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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 12/23/2008IMA Study Group Meeting December 23, 2008 6 :OOPM Members: Mansfield: George Dentino Foxboro: Leo Potter, Foxboro Water & Sewer Superintendent Phil Henderson, Bill Euerle and Rene Olsen, Commissioners Norton: Duane Knapp Also in Attendance: Jay Barrows, State Representative Lee Azinheira, Mansfield DPW Director David Young, CDM Fran Yanuskiewiez, Weston & Sampson David DeLorenzo and Jack Hamm, DEP Discussions: The following is a brief summary of discussions: 1. Community Updates Jay Barrows asked a representative from each community to provide an update on the wastewater program status as a means to inform DEP. • Mansfield — Lee Azinheira and David Young discussed that Mansfield had recently completed a flow projection update to the one done in 2002. Based on current recommendations developed by staff and CDM, Mansfield will be requesting 450,000 gpd; a slight increase. Board of Selectmen as Sewer Commissioners will still need to endorse. Also the Town of Easton is now evaluating their potential wastewater options and may be requesting 100,000 gpd as a customer to Mansfield. Mansfield sent Easton a letter asking for a decision in early 2009. • Foxboro — Leo Potter and Phil Henderson said they believe the town will be requesting 300,000 gpd. They also noted that discussions with the Patriots are coming up — January 12, 2009. That will help determine potential revenue sources for Foxboro to use to pay for their program. Norton — Duane Knapp indicated the Commissioners have a draft capacity letter to endorse and indicated they will be requesting 335,000 gpd for the town and expects an additional 180,000 gpd to address Wheaton College needs. Fran Yanuskiewicz indicated the Wheaton flow issue is complicated in that it depends on their NPDES flow permit transfer to the Mansfield WPCF. The flow capacity in the permit (120,000 gpd existing), the timing of the transfer and the treatment level indicated are all key variables. DEP recently received a letter from Wheaton asking them to define the process to transfer the permit. Dave DeLorenzo will be addressing. In summary, the flows range fiom about 1.0 to 1.4 mgd. Each community needs to send a letter to the Town of Mansfield indicating their requested flow commitment. Target should be no later than the January meeting. 2. Mise Discussion Items • Dave DeLorenzo and Jack Hamm both congratulated the three towns for moving forward in a regional direction and fully supported their efforts. They noted it appeared the keys to finalizing the plan were bringing the Wheaton and Patriots flow issues to fruition. • Jay Barrows noted he continues to seek funds to help move this project and has been staying in touch with Barney Frank's Office and Greg Bielecki (sp) from the Governors economic development group. • Jack Hamm said that DEP and EPA are not supposed to issue a new NPDES permit without it going through the MEPA review process. He is trying to find out the real status of the Draft Wheaton NPDES permit. He will report back. • Duane Knapp indicated the Reilly's property has now been placed into a Chapter 61A program to help decrease taxes. Town now has right of first refusal if it is sold and would have 120 days to act. He has been authorized by Norton officials to speak with the Reilly family. Dave Young noted he owed them a call to update them on the IMA progress. Jay Barrows will call the Norton town manager to discuss. • Appraisals would need to be done on the Reilly property (15.4 acres as a minimum) before negotiations could occur. Likely to need minimum of two appraisals. Lee Azinheira will evaluate the WPCF budget to see if any funding sources are available. He and Fran will investigate names of potential appraisal firms. Otherwise may need a town meeting article for this spring. Also need estimates. • Jack Hamm wondered whether there would be a benefit to the District operating the Patriots wastewater facility and the Wheaton wastewater facility either in interim prior to expansion or in the longterm. Community members indicated that issue had been discussed previously and were cool to the idea. 3. Action Items • Flow commitment letters should be submitted by January IMA Meeting. • Norton to provide connection fee cost report to Lee Azinheira (from previous meeting). • Lee Azinheira to review potential funding sources for conducting land appraisals • Communities to review Spring Town Meeting article submissions (unlikely any design money will be sought, may seek land appraisal fees, etc.). • DEP to review their files for language on recent water /wastewater districts. Future Meetings: TBD (1- 22- 09,6:OOPM)