12/19/2024 SEWER COMMISSION Minutes

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07 Town of Mashpee Sewer Commission sw 16 Great Neck Road North Mashpee, MA 02649 Meeting Minutes of the Mashpee Sewer Commission Thursday, December 19, 2024; 2:00 PM Mashpee Town Hall -Wacluoit Meeting Room 16 Great Neck Road North, Mashpee, MA 02649 *In-person and televised meeting* Present: Chair, Meredith Harris; Vice Chair, Alfred Towle; Clerk, Catherine Castaneda (via Zoom); Commissioners Phyllis Sprout, Mohan Nair, and Joseph Lyons; and Wastewater Superintendent,Jared Meader Chair, Meredith Harris called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. in open session. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by a moment of silence. Minutes The Chair requested any changes or comments to the minutes of December 5, 2024. Ms. Sprout motioned to approve the minutes as submitted. Motion seconded by Mr.Towle. Motion passed by unanimous consent. Public Hearing At 2:05 pm, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 40A Section 11,the Chair opened the Public Hearing to set sewer user rates and fees. She reminded everyone that it is required by the State for the Commission to set these rates for public use. The Chair then called upon Mr. Meader to begin his presentation on the rate study findings and the proposed rates. Mr. Meader began by stating there would be a base rate ($200.00 per quarter)that everyone would pay regardless of usage and that's considered Tier 1. He went on to say that average homeowner in Mashpee uses 13,000 gallons per quarter and therefore Tier 1 would be 0 to 15,000 gallons. The more water residents use,the more their bill will increase. Commissioner Nair asked about if someone had an irrigation system. Mr. Meader stated that if a resident is on Town Water,they're not allowed to have an irrigation system per the Town's bylaw. If a resident is on well water,they will be required to put in a meter so that reads can be completed by the Department of Wastewater Management. The meter would be added after the irrigation system and there will need to be an isolation valve. Mr. Meader then reviewed rates from other Cape and Eastern Massachusetts Towns and stated that the$200 proposed base quarterly rate is an average amongst all of them. He stated that the rate should be reviewed annually to determine if the rate should be increased or decreased. Usage Rates Start 0 15,001 20,001 40,001 End 15,000 20,000 40,000 + Rate $ 200.00 $ 15.00 $ 20.00 30.00 Tier 1 is a minimum charge,allowing up to the flow amount shown. Tiers 2 and up are billed at 1,000 gallon increments within tiers.