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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 11/21/2011IMA Study Group Meeting Mansfield — Foxborough- Norton November 21, 2011 6:OOPM (At Mansfield Town Hall) Members: Mansfield: Lee Azinheira Foxborough: Leo Potter Bill Euerle Norton Duane Knapp Diane McElligott (6:20 pm arrival) Also in Attendance: Fran Yanuskiewiez, WSE Bob Bell, AECOM Jay Barrows, State Representative Dan Garson, W &C David Young, CDM Discussions: The following is a brief summary of discussions: 1. Minutes • Minutes of 4 -7 -11 with minor word edits were approved (4 -0) • Minutes of 4 -28 -11 with minor word edits were approved (4 -0) • Minutes of 5 -12 -11 with minor word edits were approved (4 -0) • Minutes of 6 -9 -11 with minor word edits were approved (4 -0) • Minutes of 7 -7 -11 with minor word edits were approved (5 -0) • Minutes of 7 -28 -11 were approved (5 -0) • Minutes of 8 -24 -11 were approved (5 -0) • Minutes of 10 -3 -11 were approved on 11 -7 -11 • Minutes of 11 -7 -11 with minor edits were approved (5 -0) 2. Effluent Recharge Sites • Lee Azinheira reported that Mansfield Attorney Lou Ross and Norton Attorney Joe Cove have been drafting a Purchase & Sale Agreement for the Reilly property and have forwarded it to Reilly's attorney Marc Antine for comment. This P &S is now in lieu of a separate agreement which should save time in the long run. Also rH Attorney Cove is addressing Reilly tax issues with Norton officials. ao a 3. Discussion on Draft of Regional District Agreement (11- 21 -11) • David Young had entailed an updated copy of the Agreement dated 11 -2 1 -11 to all parties. That version incorporated all comments received to date. All parties were to conduct a final review of that version so it can be finalized and forwarded to the attorneys for legal review. Some items still remain such as District property descriptions, table showing deliverables, table showing sample budget, etc they can be addressed during the legal review. • Duane Knapp indicated that since the costs have gone up from $34 million to over $50 million that Notion may now have difficulty committing to being a District member. They don't have enough rate payers to afford this increase. • David Young pointed out that the costs shown in the cash flow spreadsheets have been the same since the treatment plant expansion study was completed Final in March 2011. The only difference is that those costs where projected out to the midpoint of construction and the full cost of the 2 percent SRF loan has been shown. Those costs always existed. • Diane McElligott pointed out that their cost analysis now indicates that replacing a septic system in Norton would be cheaper than connecting to the sewer system. Their previous evaluations had assumed construction cost increases would be flat. Result is they may have to back off their flow request and are dependent on Wheaton being a participant. • Rep. Jay Barrows cautioned that in his opinion this region cannot afford not to invest in utilities in order to have future job growth from economic opportunities. He also reiterated that the District Agreement needs to be finalized so he can bring it to appropriate parties around the State House and look for potential economic grants to help offset costs to each community. • Bill Euerle indicated that Foxborough is wrestling with the costs per rate payer just as Norton has indicated. He added that Foxborough and Norton also have significant costs for local infrastructure construction unlike Mansfield. While he indicated the "Costs are the Gorilla in the room" Foxborough has no intention of changing their flow capacity request at this time. • David Young noted that each community should be considering the fact that the WPCF will need to do the Phase 2 Upgrade and the nutrient removal Bardenpho conversion anyway and that they are really evaluating the expansion costs only. The expansion costs is what will allow them to bring on more system users and spread all the costs over a larger user base. 4. Schedule to Complete District Agreement • All parties agreed that in order to stay on the schedule discussed that the Agreement must be reviewed by legal counsel and final by the end of 2011 so final comments should be presented on or before the next meeting. 5. Other • David Young entailed and provided hard copy updated cash flow spreadsheets that revised the projected O &M costs based on existing capacity owned in initial years and then changing in FYI to the new capacity owned percentages. • Copies of the "Final Report — Sanitary Collection System Model Development" N dated June 2011 where distributed to community representatives at this meeting. a This report addresses the I/I issues in the future District system and flows entering Mansfield from Foxborough. 6. Next Meetings • Attendees agree to meet November 28,2011 at 6 pm in Mansfield Town Hall. Adjourn 7:00 pm Minutes Approved 11 -28 -11 W Q) W m a