Present: Ed Melanson, Chairman; Harvey Nasuti, Vice-Chairman; Ellen Friedman, Member; Dan Winslow, Member. Absent: Vida Holmes, Member.
Ed Melanson called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. at the Town Hall in Room 124.
Mr. Melanson opened with the Open Public Forum portion of the meeting and deferred the Open Forum to later in the meeting since no one from the public was currently in attendance.
Mr. Melanson recognized Mr. Russell Tierney of WhiteWater, Inc. who was in attendance to address the Board regarding water issues. Mr. Tierney began by explaining the information that he submitted to the Board regarding guidelines for water samplings, noting that we have not exceeded any quantities on the list. He noted that sodium levels were slightly higher than the recommended limit. He assured the Board that the levels were being monitored and that he had scheduled another sampling this quarter. Lead and copper; nitrate and nitrite levels have improved over the past year. Mr. Tierney informed the Board that it was necessary to submit two clean lead and copper reports to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) before applying for a waiver requesting a reduction in testing sites. Norfolk is scheduled for testing
again in June 2006. He also informed the Board that the DEP is requesting the town to review “tier-one” sites as part of the sampling process, which would include anything with a lead service. Mr. Tierney noted that he has begun to review the available information with the Department of Public Works (DPW) but it will be necessary to continue the review over the next few years, because unfortunately the records are not complete. He went on to state that the water quality reports have also been good this year.
Mr. Melanson asked about the leak detection program. Mr. Vito informed the Board that leak detection is an annually funded program. Mr. Tierney also explained that with the leak detection program in place, implementing of the meter replacement program and working with the Fire Department to monitor water usage during training sessions would allow the DPW to work toward improving the amount of “unaccounted for water”, which was about 17% in 2005.
Mr. Tierney continued with an update on the valve inspection process that began last year. He noted that there are between 80 and 90 valves that need to be inspected and continued by stating that once the valves were inspected they would proceed with the flushing program.
Mr. Melanson inquired about challenges the DPW will encounter in the near future. Mr. Tierney responded with the following information: locate remaining gate valves, get the flushing program in place and replacing the AC water mains. He elaborated by stating that the life span of AC water main is about fifty years. He informed the Board that the Gold Street well has an AC water main.
The discussion continued with Mr. Melanson inquiring about large capital items for the near future. Mr. Tierney informed the Board that he believed future large capital items would include a new well and replacing water mains. In addition, he stated that it was a good idea to bringing the Spruce Road well site to the caliber of Gold Street, and take Weeber Tank off line to clean and paint. Weeber tank cleaning and painting is included in the capital budget for FY-2008.
Mr. Vito informed the Board that he and Mr. Tierney were developing an exiting strategy, which included procedures for new employees. A meeting had been scheduled with Water Foreman, Brain Burtwell to review the process for transition. He informed the Board that the water maintenance operator position had been advertised, we are also interviewing Lisa Standing for the Water Meter/Transfer Station Monitor noting that she has been training with Whitewater since January 2006. Developing this position would work well for both divisions. The Board thanked Mr. Tierney for his time and information.
Mr. Melanson continued with the next item on the agenda turning to Mr. Vito for the Report from the DPW Director: Mr. Vito directed the Board’s attention to the request from the Federated Church to conduct a sunrise service on Easter morning at the Norfolk Cemetery crypt site. Mr. Winslow made a motion to allow the Easter sunrise service as noted in the request from the interim pastor of the Federated Church; Ed Melanson seconded and it was so voted.
Mr. Vito continued by submitting a Draft copy of the Town Meeting Warrant Articles to the Board for review of the articles voted at the last meeting. He also noted there was an additional article pertaining to a solid waste disposal contract with Wheelabrator Milbury for a term of up to twenty years that he would like to Board to review. Our current contract with Seamass ends in August 2008 for which we are currently paying $75.00 per ton which was negotiated down from $92.00 per ton. The current rate for Wheelabrator is $63.00 per ton with a clause not to exceed $70.00 per ton. Mr. Vito informed the Board that discussions have been ongoing with several vendors for the past three years. Town Counsel is reviewing the Wheelabrtaor contract and also the Semass Contract to assess the town’s ability to move
prior to the end of the contract. Mr. Vito will inform the Board of the recommendation made by Town Counsel. After a brief review and dialogue regarding the previously voted articles and a discussion of the solid waste article, Mr. Nasuti made a motion to include solid waste article on the Town Meeting Warrant as submitted by the Director of Public Works; Mr. Winslow seconded and it was so voted.
The Report from the DPW Director continued with the proposed lease from Cingular Wireless. Mr. Vito supplied a copy of the lease, which had been edited by Town Counsel, to the Board for review and comment. He also informed the Board that once the lease agreement is finalized, the next step for Cingular would be the site plan review process.
Mr. Vito continued the Report from the Director with a clarification for the Board regarding the comments that were made at the last meeting about the DPW merit system and COLA being too aggressive. Mr. Vito informed the Board that the DPW was the only department in the Town to adopt a merit system and applauded the union for moving away from the step system that guaranteed a percent and a COLA annually. Mr. Vito noted that through this process we have moved from increases ranging from 6%-9% to 4%-5%. The concept promotes good morale when a job well done is rewarded. The Board agreed that this was a step in the right direction. The current DPW union contract is valid through June 2007 and the union negotiation process will be beginning very soon.
Mr. Vito continued with a Project update: Cleveland/Seekonk Street and Medway Branch- tree clearing has begun; Town Hill- brick walkways should be completed by May 1, 2006; it will be necessary to have the summer concerts at the Pond Street Recreational Facility again this year until the Town Hill is completed.
Swan Pond and Cranberry Meadow developers agreed to loop the water main system in their developments.
Through discussions with Dufresne-Henry regarding well site exploration, it was determined that sites that were once viable are either no longer available or viable for consideration. Mr. Vito requested that Mr. Nasuti sit in on discussions with Dufresne-Henry in the future. He noted that the Gold Street was still an option.
The meeting continued with a discussion on the state of the FY-2007 Budget. Mr. Melanson recognized Mr. Jonathan Smith a member of the Board of Selectmen who reported that the outlook for FY-2007 was grim. An override had been proposed in an attempt to adjust the deficit. The Board also discussed concerns over a request to cut the Road Program. Mr. Vito informed the Board that he was fighting to save it and that the town should be looking at the Road Program as a model for creating of the Vehicle Stabilization Program because it works. Mr. Vito went on to explain that since the Road Program was voted, the Department has not submitted road improvement articles for approval at Town Meeting. He also noted that it was necessary to look at the town structure as a whole and the services that are provided. We
should let public know what services we can provide with the funding available. The DPW has been asked to provide additional services due to growth within the town but the available funds needed to provide those services are being cut. Now, with this next round of budget cuts we are looking at losing staff. Mr. Vito informed the Board he would like some direction through this process.
Mr. Melanson moved to the next item on the agenda, job description for the DPW Superintendent. The format of the description was discussed and noted that the job description would need to be approved by the Personnel Board. Mr. Vito agreed to review the old Highway Superintendent job description with Mr. Nasuti and create a preferred list of qualifications for the DPW Superintendent and report back to the Board.
Mr. Melanson presented to Mr. Vito, two original copies of the finalized contract for the Director of Public Works as agreed upon and voted at the last meeting. The documents were signed by Mr. Vito and the Board members that were present. Mr. Melanson informed the Board that he would submit the endorsed contracts to the Town Administrator to complete the process. The Board congratulated Mr. Vito as he officially became the Director of Public Works for the Town of Norfolk.
Mr. Melanson formally closed the Open Public Forum which was deferred from the beginning of the meeting, since no one from the public was in attendance.
At 8:55 p.m. being no further business Mr. Melanson made a motion to adjourn the meeting; Mr. Winslow seconded and it was so voted.
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