Town of Provincetown

Meeting of the

Water & Sewer Board

 

Thursday, March 1, 2007

Grace Gouveia Building, 26 Alden Street, Provincetown

 

Members present:  Jonathan Sinaiko, Chair; Austin Knight; Kathleen Meads (alternate); Sacha Richter; Moe Van Dereck

Members absent:  None

Other attendees:  Truro Selectman Gary Palmer; Mark White from Environmental Partners Group; Barbara Rushmore; DPW Staff David Guertin, Carl Hillstrom, Anna Michaud, Dana Faris

Call to Order

Mr. Sinaiko called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.

Public Hearing to Amend Sewer Rules and Regulations

Mr. Sinaiko read the notice and opened the hearing to members of the public.  Ms. Rushmore spoke against the proposed amendments.  There were no other speakers in favor or against.  There were no letters either in favor or against.  Mr. Sinaiko then closed the hearing to input from the public.  Following some discussion, Mr. Knight moved to adopt the proposed amendments as printed except to remove the word “inheritance” from Section 6.D.2.  Mr. Sinaiko seconded the motion.  The motion carried by a vote of 5-0.  Following the vote, the Board asked staff to inquire from town counsel how inheritance trusts would be treated under the amended regulations. 

Flow Revisions

Mr. Faris presented the following flow revision.

Map & Parcel

Address

Orig Flow

Rev Flow

Net Chg

Original Betterment

Revised Total Betterment

Net Betterment Increase (Decrease)

Reason for Change

12-2-017-1-008

381-383 Commercial St.

220

110

-110

$7,409.60

$3,704.80

($3,704.80)

Revision to correct bedroom count.

 

Mr. Knight moved, seconded by Ms. Meads, to approve the flow revision.  The motion carried by a vote of 5-0.  Following the vote, Mr. Knight asked staff to provide the Board with an update on notification to property owners holding surplus gallons from discontinued uses. 

Water Abatements

Mr. Faris presented the following abatement that the Board has previously denied.

Acct#

Property Address

Applicant

 Usage

3313

21 Dewey Ave

Waterside Condo Trust

444,000

The extraordinary water usage was most likely the result of a leak on account of major construction at the site.  However, owing to the construction site having been cleared by the time the abatement was filed, it was impossible for Water Dept. staff to verify the existence of a leak.  Because no leak could be found, the Board denied the abatement application, and the property owner appealed the Board’s refusal to abate to the Appellate Tax Board.   Subsequent readings have been normal.  Therefore, Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Mr. Richter, to apply the 500% rule and grant an abatement of $2,774 in final settlement of the outstanding Appellate Tax Board appeal.  The motion carried by a vote of 5-0. 

 

Ms. Michaud then presented the following applications for abatement of water usage:

Acct#

Property Address

Applicant

 Usage

 Bill Amount

Staff Recommendation

8105

344 Commercial St

Ronnie Hazel

103,000

$777.50

Problem has been addressed by owner.  Recom­mend abatement to $537.50.

436

26 Nickerson St., #3

John Dobija

40,000

$237.50

Previously abatement of $137.50 granted.  Actual usage was 7,000.  Misread.  Abate to $50.

16604

42 Conwell St/

Mark Silva

115,000

$1,197.50

Leak identified and repaired.  Abate to $1,135.00

149768

12 Commercial St., #10

Kenneth Lima

65,000

$537.50

Leak identified and repaired.  Abate to $362.50

2410

9A Conwell St.

Mario Lebert

243,000

$3,245.00

Leak identified and repaired, but does not meet 500% rule.  Deny.

175

37 Mayflower Ave.

Theodore Cormay, Jr.

129,000

$1,421.50

High estimate.  Actual usage is 40,000.  Abate to $237.50

89891

10 Seashore Pk., #8H

Corinne Frest

240,000

$3,197.50

High estimate.  Actual usage is 22,000.  Abate to $102.50

7186

7 Carver St.

Damon Leard

30,000

$162.50

High estimate.  Actual usage is 4,000.  Abate to $50.

9000376

1 Knowles Hgts Rd.

Richard & Gloria Burhoe

85,000

$777.50

Leak identified and repaired but does not meet 500% rule.  Deny.

9880

21 Point St.

Roger Hanzes

22,000

$102.50

Usage is for 3 billing periods, two of which have already been billed and paid.  Abate to $50.

8605

33 Court St.

Provincetown Housing Authority

32,000

$177.50

Estimate bill.  Actual usage is 0.  Abate to $50.

9901

MacMillan Wharf

John Davidson

570,000

$8,477.50

Back out charges to private owners per customary procedure.  Abate to $4,717,50

 

Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Mr. Van Dereck, to accept the staff recommendations on the above applications.  The motion carried of a vote of 5-0.

Sewer Betterment Deferral

Mr. Faris presented the following application for deferral of sewer betterment:

Parcel ID

Property Address

Property Owner

06-4-147

130 Commercial St.

Lynne Carter

Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Ms. Meads, to grant the deferral.  The motion carried by a vote of 5-0.

Co-Sponsorship of Town Meeting Article

Mr. Faris presented a proposed article for the April 2007 Annual town Meeting relating to the granting of an easement at 10 and 12 South Hollow Road, the so-called McGuire-Thomas property.  Mr. Knight moved, seconded by Mr. Sinaiko, that the Water & Sewer Board co-sponsor the article.  The motion carried by a vote of 5-0.

Approval of Minutes

Mr. Knight moved, seconded by Mr. Sinaiko, to approve the minutes of the meeting of January 25, 2007 as printed.  The motion carried by a vote of 5-0.


Presentation by EPG on Water Project Activities

Mr. Sinaiko turned the meeting over to Mark White from Environmental Partners Group, who offered a PowerPoint presentation of various ongoing and planned water-related activities.  Following the presentation, Mr. Knight asked that staff prepare a one-page handout from the Board to be available at town meeting to advise the public of the various improvements to the water system and to highlight the fact that the majority of these have been funded through block grants without cost to water users.

Other Business

Ms. Meads expressed concerned about the ramifications of the Seashore’s policy to reintroduce saltwater into Pilgrim Lake may have on the fresh water aquifer.  She encouraged Truro seriously to consider this in negotiations with CCNS.

Mr. Richter asked for an update on public restroom signage and was advised by Mr. Guertin that this will happen in the next few weeks.  Mr. Knight reported that the Tourism Office has identified the sites for such signage.

Adjournment

There being no further business, Mr. Sinaiko moved, seconded by Mr. Van Dereck, to adjourn the meeting.  The vote carried by a vote of 5-0, and the meeting was adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

__________________________

Austin Knight, Clerk pro tempore