Dighton Water District

192 Williams St.

No. Dighton, Ma 02764

 

 

 

Sue Medeiros

Paul Joly

Paul Pacheco

 

COMMISSIONERS

 

Carol A. Stevens

TREASURER

 

 

June 10, 2010

 

A meeting of the Dighton Water District Commissioners was held at the District office at 5:00 P.M.  Chairman of the Board, Sue Medeiros called the meeting to order. 

 

Sue Medeiros said, “I make a motion to go into executive session for contract negotiations.”  Clerk of the Board of Commissioners, Paul Joly said, “Second.”  Sue Medeiros said, “All in favor, ayes have it.”  In executive session were Sue Medeiros, Paul Joly and Commissioner, Paul Pacheco.  Commissioners would have the responsibility of the minutes for the executive session.

 

Executive session ended at 6:20P.M. then went into regular session.

 

Paul Pacheco said, “I make a motion to re-appoint Carol Stevens as Treasurer/Clerk.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.”  Sue Medeiros said, “All in favor, ayes have it.”

 

Paul Pacheco said, “I make a motion to re-appoint Charles Cestodio as Superintendent.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.”  Sue Medeiros said, “All in favor, ayes have it.”

 

Next order of Business was Marc Owen from Aecom with an update for the Board.  A discussion was held.

 

Sue Medeiros said, “Accountant look at different avenues, someone maybe not an accountant, QuickBooks knowledge, recording D.O.R. reports, certify free cash, and knowledge of payroll figures.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Out to bid, CPA.”  Sue Medeiros said, “CPA background, knowledge in Municipal Finance, work with D.O.R.”  Paul Joly said, “Advertise in the newspaper, second week in July all bids in.”  Paul Pacheco said, “ Make a motion specify CPA get as many bids as we possibly can.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.” 

 

Paul Pacheco said, “The first thing we should do, Board needs to make a determination radius or frontage.  Have to do radius.”   Linda Cestodio said, “I have a question Kara Ferry, how are you going to get water to her house if she ever has a fire.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Two or three pumpers, run the line house catches on fire, Fire Department will show up they will put water on it from the nearest hydrant their not going to not show up.”  Sue Medeiros said, “The Fire Chief did come in and say he would absolutely have no problem to get to it.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Whether or not a person pays the tax or they don’t pay they’re going to show up and they’re going to get the water from the same source.”  Sue Medeiros said, “We’re going on the advice of the Fire Chief he should know his job.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Radius or frontage, how the service is going to get from the Fire Department we have no control over that.”  Paul Joly said, “He’s got the hose, the pumper to tie into that.”  Paul Pacheco said, “He’s got the capability he can take care of any house in this Town of Dighton.”  Sue Medeiros said, “My opinion is it’s been radius all these years.”  Paul Joly said, “Stick to radius.”  Paul Pacheco said, “I make a motion to go off of radius to determine it.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.”  Sue Medeiros said, “All in favor, ayes have it.”  Kara Ferry’s property was reviewed and measured for radius within two thousand feet, measured at 1508.”  Paul Pacheco said, “We didn’t make the rules how taxes were going to be taxed, on people as far as values of their houses, values of their cars, standard taxation going on for hundred years we’re never going to fix that.”  Charles Roderigues said, “Eddie Swartz talking about a decrease in his expensive house mine didn’t go down.”  Sue Medeiros said, “He had a decrease because the value of his house went down.”  Paul Pacheco said, “One hundred taxpayers and you want to cut that down now we’ve got fifty, fifty people that are going to pay the same price to operate this place.”  Sue Medeiros said, “So they’re going to be doubled.”  Paul Pacheco said, “To look out for the taxpayers is to keep the tax base as big as possible everybody shares the burden, the people might not get the water from us they’re still getting the service, they’re still getting the fire rating from the Town, they’re still getting water when their house catches on fire.”  Linda Cestodio said, “We’re going to get it no matter what Paul, whether I’m in the District or out of the District already part of our taxes.”  Paul Pacheco said, “I make a motion to deny Ferry.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.”  Sue Medeiros said, “All in favor, ayes have it.”  Paul Pacheco said, “The next one I’ll sit back conflict of interest.”  Sue Medeiros said, “Everett Pacheco.”  Everett Pacheco’s property was reviewed.  Prime Operator, Dorian Jefferson said, “Radius, hydrant off new development way up in the woods.”  Charles Cestodio said, “He’s a thousand feet from a hydrant maybe a little over.”  Sue Medeiros said, “I’ll step down and make a motion to deny the abatement based on 1000 feet is within the 2000 foot radius.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.”  Sue Medeiros said, “All in favor, ayes have it.”  Sue Medeiros said, “Reason being within the 2000 foot radius if the gentleman wants someone from the Water District will go up and measure it with him.”

 

Sue Medeiros said, “June 29th meeting, rules and regulations put on the agenda to go over rules and regulations.”  Paul Pacheco and Paul Joly agreed.

 

Carol Stevens mentioned Stonegate Landing came in and paid $6,000 fees on two houses paid two applications and asked if they owed an additional $2000 on a previous home which they will pay.”  Board voted to have them come in and pay the $2,000.”

 

Lin’s Propane was next on the agenda.   Tim Johnson said, “Water District $23,000 tie into water main Town said we have to sprinkle the building that we brought up for boccu dollars to tie into that just for the right to tie into that basically for fire protection if we had known six or seven years ago we had to sprinkle the building that would’ve been the time we still have to pay physically bring it across, me and my brother felt kind of like a slap paid for whole pipe up the street paid through the nose for it.”  Paul Joly asked, “Do you want to set up some sort of trust?”  Sue Medeiros said, “I’m confused when you first built the building they didn’t tell you you need to put a sprinkler system in there.”  Charles Cestodio said, “You could have put a well.”  Tim Johnson said, “That’s my point we spent all the money we did it because we thought it would be a public service to do it.”  Carol Stevens said, “Actually when you went for a building permit you said you were getting a well.”  Tim Johnson said, “Right.”  Charles Cestodio said, “It was supposed to have been a well, well’s what caused all the …..”   Tim Johnson said, “Personally made the decision that I’d like to have a fire hydrant in front and we changed that.”  Carol Stevens said, “You never notified us.”  Charles Cestodio said, “That’s what caused all the trouble up here.”  Tim Johnson asked, “What’s the problem?”  Charles Cestodio said, “You had a contractor up there you can ask him he went up there I sent him up there.”  Tim Johnson said, “That’s not our fault.”  Charles Cestodio said, “I understand that but that’s what caused it.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Let’s stick to tonight’s subject.”  Tim Johnson said, “All I’m saying we were going to put a well in I decided that it would be better to bring the Town water up safety thing.”  Charles Cestodio said, “We own the pipe, the only fees you paid at that time we sold you 160 feet of 8 inch pipe they were short we had it at the garage.”  Invoice was reviewed.  Charles Cestodio said, “Didn’t pay tapping fees, connection fees that we have now two inch line $1200.00 fees went into effect 1996.”  Paul Pacheco said, “I don’t even see why they ever got charged $1200.00.”  Sue Medeiros said, “I think you had to I paid $600.00 when I built my house.”  Tim Johnson said, “Three quarters of a mile Smith St. to Cedar one hydrant beyond our place, now we’re just saying  we paid for all that paid for all the hydrants did everything the way we thought we were supposed to do it now Town says you should really have sprinklers in your building we’ll work with you, $150,000 to sprinkle the building , now you want $23,000 just for the right to tie into your pipe that we physically paid for and had installed at our cost.  Charles Cestodio said, “Connection fee $3,000 per inch putting in a six inch line.”  Tim Johnson said, “We’re going to spend by the time we’re done without this $23,000, $200,000 grand just in case this building catches on fire.  I don’t know how much water we could possibly use if it even went off if it did our insurance company will pay for the whole water deal anyways.”  Paul Pacheco asked, “What would you like to see happen?”  Tim Johnson said, “I would like to see $23,000 have a right to tie in we have no problem paying for the pipe to bring it in but I think a reasonable number I mean for fire protection I would think people would want us to have fire protection I don’t understand put yourself in our shoes spent a fortune over there trying to run a clean business actually even spending more money to appease the neighbors every time we turn around somebody wants more and more money well the well is running drive.  Somebody says they want $23,000 to tie into a pipe that we thought we were doing the right thing by bringing up almost ¾ of a mile to our place.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Had they never brought the lineup they wouldn’t have been able to do it anyways.”  Paul Joly said, “Had they known they would’ve put the line in before too.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Right they would’ve done it back then had they known that was before the fees I personally think it would be alright with make an exception for the fact that it didn’t get negotiated before.”  Sue Medeiros said, “When did the fees go into effect?  I don’t know enough about it I’d like to know when the fees went into effect.”  Carol Stevens said, “This was supposed to go all the way to the end of Purchase St. when they got in a match they ended it so it didn’t go all the way.”  Tim Johnson said, “News to me.”  Paul Joly asked, “Do you want to go over this a little more you got everything clear in your head?”  Sue Medeiros asked, “Are you on a deadline?”  Tim Johnson said, “It’s up to the Fire Chief as soon as he says you’ve got to turn it on we’ve got to do something.”  Paul Pacheco said, “I talked to Tony, Tony wanted us to have it settled by the end of June.”  Sue Medeiros said, “Table this until the June 29th meeting.”  Paul Joly said, “At the next meeting we’ll have a decision.”  Sue Medeiros asked, “Is that okay table this till June 29th?  We’re meeting on the 16th for something else we’ll go over this.”  Tim Johnson said, “I want to reiterate that regardless of the politics of who put that line in we paid through the nose to get that line in there.  The Town did not require us in our plan they said we did not need sprinklers in that building now we need those sprinklers somebody says we want $23,000 not looking for something for nothing we just put a alarm system in for $23,000.”  Sue Medeiros said, “I ask that you give us till the 29th if the Fire Chief gives you a hard time which I doubt he will…”  Paul Pacheco said, “I talked to Tony he said he’d like to see us solve it by the end of June.”  Sue Medeiros said, “Alright and we will come to the meeting on the 29th we’ll discuss it when we meet on the 16th and we’ll give you a decision then.  I appreciate you coming in we’ll take that under advisement, Carol put that on the 29th meeting.” 

 

Sue Medeiros said, “Bristol County Aggie School put that on for the July meeting.”  Sue Medeiros said, “I maybe on vacation I will let you know.” 

 

Finance Committee was the next order of business.  Finance Committee discussed the open positions and four people interested in filling them, Linda Cestodio, Ronald Whitmore, Karen O’Connor, and Robert MacNamara.  Sue Medeiros said, “We have to cover all bases to avoid people saying we didn’t know there was an opening.”  A discussion was held.  Sue Medeiros said, “Meeting on the 29th we’ll put you back on the agenda.  Is there a motion to get something in the paper or on cable?”  Paul Pacheco said, “I make a motion we advertise in the paper or cable.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.”  Sue Medeiros said, “All in favor, ayes have it.” 

 

Sue Medeiros said, “Announcements.”  Paul Joly said, “We have problems here we’re meeting with the Planning Board June 16th.  Subdivisions here are not being followed through with all the department head signatures, input from some of the department heads is not getting incorporated in the definitive plan and planning board is signing plans without this information being put together, meet with them at 7.”  Sue Medeiros said, “Open meeting if anybody wants to attend.  Superintendent’s report.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Tina got back to me Sue I don’t think you were here me and Paul had discussed and I asked Tina to get a hold of Jason about the website and make a e-mail address for the Commissioners at Dighton Water District.com when an e-mail gets sent to that it just blasts it off to the three of us.”  Paul Joly said, “We want to let the people in the District know they’ve got access.  Did you get the specs on the sign yet Paul?”  Paul Pacheco said, “No, I’ll have that for the 29th.”  Paul Joly said, “I’d like to see if I can get that earlier so I can get up to the school before it closes.  Goals- sign for entrance, portable sign on 138 advising people of meetings at the District and election, buy our own put it up two weeks prior and two days later take it down.”  Charles Cestodio said, “We talked about actually getting a cheap trailer from home depot and mounting it on there permanently hook it up to the pickup.”  Paul Joly said, “Next-e-mail for contacting Commissioners via the website, accounting and payroll services going out to bid.  I don’t think it’s ever been done before that’s a first hopefully they’ll come back with substantial savings.”  Sue Medeiros said, “John Treacy said $350 for an appraisal he was in the middle of a meeting he’ll get back to either you or me Carol he knew the sewer department was interested in it.”  Paul Joly said, “I talked to the Selectmen there is a high interest we can do a lease deal.”  Sue Medeiros said, “John Treacy’s going to give us an amount.”  Paul Joly said, “Put that together bring it down they’re ready to move anytime they need it bad set up a half way decent lease then that will give us a chance to maybe look at another building and have that lease money to cover the expense of another building.  Also look at one or two lightweight pickup trucks four or six cylinder.”  Sue Medeiros said, “Add new well sources.”  Paul Joly said, “I’ll come in tomorrow morning sometime and rewrite this thing, open communication with the Town Boards.”

 

Charles Cestodio reviewed his report (copy attached).

 

When Charles Cestodio reached the section To Inform Roofs; Board voted to have Charles Cestodio check to see if the bidder would honor the bid and move forward with the roofs.”

 

When Charles Cestodio reached the section Elevated THMS; a discussion was held on the current THMS that were taken.  Sue Medeiros said, “They are not off our radar we can’t do anything until February see what she comes in at.”

 

Charles Cestodio mentioned he needed to purchase safety slings and cut off saw blades and he had three quotes.  Charles Cestodio mentioned meters were read.  Charles Cestodio said, “Price to fix the heads is $78.67 the bid for this year is $91.00 to replace the whole meter.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Go for the whole thing.”  Paul Joly and Sue Medeiros agreed. 

 

Charles Cestodio mentioned there was a chemical handling class in Easton on 6/24 and the class was free.  Charles Cestodio mentioned he would like to send someone from the plant.

 

Linda Cestodio said, “You guys charge $6,000 for a tie-in.”  Paul Pacheco said, “That’s for a developer.”  Linda Cestodio said, “Personal for a home.”  Sue Medeiros said, “$600.00 I paid application $600.00.”  Linda Cestodio asked, “How do you get water to your house?”  Charles Cestodio said, “We install from street to property line you would pick it up from that point.”  Linda Cestodio asked, “Street to property line is there a charge for that.”  Charles Cestodio said, “Yes.”

 

Paul Joly said, “Paul you’re going to get letters for those signs at the pumping stations.”  Paul Pacheco said, “Yeah, I’ve just got to see what they need.”

 

Sue Medeiros said, “We need to address the boundaries.”

 

Paul Pacheco said, “I make a motion we approve the warrants.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.”  Sue Medeiros said, “All in favor, ayes have it.” 

 

Paul Pacheco said, “I make a motion to approve the minutes.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.”  Sue Medeiros said, “All in favor, ayes have it.”  Minutes and warrants were signed.

 

Sue Medeiros said, “We are going to take a brief recess we’re not going to come back into open session after executive session we’ll adjourn after that step down and make that a motion.”  Paul Joly said, “Second.”

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol A. Stevens

District Clerk 

 

 

Those in Attendance:

 

Sue Medeiros

Paul Joly

Paul Pacheco

Charles Roderigues

Linda Cestodio

Karen O’Connor

Ronald Whitmore

The Johnsons

Marc Owen

 

 

Charles Cestodio Jr.          Carol A. Stevens         Dorian Jefferson

 

                                                     

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