HomeMy Public PortalAbout03-02-22 Minutes Regular Meeting
101 E. Orange St., PO Box 429, Hillsborough, NC 27278
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WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 1 of 3
Minutes
WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Remote regular meeting
7 p.m. Mar. 2, 2022
Virtual meeting via YouTube Live
Town of Hillsborough YouTube channel
Present: Chair Arthur Sprinczeles, Vice Chair Jenn Sykes, Paul Cough,
Saru Salvi, Barry Weston, Daniel Rawlins, Barry Hupp,
Commissioner Matt Hughes, Commissioner Robb English
Absent: None
Staff: Utilities Director Marie Strandwitz, Communications Manager Catherine Wright
1. Call to order and welcome of guests
Chair Arthur Sprinczeles called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. Director Marie Strandwitz took the roll call
and confirmed a quorum.
2. Agenda changes and approval
No changes were presented.
Motion: Vice Chair Jenn Sykes moved to approve as presented. Member Barry Weston seconded the
motion. All in favor.
Vote: 5-0. Ayes:5. Nays: 0.
3. Minutes review and approval
No prior minutes were prepared for review.
4. Updates
A. Strandwitz went over the Utilities Status Report highlighting the reservoir status, funding efforts, recent
development information and staff vacancy status. She added that she learned the wastewater plant
unfortunately failed a quarterly toxicity test which has not happened in years. We will receive a Notice of
Violation. Questions were asked about the test and cause. Strandwitz said she would have the plant
superintendent respond with information at the next meeting.
B. Sprinczeles indicated that two potential members were interviewed and both very qualified in their own
way. He hopes the new member selected will be attending by June.
C. Member Saru Salvi passed the outreach update to Communications Manager Catherine Wright. Wright
had prepared a layout of utilities communications that was placed in the agenda packet. Salvi had
requested to see transcripts of videos that were coming out. Wright indicated that would delay the work
being done. Sprinczeles agreed. While Salvi questioned whether an outreach subcommittee was
necessary, Sykes reiterated it is more than the materials. It also includes other tasks like speaking with
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neighbors and gather and share information to and from the public. Cough concurred. Strandwitz also
mentioned that we are looking at the Utilities web page layout.
D. The summary of the Lawndale Sanitary Sewer Evaluation report was presented in the agenda packet.
Strandwitz went over the highlights of the report and essentially, much of the system needs to be
rehabilitated or replaced. The committee asked about pipe materials and rehabilitation practices.
E. Strandwitz shared a report of other short term potential alternatives to address the river basin
interceptors. This was a memorandum prepared by the sewer modeling consultant. In it there were a few
feasible temporary options like adjusting the flow to be more split amongst the two parallel interceptors
from Cameron Street east to the plant. She indicated that regardless of short-term fixes, the interceptors
will need to be upsized for 2040 growth projections. The discussion turned back to the Lawndale work and
Strandwitz explained that following the recommendations of that project should result in reducing some
significant extraneous flow. She said the crews had already started addressing some of the smaller tasks
they could tackle themselves.
5. Discussion
A. Sykes indicated the board was receptive to meeting and they would prefer the committee join one of
their work sessions. They also want to review the agenda beforehand. The meetings would NOT be the
same month as the joint planning board hearings. She felt the meetings need to focus on the rates and
possibly funding as that feeds into the rates. Strandwitz added the preference is not to create more
meetings and the plan was to alternate locations with the committee going to workshop meetings every
other quarter and the board the come to the committee meetings. The question was posed if the
committee should cancel its regular meeting on months where the workshops are attended. Sykes did not
think that would be possible. Salvi and Member Barry Weston concurred. It was determined the first joint
meeting would be in May where the board would come to the committee meeting.
Motion: A motion was made by Weston to alternate quarterly joint meeting location and start the first
joint meeting in May. Salvi seconded the motion. All in favor.
Vote: 5-0. Ayes:5. Nays: 0.
6. Future agenda Items
A. Last Friday’s and an outreach table
B. Develop agenda for joint board meeting
C. April recurring items (and from March that could not be addressed)
D. New member training packet
7. Member reports
Sykes and Sprinczeles indicated they already covered the board’s response to the committee memo
requesting to meet quarterly. Sykes mentioned the train station plans.
Weston mentioned a water and sewer related item from the February board workshop was that the water
lines and sewer laterals for Odie Street were accepted by the board.
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8. Assignments for other meetings
All main assignments for upcoming meetings were accepted.
9. Adjournment
Salvi motioned to adjourn. Sykes seconded. All in favor. Sprinczeles adjourned the meeting at 8:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
K. Marie Strandwitz, PE
Utilities Director
Approved: Apr. 7, 2022