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Home My Public Portal About10-04-2021 Minutes WSAC Regular Meeting 101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278 919-732-1270 | www.hillsboroughnc.gov | @HillsboroughGov WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 1 of 2 Minutes WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE Remote regular meeting 7 p.m. Oct. 7, 2021 Virtual meeting via YouTube Live Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel Present: Chair Arthur Sprinczeles, Vice Chair Jenn Sykes, Paul Cough, Barry Hupp, Saru Salvi, Barry Weston, Commissioner Mark Bell Absent: Daniel Rawlins (unexcused) Staff: Utilities Director Marie Strandwitz, Finance Director Tiffany Long, Public Information Specialist Cheryl Sadgrove 1. Call to order and welcome of guests Chair Arthur Sprinczeles called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. 2. Agenda changes and approval No changes were presented. Motion: Vice Chair Sykes moved to approve as presented. Member Paul Cough seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 6-0. Ayes:6. Nays: 0. 3. Minutes review and approval Minutes from regular meeting on Sep. 2, 2021 Motion: Member Saru Salvi moved to approve as presented. Member Paul Cough seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 6-0. Ayes:6. Nays: 0. 4. Updates A. Director Strandwitz went over the utilities report, updated documents from the last meeting and reported the member vacancy solicitation had not yet been posted. Cough asked how the member solicitations were distributed. For instance, do they go to the people who participate in the Citizen’s Academy? Staff member Cheryl Sadgrove discussed the mailing list an d how advertisements are distributed. B. Finance Director Tiffany Long updated the group on the water assistance program. She indicated that Orange Congregations in Mission (OCIM) assisted 48 homes with two allotments of assistance funds. 5. Discussion A. Communications – Strandwitz went over some items she provided the group from the past. Discussion occurred about how to leverage students to assist with some of the outreach materials. Salvi asked how WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 2 of 2 many people receive paper bills vs online. Finance Director Long indicated the majority of bills are mailed. The group voted to create an Outreach Subcommittee consisting of Salvi, Sykes and Chair Artie Sprinczeles. The purpose of which is to develop a plan of ideas for marketing materials and delivery avenues. Director Strandwitz suggested to look at the wealth of information already available and then fill in gaps or repackage information for better impact. Motion: Salvi moved to create the subcommittee. Sykes seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 6-0. Ayes:6. Nays: 0. B. Rate Analysis Approach – The group went around and asked about the priorities of each member. Salvi wants more equity or if not completely equal, a better split between in and out of town users. Sykes wants business friendly and affordability for low and fixed income. Member Barry Weston said affordability, full cost recovery and conservation were his choices in that order. Cough indicated full cost recovery, affordability and business friendly rates are important. Member Barry Hupp is interested in commercial relief. Sykes felt that absent Member Daniel Rawlins had similar views to Salvi’s. Direction was asked of Commissioner Bell and his response was that this board should make recommendations and the town Board will make decisions on rates and in town out of town and other structure approaches. 6. Future agenda Items A. Communication strategies B. Rate structure prioritizations 7. Member reports Member Daniel Rawlins was unavailable to report on the Sep. Board meeting, but Commissioner Bell recollected they passed the resolution related to capacity and growth for the River Pumping Station basin. Cough reported on the Sep. Board Workshop and reiterated the first allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds went to support the water treatment plant filter project via resolution. 8. Assignments for other meetings All main assignments for upcoming meetings were accepted. 9. Adjournment Sykes motioned to adjourn. Salvi seconded. All in favor. Chair Sprinczeles adjourned the meeting at 8:48 p.m. Respectfully submitted, K. Marie Strandwitz, PE Utilities Director Approved: November 4, 2021