Solar PV meeting this AM

The Waste water Treatment Plant was the site this morning of a three hour presentation on  solar photovoltaicic installations for the town, organized the by WWTP’s new head operator, Bob McDonald.  There were three presentations, giving the perspectives of doing it yourself, having a turnkey installation by a professional engineering company, and from a DEP expert.  In attendance were the Energy Committee, the Board of Selectmen as it will be constituted after the election on Monday, town Administrator Mike Sullivan,Ken Feeney,  and several interested people.

It was a truly high quality, in depth examination of the options and how the town can best get get it done, with informative handouts.  This participant regarded it as time really well spent to get the town to its first solar PV installation.  The MEC will examine the options at its Tuesday evening meeting.

Mike Sullivan wants the town’s first solar PV site to be on the land just behind the WWTP.  That site was a bee hive of DPW activity this morning as they were working with large earth moving equipment and dump trucks to clear and level that site so that it can be the temporary town garage site if the new DPW garage is voted in, as it has to be, by the town at both the town meeting on 4/29 and the election on 4/30.

The first PV presenter was a Dept. of Corporation employee and Norfolk resident, who overseeing the many PV installations owned by the DOC.  He talked about the model where one pays for the system oneself, and reaps a higher ROI.  Sounded like minimal oversight is needed, but it would be important to have someone like him to do the small things that do need to be done.

The package system is achieved by means of a power purchase agreement, where the town puts out an RFP, and merely signs up with a provider, who then provides the soups to nuts.  In exchange the town’s rate of return is less than if it buys the system on its own.

The DEP employee provided a handout that walked us through the options and issues, and related the issues to watch for.

PV panels are still dropping a  lot in price, however, the state initiative may be running out soon.  If we proceed with DPW garage, the site will not be available for at least a year, so PV at that site cannot happen until the DPW vacates the site.

Alternatives discussed included lowhead hydro on the outflow of the WWTP and even inside the pipes of the water distribution system, as well as solar hot water.

Lots to follow up on.  Big savings are available to the town if it proceeds.  The Dartmouth town administrator told the MEC at a meeting a couple of months ago that they are saving $700,000 in electric charges from seven PV sites and similar sorts numbers were quoted this AM.  Medfield needs to move as soon as possible to make PV happen, to get in on the savings.

After the meeting, Bob McDonald gave us a tour of the WWTP.  The WWTP continues to amaze me as quite the complex operation.  The painting and clean up at the WWTP that Bob has done looked good.

Financial model training

Water and Sewer Board member, Willis Peligian, conducted a training for three hours this morning on the financial model that he has created to plan rate increases for the water and sewer rates.  It is an extremely sophisticated spreadsheet that allows one to manipulate the assumptions and quickly see the long term results.

W&S will hold a hearing at 7 PM on 4/3 in the Chennery Meeting Room at the Town House to discuss its proposed rate increases, at which time the model will undoubtedly be used to explain the need for the rate increases.

Willis just finished creating the model, and is giving it to the town.  It is the sort of model that all town departments should use, based on what I saw this morning.

4/3 hearing on new W&S rates

From the Medfield Water & Sewer Board -

On Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at 7 p.m. at Medfield Town Hall in the Chenery Meeting Room, the Medfield Board of Water and Sewerage is conducting a Public Hearing to discuss proposed water rate increases.  At their recent meeting, Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund Committee Members recommended water rate increases to take effect on water usage beginning April 1, 2013.  This increase is needed to provide sufficient revenue to cover current costs and to allow for future funding of necessary water infrastructure capital improvement projects.  The Enterprise Fund Committee recommended no increases to the sewer rates.  The rates are proposed to increases as follows:

All are welcome to attend the Public Hearing to see a presentation on the planned capital improvement projects and the need for this water rate increase.

 

W&S

Water & Sewer Commission meeting last night could not proceed, due to a lack of a quorum.  It was reported however that there is a 1/28/13 hearing before the Appellate Tax Board on the Gulf Resources (the Medfield Commons Carwash) appeal of its failure to pay its contested sewer bill of about $45,000.  Gulf argues that its water does not go into the sewer.  Town argues that it just allocates half the cost of the combined water and sewer system to water and half to sewer, and does not allow others (such as those using water to water their lawns to have separate meters for the irrigation water as other towns do) to just pay the water portion.

W&S will meet 1/24/13 at 7PM.

Discolored water

More information on the water main break and its repair in this email -

1/10/2013 4:31PM
reverse 911 issued for discolored water
Trierweiler, Kristine
“Kristine Trierweiler”
===========================================================
Hi Everyone,

A reverse 911 was issued this afternoon as it became evident that the water break on high street was causing discoloration issues throughout the entire town. We have asked residents, if they have discolored water, to slowly turn on the cold water tap until it runs clear. We have also suggested that residents refrain from clothes laundering for 24 hours until the discoloration issue has been resolved.

Kristine Trierweiler, AICP
Assistant Town Administrator
Town of Medfield
459 Main Street
Medfield, MA 02052
(P) (508) 906-3011
(F) (508) 359-6182

Notice from town on water

Emailed town notice about water issue -

1/10/2013 9:59AM
URGENT NOTICE FOR YOUR SITE–Water Break
===========================================================
There is a water break in the area of High Street, Granite Street, Garry Drive, Rocky Lane, Plantation Road, and Bridlefield Lane. There is currently no water service in these areas. DPW Crews are on the scene and we predict it will be a few hours before water service can be restored. We thank you for your patience while we work quickly to fix the problem.

Kristine Trierweiler, AICP
Assistant Town Administrator
Town of Medfield
459 Main Street
Medfield, MA 02052
(P) (508) 906-3011
(F) (508) 359-6182

North Street water main status

Mike tells me that the rains caused a pothole to form in a recently dug up area along North Street where the water main has just been replaced.  Water filling the pothole to the top, such that drivers could not see the hole.  Unfortunately, a number of cars got flats and/or damaged hitting the hole.  Fortunately for the town, the liability rests with the contractor.

The work is mostly finished now, with just a few house connections left and sidewalk clean up remaining..  I asked Mike if the roadway would be smoothed out so the town does not have to live with it in such poor shape for the whole winter, and he reported that yes it would be.  They need to let is settle and compact for a year before they do the final resurfacing.

On being a selectman

At the town house until 9:30 PM last night, as I wanted to get to three meetings at the same time  -  Medfield Energy Committee, Water & Sewer Commission, and the Medfield State Hospital Advisory Committee.  I ended up splitting my time between the Medfield Energy Committee and the W&S.   It has seemed a really long week ever Tuesday which started with the Building Committee’s 6:30 AM meeting and that day that I worked in my office until 8 PM, so I could pick Kristen up after swimming at Brandeis.

The W&S meeting -

• started by getting a report from the new Waste Water Treatment Plant head operator.  He seems to be hands on and to have accomplished a lot in a short time.
• discussed whether they needed to staff up to the four employees DEP says we should have at the Waste Water Treatment Plant, or stick with the three we have.
• discussed the role of the board – just fiduciary, or operational
• got an update on the North Street water main replacement – it is almost done, and town will not allow contractor to start on Green Street until spring
• Medfield State Hospital water tower is off line, and board discussed risks that creates if water is need for a major fire.  Town will follow up with the state about the town getting land to build a new water tower (estimated cost of $2.7 m. ).
• reviewed its budgets and expected rates – rates will have to increase for next several years to cover known costs.

The Medfield Energy Committee discussed -

• PV installation at the paved area behind the Waste Water Treatment Plant site
• presenting two programs with Medfield Green this winter
• DOER grant
• RFP for Solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) on municipal sites

Two impressive boards with impressive members working on our behalf.

On being a selectman

I attended the Lyme disease study committee meeting last night, and learned about their trip to Weston to assist that town getting started with a controlled hunt, the posting around town of tick warning signs donated by one of the hunters, and plans for the hunt this fall.  The Lyme disease study committee is really well run, and inspires a lot of confidence in me, just as the Water & Sewer Board and its consultant did last Thursday.

BTW, the biggest part of the $18 m. capital projects over 20 years for the water department was $2.7 m. for a new water tower at the Medfield State Hospital site.  There is a question of whether the rivets can stand to be sand blasted when it needs to be repainted.  Even if that Medfield State Hospital water tower can have its life extended by repairs, where it is at the wrong height in relation to the Mt. Nebo water tower (16′ too low), so it does not make sense to spend much money on it.

Next I caught the end of the Zoning Board of Appeals continued hearing on the Gatehouse 40B application for the West Street site.  From what I caught, last night appeared to be a presentation of the traffic study that the applicant had prepared.  Chief Meaney was presenting when I arrived.  Nice to see three of the town’s consultants (legal, planning, and traffic) in attendance – I got the sense that the town is getting really good advice, as I know that both Mark Bobrowski and Judy Barrett are top notch.  The Zoning Board of Appeals also selected its consulting architect last night.  The town has a financial consultant who will analyze the project, once it is finalized.  All consultants are being paid for by the applicant.  The ZBA set its next continued hearing date for July 23, and will take a site visit at a date to be determined.  The ZBA allowed anyone in attendance to ask questions last night.  The ZBA is handling what is a complicated process on an extremely detailed set of facts involving a controversial project in such a fair manner that it also inspires a lot of confidence in our town government.  Anyone who feels strongly about the project would be well served to attend and witness the fair and impartial process unfold.

I did not cross paths with my selectmen colleagues last night, as is often the case.

Water’s a bargain (relatively)

Medfield’s water appears to be a bargain, comparatively speaking, when the town’s water usage rates are compared to those of Millis, Medway, Norfolk, Walpole, and Dedham-Westwood.  Our water charges appear to be a fraction of what the same amount of water would cost you in those towns.  At the high end, our rates for the same amount of water are less than half the Dedham-Westwood costs.

See the chart at http://medfield02052.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/20120117-rates-comparative-analysis.pdf