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Dighton Water District 192 Williams St. No. Dighton, Ma 02764 Paul Pacheco Sue Medeiros Edward Swartz COMMISSIONERS Carol A. Stevens TREASURER January
12, 2010 A
meeting of the Dighton Water District Commissioners was held at the District office
at 7:00 P.M. Chairman of the Board,
Paul Pacheco called the meeting to order.
First
order of business was New Business; A discussion was held regarding Tony
Roderick’s subdivision. Paul Pacheco
said, “Chuck has plans Tony Roderick’s doing a subdivision normally always
run pipes back side of the subdivision so there’s no spaghetti lines going up
to the houses. The Fire Chief said he
wants fire hydrant off the end on the road.
Commissioner, Sue Medeiros said, “It’s his Dad right?” Paul Pacheco said, “Pipe at the end of the
road not on other side of cul-de-sac I recommend we send him a letter let him
know we don’t have a problem with him putting a fire hydrant there but we
still want one on the other side the way we normally do it.” Sue Medeiros said, “I don’t have a problem
with that. Follow what we’ve done in
the past.” Paul Pacheco said, “I make
a motion Chuck write a letter to Tony with those concerns.” Commissioner, Edward Swartz said, “So
moved.” Paul Pacheco said, “All in
favor, ayes have it.” Edward Swartz
said, “Fire hydrant placed in the normal location as specified in our
previous ways that we have laid out for fire hydrants in other developments
in Town.” Paul Pacheco said, “If the
Chief wants to add one then we don’t have a problem with it.” Edward
Swartz said, “I make a motion to approve the warrants.” Sue Medeiros said, “Second.” Paul Pacheco said, “All in favor. Ayes have it.” Edward
Swartz said, “I make a motion to approve the minutes.” Sue Medeiros said, “Second.” Paul
Pacheco said, “All in favor. Ayes have
it.” Next
order of business was public input; Charles Roderigues
asked, “When are the next checks going out?”
Treasurer/Clerk, Carol Stevens said, “Tomorrow.” Edward Swartz said, “Assessors sent
additional names of other people that should’ve been on the first list.” Edward
Swartz said, “Revert back to new business tax rate hasn’t been set D.O.R.
gave fiscal year 2010 tax bill option to push date back I would make a motion
Dighton Water District accept Chapter 183 of the Acts of 2009 to extend the
time for mailing the actual tax bills for 2010.” Sue Medeiros said, “Second.” Paul Pacheco said, “All in favor, Ayes have
it.” Treatment/Distribution
Employee, Gary Willette said, “I’m interested in
going for flaggers training through the laborers wondering if you would
consider sending distribution guys.”
Paul Pacheco said, “We go by the Town’s regulations.” Edward Swartz said, “Take under advisement
take a look at it.” Sue Medeiros said,
“We’ll take a look at it.” Paul
Pacheco said, “Superintendent Report.”
There was a discussion of application fees and capital improvement
charges. Edward Swartz said, “Get
Swansea’s, Somerset’s, Seekonk’s, Berkley’s and similar size towns. We’ll review to see what surrounding
communities do.” Paul Pacheco said,
“Next meeting get us some rates.” Rate
wording was reviewed. Edward Swartz
said, “Put on the agenda for next month’s meeting we’ll adopt it.” Paul
Pacheco reviewed sign sheets for contractors, police, etc… Charles Cestodio
will purchase sign sheets. Elevated
THM’S were reviewed. A sheet from the
District’s Engineer Stephen DeFrancesco and Andrew
Reid was reviewed. (Copy attached.)
Edward Swartz said, “Chuck start implementing some of the topics that
you guys discussed with Steve and Andy.
I got a call from an engineer today a retired D.E.P. guy who wants to
meet with the Board he is aware of the THM issues, invite the guy to the next
meeting.” Truck
Plan; Edward Swartz said, “I make a motion to dispose of the trucks under
Mass General Law and we adopt it.”
Paul Pacheco said, “I step down and second. All in favor, Ayes have it.” Prime Operator, Dorian Jefferson said,
“Short on trucks need to purchase something.”
Edward Swartz said, “Place on agenda for when we discuss setting the
Annual District Meeting.” Dorian
Jefferson said, “Really getting cramped up here.” A discussion was held regarding the
building North Dighton Fire District put up.
Edward Swartz said, “Set up a sub-committee, Superintendent, one
member of Distribution team, as well as a Commissioner as a building
sub-committee comes back to full Board with what the needs are what the size
is and make recommendations of what we need.”
Paul Pacheco said, “Second. All
in favor, ayes have it.” Edward Swartz
said, “We’ll call it the Building Sub-Committee and a member of the Finance
Committee, Commissioner we’ll leave it in the Chairman’s hands. That way you can have meetings if you only
have one member of the Board and then they can report back to the Board.” Hydrant
markers were reviewed. Edward Swartz
asked, “Have we heard back from the young man that wanted to do that as part
of his Eagle Scout project?” Sue
Medeiros said, “He did get that approved, approved from here, Board of
Selectmen, power plant gave him $250.00 towards his project.” Paul Pacheco said, “We need the Sheriff’s
Department to come in first and paint the hydrants.” Edward Swartz said, “Give him a call and
mention direction they would like to take, the Board would be willing as part
of donation we will provide the paint for the fire hydrants if he wants to
make that part of his project.”
Charles Cestodio reviewed hydrant
markers. Charles Cestodio’s
recommendation was to get a head count of how many really necessitate putting
a marker on them and to get the better grade spring loaded which bolts right
on.” Edward Swartz said, “Just come
back to us.” Fire
Meter; Edward Swartz said, “Refer that to when we review the rates at next
month’s meeting.” Lease
Agreement; Edward Swartz said, “I make
a motion to send proposed lease agreement to Attorney Gay for his review and
place it on next month’s agenda for final approvement.” Sue Medeiros said, “Second.” Paul Pacheco said, “All in favor, ayes have
it.” Review
of boundaries being cleared. Charles
Cestodio said, “Bid sheets drafts next month out
for March bids to be approved April.” Letter
from Hayward, Boynton, and Williams reviewed. Prime
Operator, Dorian Jefferson said, “This is what I did I was asked to do this
the other day.” Paul Pacheco asked,
“For the guys in and out?” Sue
Medeiros asked, “Updated one from when we met last time, right?” Dorian Jefferson said, “No, no, this is a
sign in sheet for lunch time and stuff.”
Edward Swartz said, “I don’t know if this falls under New Business or
Old Business, under Contract Agreement Board adopt a policy that says all
employees of the Dighton Water District are required to take their half an
hour for lunch unless exception of an emergency. Emergency that will be implemented by the
Superintendent that’s all employees they are required to take their half an
hour lunch. Skipping lunch is not an
option unless it’s an emergency.” Sue
Medeiros said, “I think if you look under fair labor standard acts it’s a
law, it’s a law that says after six hours you have to take a lunch.” Edward Swartz said, “It is.” Paul Pacheco asked, “Are you going to
stagger lunches?” Edward Swartz said,
“It should be that way.” Sue Medeiros
said, “Don’t shut the place down stagger it.”
Edward Swartz said, “Carol takes her lunch at a different time than
Tina takes hers. Guys at distribution
they can take the same half an hour off.
It’s in the Superintendent’s hands to assign a lunch time to people,
don’t shut-down for half an hour, building open.” Paul Pacheco said, “Just want to get that
clarified if everybody is doing it at noon time and everybody decides to go
to d’angelo’s there would be nobody here.” Edward Swartz said, “Our job to set the
policy, policy is that all employees are required to take their half an hour
lunch there’s no quote working through lunch to get out early, no such thing
that’s the policy that I’d like to see adopted.” Sue Medeiros said, “I don’t have a problem
with that, a situation may arise if somebody has an appointment and they want
to leave half an hour earlier.” Edward
Swartz said, “That’s to work out with the Superintendent it’s not an everyday
we work through half an hour. If
somebody has to pick up a kid at school and it happens because somebody else
couldn’t do it or somebody’s away fine that one day not an everyday, not a
right to make up time by not taking lunch.
Not what it’s meant for.” Paul
Pacheco said, “Chuck has to be notified.”
Edward Swartz said, “Yeah, absolutely that’s what it says in the
Contract. I think that’s what it says
about leaving at three on Friday for Distribution that’s at the discretion of
the Superintendent.” Superintendent,
Charles Cestodio said, “So what you’re saying on
Fridays we have to take lunch and work to 3:30.” Edward Swartz said, “Contract spells it out
differently, yes, yes, yes.” Paul
Pacheco said, “Unless you find a reason they need to work through lunch.” Sue Medeiros asked, “Does everybody leave
at three?” Treatment/Distribution
Operator, Gary Willette said, “Distribution use to
leave at three it’s a contracted thing.”
Edward Swartz said, “Yeah, I think it says in the contract.” Gary Willette
said, “The other thing it says in the contract about lunches it doesn’t say
anything about asking anybody about anything it says you are entitled to a
half an hour lunch if the employee works through lunch he’s entitled to leave
a half an hour early.” Sue Medeiros
said, “Look at the legal aspect of that too.”
Paul Pacheco said, “What it says is the employee works through lunch
he can leave half an hour early, it doesn’t say the employee gets to make
that decision, that means if Chuck says we’re at a water break we’ve got to
work through lunch you can go half an hour early it doesn’t mean at 3:00 all
of a sudden people start disappearing and telling Chuck I worked through
lunch today.” Gary Willette
said, “I understand you should be told but if you read the contract that’s
what it says.” Paul Pacheco said, “If
the employee works through lunch, employee can’t work through lunch unless he
(Chuck) says so.” Charles Cestodio said, “A certain few people that are working
here, they are actually screwing everybody else.” Edward Swartz said, “Yeah, yeah, you know
what though everybody’s going to be treated fairly, everybody’s taking a half
an hour lunch, including they can’t use the half an hour to make up for the
time of the hours that it says in the contract for them to get out early on
Friday, it covers everybody, nobody’s been singled out, everybody’s under the
same scenario I said this a year and a half ago lunch is lunch you take lunch
your schedule says 7-4:30 it’s eight hours of work half an hour for
lunch.” Paul Pacheco said, “Three
thirty.” Sue Medeiros said, “It
shouldn’t matter to us what time that lunch is.” Edward Swartz said, “It does, it does, I
don’t want people now saying I can take my lunch at 3:00 I don’t want that
left open to interpretation fair to everyone, everyone’s taking a half an
hour lunch and it’s not used as make-up time for anybody. This is the policy of the Board of
Commissioners people will take their half an hour lunch.” Gary Willette
said, “It’s in black and white.”
Edward Swartz said, “Don’t like it file a grievance we’ll settle it
through the Union.” Paul Pacheco
asked, “Is there a second?” Sue
Medeiros said, “I second, I think it’s the law under fair labor standard
acts.” Paul Pacheco said, “I agree
Gary exactly like you said, it says if the employee works through lunch, but
it doesn’t say the employee is going decide whether he works or not.” Edward Swartz said, “I want to get every
hour that people are suppose to work, if that’s what we’re paying for, people
make a good pay here I want every hour they’re suppose to work.” Paul Pacheco said, “Right.” Edward Swartz said, “If someone is
scheduled to work thirty-seven hours they put thirty-seven hours worth of
work in. Mine’s not directed at
anybody it’s directed at everybody, not any one person it’s everybody.” Gary Willette
read the paragraph from the Union Contract to everyone. He said, “I’m not trying to change
anybody’s mind I just want to read it out.”
Edward Swartz said, “Meeting with Paul Coffey here he said working
conditions and work times are at the be heist of
what is necessary to operate the Water District. Our policy is in order to most efficiently
operate the Water District is you take a half an hour lunch, nobody leaves
half an hour early or uses their lunch time to make-up time by the premise as
my motion as a Commissioner and asking the Commissioners to support.” Paul Pacheco said, “Already been
seconded.” Sue Medeiros said,
“Yeah.” Edward Swartz said, “That’s
all I have.” Paul Pacheco asked, “Have
you got anything?” Sue Medeiros said,
“I asked Carol I’d like to get a copy of the Contract.” Treasurer/Clerk, Carol Stevens said, “I’ll
get one to her.” Edward
Swartz said, “Mentioned preparing budgets realizing preparation of budgets
just in case we don’t have a contract signed those budgets need to be
prepared at this year’s salary rates you can’t put in and present a budget
that has any increases in it when contract negotiations are open by law you
can’t present a budget to the Commissioners and Finance Committee that have
increases that haven’t been approved.”
Sue Medeiros said, “As soon as we start reviewing budgets let’s get the Finance Committee in here so
we don’t run into the problem of last year where they met only an hour or two
before the District meeting.” Edward
Swartz said, “Our meeting is scheduled for May. Can you have a preliminary budget presented
to us by the end of February? Just a
preliminary one a starting point.
Review our first meeting March.” Charles
Cestodio reviewed a subdivision on Tremont St. and Chace Ave. Charles
Cestodio mentioned the contractor could provide an
emergency connection tie in for Dighton Water District and North Dighton Fire
District. Charles
Cestodio reviewed a letter to the Fire Chief
regarding Pleasant St. Edward
Swartz said, “I make a motion to adjourn.”
Sue Medeiros said, “Second.”
Paul Pacheco said, “All in favor, ayes have it.” Meeting adjourned at 8:10 P.M. Respectfully
Submitted, Carol
A. Stevens District
Clerk Those
in Attendance: Paul
Pacheco Sue
Medeiros Edward
Swartz Paul
Joly Charles
Roderigues Charles
Cestodio Jr. Carol A. Stevens Dorian Jefferson ______________________ _____________________ _____________________ |