The Mattapoisett River Valley Water District Commission voted to accept a FY23 budget of $2,283,400 during its December 14 meeting. The meeting was the first since November 9 after a rash of meetings including emergency meetings on October 12 and 15 and the regular meeting on October 19.
The FY23 budget is 0.6 percent less than the FY22 budget, according to Jon Gregory of Tata & Howard. The capital-costs assessment of $446,000 is included in the FY23 budget figure.
“I believe it’s a pretty solid budget moving forward. … with a half a percentage below, we’re going to be looking at getting filters,” said Henri Renauld, the director of the MRV’s water-treatment plant.
Gregory and Renauld were part of the FY23 budget subcommittee, along with Nathaniel Munafo and Meghan Davis of the Marion Department of Public Works.
The group agreed that the “capital cost apportionment” which is supposed to be up for revision every five years has reached that point, though no one in attendance could confirm exactly when it was last done. Renauld said that the latest assessment is “very close” between Marion and Mattapoisett, a one- percent difference with Fairhaven’s apportionment remaining the same.
The MRV voted to authorize Chairman Vinnie Furtado to sign estoppel agreements for two property transfers indicating that the commission has no issues with the involved parties. The members also voted to authorize counsel Blair Bailey to pay KP Law, an expense that is reimbursed to the MRV.
Gregory told the members that he received two emails from attorneys prior to the meeting, saying they were anxious to receive news of the estoppel executions.
Renauld received a vote of approval to order a new chlorine analyzer to replace a 12-year-old analyzer of the same make and model. He said the MRV is supposed to be monitoring the water continuously. The $9,925 cost would consist of $7,500 in capital so the request was for the remaining amount.
The new model would not only monitor the chlorine but if it sees the level getting high it can lower it and stop it from going into alarm mode. “It’s a very good system, well alarmed, and it meets all the DEP standards,” said Renauld.
Paul Howard of Tata & Howard noted that the new model is “totally incorporated to any changes we’re making to the plant so it can be used in the future.”
In his Tata & Howard report to the commission, Gregory updated preliminary design and layouts for the new filters, blowers and skids. He said that by the MRV’s next meeting the project will be a lot further along.
The MRV’s Emergency Response Plan update will be certified with the Environmental Protection Agency by the end of 2021, as annual ERP training was completed with sessions on November 10 and 17.
In his Treatment Plant Operations update, Renauld said that while the plant has been running well, the storms led to generator problems at the beginning of November. “One of our switch gears is acting up,” said Renauld, who added a Rhode Island company is coming in to make a repair.
The MRV lost ozone during the October power outage and backed water up because valves failed to correctly close. Renauld is working with Fintech to install in spring-type valves. There has also been replacement of ductwork on top of the heating units on the plant’s roof. Overnight flushing of force mains coming out of the facility was successfully conducted on November 29 to eradicate heavier debris.
Chlorinating may be long-term according to Renauld, who hopes it may be able to stop after January 1, when samples will be taken and then the MRV will approach the DEP on the matter. Continued chlorination, said Renauld, has led to oxidation in the watermains, causing dirty water in some of the member communities.
In her Treasurer’s Report to the commission, Wendy Graves reported $51,840 in total paid invoices for December.
The MRV Water Protection Supply Advisory Committee met immediately before the commission with all but one member overlapping, and Katie Desrosiers attended on behalf of Mattapoisett in place of Town Administrator Mike Lorenco.
In his Treasurer’s report to the committee, Jeff Furtado corrected last month’s Fairhaven assessment which he said was $6 off and should have been $292,659.70. He reported payment of several invoices highlighted by Tata & Howard invoices of $854.19 and $1,281.28.
The committee’s ending balance for December was $290,138.98. The tallies since July 1 were $11,025.03 for expenses and $73,614.54 for income. The committee voted to approve new invoice payments to Tata & Howard for the 2018 annual report ($2,032.90) and equipment purchases ($1,809.08.)
Davis is still in the process of gathering term-expiration letters from members in both the commission and the committee.
MRV member emeritus David Pierce, attending remotely from his home in Vermont, was alert to ask if the committee’s 2021 annual report had been prepared. Gregory confirmed Pierce’s timing saying, “It’s that time of year, and if the committee would like Tata & Howard to prepare the annual report, we’d be happy to.” The committee and later the commission in its meeting likewise voted to accept Gregory’s offer to have Tata & Howard provide the MRV’s annual reports.
Gregory also reported to the committee that the engineering firm’s November invoice included a flow probe that Dave Watling is now using in his testing program. Member Nick Nicholas reminded Gregory to take care of two level-logger locations where an adjustment is needed so the graphs don’t show an odd influx.
The next meetings of the MRV Water District Commission and Water Protection Supply Committee are scheduled for Tuesday, January 11, at 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm.
MRV Water District Commission/Water Protection Supply Advisory Committee
By Mick Colageo