Town of Provincetown

Meeting of the

Water & Sewer Board

Thursday, February 9, 2006

Grace Gouveia Building, 26 Alden Street, Provincetown

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

Members absent: Sacha Richter.

Other attendees: COA Director Val Carrano and members of the Council on Aging Board; DPW Staff Dana Faris

Joint Meeting with Council on Aging Board

Mr. Sinaiko called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. and turned the meeting over to Gerry Brennan of the Council on Aging Board. Ms. Brennan introduced COA Director Val Carrano and COA Board members Florence Alexander, Gladys Johnstone, Greg Howe, Margie Perry, and Vernon Wilson. The discussion centered on growing concern by seniors about the high sewer rates and both how and when any relief could be brought to bear on the situation. It was explained that because the costs of running the municipal sewer must be borne by the sewer users and because the costs of operating the sewer system are relatively fixed, it is not possible at this time to reduce sewer rates, which the Board acknowledged as being considerably higher than the water rates. The Board outlined the very broad—and at this time still very tentative—plans to expand the sewer system in order to bring more customers online.

Further discussions centered on education and legislative remedies. The COA Board asked if there were educational materials that could be distributed to help seniors understand conservations measures, whether there were still some of the water-saving kits that were distributed at a couple of town meetings several years ago, whether there were still leak-detecting tabs available, and finally whether someone from the Water & Sewer Board or DPW might be able to could come speak to the senior pre-town meeting. Discussion of legislative remedies centered on getting senior to speak at selectmen meetings and bringing various articles and home-rule petitions to town meeting.

Gerry Brennan thanked the Water & Sewer Board for coming to meet with the COA and closed the joint meeting. At that time, the Board removed to the second floor to continue the meeting.

Approval of Minutes

When the meeting reconvened, Mr. Knight moved, seconded by Mr. Sinaiko, to approve the minutes of the meeting of January 11, 2006. The motion carried by a vote of 3-0.

Laundromat

Mr. Knight gave the Board an update on the meeting held earlier that afternoon with Mr. Charles Silva regarding the business terms of the laundromat sewer connection permit. It was agreed that the Board would meet again on February 14 to review the draft contract from town counsel.

Sewer Abatements

Mr. Faris presented two applications for abatement of sewer charges. Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Ms. Lord, to grant the following application.

Acct#	Property Address	Applicant	Billed Amount	Disposition
8411	4 Dyer St.	Dawn McCall et al	$185.00	Clerical error; misread. Abate to minimum bill - $75.00

The motion carried by a vote of 3-0. Mr. Sinaiko then moved, seconded by Mr. Knight, to deny the following application because it pertains to a fixture-related leak.

Acct#	Property Address	Applicant	Billed Amount	Disposition
3818	638 Commercial St.	Marilyn Kearney	$2,719.50	Toilet running all summer; leak fixed by plumber after bill rendered. Rules Doesn’t meet criteria for abatement. Deny.

The motion carried by a vote of 3-0.
Water Abatements

Mr. Faris presented several applications for abatement of water charges. Mr. Knight moved, seconded by Ms. Lord, to grant the following applications.

Acct#	Property Address	Applicant	Usage	Bill Amount	Staff Recommendation
658	10 Telegraph Hill Rd	Roberta Cornette et al	40,000	$1,117.50	Usage recorded incorrectly at meter change-out. Abate to $237.50
9901	1 MacMillan Wharf	Harbormaster	425,000	$8,798.53	Back out charges to private float owners, Whydah Museum, ice machine. Abate to $6,157.50.
39854	34 Winslow St., #3	Glen Rigoff	20,000	$6,013.50	Clerical error; misread. Abate to minimum bill - $75.00.

The motion carried by a vote of 3-0. Ms. Lord then moved, seconded by Mr. Sinaiko, to deny the following abatement applications.

Acct#	Property Address	Applicant	Usage	Bill Amount	Staff Recommendation
3818	638 Commercial St.	Marilyn Kearney	147,000	$1,709.50	Fixture-related leak; fixed by plumber after bill rendered. Does not meet criteria for abatements. Deny.
8310	15 Howland St.	Paul Tasha	296,000	$4,093.00	Underground leak. Does not meet criteria for 500% rule. Deny.

The motion carried by a vote of 3-0.

Other Business

Mr. Knight requested that staff contact the Board of Selectmen regarding a joint meeting to discuss the scope and timetable of a Phase 2 sewer expansion.

Adjournment

There being no further business, Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Ms. Lord, to adjourn the meeting. The vote carried by a vote of 3-0, and the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Anne Lord, Clerk pro tem