Meeting Minutes
PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
December 20, 2017
Chairman Harris opened the public hearing at 7:00 pm. Notice of the hearing was posted at the Town Office and Post Office and a postcard was mailed to every residence.
The purpose of this meeting, being held at the Marlborough School, was to review the asset management plan for the Marlborough municipal water system, as prepared by Underwood Engineers. This is one of the grant requirements.
Also present: Selectmen Mrs. Paight and Ms. Pitt, Ellen Smith, Town Administrator, Tony Cavaliere, Water Superintendent, representatives from Underwood Engineers and NHDES as well as members of the public. Approximately 20 people in total were in attendance.
The meeting began with an introduction of the Town’s new Water Superintendent and a brief synopsis of his education and work history. Underwood Engineers projected a power point presentation of the study they produced. The first step in addressing the issues with the water infrastructure in Town was to identify what the Town has for facilities and components as well as the condition, estimated age and replacement cost for each item. Marlborough has approximately 6 miles of buried pipeline (32,000 feet), three wells (2 supply wells and one backup well), one storage tank and a single river crossing of the main supply line.
Underwood Engineers provided some history of municipal water systems in general. In the 1950’s and 1960’s towns all over the state and country were heavily infused with federal funds to provide municipal water. Many communities took advantage of this funding and built the initial infrastructure and set user fees to cover the annual operating costs of the system but did not save any money to cover replacement costs. As the federal funding started to disappear, the costs of repairing the system have fallen to the local communities.
The first components of the Town system were put into service in 1951. In addition to the age of the components there is concern for the numerous feet of 2 inch galvanized pipe that needs attention as well as the pipe used for the river crossing. The age of the storage tank is also a concern.
The Town of Marlborough has been preapproved for a $ 1.25 million state revolving fund loan, available until June 30, 2018. The challenge is to figure out what needs to be done first, how it will get done, how much will it actually cost and how will it be paid for. All of these decisions will need to be carefully investigated before being presented at Town Meeting. Several members in attendance asked questions about the proposed work and loan.
The Board will look into making the Underwood Engineer’s report available so the public can have access.
Chairman Harris asked if there were any comments or questions. Noting that there were none she moved to close the public hearing at 8:35 pm, Ms. Pitt seconded, motion passed unanimously.
Submitted by
Ellen Smith
Town Administrator