HomeMy Public PortalAbout02-04-2021 Minutes WSAC Regular Meeting
101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278
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Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Minutes | 1 of 2
Minutes
Water and Sewer Advisory Committee
Regular meeting
7 p.m. February 4, 2021
Zoom Meeting and Town YouTube
Present: Chair Arthur Sprinczeles, Vice Chair Jenn Sykes, Paul Cough, Barry Hupp, Daniel Rawlins, Saru
Salvi and Barry Weston
Staff: Utilities Analyst Julie Laws and Utilities Director Marie Strandwitz
1. Call to order and welcome of guests
Chair Arthur Sprinczeles called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Utilities Analyst Julie Laws confirmed the
presence of a quorum.
2. Agenda changes and approval
None.
3. Reports from Board of Commissioners meetings
A. None
4. Updates
A. Utilities status report highlights – Marie Strandwitz
DOT Road Project at West Fork Eno Reservoir (WFER) is going well and should be completed by June 2021.
Time to complete filling depends on rainfall and seepage.
Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Howard Hobson has retired, and Lead Utilities Inspector Nathan Cates
has been appointed interim superintendent.
Main Breaks. There was one main break for the month of January, located behind the Wooden Nickel.
New Projects. Relining water line at S. Churton Street in front of car wash to interconnect I-85 to Orange
Grove Rd.
Budget. Beginning work on utilities budget, with public hearing in May, and June adoption date.
Outstanding Bills. Strandwitz will check with Finance Director to see if revenues are down from last year and
stated that Finance Director Daphna Schwartz would be leaving town employment before the end of
February. Cutoffs are now occurring for non-payment, and the grace period for this has ended. The town is
now $300,000 in arrears for unpaid bills and has set up many customers with payment plans to catch up.
5. Rate Model
This topic had been shelved at a prior meeting until the committee meets in person again. Rates will not
change this year, and Raftelis has been called to consult and help answer questions.
Water and Sewer Advisory Committee Minutes | 2 of 2
6. Recurring items
A. Committee member terms – Current vacancies and upcoming vacancies
There is one in-town vacancy, and it was decided to leave this position open until the committee meets in
person again. The first terms for Rawlins and Sykes end in October 2021.
Motion: Salvi moved to hold position vacant until committee meets in person again. Sykes seconded.
Vote: Ayes: 7. Nays: 0.
B. Meeting Schedule – How often does the committee meet
The charter was reviewed, and the committee decided to meet quarterly until meeting in person again.
Strandwitz will send monthly update report in the meantime.
Motion: Sykes moved to meet quarterly until in person again. Salvi seconded.
Vote: Ayes: 7. Nays: 0.
7. Future agenda items
None identified
8. Adjournment
Sykes adjourned the meeting at 8 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Laws
Utilities Analyst
Staff support to the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee
Approved: May 6, 2021