Water & Sewer Committee Minutes 7-29-2021

Water & Sewer Committee Minutes 7-29-2021

RUTLAND TOWN SELECT BOARD

WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE MEETING

THURSDAY JULY 29^th, 2021

The Water and Sewer Committee of the Rutland Town Select Board met at 9:00 AM on Thursday July 29th at the Rutland Town Municipal Town Hall. Present was Board Chair Mary Ashcroft, Board Clerk Joe Denardo, Board Member Don Chioffi, Town Lister Howard Burges, Town Road Commissioner Byron Hathaway and Administrative Assistant Bill Sweet, Craig Jewett and Robert Clark from Otter Creek Engineering. There was a conference call line with a publicly accessible and warned phone number in use.

• The committee reviewed the proposed water connection permit form.
  1. Added the word “signature” under the intended signature lines for clarification.
  2. This will be added to Selectboard packet for approval at the next meeting
• The committee discussed a new house being built on Colonial Drive
  1. The property does not have a waster water / septic permit on file or in progress with the State Department of Environmental Conservation.
  2. The property owner did file the Informational Building Permit with the Town Office, but this does not currently ask about other permits received.
  3. Discussed contacting the VT DEC to assist with any necessary enforcement.
  4. The main concern is the proximity of the project to a dam.
• The committee discussed the status of a manhole needing repair off the end of Randbury Road.
  1. Town Road Commissioner Byron Hathaway is meeting with representatives for VT Railway tomorrow to work out the details of any permits or flaggers that will be needed. The manhole cover continues to take on water from the swamp and is need of rehab work.
• The committee discussed the proposed addition to the Post Road water line.
  1. How many users would like to be added and how long of a line we are able to support needs to be determined.
  2. Otter Creek Engineering can do a weeklong pressure test to determine available capacity and pressure.
  3. The state requires a minimum of 35 psi at all times. It can go down to 20 psi only under specific peak conditions.
  4. There is currently a 2” line coming from the main in the school parking lot.
  5. Otter Creek Engineering would also be able to do a survey of the ledge that exists in the proposed extension area.
  6. Discussed asking Kevin Brown about the extent of the responsibility of the town on the salt content of ground water if wells are placed in roadway run off areas.
  7. The initial work by OCE would be approximately $1000.
  8. State ARPA funding sources could be used for various aspects of this project.
  9. We are waiting to hear back from the state on the status of our grant application to construct a sidewalk from the Town School to Chasanna Drive. This would be constructed right over the water line being discussed.
  10. The 2 projects should be coordinated so any new potential sidewalk would not have to be dug up for water line work.
  11. Discussed sending an informal survey to residents in the area, but it was decided the capacity test should be done first to determine what expansion can be done.
  12. After the data is collected the committee will discuss it at a future meeting.
• The committee discussed future water projects in the town.
  1. Fire Districts are able to go to the state directly and request funding for their projects,
  2. There is state money available for long term planning of projects.
  3. Discussed the long-term viability of fire districts and if the town would have to take over management of any or all of them at some point.
  4. After a discussion about potential needs for town water supply now and in the future, the committee will recommend to the full board pursuing a town wide study and planning process using the available state funds. It will, focus on existing infrastructure currently available for Fire Districts and the rest of the town as well as look at identifying potential new sources. Some of this may be done in coordination with the City of Rutland.
• Discussed the status of the Shared Use Path
  1. Robert Clark has been working with the state to answer the remaining questions they had.
  2. There is only 1 small item left.
  3. The stormwater permit will need to be sent to the abutters. If no hearing is needed, we should have approval by the end of August.
• Discussed the 3-acre parcel stormwater regulations.
  1. Robert Clark said there is a lot of funding available through state programs.
  2. There is a scenario where the town could work collectively with a large group of town property owners who need planning to come into compliance.
  3. The town could submit the application to the state and have an MOU in place with each owner. The town would act as a pass through for the state funding. This could include funding for planning and design which would be a huge benefit to the property owners.
  4. Robert Clark will send us a list of all of the affected parcels in town as well as a draft letter we can use to start this conversation.
  5. Applications can be submitted at any time now.
  6. The planned projects could be eligible for ARPA funding as well.
  7. Any issued permits would be filed as part of the land record which will help if properties are sold or transferred.

The meeting adjourned at 11:00 AM

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet