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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCanoe River Comm 9/05/1996CANOE RIVER AQUIFER ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutes of the meeting held"by the Canoe River Aquifer Advisory Committee on September 5, 1996 beginning at 1:00 P.M. at the Easton Water Department, 417 Bay Road, South Easton, MA. Members present: Wayne P. Southworth, Easton; Leonard F. Flynn, Mansfield; Tim Higgins, Foxborough; Suzanne Erikson, Norton; Ed Tartufo, Mansfield; William Hardin, Easton; Bob Boette, Foxborough; Dick Lewis, Mansfield; Philip Barske, Easton. I. CALL TO ORDER Meeting called to order at 1:06 P.M. by Wayne Southworth. II. REVIEW MINUTES OF August 1, 1996 - On a motion made by Bob Boette and seconded by Suzanne Erickson VOTED to accept the minutes of August 1, 1996 with a corrected spelling error (Bodie to Boette). III. ELECTION OF OFFICERS - A motion made by William Hardin and seconded by Leonard Flynn to continue the present officers for another year. (Note - Tim Higgins was designated to handle the election). VOTED IV. MARTHA WHITE, EASTON GRANT WRITER - Chr. Southworth introduced Miss White. Miss White informed the Committee that she will keep her eyes and ears open to any practical resources applicable to this regional organization - main role would be to help identify funding sources and technical assistance - would not be actually writing the grant. V. JEFF HANSON, BLUESTONE ENERGY SERVICES INC. - DESALINIZATION PROJECT Present were Jeff Hanson and Peter Fairbnks, Presdient of Bluestone who gave the following overview of this project. Bluestone is an engineering firm; many of the projects we have developed is in regards to industrial applications; the plant is sited in Dighton, MA; pipeline would run from there up the Taunton River Basin; would be supplying towns within the basin; it has been ruled that this would be a inter-basin transfer; it would also allow communities outside the basin to participate. Desalinization plant would supply thirty-three (33) communities in the Taunton River Basin; gave overview on how the project would go forward; presented organizational chart; projected scheduled of subscriptions which was baseline for the plant; the pipeline would carry 10 million gallons with plant delivering five million gallons. Plant - desalinization would be reverse osmosis of the tidal water of the Taunton River; an 18 mile pipeline to Stoughton/Brockton would be constructed; water rate of $3.27/1,000 gal. with start up late 1999. With reverse osmosis would recover 50% of the water taken out; problem is putting the heavier salted water back in; would hold onto the brine until the salt in the river matches; impacts are fairly small; water quality is about as good as you can get; the pH of the water will have to be balanced with each community. x CRAAC -2- September 5, 1996 Reasons to Have Municipally Owned Plant - would allow purchase of wholesale electric; minimum finance charges; minimum taxes and insurance; provide long term control. Costs Aspect - starts out at $3.27; because we put in the 10 million gallon pipe initially drops the water rate down in the future; every time the plant has to grow, the water rate goes down. Legislation - is the critical issue at this moment; same has been drafted; cities or towns would have two years to decide whether or not they wanted to join the agency; there will be a common water rate for all initial members. Water Supply Agreement - would like to get the communities "expression of interest'; basically the agreement we are getting the communities to sign is not contractual. A question and answer period was held Mr. Southworth thanked both speakers. VI. 10TH ANNUAL AWARENESS DAY -MAY 17, 1997 A lengthy discussion was held regarding holding a more formal event. The consensus of opinion was to have two dates - the traditional Saturday morning and a night get together. Dick Lewis and i Leonard Flynn to check into the building at the Mansfield Rod and Gun Club. E Mr. Southworth then asked if there were any corrections or additions to the "Time Line of Major Events" which is a concise history of CRAAC accomplishments. VII. LEONARD FLYNN - GREEN BELT PROJECT ALONG CANOE RIVER SUBCOMMITTEE RERPOT Mr. Flynn suggested the following ideas to start implementation: review the files of each community; develop a written plan .of implementation of objectives; seek support of five communities; identify all public and private funding; identify all parcels along the river; determine which communities have digitized maps; evaluate the impact of the rivers bill; identify all the parcels publicly owned - specifically MA Highways; set up a schedule for subcommittee and define the membership. VIII. NEW BUSINESS IX. OLD BUSINESS - The `Shoreline Survey Reports' have been received from Joanne Kimball; there are items that need to be done; each community received the appropriate report; same to be placed on next agenda. Meeting adjourned at 3:05 PM.