Minutes of 11/05/24 Sewer Commission meeting– in-person/hybrid (DPW Conference Room)
Attendees: Chair- Mike Mackin, Vice-Chair- Brett Ramsden, Clerk- Scott Dall, Member: Joe Hurley, DPW Director- Bill Bernard 
Absent: Eli Torres and Minutes Clerk- Jane Ranley
Mike opened the meeting at 7:00pm. and did a roll call of attendees. The Commission began the meeting by saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
PUBLIC COMMENT- Mike thanked Brett for filling in as Chair at the last meeting. 
ANNOUNCEMENTS - none
CURRENT BUSINESS - 
--Minutes of 7/30/24, 8/21/24, 8/27/24, and 9/17/24
  Motion: Brett R.                                                                                                                              Second: Scott D.
  To accept the minutes of 7/30/24, 8/21/24, 8/27/24, and 9/17/24.                   Vote was unanimous to approve.
-- 1335 Massachusetts Ave. Change of Use – Bill stated that the puppet theater has closed and they are changing it to a retail shop. The state’s environmental code calculates the theater usage at 144 gals/day, based on the number of seats. For a retail shop, it is based on square footage and usage is figured at 50 gals/day, which would be decrease of 94 gals/day in usage. Bill added it will be a gift shop and the Commission discussed.
Motion: Joe H.                                                                                                                                    Second: Brett R. 
To allow the Change in Use for 1335 Massachusetts Avenue.                         Vote was unanimous to approve.

--165 Massachusetts Ave. Final Invoice Waive Interest- Bill stated that the owners were selling the building and requested a final bill for the closing. He calculated the bill but had overlooked the interest amount of $41.80 from past overdue bills. Bill said the Commission could waive the amount of interest.
Motion: Brett R.                                                                                                                                  Second: Scott D. 
To waive the $41.80 in interest for the 165 Mass. Ave. Final Bill.                      Vote was unanimous to approve.

DPW Director Updates: 
--2nd Quarterly Billing- Bill reported that Paula Bertram was working on the billing while they were meeting and will come in again on Friday. The bills will probably not go out until the end of next week. 
--Business manager position- Bill said that they reached out to candidates but they did not respond back. They received a new candidate today and he will set up an interview.
--Assistant to the Business Manager Position- They have a few candidates and will be doing an interview on Thursday morning. Bill added that they will try to set up other interviews. The Commission discussed the difficulty they are having in hiring for the 2 positions. Mike suggested discussing the job and pay as a future agenda item. Brett asked who would make changes in the pay and Bill said the Personnel Committee, but it has no members right now. 
--Manhole Repair IFB- Bill noted that they received 2 bids – 1 at $143K and 1 at $169K. His estimate was $114K, with $100K in ARPA funds and they could make up the difference from Capital Funds. They may need to hold off on one of the planned Capital Improvements this year but the Manhole Repair will help. Bill added that the flow amounts to Fitchburg and Leominster have been much lower since they are in drought. Joe asked what Capital Improvement they would have to put off and Bill said he would have to look at what they have left after the Manhole Repairs are done. Brett asked Bill if he had worked with either bidders before and Bill said he has not but the 2 companies -Insituform and National Water Main—are qualified and the bidders for most sewer jobs. 
--Line Repairs- Bill stated that some set-up prep work has been done and the work will be on Mass. Ave. across from Townsend Harbor Road. He added that there will be no conflict with the Water Main construction but will contact the Water District when he has a firm start date. 
Future agenda items- Discussion of the difficulties in hiring, the process and pay for Business Manager. Scott suggested the town meeting articles. Bill noted that the Interim Town Manager does a YouTube program called Talk of the Town, which the last one discussed the Town Meeting articles. He urged people to watch it to learn more. Updates on hiring.
PUBLIC COMMENT –  none

UPCOMING SCHEDULED SEWER COMMISSION ACTIVITIES:
November 19, 2024 @ 6pm – Zoom Meeting  
December 10, 2024 @ 7pm – Hybrid Meeting
December 24, 2024 – no meeting
January 14, 2025 @ 7pm – Hybrid Meeting 

Brett asked if there was any update on Eli Torres’ attendance and Mike said he would reach out to talk to him. 

Motion: Brett R.                                                                                                                                   Second: Joe H.
To adjourn at 7:28pm                                               Roll Call Vote: Joe-aye, Scott-aye, Brett-aye and Mike -aye.

Respectfully submitted,

Jane L. Ranley
Minutes Clerk