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HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-01-22 Minutes 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 3 Minutes WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE Regular meeting 7 p.m. Sept. 1, 2022 Town Hall Annex Present: Chair Arthur Sprinczeles, Members Saru Salvi, Daniel Rawlins, Barry Weston, Steed Robinson, Paul Cough, Commissioner Matt Hughes Excused: Vice Chair Jenn Sykes, Member Barry Hupp Guests: Commissioner Mark Bell Staff: Utilities Director Marie Strandwitz (Remote), Civil Engineering Technician Tyler Freeman 1. Call to order and welcome of guests Chair Arthur Sprinczeles called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. 2. Agenda changes and approval No changes were presented. Motion: Member Barry Weston moved to approve as presented. Member Saru Salvi seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 7-0. Ayes:7. Nays: 0. 3. Minutes approval No changes were presented for the August minutes, and it was motioned for approval. Motion: Member Barry Weston moved to approve as presented. Member Paul Cough seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 7-0. Ayes:7. Nays: 0. 4. Updates A. Utilities Director Strandwitz asked if anyone had questions about the Utilities Status Report. She mentioned some highlights regarding reservoir level, access to reservoir, and outlined anticipated grants received to date. This includes approximately 5 million for River Pumping Station Relocation and approximately 1 million for the OWASA Booster Pumping Station through FEMA BRIC, plus 100K for a water system master planning effort through the state asset inventory and assessment program. The town is resubmitting to the state for hopefully matching funds for the pumping stations if allowable. A map detailing the locations of these utility’s infrastructure had been requested. 5. Discussion A. Officer elections were held. WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 2 of 3 Motion: Member Saru Salvi nominated Vice Chair Jenn Sykes to be the new Chair. Weston seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 7-0. Ayes:7. Nays: 0. Motion: Chair Arthur Sprinczeles nominated member Saru Salvi to be the new Vice Chair. Cough seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 7-0. Ayes:7. Nays: 0. B. Discussion was held on frequency of WSAC meetings and the quarterly joint meetings with the board of commissioners. Sprinczeles informed the group that the WSAC used to meet once every other month. Strandwitz brought up that leak adjustments used to be reviewed the WSAC and that previous arrangement is something to consider. Reservations and difficulties were discussed amongst the committee. Strandwitz proposed sending monthly reports to keep the WSAC informed on off months and have the option to add meetings as needed. Weston proposed doing bimonthly meetings beginning in February 2023. A motion was held to change the WSAC meeting frequency for next year. Motion: Weston moved to have the WSAC meet every other month beginning with February 2023, with the condition of receiving monthly reports. Cough seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 7-0. Ayes:7. Nays: 0. Discussion moved to changing the quarterly joint meetings with the board of commissioners to bi-yearly. The committee aimed for the two meetings to be six months apart, one with the WSAC going to the board and one where the board comes to the WSAC. Commissioner Hughes recommended the Board come to WSAC in the first half of the year, and the second half of the year will have the WSAC come to the Board workshop. February was decided for the board to attend WSAC meeting in February for the ability to bring up budget items and August was chosen for the second meeting where WSAC members would attend the board workshop six months later. Motion: Weston moved to have the WSAC meet twice a year, with the Board coming to WSAC in February and the WSAC going to the Board workshop in August. Rawlins seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 7-0. Ayes:7. Nays: 0. C. Questions regarding the leak adjustment spreadsheet were discussed. The committee highlighted spreadsheet line item 70 where 33% of the total reimbursed value was given. A rough understanding of the case was detailed by Freeman to give context on this adjustment. Strandwitz brought up the current Finance Department policy on these adjustments. The committee discussed what leaks should qualify for adjustment. The committee agreed pool filling and power washing should not receive adjustments. In the case of toilet leaks, there was not a consensus. Commissioner Hughes recommended codifying changes to leak adjustments in the town code. The committee tasked Strandwitz with asking her peers in other municipalities, “what examples of leak adjustments and policies do you have?” Weston highlighted the issue of water only customers not qualifying for leak adjustments, based upon Finance Department’s current policy. The committee highlighted its desire to have a Finance Department representative attend a meeting. WATER AND SEWER ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES | 3 of 3 D.The topic of last Fridays was brought up. Strandwitz discussed the table setup and the blind taste test for participants, along with merchandise to give out and craft activities for kids. Locations for the table’s location were brought up and Sprinczeles offered to reach out to a possible host. Strandwitz suggested comparing bottled water to the town’s water. Commissioner Bell, Sprinczeles, and Saru mentioned they could be available to operate the table. 6.Future Discussion Topics A.Leak adjustment policy B.Bill format C.Former member recognition D.Audit/budget update E.Next joint meeting agenda and materials 7.Reports Robinson attended the general Board meeting. He relayed that the Board mentioned having advisory meetings streamed online, and they discussed attendance policy for the advisory boards. Sprinczeles said there was nothing to report in the August work session. 8.Assignments for Meetings Sprinczeles confirmed meeting assignments for the following month with applicable members. 9.Adjournment Motion: Salvi moved to adjourn. Weston seconded the motion. All in favor. Vote: 7-0. Ayes:7. Nays: 0. The meeting was adjourned by Sprinczeles at 8:28 p.m. Respectfully submitted, K.Marie Strandwitz, PE Utilities Director Approved: Oct. 6, 2022