if we're close enough with we find from the work that they start uh
that we can probably get them going on and I think that's I mean we've got we've got the money in their design. We have them under contract. Um I think we should get that contract um at least going. So, it's all
designed and continually getting the the uh the the permit across 88. The the the nice thing about 88 is there. There's no utilities in it. So, we're not crossing anything, but it's
just it's just to get through the the hassle of dealing with the state highway. That piece >> Yeah. Now, most of these um except for Route 88, we haven't had to deal with the state because we have been putting
pipe in roads that we own. >> No, >> but uh >> now we have to say, but now we have to go under 88. And um >> so we need a road opening permit. >> That took a little doing on on route
six, but we were able to do it. >> Yeah. >> And and we did that very early. We we started it. We we started we started it very early I think even before the committee was formed
>> became a challenge even the water project we took longer we went on to bid the bid was awarded and then I think we got the current aspect >> and they had the plan I mean it's not like we submitted the plans after we went out to bid they had the plans early on in the process so it's just it's just
their process takes Yeah, >> this should be a little easier. One of the things that held us up last night is bread and cheese Brook crossing. >> Yeah. >> Um, so I'd like to think it's a little easy,
>> which by the way was brought to the association for I get it wrong, but it's an association that deals with horizontal borings and tunneling. It was accepted for presentation at that meeting that
particular crossing to show how that play in the streets client took that and submitted that and it was accepted and was given some organizational things. So nuances associated with crossing that cheeseburger
and good piece of construction. Excuse me. Fall River. >> Yes. >> There's two agreements with Fall River, right? There's the mediation agreement that the board approved, select court
approved last night. We're waiting for the signed agreement for Fall River. Uh let's go look back to billing to 2016 where there was discrepancy in what what river thought we owed and what we believe we owed and geez we worked on that for 40 years. Uh we had we hired an
accountant at one point. Uh we can't tell you how many needs we had with Fall River and then uh eventually we went to agreed to go to mediation. It was actually approved by the Wapper board and the city council um kind of pushed back. So then we agreed to go to
mediation. We settled for the 293 and we should have a signed agreement in the next week or so and select board will sign it at their next meeting. Um so that takes care of the pass billing. Um that'll be paid for 143,000 out of the enterprise fund for the water which
we've got funding set aside for that and 150 from an APA um grant that we put aside for that as well. So that takes care of the old stuff. Um the new agreement, city council did approve it last meeting. Um they had a couple of
minor changes. Well, we questioned one. Uh the >> I did. >> What was that one? >> So, if we have any disputes with the billing, >> we have to notify them within 30 days. Otherwise, we're responsible for the
billing. >> Um >> so, I I look back to 2015 when this whole problem arose. We were we we had um a carcinogen in our water and D required testing all the
time which we have been doing and we were looking at a way to deal with that and I know we actually raised rates to put plan an $800,000 filtration system but then we found out well if we flush it that we won't have to. The whole
thing comes the problem comes when water sits in the pipes too long and I've always heard nine days and once after 9 days the chlorine starts m mutating into some kind of carcinogen and so we looked at the filtration system and we raised rates to pay for
the filtration system but we decided upon pumping and it was agreed I remember I have been in meetings at that time that fall river would pay for the flushing the billing didn't reflect that agreement and I
don't think anybody could ever find that agreement on a piece of paper. It was all kind of oral. Anyhow, um you know that wasn't discovered. We had the previous town administrator who I've seen his documentation. He wrote letters and you know nothing happened.
And so um I just feel like 30 days is too short if they do this again. >> Yeah. um you know, at least 60 days, you know, maybe. >> I'd agree with you because on billing issues anyway, if there's a residential billing issue, somehow that's they're only going to find out within a 30-day
window, too. >> Well, yeah, this doesn't impact residential um we, you know, we buy a certain amount of water from Fall River and the flushing is supposed to be subtracted from that. And our, you know, Jim fixed it
effective January 1st, 2022. So, we're okay these last four years, but this they wanted 1.6 or 1.7 million for the flushing water for a problem that they caused. And they wanted 1.6 or
1.7 million. And negotiations brought it down to 293. And um I don't think we should have to pay it, but you know, we have to get rid of this this overhang that we have. So 150 comes from ARPA money and 143 is
going to come from the enterprise fund. Luckily the enterprise fund still had a balance of over $300,000. It was kind of fat going back to this the the the higher rates that we charged from like 2015 to 2018. I remember
Michael Sullivan and I, you know, we engineered the uh reduction in rates, but we had that extra cushion because we used to have a balance of about 150. Then it went up to 300 for this last period. So we pay 150. I think the water enterprise fund can work can operate
with 150,000. I think that's okay. So I fully support um you know Jim and Jim knows people at Fall River because of you know previously he worked there and um I was just hoping Jim could wrap this thing up before the end of his tenure
here in Westport and he has been able to do that. So, >> so it's been before the city council for a year now. Um, I'm not real confident they would agree to any changes, but you know, we could certainly ask. Um,
>> well, the mayor got reelected fairly in early November, so and he was always a supporter, but he may not have pushed it before he got re-elected. >> To me, I guess it doesn't hurt to ask. All I can do is say no, right? So, >> um, it's a 10-year agreement, so it's,
>> you know, it's something we want to make sure we're comfortable with, um, going forward. But what's what's interesting with the new agreement, the old agreement, we pay 70% more per cub CCF than Forever charges their
customers. The new agreement we pay 55%. >> Yeah. >> So, there's a 15% savings right there. And then anything over 26,736 CCF, >> that's a break point where it goes down. >> That's the break point. Then we only pay
5% over four of those rates. And that's why growth is so important for our rates cuz we can, you know, with growth we might we can either bring them down or at least not raise them because remember every year Fall River raises the rates.
They haven't done it since 20 4. Um, in 25 it was such a brew aha at the city council they decided not to raise rates which of course helped us. But going forward I'm hopeful that we can actually with with volume growth and
with these new break points try to uh, you know, lower the rate. So, the new break points are important to us because right now I I look back 12 couple of 12-month periods and we're about 28 to 29,000 ccf we're using now we're paying for. >> So, we're already looking at about 2,000
ccf that we would get a reduced rate. Right now, we're paying 70%. We get down to 5% of the focus rate. So, >> and if we were to get an engineer, cuz I know 5% of the water is now unbuild and not part of the flushing and
5% of 27 28 uh,000 ccf is a lot of water and um we're paying for it and um if we had an engineer, he could maybe reduce that lost water. >> So, that's an important point, right? So the new agreement the past 12 months we
would have saved about 8.7% of our $18,000 we would have saved over 12 month period. So it's important for us to get the agreement signed because we're losing money for every month that when we don't have it signed. So >> you know it's a balance. You know we can push back. Um
>> but if you know I I wouldn't delay the signing. We'll live with the 30 days rather than this goes on for another year or something. >> Well, I I would Yeah, I I on the one hand I would agree with you, but I do think that Well, unless, you know,
administratively we can we can catch it. I mean, I guess did the bills. Paula now has the bills. >> There's no reason why we can't catch it. Over the last three or four years, we've been balancing to the penny every month, right? >> We have been. Okay. >> I just got a bill today which was 40,000. usually about 18 20,000 and
that's because our blowoff meters weren't they were read today so they didn't get those till the end of the day. So I've already notified them saying listen it's wrong you got and they're aware of it and they'll make the change. So >> um we get the bills right away. We know what the blowoffs are right away. There's no reason why we
>> um as soon as that bill comes in you know whether it's off or not. >> Okay. >> Well I think before you came things didn't operate that way. Lori. Lori. >> Yeah. John, I was in the ambret parking
lot um a few months ago for an hour with a former Westport selectman that is privy to this and put his heart and soul into this. Um, and I called the former city council on my cell phone and they were
on the phone for over an hour actually trying to work it out and figure it out off the record and they just couldn't and I had to ask my phone back. It was over an hour in the sun and um but uh she was willing to uh to meet for breakfast and discuss it and talk about
it. >> And who is this? >> Former city council. >> Okay. Okay. on my private cell phone with um >> right you have fall river roots don't you >> one of our former selectman >> that is privy to her and interested in it named Tony >> okay
>> and um they were really trying and and uh and they just just was just like Jimmy said round and round right >> but they are willing >> and they did approve the agreement so we have agreement if it's approved um we
wanted to run out worked up World War II, but the city council is the approving authority for the agreement. They approved it. So, um, yeah, >> but I did give them before I took my phone back, I gave them each other's numbers, so they could talk for another hour or another year, you know, but it's
it's just like Jimmy said round and round. >> And Jim, we've had conversations about Paul River, too, right? the second possibility them wanting to tie into D.
>> Yeah. So, so they're always looking to regionalize because water's a money maker for them, right? So, they would love to tie into Dartmouth. They'd love to go to Somerset, you know. So, that that's probably a long-term plan, but it's still an option. I think
it's being discussed um in general terms right now. >> Well, we had a meeting a couple months ago with DARPA, right? And um they were well aware that we had extended our borderline down to the six closer to Dartmouth. And I don't know how far away
we are from Dartmouth, but they're very interested in um you know, maybe them paying to extend the water line down to their line because they have to buy a lot of water from New Bedford. And as bad as New Bedford prices, bad as Fall River prices
are, they seem to be less than New Bedford's. So they could actually buy from Fall River at a cheaper price and we could pay some kind of we could we could get some kind of small sliver of revenue I think from transmission. Apparently it's called wheeling in the
water. We could wheel the water from Fall River to Dartmouth and get a small fee I think. >> Well the big payday is not that small fee. The big payday is them building a pipeline for us. Oh, they could build if they
would build it. Yeah. Well, it's a it's an eight or nine million a year enterprise that DPW they've got that water and sewer department have there. So, I don't know how they finance, but you know, that kind of revenues that support
bonds. Well, that's that's something that that comes to, you know, the past and that there's more of an interest and I know that they've had they've had problems with some of their wells and and
summertime problems with their wells. And so, they're they're looking to have a a solution that's >> less costly than trying to get new wells approved. Um
we we sort of wandered into the new business stuff as well. We've already talked about u expanding the commission has already this committee has already voted to we're going to do the water project
connection and whatever whatever local streets we can get for the money. Um and so
it's it's a matter of of on the second federal grant was federal direct money the EPA where do we get the local match that fit into the state for the local match?
I would think so. >> Well, the um the local match we we got for the first trunch. Okay. And it's $290 some,000. We got the letter in July. It's official. And um a year ago
of September, the governor signed a $750 million bill um for two things. One for debt reduction and the other was for federal matches. the town needed to have and it
was really designed for us. And um I remember Michael Roberts talking about it a long time ago and I forgot about it. But then I some point in the summer I remembered about it and I called Michael and um I have a decent dialogue with him on you know water and sewer
issues and he said he'd look into it and you know called me back said write me a memo. So, I wrote him a memo and we all know Michael was chair of the Ways and Means Committee of the uh the Senate and he took the memo down to the uh the head administrator of this 750 program. He
got the money within a week or two and he will do it again for this for the next one. It's not a CDS. What is it? A CD CPF. >> CPF. Yeah. >> Okay. Got to learn that. Um and uh he
just said let me know but it's got to be done by the end of 2026 but we just got that announcement in um August or September and the money is not available till next year and you know given the current administration and clawbacks who knows if we get it but we discussed this we we could have put the
two 1.2 2 and 1.3 together for one 2.5 project. But, you know, again, I talked to our senator and he said, you know, grab the money and run. Just do, you know, one step, two little baby steps. So, that's why we're moving ahead with 1.2. >> I think that's
>> I I I agree with all of that. >> Except Elon Musk has gone from from his Doge job, but u still the same administration. Jim, >> this is your issue about all of our
issue about project management and all of the work that you brought up earlier. Um, you know, I think terrific job on on this contract administration.
And uh I for one would continue with him and those towns working on the street. There's a whole bunch of business to to you.
>> Well, we want to congratulate you. Well, congratulate but we before we we give him full congratulations, we want to um we have that other item of organizational business upcoming meetings. >> Oh yeah, sure. Sure. >> And that's why you do in the beginning.
>> That's why I put it in the beginning so we don't forget about it. Um we we've got a project. It's not as big as the prefast project and of course it's not as big as the $35 million water and sewer project that we had conceded but I think you know can we meet monthly
or can we meet in January again? Um Roger we're going to be depending upon you more and more and um especially to educate our new and incoming TA but also on uh do you think we need a meeting in in January or
should we make it February? Will he be signed up? >> He starts the >> 29th. Starting the 29th. >> So he starts. >> So I think probably February. >> Yeah. >> Okay. It'll also give us an opportunity.
I think the um match funding match opens. You know, we can submit a letter. I think that's in January. So we might be able I think we've got a letter already drafted. Mark, we worked on something. But I think >> funding match you talking about the state funding match. >> Yeah, for the PE uh
>> for the second for the second one. >> The way I did the first one, you know, Michael just said sent me a memo and I gave I wrote a memo and I sent it to him that same day and that same day he took it down to the administrator of this that was $150 million fund. I feel the
sooner we get it in the maybe the sooner we get that letter in and get our request in for the marriage the you know the better opportunity there is a certain fixed amount of money when money get >> good January I will I will do that maybe we'll we'll we'll talk >> keep our dialogue going and uh you
remind me if I forget >> sure that okay I'd just like to say I'm really proud of what we've done that young mother in my yard with those school uh age children west well was nervous if We're going to make it that fast. Usually, >> well, we have done the school and we're
going to do the school. >> Yeah. >> Fantastic. I'm really proud of what we've done >> and without raising taxes. >> We have done it all on grants. We our town does not want us to uh >> sell any bonds. That's for sure. Or go
into any kind of debt or service any kind of debt for water and sewer. But we have I I think water sewer is very very controversial. I think the extension of the one line is much less controversial um because I think people understand
that we need it. I mean border health I sat on that thing for 3 years and saw all the problems of border especially in that that six court order. So I think u you know people understand and also it already exists. We have water commissioners. We have a water
enterprise fund. It has that structure already in place. Um, we don't have to set it all up like we tried to do with sewer at uh, town meeting in 2024. We basically reinvented ourselves with the baby steps a couple years ago with that
town meeting. >> That was tough. >> A little bit beat up. >> I will say that going forward, we're going to need some more structure. Uh, we're going to need some updated regulations for the water. Um, we
definitely need some more structure and we're getting to the point where we're past the point where, you know, we're not just a little rinky dink system where we're feeding two or three feet. >> Well, the other thing is that the uh select board have appointed themselves
water commissioners. You are a water commission. So, >> and so it might it might be at some point something to think about where you delegate that commissioner power and authority and responsibility to a commission of like three people who come
out of the water business or come out of the utility business or you know who know something about this stuff cuz um yeah, you know, the the enterprise fund needs. >> So once we stop having leaks in the middle of the night, they're going to go out there, right? >> That highway car does that.
and I going out pipe rush in the middle of the night. Tell him to unless we get an engineer in the middle of the winter in the middle of the night. >> That's Roger's joke. >> All he needs is a bank. That's it. >> Okay. Well, anyhow, you know, Fall River
changes their rates almost every year and so we have to review that rate and we have to look at maybe raising our rates because the select board back in 2002 2003 set a policy that our rates to our customers would be 15% above the
commodity rate charged by Fall River. And we fell behind on that and we got to a point where we were starting to lose $50,000 a year because, you know, nobody was really, you know, following that policy until till, you know, Jim and I got together and we decided to well, he
came he went for a a water increase in January and this was before you got on and you got rejected. So, you brought it to the IOC. The IOC went through the numbers. We voted for the rate increase. So you were able to take it and recommend it um based upon our our
recommendation which is what we accept for the recommendation. >> Let's pick a date February. How about the 8 Wednesday the 18th? >> I guess it's not the third Wednesday because we conflicted with the zone. How about the second Wednesday is the
>> Well, no. this the the ZBA usually plans well in advance and for some reason they they they screwed up and they had an emergency or something and they had to bump us and I don't know whether they just ignored the calendar
or whether they were just um I don't know >> they thought they were more important than us. >> It was a mistake. >> They have they have filing hearing deadlines. >> Okay. Okay. Well, I talked to Jim about it and Jim said, you know, they've
already have two public hearings scheduled and they've already sent out notices to abutters and everything. So, >> February 11th, >> February 11th. >> That's fine. >> You know, you're going to change it by the time it gets there. >> So, February 11th.
>> Okay. >> 2026. With that, we got >> I'll make a motion to get a second. >> I think you know you >> 7:32
really >> Well, we need a vote first. It might be 7:33 time as the administrator and and having had a chance to work with you, it it really has changed a lot from our our
prior administrator. I mean, you know, I think >> it was only a few years ago that very little of this would have been possible. >> And I want to second all those sentiments. Jim, you you really helped us.
>> I got to work with him twice. >> I appreciate it. We got a lot done. >> Yeah, we did. >> We had a lot of grants that came into Westport, not just from my office, but planning from bought out all these. It's incredible. I know. Okay. Thank you everybody. Thank you. You guys
happy holidays.