11 March 2003

 

MEMORANDUM

 

From:   Manager

To:       Board of Trustees

 

Subj:     MINUTES FOR BOOTHBAY REGION WATER DISTRICT MEETING 25 FEBRUARY 2003

 

MINUTES FOR 25 FEBRUARY 2003 BOOTHBAY REGION WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING

 

The Board of Trustees convened at 1400 hrs. In attendance: Trustee (Chair) Irving, Trustee (Vice Chair) McNelis, Trustee Curtis, Trustee Pinkham, Administrative Manager Bob Raudenbush and Manager Jon “Ziggy” Ziegra.  Guests: Mr. John Van Orsdell, Knickerbocker Lake Association; Mr. Arthur Reed, Selectmen, Boothbay; Mr. Pat Farrin, Boothbay; Mr. Richard Bredeau, Boothbay Region Fish & Game Club.  Absent: Trustee Crawford

 

1.          Trustee Irving called the meeting to order at 1400 hr.

 

2.          Acceptance for the minutes of the 11 February 2002 meeting was approved without change.

Trustee Curtis motioned, Trustee Pinkham second, vote: unanimous

 

3.          The Board approved warrants 9 & 11 and tabled 10 due to confusion of the report. 

  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. Arthur Reed to discuss the proposed development Stonewall Acres, located in very close proximity to Adams Pond.  After discussion, the Board stated its concerns particularly over potential phosphorous loading.  Mr. Reed stated he would entertain ideas to limit phosphorous contamination, however he reminded the Board he was not compelled to and cost was of overriding concern.  The Board said the District would help as it could in the design phase.  Mr. Reed stated survey and final plans would begin until spring.

 

6.          The Board recognized Mr. Pat Farrin who proposed a land swap to keep his leased land, which would be becoming the property of the District, for the uncontrolled dumping and stockpiling of excavated materials.  In exchange, Mr. Farrin offered the District wetlands in the Knickerbocker watershed.  Mr. Farrin relayed plans to fully develop around the wetlands in the future.  The Board voted table any further action on this proposal until such time as the land is purchased and the Trustees can inspect Mr. Farrin’s operation.

Trustee Pinkham motioned, Trustee Curtis second, vote: unanimous

 

7.          The Board recognized Mr. Richard Bredeau, Boothbay Region Fish & Game Club, who presented a case to have the District remove support for a ban of snowmobiles and ATV’s from Adams Pond and Knickerbocker Lake.  Much debate ensued over the relative risk of snowmobiles and ATV’s versus the political alienation of the regions sportsman.  In the end the Board voted to withdraw its support of banning ATV’s and snowmobiles but insisted that motor vehicles and aircraft be banned.

 Trustee Curtis motioned, Trustee Pinkham second, vote: in favor (3) Trustees Curtis, Irving & Pinkham, opposed (1) Trustee McNelis

 

8.          The Manager reported that he had attended the 13 February 2003 Boothbay Planning Board meeting in which the letter from Trustee Irving was discussed.  He reported that the Planning Board enthusiastically supported the four of the five requests for warrant articles.  The following articles were supported by the Planning Board:

 

a.        The adoption of a watershed map and overlay zone;

b.       The adoption of a watershed definition;

c.        The banning of mutually agreed upon deleterious uses within the watershed; and

d.       The proposed ban of snowmobiles, ATV’s, motor vehicles and aircraft from Knickerbocker Lake and Adams Pond.

 

9.          The Manager reported that he had obtained a building permit for the new fluoridation addition to the Treatment Plant.  He went on to report that he had received the 95% drawings and plans and specifications, reviewed them and made comments.  Trustee Curtis enquired if there would be an emergency exit in the fluoridation room.  The Manager stated it was not required and recommended against it. He would be meeting with Wright Pierce to go over the changes and review the bid documentation.  Funding was reported as being secured.  The target date for bid openings, as the next milestone was set for 8 April 2003.

 

10.      The Manager reported that he had received correspondence from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) concerning the permitting of Knickerbocker Lake as a supplemental water reservoir. In addition, he reported the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) had been in contact with the DEP demanding minimum stream flow. Despite this conflict it was reported that a tentative agreement was close.  A meeting was set for February 26, 2003 at Wright Pierce to resolve any outstanding issues.

 

11.      The Manager reported that to date revenues were 1% below on a linear projection and expenses were 1% above.  However, it was stated that because revenue and expenses are not linear, were expenses are greatest in the first quarter and the lowest quarter for revenue, projections were looking solid.

 

12.      The Manager reported the Kenniston Hill Standpipe project was looking good. The Manager produced a letter from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission exempting this project as being of little impact to historic areas.  This letter was forwarded to the Rural Development Agency (RDA) as the final piece of the application, which was reported as complete.  The Manager stated that this project ranked very high and would be funded as soon as the federal budget was passed.

 

13.      Trustee Irving reported that a request for proposal had been provided to local and national lending institutions for managing the districts reserve and depreciation accounts and for the consolidation of the District’s debt. 

 

14.      The Manager reported that a specification had been completed and distributed to contractors for the replacement of the Giles Place water main.  The specification was produced as a collaboration of the District, the Town of Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay Harbor Sewer District.  The contractors invited to bid were reported to be N. A. Reny Construction, A Jordan Construction and E. M. Wood Construction. The project would be completed within the second or third week in May.

 

15.      The Manager reported he would be meeting with the DEP to obtain a grant to replace faulty oil storage tanks within 1000 feet of the Meadow Brook Wellfield and the surface water supplies.  The Manager was required to report to the Board with information as it became available.

 

16.      The manager reported that he nominated, on behalf of the District, Ms. Sandy Wheeler, 7th Grade Science Teacher for an Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Educator of the Year Award.  The Manager reported that the District had arranged a performance by the National Theater for Children for the Boothbay Region Elementary School as well as successfully arranged for the 5th grade class to be present when Governor Baldacci signs the Maine Water Week.

 

17.      The Manager reported that he and the Superintendent of the Boothbay Harbor Sewer District had successfully negotiated a utilities exemption with the Town of Boothbay Harbor on future road opening permits for the disposition of excavated materials.  From now on, all excavated material is the property of the District.

 

18.      The Board went into Executive Session at 1517hr.

 

19.      The Board came out of Executive Session at 1526 hr. and voted to accept a proposal by Mr. Ken Gosselin for the purchase of 10.6 acres of land containing the headwaters of Adams Pond for the price of $75,000.00.  The Manager was directed to initiate the sale.

 Trustee McNelis motioned, Trustee Curtis second, vote: unanimous

 

20.      The meeting was adjourned at 1528 hr.        

 

 

 

END OF MINUTES

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

 

Jonathan E. Ziegra

Manager

 

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