25 February 2003
MEMORANDUM
From: Manager
To: Board of
Trustees
Subj: MINUTES FOR BOOTHBAY REGION WATER DISTRICT
MEETING 11 FEBRUARY 2003
MINUTES FOR 11 FEBRUARY
2003 BOOTHBAY REGION WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
The Board of Trustees convened at 1400 hrs. In
attendance: Trustee (Chair) Irving, Trustee Crawford, Trustee Curtis, Trustee
Pinkham, Administrative Manager Bob Raudenbush and Manager Jon “Ziggy”
Ziegra. Guests: Mr. John Van Orsdell,
Knickerbocker Lake Association; Mr. John Anderson, Town Manager, Boothbay; Mr.
Matthew Carter, Boothbay Harbor Absent: Trustee (Vice Chair) McNelis
1.
Trustee Irving called the meeting to order at 1400 hr.
2.
Acceptance for the minutes of the 28 January 2002 meeting
was approved with the change adding Mr. Chetley Rittal, Boothbay as a
guest.
Trustee Curtis motioned,
Trustee Pinkham second, vote: unanimous
3.
The Board approved all warrants.
Trustee Curtis motioned, Trustee Pinkham
second, vote: unanimous
4.
Trustee Irving tabled any discussion of land acquisition
until an Executive Session.
5.
The Board recognized Mr. Matthew Carter, Boothbay Harbor,
for the purpose of bringing a dispute to the Board for a jobbing bill he had
received from the District for $1,002.00 for services rendered in supporting a
sever freeze in one of his service lines and establishing a new service for a
newly built garage. Trustee Crawford
abstained himself from this matter, because of a personal relationship with Mr.
Carter’s father. Mr. Carter presented
his case. Trustee Irving asked the
Manager to explain the bill, which he did.
After a great deal of discussion Trustee Curtis motioned to uphold the
bill as being fair and correct, making Mr. Carter responsible for the entire
$1,002.00 total.
Trustee Curtis motioned,
Trustee Pinkham second, vote: for-Trustee Curtis, Trustee Pinkham, Trustee
Irving; against-0; abstain- Trustee Crawford
6.
Trustee Irving excused himself from the meeting and
appointed Trustee Pinkham chairman.
7.
The Board recognized Mr. John Anderson, Town Manager,
Boothbay who reported that he and the Board of Selectman had met with
representatives of the Knox/Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation Agency to
discuss the disposition of the 319 Grant secured for the Town of Boothbay by
the District. He reported that the
Board of Selectmen is very supportive of this project and is anxious to move on
it. He also offered a suggestion of
closing a portion of Adams Pond road to aid in preserving water quality of the
pond. He stated that he had “floated”
the idea to the Board of Selectmen and they were supportive. He stated that the Board of Selectmen would
further research the idea and make a recommendation for the May town meeting.
8.
Trustee Pinkham announced the necessity for an Executive
Session. Before calling for the
Executive Session he asked Mr. Van Orsdell if he had any areas of concern that
needed to be covered. Mr. Van Orsdell said
he did not, thanked the Board, and departed.
9.
The Board went into Executive Session at 1508 hr. to
discuss a legal matter.
Trustee Curtis motioned, Trustee Crawford second, vote:
unanimous
10. The
Board came out of Executive Session at 1520 hr.
11. Trustee
Pinkham requested the Manager to report on unauthorized use by what appears to be
adjacent landowners, over land owned by the District on Mt. Pisgah that has
resulted in damage to the property. The
Manager reported that he had fully researched the deed and found no easements
to any third party on the property.
Trustee Pinkham sited many ornamental trees donated to the District had
been destroyed by this activity as well as damage to District infrastructure.
Trustee Curtis sited that this access created a security risk and motioned to
close the property to vehicular traffic.
Trustee Curtis motioned, Trustee Crawford second, vote:
unanimous
12. The Manager presented a rough draft of a
letter requested by the Board to be presented to the Boothbay Board of
Selectmen to revise the District’s position on watershed protection ordinances.
The Board took the letter under
advisement and stated that it would be reviewed and modified then prepared for
Trustee Irving’s signature.
13. The
Manager presented a rough draft of a letter to be sent to the Boothbay Planning
Board commenting on the proposed housing development, known as Stonewall Acres,
adjacent to Adams Pond. Again the Board
took the letter to comment and modify before being sent to Trustee Irving for
signature.
14. The
Board heard a written request by Mr. Bill Spencer, for compensation in installing
a required reduced pressure zone device in his home adjacent to the Mt. Pisgah
standpipe. He sited, and verified by
the Manager, that he had installed the wrong device only on the instruction of
the District. Mr. Spencer relayed he
had no problem installing the correct device but said he had already paid a
plumber once, installing the wrong device, as a result of an error of the
District. The Board approved Mr. Spencer pay only the difference of the new
device, deducting what had already been spent on his present device, and that
the District would pay for the new devices installation by licensed plumber.
Trustee Curtis motioned, Trustee Crawford second, vote:
unanimous
15. The Board entertained an abatement request by
Mrs. Barbara Bush due to a freeze problem and a miscommunication with her
plumber in closing her seasonal residence.
She requested a 50% abatement of her bill totaling $169.00. The Board approved the abatement request on
the condition the District send a letter reminding her to advise her plumber of
proper shutdown procedures in the future.
Trustee Curtis motioned, Trustee Crawford second, vote:
unanimous
16. The
Manager provided the Board an update for the fluoridation project currently
underway. He reported that he had
received the 95% plans, which were under review and comment. He went on to say
he would be seeking approval for this project by the Boothbay Planning Board on
18 February 2003. The Administrative Manager reported that he had met with
representatives of the First National Bank of Damariscotta to discuss funding
this project. A tentative closing date was scheduled for mid April and annual
payment for June.
17. The
Manager reported that after working with the Public Works Director of Boothbay Harbor,
Superintendent of the Boothbay Harbor Sewer District and the Distribution
Foreman, a construction specification had been developed for the replacement of
the Giles Place water main.
Construction was scheduled for the second week in May. The bid specification were distributed to a
short list of contractors; Reny Construction, Jordan Construction, Eric Wood
Construction with bid openings 11 March 2003.
18. The
Manager reported on the status of the Knickerbocker Lake approval currently at
the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It was reported a letter had been sent to the DEP expressing
concern over the latest eleventh hour request for additional information. At this time the District was awaiting an
answer.
19. The
Administrative Manager (AM) reported on the status of the budget. He reported that annual revenues on a linear
progression should be 13% and were actually at 11%, while expenses should be at
13% and are actually at 16%. However it
was pointed out to the Board that many of the bulk expenditures are made in the
first quarter and revenues are not linear.
It was the AM’s recommendation that there was no reason for concern and
that compared to previous years, the status appeared normal.
20. The
Manager reported the archeological requirement for funding of the Kenniston
Hill Standpipe had been met and the District was still waiting funding.
21. The AM
reported that the District had disseminated a proposal to many large lending
institutions to provide a proposal for managing the Districts contingency funds
and consolidation of debt. The District was now awaiting responses.
22. The
Manager alerted the Board as to the status of the East Boothbay meter
replacement effort currently underway.
It was reported that the year round residential and commercial meters in
East Boothbay were being upgraded and tested.
So far an abnormally high failure rate had been observed and the
likelihood of customer complaints to water cost, now that the meters were
operating properly, was a possibility.
23. The
Manager reported he had received a threat advisory from the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) concerning possible terrorist attacks on public
infrastructure. The Manager reported
the staff had been advised of this upgrade in threat level and would remain
vigilant. In addition, the District
requested increased patrols by the Boothbay Harbor Police Department and the
Lincoln County Sheriff. Lastly, all
equipment of the District remains in lock down.
24. Upon
the request of Trustee McNelis the Manager reviewed the procedures for taking
of papers for the at-large trustee position.
A detailed procedure was presented to the Board, approved by the
District’s attorney and agreed upon in both Town Hall’s
.
25. The
meeting was adjourned at 1614 hr.
Trustee Curtis motioned,
Trustee Crawford second, vote: unanimous
END OF
MINUTES
Respectfully Submitted,
Jonathan E. Ziegra
Manager