Water Commissioners Joseph Popelarczyk, Ronald Cole and Matthew Barnes, and DPW Director David Billips. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD – Water Commissioners agreed Tuesday to keep the water restriction until at least the temporary treatment on Well 2 comes online, and to reconsider the issue at the next meeting. Commissioners also voted to set a fee schedule for failure to respond to the Water Department after six contacts to make an appointment to replace water meters.
Department of Public Works Systems Engineer Heather Stayton said the department is under contract with a contractor for the meter replacement program and letters will be going out to residents. “If someone doesn’t respond to change out their meter; we would still have to continue to send out meter readers by hand,” Stayton said, and suggested that a quarterly fee for having to send someone out to hand read meter usage be implemented. The new meters are wireless, and will be read at a receiving station.
DPW Office Manager Hannah Larkham said that Southwick, which has the same meter program bills twice a year, and started the fine for non-contact at $25, and has been doubling the fee in subsequent bills. They are now up to $100, Larkham said, adding that wouldn’t work for Westfield, which bills every month.
DPW Director David Billips suggested implementing a fine of $25 per quarter, to increase to $50 per quarter after one year. He said the meters will be replaced over the next year and a half. The contract requires three contacts be made by phone to residents, and three by mail, before any fine would be assessed. Stayton said residents would be notified in plenty of time in advance before their meters would be scheduled to be replaced.
“You can only have so much time that the contractor is involved,” said DPW Assistant Director Francis Cain. He said the meter swap out only takes 25 to 30 minutes.
A vote was taken and passed to charge a $25 quarterly fee for failure to make an appointment to replace meters; to go up to $50 quarterly the second year.
DPW officials also updated the commissioners on the status of the $13 million water filtration bond projects. Cain said they have broken ground for the permanent structure for Wells 7 and 8 and have had the lot cleared of trees. He said the land clearing developer is coming on Wednesday, and will level out the 80 by 100 foot site later this week and remove stumps.
In response to a question by Commissioner Joseph Popelarczyk, the four filtration vessels on the site will be similar to the size of the one on Well 2.
The Well 2 temporary filtration system is being installed near the intersection of Union St., Springdale Rd. and Papermill Rd. in Westfield. (WNG file photo)
Cain also said the department is planning to erect a temporary wooden frame and tension cloth to protect and wrap the vessel at Well 2 over the winter. Cain said the frame would have a pitched roof with material over it. They also plan to install some heating, probably propane.
Stayton said the Department of Environmental Protection is also coming to the Well 2 site this week for an overall view. They will begin pressurizing and chlorinating the well, then let it sit for a day before it gets flushed. The carbon filters will arrive next week. She also said that Wells 1 and 2 are scheduled to be tested by the DEP this month.
Billips said the estimated completion date for Wells 7 and 8 is May, 2019. He also said the price went up, partly due to tariffs. Following the meeting, Billips said the price increased by about $150,000. He also said the timing will depend on whether the winter is mild enough to work through.
Billips said they met with the design company for the E. Mountain water tank last week, and held a site evaluation. Stayton added that they have a 50% design drawing. “As soon as we can move on that, we will,” she said, adding they are ready to build and bid before the 2019 construction season.
Billips said the price may also be a consideration due to steel tariffs.
