HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-06-2021 Minutes WSAC Regular MeetingWATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 1 of 3
Minutes
WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Remote regular meeting
7 p.m. May 5, 2021
Virtual meeting via YouTube Live
Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel
Present: Chair Arthur Sprinczeles, Vice Chair Jenn Sykes, Barry Hupp,
Daniel Rawlins, Saru Salvi and Barry Weston, Commissioner
Matt Hughes
Absent: Paul Cough (excused)
Staff: Utilities Director Marie Strandwitz, Utilities Analyst Julie Laws
1. Call to order and welcome of guests
Chair Arthur Sprinczeles called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. There were no active guests who requested
to participate actively in the meeting. The meeting was to be streamed live on YouTube however Utilities
Analyst Julie Laws indicated Zoom was giving an error message. The meeting was recorded for later posting on
YouTube.
2. Agenda changes and approval
None
Motion: Vice Chair Jenn Sykes moved to approved. Member Saru Salvi seconded.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0.
3. Minutes review and approval
Minutes from regular meeting on Feb. 2, 2021
Motion: Sykes moved to approve of the minutes as submitted. Salvi seconded.
Vote: 7-0. Ayes: 7. Nays: 0.
4. Reports from Board of Commissioners meetings
A. April Meeting
Member Daniel Rawlins was scheduled but missed the meeting. Commissioner Hughes gave an update on the
board meeting discussion. He mentioned Director Strandwitz’s presentation from March and how it was very
helpful. Hughes said the board had a series of budget retreats and in April had provided feedback to utilities
on supporting the addition of fees for growth related projects. These would mainly impact developers and
single-family builders.
A discussion ensued about the kinds of fees and how to charge them. Salvi recommended doing an hourly
plus overhead multiplier because some projects may take longer than others. Other ways to charge were
described by Strandwitz. Strandwitz’s task to evaluate different ways to structure such fees is a priority, but
no certain timeframe can be committed due to workload. Sykes asks if any other department can help.
Strandwitz mentioned the financial services department is short staffed so that is not an option now. Hughes
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concurred. Strandwitz said she could put fees in individual water and sewer extension contracts, in the
meantime.
Sprinczeles suggested the committee receive an update of the fee development be included in the utilities
update report. The remaining members agreed. The comparison chart of other utility project fees that was
presented to the Board of Commissioners in April will be sent to the committee members for reference.
B. Joint public hearing with Planning Board
Not addressed
C. Work session
Not addressed
5. Updates
A. Staffing
Laws announced her retirement effective May 28. Strandwitz stated her position would be reclassified to a
supporting engineer role that would do her duties but also help do plan reviews, coordinate the committee
and other departments such as public works and stormwater. Strandwitz updated on other staffing in the
department.
B. Utilities status report highlights
Strandwitz told the group about the reservoir project status and the target final completion by June 30 by the
contractor and the other tasks she is working on to be able to inundate the reservoir to the Phase 2 level.
Sykes inquired about the Notice of Violation for the outside lab error and that seemingly there is nothing the
town can do. Strandwitz explained what occurred, that the town also received a civil penalty of $1000 and
why the state still thinks it is a violation. She mentioned the lab wrote a letter of explanation and gave the
town a credit voucher of an equal amount and that the consumer confidence report will notice this violation.
Salvi expressed concern if the town would continue to use the lab and if they should pay directly. Strandwitz
said it was discussed with finance on how to handle the payment and the town wanted the security of
knowing it paid the fine on time to the right department. Finance wants to credit future invoices against the
credit voucher for documentation. Strandwitz said this was the first error of the lab and we would continue to
use them unless further errors occur.
C. Salvi asked for clarification on the committee vacancy (in-town or out-of-town) and the notes that say she is
on her first term. Sykes reminded that the committee decided to wait on filling the vacancy to when regular
meetings have resumed.
6. Recurring items
A. Meeting - Assignments
Sprinczeles went through the list Laws had sent for 2021 through August. Sykes indicated she has all the joint
public hearing with planning since she will be there anyway as a member of the planning board.
B. Next Meeting
Sprinczeles asked if meeting in three months was still viable. Strandwitz said yes unless there is something
more pressing in between. She mentioned the draft budget has not yet been presented.
7. Future agenda items
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Development fees as discussed above. Update on budget when received. Salvi asked for clarification on the
committee vacancy (in-town or out-of-town) and the notes that say he is on her first term.
8. Assignments for future meetings
A. Board of Commissioners Meeting May 10
Rawlins, sub Weston
B. Board of Commissioners Work session May 24
Cough, sub Sprinczeles
C. Board of Commissioners Meeting June 14
Hupp, sub Sykes
D. Board of Commissioners Workshop June 28
Hupp, sub Sykes
E. Board of Commissioners Meeting Aug 9
Sprinczeles, sub Salvi
9. Adjournment
Sykes moved, Salvi seconded. All in favor.
The meeting ended at approximately 8:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
K. Marie Strandwitz, PE
Utilities Director
Staff support to the Water and Sewer Advisory Committee
Approved: August 5, 2021