Town of Provincetown

Meeting of the Water & Sewer Board

 

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Grace Gouveia Building, 26 Alden Street, Provincetown

 

Members present:  Jonathan Sinaiko, Chair; Austin Knight; Anne Lord, Sacha Richter

Members absent:  None.

Other attendees:  DPW Staff David Guertin, Dana Faris, Ron Gamella, and Anna Michaud; members of the public.

Call to Order

Mr. Sinaiko called the meeting to order at 3:07 p.m.

Minutes

Ms. Lord moved, seconded by Mr. Sinaiko, to approve the minutes of the meeting of November 17.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Sewer Connection Permit

Mr. Faris presented letters from the Health Agent and from Wayne Perry of EPG regarding the status of 5 Pearl Street.  Based on the findings that the property should have been classified as a mandatory connection, Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Mr. Knight, to grant a sewer connection to this property.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Supplemental Sewer Assessment Notice and Order

Mr. Faris presented a supplemental order assessing sewer connection surcharges on the following properties:

Property Address

651 COMMERCIAL ST

5 PEARL ST

5 MASONIC PL

6 MASONIC PL

8 MASONIC PL

Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Mr. Richter, to issue the assessments.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Water Deferrals

Mr. Faris presented for deferral under MGL ch. 40, §42J, water bills for the following properties, the owners of which meet the qualifications for tax deferral under MGL ch. 59, §5, clause 41:

Map & Parcel

Address

Acct#

Amount Deferred

12-1-045

5 Alden St.

106

$513.50

11-3-068

3 Webster Pl.

2909

$50.00

Mr. Knight moved, seconded by Mr. Richter, to grant the deferrals.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Sewer Deferrals

Mr. Faris presented for deferral under MGL ch. 83, §16G, sewer use bills for the following properties, the owners of which meet the qualifications for tax deferral under MGL, ch. 59, §5, clause 41:

Map & Parcel

Address

Acct#

Amount Deferred

12-1-045

5 Alden St.

106

$1,165.50

11-3-068

3 Webster Pl.

2909

$166.50

Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Ms. Lord, to grant the deferrals.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Water Abatements

Kathie Meads addressed the Board on behalf of her father, Anthony Joseph.  Ms. Lord moved, seconded by Mr. Richter, that the Board grant an abatement.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Acct#

Address

Billed Amount

Amount Abated

Disposition

3804

119 Bradford St.

$140.00

$90.00

Abate to $50 on account of unauthorized use of water by person trespassing on property.

Ms. Michaud then presented the following applications for abatement:

Acct#

Property Address

Applicant

 Usage

 Bill Amount

Staff Recommendation

1401

414 Commercial St

Edith Codinha

 54,000

 $    8,493.50

Abate to $405.50. Clerical error on reading.

6405

19 Standish St

Deborah Dooley

 7,000

 $105,616.18

Abate to $50.00. Clerical error on reading.

9915

19 Berry Lane

Edward Gage

 36,000

 $      345.50

Abate to $207.59. Misread.

10817

6 Miller Hill Rd

Jean & Ellis Bultman

 44,000

 $    2,189.50

Abate to $285.50. Misread. Incorrectly identified as change-out.

9005405

556 Shore Rd, Truro

Jane & Ralph Andrews

528,000

 $    7,805.50

Abate to $5610.50. Meter read and clerical errors resulted in no usage recorded in March, when usage should have been billed at 270,000. Recommended amount totals correct billing amounts for March and for November (258,000 actual usage.)

Mr. Knight disclosed that he is an abutter of the Miller Hill Road property but that he has no financial interest in the property.  Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Mr. Richter, to grant these abatements.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Sewer Abatements

Ms. Meads spoke again on behalf of her father, Anthony Joseph.  Mr. Knight moved, seconded by Ms. Lord, that the Board grant an abatement.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Acct#

Address

Billed Amount

Amount Abated

Disposition

3804

119 Bradford St.

$499.50

$388.50

Abate to $111.00 on account of unauthorized use of water by person trespassing on property.

Mr. Gamella then presented the following application for abatement:

Acct#

Property Address

Applicant

Billed Amount

Staff Recommendation

9880

21 Point St

Roger Hanzes

 $75.00

Clerical error; property not connected to sewer.  Abate in full.

Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Mr. Richter, to grant the abatement.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.


Other Business

There was discussion about what progress was being made on the laundromat.  Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Ms. Lord, that the Town issue a laundromat sewer connection permit, subject to business terms that recognize the need for additional connections in order for this specific connection to be economically viable, and that said permit be submitted to the Board of Selectmen for approval.  The motion carried by a vote of 4-0.

Mr. Guertin introduced Carl Hillstrom, the new temporary water superintendent, to the Board.  Mr. Guertin also updated the Board with respect to several departmental matters, including an upcoming facilitated wastewater meeting with the Selectmen and a visit from DEP. 

Mr. Knight asked for an update on PLOG, and Mr. Guertin advised that a joint meeting between the Truro and Provincetown boards of selectmen has been scheduled. 

Adjournment

There being no further business, Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Mr. Richter, to adjourn the meeting.  The vote carried by a vote of 4-0, and the meeting was adjourned at 3:40 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Anne Lord, Clerk pro tem