The most significant event of the meeting was the reorganization of the Sewer Commission leadership. Brett Ramsden led the commission in nominating and appointing Mike Mackin as the new chair. Mackin, acknowledging the challenges ahead, expressed gratitude for the support from staff and fellow commissioners.

In addition to appointing Mackin, the commission also addressed the role of Clerk. Jane Ranley, who had been performing many clerical duties, was discussed, but ultimately, Scott Doll was nominated and appointed as Clerk. Ramsden continued as vice-chair.

One of the topics was the ongoing issue of customer billing discrepancies. The commission has received numerous inquiries from over a thousand customers regarding inconsistencies in their sewer bills. This influx of concerns has prompted a need for further investigation into these accounts. The commission emphasized the importance of customer service in resolving these billing issues and acknowledged the complexity involved in managing the billing software.

Another discussion revolved around the business manager position, which has remained vacant following the departure of the previous manager, Paula Bertram. Bill Bernard provided historical context, highlighting the critical role of the business manager in overseeing billing and customer interactions. The commission is working on filling this position, but progress has been delayed due to the human resources director’s illness. The creation of a comprehensive manual by Bertram aims to ease the transition for any future employee by detailing the complexities of the job.

The commission also discussed the status of the assistant to the business manager position, deciding to postpone hiring until a new business manager is appointed. This decision allows the incoming manager to have a say in selecting their assistant.

Infrastructure repairs were another major focus of the meeting. The commission reviewed bids for manhole repairs, funded by a $100,000 allocation from federal OPA money aimed at addressing infiltration and inflow (I&I) issues. These repairs involve replacing cracked frames and covers and installing cementitious linings in certain manholes. Identifying and tracking I&I sources is challenging, as it requires inspecting thousands of manholes. The commission has been dealing with I&I for an extended period, recognizing it as a persistent issue.

A device intended to monitor water flow in manholes was discussed, though it has not functioned as expected. Effective data collection is hoped to pinpoint problem areas within the sewer system, despite weather-related variables complicating the analysis. The commission is attempting to correlate customer water usage with actual inflow to gauge the impact of their repairs.

The meeting also covered the necessity of significant repairs at a pump station on Massachusetts Avenue. The station requires extensive work, including digging, cutting, and inserting a new pipe section, necessitating a temporary shutdown of the pump station. The repair, estimated at $70,000, will be conducted overnight to minimize disruption, with notifications to customers issued via Facebook. Pumper trucks, costing an additional $2,000 to $3,000, will manage the flow during the shutdown. The commission emphasized the urgency of addressing the high-pressure line to avoid potential emergency situations, which would incur higher costs and complications.

Further repairs were discussed for suction lines at another pump station, with an estimated cost of $64,000. These repairs will take longer, potentially up to two weeks, and will require at least one pumper truck on standby. Both repair projects were approved unanimously by the commission.

The fiscal year 2024 budget update was another topic. Despite initial concerns, revenues ultimately surpassed spending, largely due to higher-than-expected betterment and connection fees from new customers. This positive outcome has allowed the commission to plan adequately for capital repairs and set aside funds to avoid financial strain from emergency repairs.

The commission also touched on the management of grease trap permits, which should have been renewed in April. A suggestion was made to create a grace period for renewals to streamline the process and align better with regulations. This topic will be included in the upcoming agenda for further discussion.