Board of Public Works Meeting - June 23, 2026

Good morning. I'm showing it's 8 o'clock. Uh I'd like to convene the Dartmouth Board of Public Works meeting for June 23rd, 2026.

Uh this is a virtual meeting and it's being recorded. Uh our first uh our members are being uh are attending remotely. Uh roll call.

Mr. Gier present.

The chair. Mr. Alme is present. Our first order of business is to approve and accept the warrants for the bills payable period ending April 11:24, May 2, 9, 23, and May 30. Do I have a motion?

Mr. Chairman, I've made the motion to approve and accept the warrants for bills payable for the periods of April the 11th, April the 24th, May the 2nd, May the 9th, May the 23rd, and May the 30th.

I have a motion by Mr. Gier. The chair seconds. Uh, Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes.

Chair votes yes. Item is approved. Next item is approve and accept payrolls for the weekend weeks ending June 6, 13, and 20. Do I have a motion?

Mr. Chairman, I make the motion that we approve and accept the payrolls for the weeks ending June the 6th, 13th, and 20th of June.

I have a motion by Mr. Gier. The chairs.

Uh Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes.

Chair votes yes. Uh, next item is to approve and accept meeting minutes of uh, February 9th and 26. Mr. G, have you had a chance to look them over?

I have, Mr. Chairman, and I would make the motion that we approve and accept the meeting minutes of February the 19th and the 26th.

I have a motion to approve meeting minutes for February 20 uh, 19th and March 26. I too have read the minutes and um, I find them complete. Uh, Mr.

Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes.

Chair votes yes. Um, meeting minutes for February 19th and 20 and March 26 are approved. Uh, next item is old business.

Tim, item A.

We currently do not have any update for the operational study. Um, but we're working uh we did hire a a new business manager for the Department of Public Works who will be starting uh this coming Monday and you know once we uh work with her, get her on boarded um and trained um we'll work towards the operational study.

Mr. Gier, any questions?

Uh do we have the the name of the individual you have selected?

You do. Her name is Randy. Uh, sorry.

Brandy. Brandy Silva.

Silva. Randy Silva. Thank you, Cody.

Okay. Thank you.

Okay. Uh, next item is item B, storm debris planning.

Uh we don't currently have any update for storm debris planning, but we do plan to attack [clears throat] that in the near future.

Mr. Gier, any questions?

Um I know this item's been on our agenda uh each of the monthly meetings that we have. Um for our meeting in July, I would like to get an update on the issue of some locations that are under consideration for the debris collection in the event of a hurricane. Um I'm looking at some of the, you know, situations in other parts of the country and the amount of debris that can be

produced by a storm. Um, and I think I would like to hear some update as to potential locations uh for that issue.

Okay, Tim, I think that's a very wise idea given that we are now officially in hurricane season.

Yeah. Yeah. And we have discussed potential locations um throughout town mostly town owned and you know possible commercial properties as well.

Okay. To the extent that um a public discussion of these sites is is useful particularly before they're uh they need to be used. Um I think Mr. G is right on. So I I think what we need to do in that meeting uh in July is also have a discussion about their readiness to use them in the event we have a storm this season. Um I think it's good to talk about locations, try to evenly

distribute throughout the north and south of the tenum, but I think we need to know if and when this season we need them, they're ready.

Thanks.

Mr. Barber, any questions? No.

Okay. Uh, with that, we'll move to item C, approval of engineering services SCADA phase 2. Tim, so during a previous meeting, the uh the board approved the water pollution control SCADA phase 2 project. Um I'm sorry. Uh water yeah water phase two uh not water pollution control uh for scare upgrades um for $139,263.

This uh was incorrect. That was only a portion of the contract. The total contract was $151,000.

So, I'd like to amend that contract to include the additional funding for 151,000.

Um, and this was this is fully funded through a capital improvement article.

Um, which currently has a high balance at 200,000.

Mr. G, any questions?

I don't. Uh, I have none. I I'll entertain a motion to approve.

I make a motion we appree a service contract for engineering surfaces for SCADA phase 2 uh water related uh with wood and card for $151,000.

Okay. I have a motion by Mr. Gier. The chairs the motion. Um Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes.

Chair votes yes. Item is approved. Uh the next item is uh D uh water and sewer rates for fiscal year 2027. Tim, so we're in looking at our water and sewer rates uh for for FY 2027. And I know uh our finance director Gary Carrero and town administrator Cody Hedad have been working on uh you know forecasting these rates and you know we we're currently looking at uh estimated 7.5% increase for water and

a current estimated 15% increase for sewer. Just a little background, the water expenses um were increased by 9.7%. Uh the town overhead was increased by 78% or $572,674 and the the total increase was about 16.6%.

Um sewer expenses um were increased by 22% this year. Uh town overhead by 37%.

And uh a total of 22.8%. 8%.

Uh Gary and Cody, thank you for being here.

Yeah, no, no problem. Thanks. Good morning. Um yeah, Tim Tim really did an excellent job, I think, of of summing it up. The good news is um you know, Water Enterprise Fund is doing really well. Um you know, I think we're we're on a on the right path with the Water Enterprise Fund. we're, you know, with a with a recommended 7.5% increase this year, um, we start to build a little bit of capacity, right,

which we've talked about in being able to, um, take on debt in the future for some of these projects that we need to do. So, we're not talking a lot, but, you know, one to two% of that increase allows us to be able to build that capacity. So, when you do need to go borrow, you're not you're not seeing these large spikes. you're not seeing a 20% increase for instance because we've

built a little bit of capacity into the rates. So that that's the good news with water. Um as Tim mentioned with sewer you know one of the big big drivers of that what we're looking at is a 15 to 16% rate increase is um you know the bioolids which you know Tim has obviously talked talked about in in depth right now. That's something we it's a revenue source. It's not huge,

but it's a revenue source right now. And um we're anticipating that it's going to cost us upwards of $100,000 a month. And so so we're we're anticipating a $900,000 increase in the budget for this year, which which we budgeted for. Um but the rates need to need to go up to to keep up with that. So the the concerning aspect of the sewer is that even with a a 16% increase for fiscal

27, we're still not building capacity for debt uh like we're kind of getting there for water. So it's it's um not a great situation because obviously a you don't want to see these large increases, right? That that's a that's a big increase and b if you're going to do something like that, you certainly hope that it helps us to build capacity. So, I know Tim and his team are working

diligently to um consider all options for the bioolids and see, you know, what what we're able to do um if we're able to continue with the revenue source andor if not um what is the least expensive option, right, to to basically get rid of these bioolids. But, uh the reality is is we have to plan for it.

And so, it's it's um not a great situation, but that that's what we're looking at. Um the other thing that we have to look at is you know when we do our rates analysis we look at usage right because we we look at trends over the last several years and then that's how we basically say we need to project the rates to go up x amount to bring in this much more revenue. What we've

noticed um so far this year is there is a slight decrease in usage in in sewer.

So, um, you know, to date, we've brought in roughly only $60,000 more in rates than we did last year, right? But, but we've in but we did an increase last year of se 7.5%, Tim, uh, for sewer.

Yeah. So, um, so we're seeing a a somewhat decrease in the usage, which is good. That means there's been some conservation efforts that helps with capacity. Um but it doesn't help when we come when on the revenue side because a lot of our costs as you know are fixed right we have a lot of fixed costs um which are going to relatively remain the same even when you have these fluctuations in usage. So that that's

the other piece of this that we're we're up against. Um so I will say Gary and I are have worked hard. Gary's done a really nice job on the analysis done a deep dive to kind of flush out all of these things. Um what I what we would recommend at this point would be um if if the board if the board of public works is available for a joint meeting

with the select board on the July 13th um for kind of a further discussion on this. I think that seemed to work pretty well when we did it um in the fall or early winter. And so I think it'd be great if the board's able to continue in that. Um and we're certainly here to answer any questions that you may have.

Another thing too coding uh if I could add uh if you remember from the cost of the last I think maybe five to six years even probably further than that uh a lot of these rate increases were very minimal. So that's cumulative over time.

Uh what that means is if you're only if you're really only adjusting rates by two 1 2% every single year. Uh eventually that's going to catch up and eventually the the expenses because we know the expenses are growing exponentially at a certain rate if those revenues don't keep up. Um and we saw that uh you know uh most recently that's a cumulative process. So those those deficiencies just keep on adding up year

after year after year. So I I don't think it's a surprise that the rates continue to grow in in in uh in reference to what we're looking at as far as expenses are concerned. Uh but you know we have to be cautious that we don't go the o the other way and that we start you know decreasing revenues uh decreasing the the rate uh thinking that you know the uh expenses are not going

to continue to increase.

Mr. Gier, do you have any questions?

Um just a couple of comments. Um I think both the finance director and the town administrator have done a lot of research with Tim's input. Um, and you know the justification on this, I was glad to hear that Cody made a recommendation that we meet jointly with the select board on the 13th of July. U, I think that meeting was uh, very good when we had it uh, the last time. We have an unfortunate situation in

Dartmouth and that is that there is really a dire shortage of printed uh news media on uh what's happening in different entities. You get bits and pieces and unfortunately a matter like this all that's going to be reported is well what the percentage of increase is in the water rate and what the percentage of increase is in the sewer rate. Um, lot has happened since the last time we met with the

select board. Um, Cody, Tim and, uh, the finance director did a very good job presenting the capital plan, you know, the last meeting or the meeting before that. And I think that needs to be brought up in the select board meeting because people need to know, you know, what we're facing for just regular improvements in waste water and water and how those have to be funded. So I would ask that on the 13th that we

present that also to the select board.

And the other thing that we have provided the zoning board of appeals that I think the public needs to be very aware of is the updated scant report on the capacity of the wastewater system.

There's some very very uh concerning data in that report and what we have ahead of us for requests for connections to wastewater. I think that needs to be brought out. Um, and then finally, I know Tim, you've awarded the contract for our consultants to explore additional locations for municipal wells. Um, this is something that we had open when we talked about the issue of purchasing water from other

municipalities. I think you should give an update as to where we're at and what we can be expecting for uh findings and presentation of those findings and get some dates out there. Uh I think the fortunately the select board gets better coverage uh than we do at our end because I've watched each of these items I've mentioned and I've seen little or no uh commentary or education by the

written media uh on them and uh I just think I'm very pleased to hear that we would do a joint meeting on 13th of July.

Um I'd like to add a couple of things.

Um Tim, I would deeply appreciate um if you would get us uh off agenda if possible and soon uh projected timelines for the development of the um comprehensive wastewater management plan and for evaluating well sites.

Uh it helps a lot when people ask us what are you doing? What can we expect next?

Um and then uh Cody, the select board has uh set up some committees uh in particular a water quality committee. I know that that committee is supposed to meet in July. Um Tim, one of the items that that committee needs to be very aware of is the comprehensive wastewater management plan. And so the schedule and scope will be I think very important uh at least as handouts for that. Um and

finally uh the business of setting rates is fairly complex. Um, I know that Gary has done a tremendous amount of work on this. Uh, and I think for future considerations by this board, uh, we should be afforded the opportunity to see more of the analysis. I think the members of this board are capable of understanding what's going on.

uh and we I think we'd have a better discussion and um I think we'd be able to explain to the public uh better if uh we're given that level of detail. So I have I have no other comments. Um Tim, the materials that were given to us uh in the form of um tables and emails. The tables are the budgets that were uh approved at town meeting.

Correct.

Uh I didn't see a specific recommendation.

So we're we're looking at Yeah. But I don't I don't see a written recommendation. I see what I uh I have an email here and those recommendations are embedded in them. Um this this makes it difficult for us to uh formulate an action item in a public meeting. Um Mr. Gier, are you uh comfortable in trying to put together some kind of a motion?

Can you hear me?

Um vote on them today.

Okay. I I think as we did Yeah. As we did with the um meeting a few months back, uh we take a vote after we've had our conversation with the select board.

Uh, and also I've had a conversation with Tim um and we've agreed that materials that the board of public works needs to review uh as they're produced uh will receive them in batches so that we can uh look at them more in depth and as Rob has said uh have a very u in-depth look at the background materials. Um, it's hard. I know with the holiday that you had on Friday, but

I think if we can get some materials, if they're already to go, that we get them at least a week in advance because I think we all have other meetings and activities and if we have those things, we can certainly delve into them deeper and sooner.

I strongly agree.

Um, I have a question for uh both Tim and Cody.

The proposed changes to the rate structure are for fiscal year 2027.

When do they become effective if they're not approved by by July 1st?

So, you can um they would still be effective July 1st, right? But the first quarterly billing doesn't go out until August for the for that fiscal year. So um so you so right we just don't need we need to have the rate in prior to the billing going out in August. So as long as you basically get approve a rate in enough time for us to get it into the billing system prior to that first bill

going out then then we're in good shape.

So your your motion if you were to vote on it in July would just be the rate being X increase as of July 1st 2026. Um yeah the goal the goal has always been to send it out to have the rate certified by Jul J June 30th. But because of now we're on the quarterly we're on the quarterly system as opposed to the semiannual there's a little bit of flexibility. I wouldn't want to say

we go too far into July, but maybe that first week of July, they get set and then uh we can always backdate that into into the Mun software system so that when we go to send them out, it captures those first seven days or five days of usage in the system. So, it's really not a not a rush, I guess, to do it. But I would I would caution that we don't go

any too deep in July into July.

Good. [clears throat] So, your first uh Cody, the first select board meeting is the is the 13th, not the 6th, correct?

Um, is the select board meeting the 29th of June?

Uh, no, there's no other meeting in June.

All right. Um

I think I have no other comments. Um Mr.

G, do you have any other comments?

Uh the only thing is I just checked the date. Uh 29th. I'm away. I'm uh visiting family. Uh so the 13th is better for me.

Okay. Uh I'm available the 13th. Uh this item on the agenda is um listed for approval.

Uh Mr. Gier, do you feel comfortable making a conceptual approval so that we may uh carry that to the uh select board? I would make a motion at this time that we table action on the item of setting the water and sewer rates and that um after we've had an opportunity to discuss it with the selectman and go over the materials that I have suggested we would then um at the same time post the board

of public works meeting for the 13th of July similar to what we did last meeting with them.

All right. I have a motion by Mr. Gier.

Uh chair seconds the motion. Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes on the motion.

Uh, chair votes yes on the motion.

Next item is uh item E, approval of smart program rates.

Mr. Almy, yes.

Sorry, just making sure my microphone's working. So, just a couple comments on a couple questions and and statements that were made. Um, the comprehensive wastewater management plan, the estimate is about a year and a half. Um, but we're working on a more of a detailed schedule with the consultant. Once we have that, we can bring that forward to the board.

The Yeah, that's what I'm looking for as soon as possible. That needs to be um discussed uh by this board. Uh it needs to be provided to the select board, the planning board and um conservation as well as the zoning board. And uh as I said, I'd like to have as much detail as possible for the water quality committee meeting in July.

Correct. Secondly, the um the research being done for uh studying another location for well sites that has not been that contract has not been awarded. we didn't get capital uh funded for that at town meeting um or or it wasn't recommended by the capital committee. So I'll be looking at that again in the fall.

But we are we are working with the consultant and the consultant is actually uh had requested to come down and meet with me this week. So we're planning to meet uh later this week on that. Uh Tim, there have been there's been interest um by a number of uh members of the community to have some kind of a discussion about water sources uh supplemental water sources.

Um, Cody, can you and Tim have an opinion about whether we could uh convene some kind of a discussion group informally or whether that needs to go through the select board? And if it needs to go through the select board, could we uh see that happen fairly soon?

Um, we've been sort of nibbling around the edge of um, supplemental water sources for a while and I'd like to get down to the point where we can interested parties can sit around a table and start talking about it. So, you I'll leave you and Tim to to work on that.

You can I would just caution, you know, you you may want to wait until we get a professional on board. I I don't I guess I don't know how effective a conversation it would be without a professional who who this is what they do. Um I mean we have some great qualified staff down at DPW, but I'm not sure we have the level of determining where we're able to put wells in. So if

if we got a group together and they start throwing out ideas, I think they're going to remain just ideas until we get a a consultant on board. So, that may be a good process just to begin once we have that consultant on board and then have that kind of public input.

But, I mean, Tim can certainly share his opinion. Um, I'm all we're all for kind of getting that public input and in starting those conversations. I just want to make sure that they're effective and that they're actually accomplishing what we need to accomplish.

But Tim Tim, when was the last uh consultant report on um well sites?

It was quite a few years ago.

Do you remember when? 2015.

Maybe 2020. 2015. Yeah.

Okay. Um Cody, I I I really don't want to be argumentative about this. I agree with you that uh the real technical side of it would wait until we had a consultant.

But I think an informal discussion just to get down the community's ideas ahead of time uh and allow the consultant, if you will, the benefit of the community's brainstorming and then allow the consultant then to sort through them and focus both their work, but more importantly focus the community's interests on what is uh feasible versus what for one reason or another is not feasible. Um I

think would be very helpful and um I'll just I'll put that out there and if if you would if you and Tim could talk about whether that makes any sense, I'd appreciate it.

Absolutely.

Okay. Uh next item before anything else? Yeah.

Before we move on this item, uh just two points. um on the comprehensive wastewater management plan with the work that Tai and Bon is going to do. I heard in the interview with them that in fact they are going to be able in that CWMP to identify how many people remain on sewer extensions over the last 25 years that have not hooked in. I would very much ask that that be moved up to one of

the very first items that they do because it's integral to the work that Stantech is doing for us on the assessment of whether or not we're at 80% on plant capacity. That unknown variable has to be answered. Uh and Stantech cannot do a complete analysis unless they have that. And I would like to know from how soon they would get it done.

So time. So, we're working currently working with Tybon and the board of health on this and they have a it's not complete yet, but it's it's a working document and it's and it's it's pretty well established. So, um we're hoping that that you know finalized in the in the near future, but Tai Bond does have the working list of those properties currently.

Excellent. Um since Tim mentioned that in the capital plan the issue of exploration of future uh water supplies is on for the fall town meeting, I would ask that we uh charge our staff to come up with a scope of services that for that issue that scope of services be drafted on the issue of potential sources be it other municipality contributions in purchase the issue of surface water supplies and

the potential use of them and then finally the thing we've always talked about and that's the subsurface that way a scope of services is done you can put out RFQS or RFPs whichever fits for this so that come October the select board and the finance committee and the capital planning committee have an actual number so that the appropriation is made at the October town and the contract could be added. Unfortunately,

I don't want to see that after the town meeting because of the complexity and depth of our study, we have insufficient funds and we have to wait till the May 2027 town, excuse me, June 2027 town meeting. We should be able to pull the trigger the day after town meeting on this issue because it's, as we're seeing, it's very critical. the points that have been made by the finance director and town administrator can only

be addressed on water uh by getting hard factual evidence of what it's going to cost to develop other supplies.

Thank you. Um and I I can add to that a little more as well. We have worked um with a consultant on a scope um so I can I can forward it to the board the draft scope for review and uh and and would work with my staff to see if we can if we need to add anything to change the scope a bit.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Any other questions or comments?

All right, seeing none, uh, the next item is old business E, approval of the smart program rates.

So, I'm going to bring up a item.

There

heat.

[clears throat] Sorry.

Oh, here we go. All right. Sorry, my Zoom wouldn't expand. back to share. So, here we go.

Okay.

Okay. So, you can see the Department of Public Right study phase two. Um I'm sharing this is the 2024 uh which was for the FY25 um solid waste and recycling uh smart billing rates. U I'm just going to go through to the the plan rate. So this is option one. We had chosen to increase the smart billing rate uh for only only the uh annual fee uh by 33% goes from $90 to $120 for FY26.

Um and then if you see in FY27 we were we were not planning to increase the rate for FY27 but then in FY28 we were planning to increase the rate again another 33% to $160 annually. Um but that rate is is still pretty low in comparison with other communities. Um I I had you know proposed that we increase the rate uh this year for FY27 so we don't have to increase the rate a full 33% uh

next year. So I'm also going to stop this sharing. And then if you look in it was FY29 was not scheduled to increase and then FY2030 another uh you know 33% increase.

This didn't add any increases to the to the track bags and we like we work to keep those those costs uh consistent. um it's an unknown because of the amount of bags that we do use and you know we're working with the company on on quality control and I think once we have that handled uh you know may have to increase that item as well.

So now I'm going to

Okay.

Can everybody see this screen?

Yeah.

So this is I've worked on on the tabulation on the spreadsheets and added some additional increases throughout the years. If you see the um the blue line on the chart is the retained earnings. So that this is for retained earnings. Uh continues to drop. Um so an increase in FY27 uh would of 16.6% rather than a 33% next year. I think would be more palatable and would would bring that brings that

retain earning graph up a little bit to maintain that above 15%.

And then as we look through the years FY28 a nominal increase of 10.7% FY29 uh an increase of 6.4% 4% and and so on through the years for the next 10 years. Um this is what I what I'm currently projecting. Um you know and as you know as the years go by and our expenditures increase uh we we adjust these uh to to make it work. I I look at you know going out to 2035 that

continues to decrease our retained earnings closer to that 15%. So, you know, at that time we may have to increase that a little further, but that's, you know, quite a few years out. So, I'm proposing um and recommending that we increase the rate for FY27 to from $120 to $140, which would be a $20 increase.

Mr. G, do you have any questions? Um only a comment. Um like most studies, you know, time time is not a factor that you can put into things looking forward with much certainty. And I looked at your budget and just how much money is expended in this uh program just for the issue of the increase in the cost of diesel fuel.

Uh you got other factors now that are brought in and for the employees that work in that division, the percentage of health insurance that's paid for by the town. Um I I'm very surprised that Western Samson didn't look at any kind of smoothing on uh the landfill uh you know coupon uh that you know the fee that's charged yearly. Um I it just uh I'm very concerned. I would agree with Tim. Um, and I think we

better look at this uh more closely uh as we go forward uh because uh certainly if things continue with the price of diesel fuel and they ever steadily increase in health insurance costs and other employee uh costs um this number of fixed increase per year uh may need to be addressed in future years.

Uh Tim, I have a couple of questions. Um first, in the uh capital planning for solid waste, um has the town fallen behind in any way in replacing heavy equipment or are you pretty much um on plan?

We are pretty much on plan. Um we've been fortunate to maintain our retained earnings uh in this fund as well as uh you know continue with our capital plan of keeping our fleet updated and you know I know that Paulo and Derek have done a great job with that and and [clears throat] uh continue to upgrade our fleet annually.

Uh and my second question has to do with the um regional landfill. Uh what are the prospects for the expansion of that landfill for the next few years?

Um according to their plan for new cells.

So they have [clears throat and cough] they are waiting for a decision on a permit um on expanding of a new cell. Um once we get that uh decision from the state um or once once the district receives that decision from the state I'm assuming they would move forward with that expansion or not if it wasn't.

Um, but it looks it looks pretty positive because that that cell expansion was part of the original master plan. Um, so it wasn't it wasn't a new project. Um, but it, you know, environmentally becomes, you know, a a new project um because of the the work involved.

Mr. chairman. Um I serve as one of the Dartmouth reps on the regional refuge district. Uh the budget uh currently has appropriation in it for the purposes of constructing that new cell. As Tim has stated, we're waiting right now. Uh we've responded to some questions from the D and we're waiting for the final approval and then you have a posting period for public comment. But it is our

plan and it is budgeted as a fiscal 27 expenditure. I would also stress that we're looking at um some different technologies relative to waist stream uh materials reduction so that we could prolong the life of that landfill from a current 10 or 11 years to further out with decreasing amounts of final landfill storage in Massachusetts. It's absolutely critical that the district stretch as far as they can uh the life

and capacity uh for the final waste.

Any other comments on this?

Jim, what is your The only The only thing I'll add is if if the Board of Public Works is coming in on the 13th, it's timely because we actually have the district coming in to the select board meeting for an update on their overall operations and everything that you've talked about today on the 13th as well.

Right.

Okay. Tim, uh, Mr. G, do you have a a motion you'd like to make regarding this item?

I would make the motion uh based upon the recommendation of the superintendent that we increase the uh trash fee by $20 for fiscal 27.

I have a motion by Mr. Gier. The chair seconds the motion. Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

Yes.

Chair votes yes. Uh item old business E is approved. Uh, next item is new business a uh request for a water and sewer baitment.

Tim.

Okay.

So, Mr. Mahalland uh the property owner at 569 Elm Street um had purchased a property in 2022 and rented out to a tenant uh and I believe never received a water and sewer bill. Uh it is my understanding and speaking with the water division that this property had not been built since 2015 uh due to a a billing issue with a a missing rooting number and the sewer was also inactive.

I know I know that this property had gone through some extensive um renovations and it was uninhabited for many years. Uh so in in learning of this the water division uh bill Mr. Mahaland um passed pass passed bills for two years. So didn't go back to the the original purchase date, but went back to 2024.

Um which is typical policy that we we we build back two years of of usage. So the the water usage uh was build at 20 2,187 and 9 cents from 20 24 to the present.

Also the sewer account being unactive was not build and they did not build that back two years and that that usage would would amount to $1,778.

Um we we are work we are willing to work with the resident on a payment plan uh for such a bill due to the building not being built. Um and Mr. Mahal Mahal is requesting an abatement for water and sewer since the bills were not build and they were also in the previous owner's name.

And I believe m Mr. for the holidays here.

Hey, can you all hear me? Okay.

Yes, we can.

[snorts] Great. I just want to first make a quick sidebar comment. As a member of the community, it's been interesting to hear what you had to say and and understand better the complexities that that you all deal with. And so, to the chair's point, uh, a lot of times guys like me see the rate increases and see the some of the some of the outcomes, uh, but not all the decisions and thoughts and hard

work that goes into it. So, uh, anyway, just been nice to be a fly in the wall and hear a little bit here about how the hard work that goes on. Um, as Tim said, I I bought the house in 2022, late 2022.

I believe the bill that we got um last month was for three years was from 2023 to 2026. I could be wrong about that. I don't have it in front of me, but but yeah, it it it uh 2023 in May, um I had a tenant move in there to the house and they assumed all utilities and uh this is something that I uh assumed this is one of the bills they they they said

they were going to pay and it was part part of our lease agreement that they were paying, but apparently no bill was ever issued. And uh the first bill that we got um after 2023 was for this kind of comm cumulative bill for three years of water and sewer. Uh that was uh I believe over over a couple thousand dollars. And it was uh it was sent to me from the uh the former owner. I guess

all the bills were being sent to his house in New Bedford um and still had their name on it uh Mulun. And um so they just sent me this bill and I got it. And um literally uh a couple days later the water was shut off. Um so just I got that taken care of. No worries there. But um I don't feel as though I want to be on the hook for a bill that

was never issued uh never was never read before and um went to the wrong address for which I I use no water or sewer. So, I just would ask the town to consider abating my bill such as the ownership of the bill starts with the water department corrects the name and the address of the owner and u begins billing me on the date I began being the one to use the water which was about May

15th of this year.

Mr. Gier, do you have any questions?

Uh no. Um as Mr. Mahon has stated the lease agreement was that the tenants are to pay uh for the utilities.

Tim, as a matter of procedure uh in the case of a lease, who bears the responsibility if the water is already turned on? And I presume it was already it was never turned off at this property. Is that correct?

Not that I know.

Okay. So, normally who bears the responsibility for notifying the town uh of a new new responsible party.

typically do a transfer. There's a municipal lean certificate requested uh for any outstanding uh utility bills and then and then through the transfer of the property. Um that's changed on the on the mun billing system.

Um, do we have any precedent for situations like this in the past, say, three or four years?

Um, I also typically [clears throat] typically the bill is in the in the property owner's name unless there's an agreement to put it in the tenants's name. Um, and that that needs to be approved by the property owner. Um, because we have had problems in the past where a tenant has, you know, requested the bill be put in their name and and it's not been paid. Um obviously the you know the tenant um of the

property used water and we do have the usage um so it's it is available to us and we can confirm that um you know the the billing would only go back to two years but that's typically the procedure for whether it's a billing error or or or a meter error um or a read or a meter reader error um that we go max a maximum of two years of usage and um what is the

out [clears throat] that the u that that the uh the the bill is as far as I know is still in the former owner's name and went to the former owner's address and I never saw a bill correct so Tim what's the the charge for uh shutting off and turning on a water service and is that charge added to this Typically, uh, the shut off is $50. It's actually to turn it to turn it on. Um,

I'm not sure if that was charged, but, you know, I can definitely work with the water division to eliminate those charges as well as any any Yeah, it was not it was not charged.

Yeah. And was there any interest charge?

Yes, there was. It was $87 or some odd cent so we can work on removing those as well with the collective office.

I just would say that my opportunity for recourse with the tenant is nil because they've moved on and of course don't want to pay and I never got a bill and they never got a bill and so they've just said that they're not interested in paying and that makes sense to me. So, well, having [clears throat] sat in on the um the discussion of rate setting and um if we expand that a little

further, the uh challenges to the town with 40B projects uh not necessarily being able to recover all indirect costs associated with those projects. X um when we abate any kind of uh past charges the actual costs have been distributed to other rateayers. So this is one reason we're sort of careful to ask a lot of questions and to spend time with these even though it, you know, on a

scale of 1 to 10 and given our budgets, this isn't the biggest thing, but there are clearly uh public policy benefits or public public policy issues uh tied up in these kinds of considerations. Mr. G, do you have any questions or comments?

I don't uh Tim, what was your recommendation?

Uh my recommendation was to um you know work with the the property owner on a payment plan to to pay this back to two years and we can confirm that this was back to two years and not three. Um we wouldn't want to bill for any time that this wasn't owned by the by Mr.

Mahaland. Um, I would also, you know, I would also recommend uh working with the collector's office to remove uh any interest cost.

And it I don't see in the bill that was presented to us uh anything on sewer.

So that that's another and speaking with the water division, the account was cons was inactive. So, it was at some point it was considered inactive whether it was when the when the house was under uh remodel. Um but this this account um would total $1,778 for sewer usage through that time for the past two years.

Okay. And does your recommendation include um the sewer charges or what do you recommend about that?

Um it it I also recommend that the sewer charges be paid um without any interest.

Okay. Mr. Gier, do you uh wish to make a motion?

I would concur with the superintendent of public works that a payment plan should be worked out that is reasonable for both the water and sewer charges as has been stated. I would uh make that motion and I would also uh agree with the superintendent that he works with the collector's office to wave any interest charges and that the individual not be charged interest during the period of the payment plans for both

water and I have a motion by Mr. Gier. Uh the chair seconds the motion. Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

Yes.

Chair votes yes. Um Tim, would you report back to us at our next meeting the progress on this?

Absolutely. And Mr. Mahal, we we apologize for this uh inconvenience and uh the lack of billing and uh should be straightened out in the near future.

Gentlemen, any other comments, please?

None for me. Thanks, guys.

All right. Thank you.

Thank you for your patience.

It's been a It's been a long meeting, so uh you hung in there. Uh next item is approval of um utility pays E uh fees, E1 pump fee increases, Tim.

Yes. So the water division purchases environmental one sewer pumps uh for for residents who cannot connect to sewer by gravity. Uh so we keep these in stock so they can install them. Um and we we have a package that we purchase along with the the alarm panel and and all the connection uh uh pieces and components.

The price of the E1 pump from the distributor has increased uh recently.

We would like to increase the cost to reflect our increase. Um the costs for the pumps are for the outdoor pump. Um they were previously $5,87.

They've been increased to $6,154.

Um and typically in the past we've included a 10% uh stocking fee and man managing fee, but these pumps have continuously increased.

So I asked that that fee be reduced to 5%.

Uh which is $293.

So So the the total would be requesting to increase to 6,154.

Mr. G, do you have any questions?

Well, Mr. Chairman, I would make a recommendation to follow the recommendation of the superintendent and set the fees as he has proposed in his u correspondence.

We have a motion by Mr. Gier. Uh I'll second the motion. The chairs the motion. Uh Tim, could you talk a little bit about why the town wants to standardize or or excuse me, will purchase these pumps and then offer them to um customers so that the pumping mechanisms and controllers are standardized.

Y um I also just wanted to add that there were two additional environmental pump systems that we do stock. a flood zone pump for areas that are in flood zones with an increase to 6,969 and then the indoor pump for people that don't want to install it outdoors u to $6,149.

Um the the the pump years ago um we didn't have a a consistent uh standard on on sewer pumps and you know contractors uh would you know sometimes just buy a like a sump pump.

We've seen some pumps used for sewer pumps and they fail and there were a lot of issues um in the past. So years ago, we we standardized uh the pumps that we allow in town and uh and then we started purchasing them. So there's consistency with with all the pumps that are installed. Um and we've also installed a number of low pressure force mains uh that these pumps are designed for. Um so

so so along with either going pumping into a gravity service or pumping into a fourth low pressure force main service did the the pumps are consistent with those applications.

Okay. Uh with that Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

I vote yes.

Chair votes yes. Item is approved. Uh next item is annual bids for highway phase one. Uh Tim, this appears to have a number of elements. H how do you want to handle this? So what I can do, I can list the the all the um biders that we're recommending for award uh for each phase of bids and then you can the board can vote on each phase. That work?

Yeah, if we can move through it fairly quickly. It appears to be the uh to be relatively straightforward with uh the bidding both the bidding process and the winning bids.

Yes. Yes. And then so and all these bid uh bids and and recommendations for award have a tabulation with them. So you can see uh the comparison of of the tab tabulation of all biders.

Yeah, those materials were provided to the board.

Correct. So if we start with uh the annual bid for highway phase one for FY2027.

Um so for lubricants, uh, we recommend Dennison Lubricants of Lakeville.

They're the lowest bidder.

Uh, for propane, we recommend Superior Plus Energy Services Incorporated out of Bridgewater.

Uh, for tree work, uh, we recommend GBK company incorporated out of Haven.

for manhole ring and cover and catch basin frame and grate we recommend core and main of Norwood.

Um for plane and reinforced concrete storm drain pipe uh we didn't not have any bids for that.

Uh for street line and crosswalk paint recommend K5 out of Rockland.

Uh equipment rental I recommend Madera and Suns from Dartmouth.

For stand and gravel borrow process gravel and crush stone we also recommend Madaris and Suns out of Dmit.

And last for manhole and catch bait and grade adjustment rings recommend Ferguson iron works of Canton and all these bitted were the low bid.

Any questions Mr.

No, I make you want to uh care to make a re a motion.

I make a motion that we accept the bids to the low biders as presented in the memo Jan dated June June the 16th and as read by the superintendent.

I have a motion by Mr. Gier. Chair seconds the motion. Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

Yes.

Chair votes yes. Uh Tim, quick question.

Um what happens to number 10 plane and reinforced concrete storm drain pipe?

So we will work uh to procure um pipe um as needed for that through other vendor.

All right. Uh next item is um highway phase two annual bids.

Kim for highway phase two we have uh one item it's joint and crack seal um the low bidder was seal coating incorporated uh DBA IND um we recommend awarding the the Mr. Mr. G, any questions?

I make a motion that we award the bid for highway ceiling to uh seal coding incorporated to a business that's in this.

We have a motion by Mr. Gier. Chair seconds the motion. Quick question, Tim.

Um I see this we only got one bidder for this. Uh and there were some other items that there was only one bid. Is that typical or is the um the industry going under consolidation?

It could be going under consolidation. I mean, we we've historically seen multiple biders uh for this item in the past. Um but it's been it's been narrowing down to two and and single bids.

Okay.

In this area with that, Mr. G, how do you vote?

I vote yes. Chair votes yes. Item is approved. Uh next item is annual bids for water.

For any bid for water for FY2027, uh we have water service materials. Uh the low bidder was EJ Prescott of West Bridgewater.

For waterworks brass, the low bidder was Tai Sales of Sudbury.

For a cement line ductal ion pipe, a little bit better was Ferguson iron works from Canton.

And for liquid ammonium sulfate, a little bit was Dbrook Environmental Stoen.

I recommend we award these contracts.

I think you missed one. I think you missed water treating analysis.

Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you, Mike. Uh for water testing analysis, a little bit of Euro fins northeast of Middleboro.

All right. With that, uh, Mr. Gier, do you have a motion? Make a motion that we award the bids as presented by the superintendent for the water and sewer division for FY2027.

I have a motion uh by Mr. Gier. Chair seconds the motion. All in favor? Mr.

Gier?

Yes.

Chair votes yes. item is approved.

Uh, next item is use of the WF emergency CIP.

Tim.

So, based on the FY26 budget uh for for our water enterprise fund being being extremely tight, currently we're at 95% of the year complete. Our our water enterprise fund expenses are at 94.3%.

And total with salaries is as a little lower at 91.4%.

Um, you know, we're still not through it. So, um we do have some capital expenses. Um, one being uh damage that was sustained at the 299 water treatment facility, 299 Chase Road, uh, which started with a a a broken utility pole and found that a number of items were damaged during that storm, including underground transformer, which uh, which is priced at just under $50,000. So, I'm

requesting that uh the board give us permission to use the $50,000 emergency capital budget line item for the water enterprise fund.

Mr. G, any questions?

I had brought up at the last meeting the issue of surge suppression uh in these systems. the the Matapoise Valley uh water treatment facility shared by Fe Haven Rochester and Matapo had a very similar situation and I know they installed certain measures in there. Um I'm hoping that in fact there is inclusion of those measures here because uh we see more and more frequent uh situations where things are fried

because of the higher value of electronics and their sensitivity. Um I think this is major and unforeseen and I would see a legitimate use of the CIP, but let's protect let's protect uh the event from happening again.

Absolutely. I agree.

Okay, Mr. Gier, do I have a motion? I make a motion that we accept the recommendation of the superintendent use of the CIP for the purposes of remediating uh the effects of a lightning strike for the amount of $49,998.

I have a motion by Mr. Gier. Uh chair seconds the motion. Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

Yes.

Chair votes yes. Item is approved. Uh next item is discussion of statutory speed limit signs.

So statutory speed limits are for roads that don't have currently have posted speed limits and have have been established uh in by mass journal laws uh chapter 90 section 17 uh to apply um to apply signs in these areas. Historically, they would have to be an advisory sign uh which we have used in the past which is a yellow advisory speed limit sign uh which is not enforceable. Uh but the

state has come out with a program that actually they post the MGL section on the sign and there are distances of traveled speeds that can be a forced over a specific distance. So for a 50 mph uh speed limit um on a divided highway out outside of a thickly settled or business district, the speed would have to be traveled for at least a quarter mile. Uh uh for 40 mph speeds on undivided

highways outside of thickly settled or business districts for at least a quarter mile as well. and then for a 30 mile per hour in a sickly settled or business district for at least an eighth of a mile. So a sickly settled business district is identified as an area where homes are less than 200 ft apart or areas where businesses are built up for a distance of a quarter mile. So in the

past we've we have had a thickly settled sign in these areas uh but not posted speed limits. So I have requested um a number of areas uh that are thickly pedal for 30 mph statutory speed limit sign.

Mr. Gier, any questions?

Um I did have an opportunity to see some of the recommendations uh on this.

Um, I'm a little concerned in a couple of areas that the speed limits seem to be too high for the characteristics of the road, the curvature of the road, um, and the amount of pedestrian and bicyclists that are on these roads going to certain areas with regularity.

I I would ask I would ask that in fact these be posted and I think they should be posted on the town's web page for public comment uh before we enact anything. Um I've seen a couple of them. I've lived in Dartmouth 55 years and I'm I'm a little bit perplexed by their setting speed limits of 40 miles per hour in certain areas and um we all know the speed limits 40 and people are going 45.

So I think 45 and above you know 40 and above is quite fast. Some of these roads that are heavily traveled have a lot of students on them at certain times of the day uh new drivers. I would just ask that before we vote on this uh that we in fact post them on the tow web page and ask the MIS director to make it so people can make comments on them.

Uh Tim, could you explain the process for moving through this to the state with this request?

So they actually have a grant program that's that's actually closed now. But the grant program uh is that the state will actually fund the the uh the signs and and polls.

Uh the it's just the installation is up to the town, but the state will will as a grant program will be assigned to the municipalities who have requested them. Well, if if the grant is approved, who then is responsible for actually establishing an enforcable speed limit?

Does the for example if the grant uh is approved does that mean the speed limits are established or does it come back to the town uh to the select board and the public works department to actually post and enforce these speed limits.

So these are not regulatory speed limits um based on an actual speed study. Um areas that are considered thickly settled are understood to be uh a 30 mph but are not enforceable.

These postings allow enforcement by the police department uh for for the speed limits posted. U we have we have done a number of speed studies in in the past number of years. Um I've worked with SERD on a lot of these speed studies. um uh based on some of them were based on resident complaints of of excessive speeding. Um so typically we'll start off with with uh Dom PD uh traffic

safety uh doing a speed study and then move forward with uh surfed um they do offer um these studies to to all municipalities.

So these studies evaluate the 50 percentile and the 85th percentile of of traffic speeds uh of vehicle speeds and it is it is standard for the posting of a regulatory speed limit to be within 5 miles per hour of that 85th percentile speed. So, for example, if a if the 85th percentile on a on a road that was being studied was 45 miles per hour, the postage speed should be between 40 and

50 miles per hour. And to go beyond that um outside of that range, it would have to be a written uh concern, I believe, to the state when when you're basing it off of a study.

Let me uh let me ask a question. If the grant for the signs is approved, is the town obligated to post those signs?

Yes.

And so then the town is logically um supposed to enforce that speed limit.

Is that correct? Yes.

Okay. So, and it and it it gives it allows the traffic division to enforce as well.

And so by making this um grant application and presumably it would be approved.

The board of selectmen is not involved in the actual what what amounts to setting speed limits on these roads. Is that correct? That's what it sounds like to me.

No, but we we could present to the board of sele based on the grant and and what I've discussed today and and the proposed location.

Yeah, I think it would be important to um involve the select board in these discussions. I realize in many ways it it's very technical, but on the other hand um the public sees the speed limit signs and if they're going to be um pe the police department's going to be out there writing tickets, the select board will hear about it. We won't.

Yes. And I did send this language to the town administrator as well.

Okay. Uh Mr. Gier, do you have any comments?

I just think uh the comments on the proposals should be furnished to the folks that are running the program from the state so that they may be some revisit on the limits that they are uh recommending. I think a point to you know the select board I think makes a lot of sense but I think the public needs to comment in so that these uh individuals who set these limits know

the factors that they may not know just by you know a drive down that road right and it you know there is one additional so the 50 to 40 and the 30 there's no 35 mile per hour uh uh statutory speed limit sign unfortunately um but there are a 25 mile per statuto signs but that's only for communities who have opted into master law 90 section 17C which reduces all of

thickwood settled areas uh from 30 to 25 throughout the entire town. You can't pick and choose streets. So that statute is not part of that.

That statute Tim is for any areas that are not duly posted as you have talked about the post any Yeah. Any areas that are not posted with regulatory be havenapo it have adopted that. Um you might want to just have a conversation with them how it is. And again, it's an option that the municipality may want to consider, but they should know all the facts about it. But, um, I know in Mapo

when I was there, they adopted it.

Tim, I I want to take Mr. G's, um, comment about certain roads not being appropriate for 40 miles an hour. Um, that wasn't stated very well.

My experience um both bicycle commuting and driving um on a lot of these roads is they the sight lines are not consistent and yet if you post 40 m an hour people are going to try and drive them at 40 m hour or better as Mr. Gier points out and uh I know for a fact that many of the roads um roll the topography rolls the um curves uh although well rem well well marked uh

have lousy sightelines and so um I think we should go into this with a with an abundance of caution particularly if the if we're talking about higher speed limits. I'm I'm thinking to myself, um the road to Mount Washington is uh rural um and maybe not settled.

It's certainly not and it might be amanable to 40 mph posting, but I don't know anybody who would drive it that fast, even on a motorcycle.

Okay. Uh any other items uh discussion on this, Tim? So, you'll take this to the select board. Uh make sure they're looped in. Okay. And then do you need to have us uh consider it before the grant is made?

Nope. I do not.

All right. Again, I'm concerned that the grant ties us into certain speed limits that may or may not be appropriate. So, I think by getting the board's input, the select board's input, uh you may want to tailor that list a little bit.

So, absolutely, I agree.

Okay. Uh next item is item H, discussion of updated water shut off policy.

So due to the transition from bianual to quarterly billing and for water and sewer along with rate increases and um you know we that transition period where we went uh you know that last bianual bill was extended a month and then we went right into quarterly billing with an increase of rates. Um there there were um a number of residents that had either not non-payment or had expressed

uh difficulty in pain. Um and typically for non-payment uh over multiple demands and and shut off notices uh there will be a suspension of service and the water will be shut off. Um with quarterly billing it's a little tougher because you you only have 3 months in between uh bills rather than six months. Um so everything and and all the billing is done at once. Um historically with your

billing um billing is done throughout the year uh for separate zones so that any shut offs or suspensions of services due to non-payment has staged throughout the year. Um with with now the quarterly billing all bills are going out at once.

Um so all the shut offs were being burdened and done it once which was burdening the water division and the collector's office. Um so the water division worked with the collector's office and and and our admin staff to create a policy to only have suspensions of services at specific times throughout the year. So the policy the section one and two will receive suspension notices in May and

section 3, four and 10 will receive suspension notices in September. Um, prior to any suspensions, the water division will also provide notification to the council on agent and a veterans committee uh committee with a list of resident being scheduled for a service suspension so that any anyone difficulty of paying or or excuse me, understanding the billing uh can can be notified properly and and and we can work with

our residents um whe if they're having difficulty in payment.

And we we've also um worked on a you know a payment plan for for some residents that have difficulty. So for bills over $500, we would work with with uh residents on a payment plan through the collector's office.

Mr. Gier, any comments?

Uh, no.

No. Tim, this seems like a a common sense shift in uh in procedures. Now, is this something that the board needs to approve or can this be done administratively?

Um, it it was put together administratively. Uh, the board if the board is willing to adopt it as policy, the board can approve it.

Mr. Gier, do you have any uh sense of whether this can remain uh an administrative policy?

As they say, let's put the belts and suspenders on it. I make a motion that we we approve the updated water shut off policy based upon the new quarterly billing uh cycles.

We have a motion by Mr. Gier. Chair seconds. Mr. Gier, how do you vote?

Yes.

Chair votes yes. Uh item is approved. Uh Tim, if you would check whether we would have to reconsider this in the future because it's listed as a discussion item, not as an approval item. Um and get back to us if we need to take additional action. I've actually confirmed that in the past that um actually with the AG's office that if um if a if a something's listed as a discussion

and it is it is u comes up for approval it can be approved and vice versa if there's an approval that would rather just be a discussion it can it can be done. Um typ sometimes um they recommend not even um determining whether that item is an approval or or a discussion item on on agendas just so they can be decided within the meeting.

Uh but we we like to keep it kind of standardized so so everybody knows what we're looking at.

Okay. Um committee updates.

Mr. Gier, do you have any updates?

I don't.

Um, I understand there's going to be a water quality committee meeting in July. Uh, I think I saw the date, but I just checked my uh calendar and I don't see it. Tim, do you know when that is or have you've heard any discussions about it?

I know there was a poll uh on the dates.

I'm not sure if it was scheduled yet, but there was a request for availability for a number of dates.

So, I did I did respond with my availability.

Yeah, as did I. All right. So, we don't have an uh an affirmative date yet. Um and I don't have any other committee updates. Uh so, the next item is director updates projects.

So, um, you know, we our highway department and our, uh, you know, working with our our contractors have been working hard on some road work. Um, we we've milled Sloum Road and all the surrounding areas that have still disturbed um, over the last couple of years. Um, all of the surrounding roads have been milled and paved. Uh, Sloum Road uh is currently scheduled, weather permitting, to be paved on

Wednesday night starting at 7 PM uh to 6:30 a.m. So, we will have our engineering staff will be on site uh inspecting the work overnight and uh traffic detours will be put in place for this.

I would make a comment on that, Mr.

Chairman. Uh, I think it's important for the viewers to know that that's a curbtocurb repaving and it's paid for fully by Eversource. U as Tim will give you a report on Chase Road. when you see how much it costs to pave Chase Road, which we're paying for uh through our chapter 90 uh funds. Um I think I give a lot of credit to the DPW staff for pushing that issue and not just making it a linear

patch. um they settled the trench over the winter and now it's curb to curb and um I I give you guys a lot of credit for insisting upon that and I know in other communities Eversource has kicked back on that but your perseverance paid off and saved probably close to a half a million dollars in paving cost.

Absolutely.

Uh Tim, on that item, the um I know the department sent out a large number of notices uh as to when this work was going to be done. Um I see that Dartmouth Weekly is on the line and uh I think it would be worth posting on. I realize their deadline or their print copy comes out on Thursdays, but it would be well worth posting online that um Sloum Road will be paved uh Wednesday

night and just to get the word out uh to as many different people because that's going to be huge. Even though it's done at night, um the the detours aren't that easy.

Okay. Um, anything else on that, Tim?

Um, just that the, you know, the traffic safety, uh, department, the doic police traffic safety, um, is using their electronic sign out there to to, uh, post this as well, right?

Yeah. And we've had this, I think a couple weeks ago, Tim, it's the first project we kind of notified the public that we're going to do. So, we've been a couple weeks right on schedule for this on Wednesday night.

Yep.

Yeah.

Yeah. But for the average driver, you probably can't tell them enough time.

Can't tell them enough. Nope. They were, you know, doing it at night, you'll you'll have less less traffic, less private. Um, it should work out a lot better. Unfortunately, you know, that area during during the day is is extremely traffic. So, and then connecting with Route Six, it's it's a lot of congestion and delay.

Okay. Anything else, Tim, on that?

No, sir. Um, no. Uh, the, um, the Chase Road, um, you've seen that's been mil. Um, and uh the northbound side was I mean I'm sorry. Yeah, the northbound side I believe was was southbound southbound side was was paved on Friday during the holiday. Um, so there was no school and left traffic and then uh northbound was paved uh yesterday um all day and uh I drove it this morning. It it looked pretty good

except there was an area that was flooded during the torrential rains uh and the the offside the off-road swelles were overflowing. So have to look into some of those culprits.

Next on the list for paving on Friday um we had we had refilled that uh mil Shannon way up north. Um and that is scheduled for a surface course on Friday, weather permitting.

We also um moving away from our paving um Saturday the DPW administration building will be open uh for transfer station stickers. Um we started transfer station stickers uh typically the first weekend in July uh the last weekend in June. Um, so we've got it on Saturday, uh, June 27th. Um, so, you know, we we've asked traffic state to also post that on electronic signs. Um, our communications

uh, personnel at town hall is putting it out and we put it out on on the website and try to get more people to come into the DPW administration office and get their stickers so we're not burdening uh, the transfer station on on stickers.

um especially if you're not dropping anything off that day. But even, you know, even people who are going to the transportation to drop off to get their tickets um here first uh to to alleviate alleviate that traffic jam at at the transfer station. And this will be will be open here on Saturday the 27th as well as July 11th.

Tim, so it's people are very clear and the newspaper can print it. You'll not be able to get your sticker at the transfer station. You have to go to the DPW facility at the wastewater treatment facility.

Correct. Get your stickers. Um, we we're open here from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 Monday through Friday for for transportation stickers as well. And like I said, we're opening up to give our residents another opportunity on Saturday. Uh we'll be open from 7:30 to 2:30 uh p.m. on on June 27th and July 11th.

People People should also be aware that they need that sticker for the grass brush and leaf drop off.

That is correct. to use to use the uh grass brush and leaf drop off as well.

That sticker is apply after July 1.

Um couple updates. The we don't currently have a a date scheduled for next meeting. I haven't seen it on the zoning board for the Hathaway 40B.

Um but the actually it no it the next Sherbrook Farms meeting um is is scheduled at for the zoning board on July 9th at 6 p.m.

in town hall select board room 304.

We've been working with both both of the developers um on sewer and and water evaluations. Um, I'm planning to meet with with the engineer from Sherbrook um on the West Road with with Stantech, our consultant, this week to discuss uh Stantex review and memo and getting as much additional data that they that they need uh to complete the the evaluation on Sherbrook. Yes, I'm very concerned

about reading the last report um relative to the issues of uh wastewater contribution into what is an LPS system uh for both uh Sharon Avenue uh and uh the area of Alden Avenue and Lucy Little Road. Um, if there are any if there are any in developments after the meeting with that engineer and you're able to get them to put those in writing, could you share those with us as quick as possible so we

can have a chance to digest them?

Absolutely. Totally.

So lastly, I just wanted to notify the board that our assistant superintendent of water pollution control is retiring on July 10th. She been with us over 30 years. Max um been a great uh employee here and lots has a lot of knowledge on the on the wild push control facility and all publications. Uh he he will be retiring on July 10th.

That's a tremendous amount of institutional knowledge that that gentleman has is extremely professional and how he answers and addresses, you know, some of the concerns we've had over the last two years on plant capacity. Um, I'm hoping that you are able to sit down with him and engage him in the continued potential to to help us and advise us on some kind of uh contractual agreement. uh afterwards let

him have a break and then see if you can get him to you know agree on a per permium or per hour basis um you are I don't know if you have anybody in house for that position that meets those qualifications I know when you go to the market just go to the mass municipal web page and see how many communities are looking for that exact position so um July position are off

yeah the position has been advertised in you know, we're looking forward to to interviewing and great filling that vacancy and yeah, Tim, I echo um Mike's suggestion and I think it'd be useful um to have that expertise around during preparation of the comprehensive wastewater management plan in particular.

Yep.

And also, could you let us know uh the timing of um any reception?

Absolutely.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Tim, anything else?

No, I think that's it.

Okay. Mr. Gier, any questions, comments?

Couple of things. um board of office was gracious enough to share with us the candidates that they have received that have shown interest in the board of public works uh two positions created by the charter amendment. Um I don't think it would hurt if we asked Cody if we could have that discussion with the select board on the 13th of July.

um each of us will have the resumes and I think we could have a fruitful discussion and add that if he's willing to the agenda for action be nice to pick up two additional members and um the second thing we spent a lot of time back when we had to do the first rate increase at the beginning of FY26 uh about the issue of water conservation and water rates. And I u distinctly

remember that we were going to look seriously at the issue of uh notifying people that seem to have a panache for liking to water the street with their lawn systems uh irrigation systems. Um we went through a drought period now the last two months and the heavens are faithful to us over last night and gave us a decent rain. But you look at the maps that are put out by Noah and they

list our area in a se severe drought condition. I would hope that we have either some interns or some department personnel that could drive around and look at different locations very early in the morning and prepare letters to those people before they issued a citation uh that they shouldn't be watering the street and that they need to have their irrigation system serviced.

We're currently in level two significant drought. Um there are other areas of mass that are actually in critical drop. So it's been I I actually noticed um not in the water supply area this morning, but uh outside of the water supply area, a number of irrigation systems on this morning while it was pouring on my way to work.

I mean those that those are precisely the people who need whether they're on city uh town water or not those are the people that should receive some kind of suggestion about saving money and is saving water water.

So um water is money. I mean that's basically what it boils down to. And um anyway, yeah. Uh what time? Most of the folks at um public works come to work at 7:30 or 7:00.

7 a.m.

Okay. So you've by altering people's drive to work slightly. Uh you pick up some of this early morning waste simply being in the street. So maybe some of your guys could just drive a different route every once in a while.

Absolutely. I agree and I do that as well.

Okay. Well, it doesn't necessarily all fall to you, Tim. Delegation is a good thing.

Absolutely.

Okay. Mr. Gier, any before um before we go further, just a a quick note on the applicant for the board of public works. Um, I have spoken to the downtown administrator and he recommended an open session interview uh with um recommended applicants.

Could you and the town administrator put your heads together and bring us um a number of who you perceive are the most qualified?

Yes.

And then that'd be great.

That that would expedite things substantially. I I deeply appreciate the uh interest uh residents of the town are showing by the numbers. Um but as I look at the resumes myself, there are definitely some people there with some areas of expertise and who could complement what we have on our board right now. So that would be good.

It's excellent.

It's great to see people willing to participate in volunteer uh town boards.

That's one of the hardest things to get people when you're a town administrator is to get people to step out. And uh that was fantastic when I saw that. I think you had either nine or 12 uh individuals who express interest. That's great. And I like I also like the new system that they have in place for people to reply and show their interest.

That's a that's a great tool. And I think it'll help getting people to come out and go and to serve. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Okay. Anything else, Mr. Kanye?

I'm good.

Okay. Tim, what uh when you and uh Cody put your heads together on uh new appointments to the board? Uh could you lay out a process for us and then give that to us in uh an email so we can do the appropriate scheduling? Absolutely.

Okay. Thank you. Uh if there's uh no other business, uh I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.

I make the motion that we adjourn this meeting.

Uh motion by Mr. Gier, second by the chair. Mr. G, how do you vote?

Yes.

Chair votes yes. Thank you all for your time. I appreciate you hanging in there and u meeting is adjourned.