1999-08-08Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board
50 Arlington Avenue
Beverly, Massachusetts 01915
Minutes of Meeting
August 8, 1999
The meeting was called to order at 10:12 A.M. Present were Chairman Fletcher, Members Bornstein
and Killilea, Superintendent Knowlton, Attorney Darling and Linda Vaughan, Secretary.
Attending the meeting were David Lang, Chairman, and Pat Grimes, member, of the Beverly
Conservation Commission, Beverly residents, Catherine Davis, Toni Musante, Renee M. Mary, Philip
Dunklebarger and Dr. MAry Rodrick. Mike Melin from the Beverly Citizen and Marc Fortier from the
Salem Evening News were also present.
Current Expense warrant#25, Payroll warrant #25, and MMDT Fund Account warrant #27 and Fund
account warrant #10, were signed. No special accounts were presented for signature.
Reports from Attorney Darling:
Attorney Darling advised the Board that in order to prepare for the next DEP review of the Board's
Water Withdrawal Permit, water demand projections for the two cities must be reviewed and revised
as needed. Camp Dresser & McKee, Inc. under its contract with the Board, will be contacting each
of the members next week to begin the process. Mr. Knowlton will send a letter to each member that
will describe the various catagories of information needed.
Counsel reported that he had received a report from Sanford Ecological Services Inc. concerning
testing of the soils outside of the berm surrounding the residuals drying area. The results showed
elevated levels of aluminum and some other metals. These levels were expected given the use of
the area in earlier years for the deposition of residuals from the treatment process. A TCLP analysis,
however, showed that the metals were not in a form that is leaching into the environment. Tests of
the water in Wenham Lake confirmed this. Those tests showed undetectable or very Iow metal
levels, well below all applicable standards for drinking water. He suggested that since the Board had
not yet seen the report that the members review it as soon as possible so that it can be released to
the public.
On a motion by Mr. Killilea, seconded by Mr. Bornstein, all in favor, it was voted that the Board
members will review the report promptly so that it can be released to the public as soon as possible.
A request was made by Mr.Lang to release the lab results at once. Mr. Fletcher replied that the
Board would release all the information as soon as possible.
Report on Quality and Quantity:
Mr. Knowlton reported that water quality in the two cities remains good with the usual Iower chlorine
residuals in the Iow flow areas. Water quantity remains adequate for this time of year. Water is
being removed from storage in Putnamville Reservoir to augment Wenham Lake. Storage volumes
will be carefully monitored if the present drought conditions continue, particularly since the Board is
restricted from pumping from the Ipswich River in the fall even if water levels go up.
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New Business:
Board members engaged in a short discussion with the conservation commission members and other
attendees regarding the Vitale site. David Lang stated that the City of Beverly has asked for the
release of the Vitale land back to the city.
Mr. Killilea brought fmwmd the issue of a study of the drainage In the area of the airport that had
been discussed at the last meeting. There was discussion and there was a consensus that since
development in that area appears to be going ahead, it would be beneficial to the Board to determine
the feasibility of diverting some or all of the drainage in the area from the watershed of Wenham
Lake as well as the effect of such a diversion on the volume of water now flowing to the Lake.
On a motion by Mr. Killilea, seconded by Mr. Bornstein, all in favor, it was voted to authorize the
Superintendent to retain the services of Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc. who did a previous
study of the area for the Board, to perform a study of the feasibility of, and effects on the water
supply of diverting to the Bass River some portion of the surface drainage from the airport area that
currently drains to Wenham Lake. Further, that the costs of such study should not exceed
$15,000.00 and should be performed subject to a written agreement in the form as approved by
General Counsel.
Mr. Bornstein discussed the new Vortex Separator the City of Salem installed at Cleveland Rd. Ext.
It was purchased with a $80,000 grant to the city from Coastal Zone Management and should collect
99% of the sand and sediment that washes down from Loring Avenue.
The next meeting of the Salem and Beverly Water Supply Board will be on Tuesday,
September 7, 1999 at 10:00 AM.
Having no more business to discuss, the Board adjourned at 10:48 AM on a motion by Mr. Bornstein,
second, Mr. Killilea, all in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda J. Vaughan
Secretary
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