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HomeArchiveVol. III No. 24 12/15/2022Notes from the Water and Sewer Commission, December 6, Hybrid meeting
Vol. III No. 24 12/15/2022

Notes from the Water and Sewer Commission, December 6, Hybrid meeting

Present:

  • Don Schneyer, Chair
  • John Loiodice
  • Peter Socha
  • Tony Campetti, Sewer Superintendent
  • Michael Buffoni, Water Superintendent
  • Paul Sundberg via Zoom
  1. October 4 minutes approved
  2. Special Thank You to Hugh Page, Campetti and Buffoni for work on Cat and Dog Fountain
  3. Campetti reports:
    1. Inflow and Infiltration study (I&I) — camera work done and sent for findings and recommendations
    2. Pump Station contract awarded — waiting for parts — work starting perhaps in March
  4. Buffoni reports
    1. Water testing in Bowl done for season
    2. Meeting on "raw water turbine" (using water to create power). Testing feasibility: plenty of flow but may not have the elevation
    3. DEP does not want drawdown at Stockbridge Bowl dam — testing valve anyway to be sure it still works
  5. White passed on compliment from Agricultural and Forestry Commission about good job Buffoni does with forest management around Lake Averic
  6. White recommended that American Rescue Program Act (ARPA) money be used to study feasibility of expanding the sewer. This money can be leveraged against future federal funding to do the expansion. Two members seemed supportive but the Chair did not.
  7. Sundberg was supportive of sewer expansion for himself and his Interlaken (Averic Road and Train Hill Road) neighborhood. He was very enthusiastic that it might proceed and supported White's suggestion to use ARPA funds to move forward. He pointed out that there is a connection to the sewer in the neighborhood but the "owner won't share". It "made no sense" to Sundberg that a private party controlled a sewer connection and asked why the Town didn't have ownership or influence. Chair said their "hands were tied" but did not explain why

Meeting adjourned

Editor's Note: At other meetings, the Commission has explained that only 30% of capacity is currently being used. What is the problem with expansion? Is it the cost of connections? Then there could be discussions about cost sharing and/or grants. Is it to save capacity? Then there could be discussions about what it is being saved for.

 

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Photo: Lionel Delevingne