Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAboutWWMSC Minutes 2004-02-26 WMSC ASTEWATER ANAGEMENT TEERING OMMITTEE Minutes of February 26, 2004 Members Present: Augusta McKusick (Board of Health); Robert Rich (Board of Water Commissioners); John Hinckley (Board of Selectmen); Judith Bruce (Conservation Commission) Carl Hevert (Finance Committee); Also Present: Sims McGrath (Planning Board); George Meservey (Planning Board); E. John Wherry, Jr. and Andree Yager (Citizen's Advisory Committee). The meeting convened at 9:00 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTION: Judith BruceBob Rich, On a motion by , seconded by the Committee voted to approve the minutes of December 18, 2003. VOTE: 5-0-0 The vote passed unanimously . INTERVIEWS FOR RFP APPLICANTS: Horsley-Witten The following people represented Horsley-Witten: Mark Nelson; Tom Noble (wastewater planner); and Tom Lee (wastewater engineer). They are a Cape-based company in Sandwich. What is wastewater management? Wastewater can be handled town-wide or in a checkerboard style. There could be a need for more than one model for this project. The Town may be able to use a model that is decentralized. There is a need for flexibility with regard to regional management. There is a need for public education. Where is the power? The power comes from: 1) the State Legislature; or 2) The Board of Health through Chapter 111. Who can run a wastewater management program? A town appointed board, the Board of Selectmen; or the State can impose a wastewater management program on the town and expect the town to run it. The path to a successful plan includes the following: 1) Administrative Considerations; 2) Regulatory Considerations; and 3) Financial Considerations. Horsley-Witten wants to be an integral part of the public outreach and public involvement process. Questions: McKusick asked if they can meet a 6-month deadline. Nelson answered yes, and they would want to get non- voting taxpayers involved. There is no problem with summer months. Meservey asked what percentage of hours would be delivered by key staff. Nelson answered in the 10-30% range - other people will be involved. Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes – February 26, 2004 Page 1 Hinckley questioned the appearance of a heavy emphasis on hydrology vs. engineering. Nelson stated they bring all aspects of hydrology and engineering to the table. Hinckley asked whether the firm has ways to use previous project results to improve on new projects. Nelson stated there is a process of checking in with clients during and after a project is completed. Rich asked if the company will use information from other towns to benefit Orleans. Nelson stated they learned a lot from other projects and will use that information for Orleans. McKusick asked how Orleans can match efforts with the State and County. Nelson stated Horsley-Witten will need to know what is going on at the State and County levels and build in flexibility in their approach to managing wastewater in Orleans. One approach won’t necessarily work for all watersheds. McGrath asked Nelson if they are comfortable with the degree of specificity that will be in the final group of recommendations. Nelson stated they CAN be specific on the path that needs to be followed to get to the end goal. For decentralized management they can create the pathway that will work with a few blanks in it, down to recommending special legislation and the parameters that need to be included in that special legislation. Hevert stated the applicant needs to have a complete and accurate understanding about Orleans. Hevert asked how they plan to get up to date about Orleans. Nelson stated they have worked with various Town Departments for a number of years and feel they have a good understanding of what Orleans needs. They are very familiar with Town Counsel. Nelson stated they would bring a local perspective to this project. McKusick asked if part of the Federal Grant involved the inclusion of the following: Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and Disability Business Enterprise (DBE). Nelson stated he would research that question. Wright-Pierce The following people represented Wright-Pierce: Mike Giggey, Vic Krea, and Heather Merriman. Groux Associates was represented by Tom Groux; and The Bhatti Group was represented by Ilyas Bhatti. Giggey, Groux and Bhatti explained their prospective roles in this project. Giggey explained the position of Wright-Pierce and showed a map of existing nitrogen loads in Orleans and also explained various other charts. Groux stated he would advise on the organizational structure to accomplish an outcome. He has expertise in local government (he has been an interim town manager, and written charters). Bhatti stated he has expertise on projects like the Big Dig in Boston and in various state agencies. Giggey stated they have worked with checkerboard systems, betterment assessments, and multi-town implementations. What are the Keys: 1) Strategic planning, 2) Ongoing county studies, 3) experienced town staff, 4) Brewster, Harwich, Eastham coordination, 5) Review what has worked elsewhere on the Cape. McKusick – how do you learn from experience from huge metropolis? Bhatti stated that everything can be used in big or small towns. Hinckley asked how they would handle the oversight with Wright-Pierce and various subcontractors. Giggey stated he is confident that timely coordination can be maintained with the subcontractors. Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes – February 26, 2004 Page 2 Lombardo Associates Pia Lombardo discussed his RFP with the committee. Lombardo gave out written comments to questions posed by the committee. He offered to be very flexible in the product delivery. Lombardo stated he wants to get something done, not just do a study. Lombardo suggested that the best use of the grant would be to draft a town meeting article. Lombardo explained technology he is developing. Lombardo indicated that Orleans could be the subject of a pilot project for congressional funding, and he would pursue it if awarded the contract. Request for Proposal Discussion: The committee discussed the issue of Women’s Business Enterprises (WBE) Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and Disability Business Enterprises (DBE) as part of the Request for Proposal for each applicant. Decision: The Wastewater Management Steering Committee reviewed the qualifications of the three applicants and decided to award the contract to Horsley-Witten. MOTION: John HinckleySims McGrath On a motion by , and seconded by , the board voted to accept the Request for Proposal of Horsley-Witten subject to the clarifications as indicated by the Chair, (DBE/WBE participation requirements) and if they are for any reason not eligible, as a result of these questions, then the offer be made to Wright-Pierce as long as they are eligible. VOTE: 4-1-0 The vote passed by a majority (Gussie McKusick voted against). The meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m. The next meeting will be in March. Respectfully submitted, Karen C. Sharpless, Recording Secretary Wastewater Management Steering Committee Minutes – February 26, 2004 Page 3