Published on November 5, 2019 edition.
By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — The Department of Public Works is considering doing a water rate study and is currently working on putting together a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit bids from engineering firms to conduct the study.
DPW Director Joseph Conway told the Advisory Board of Public Works last night that the idea of doing a water rate study was floated several years ago. But with new leadership in the department, he thought this might be an opportune time to have a fresh set of eyes take a look at the rates and the various elements that go into setting them.
Conway estimated the cost of such a study would fall in the range of $30,000 to $40,000, which the Water Division budget could probably handle. If proposals came in significantly higher, he added, it might have to go to Town Meeting for funding.
A water rate study would use historical data to come up with projected water consumption, expenditures, anticipated capital improvement projects, debt service and revenues, then develop rates that meet the net revenue requirements.
Conway said that one challenge would be addressing decades of deferred maintenance.
Board member Elena Proakis Ellis, who is the City Engineer in Melrose, said that Melrose did a similar study a few years ago. She said that the firm that Melrose hired created a model that takes into account all operating costs, including debt, cost projections, MWRA assessments and customer data. The model then projects forward what yearly revenue should be and what the rates need to be to be to meet revenue needs.
She said that in Melrose, the study had the effect of stabilizing rates.
Conway said that conducting a water rate study would be “an exercise worth doing.”
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A betterment project for Walton Lane that was to appear on the November Town Meeting warrant will now be postponed until the spring.
Conway said that under the abutters’ signed agreement, the $91,000 would be paid back to the town by equal shares assessed to the 17 abutters. But Conway said Town Counsel Thomas Mullen has pointed out that under the town’s current bylaws, the cost must be divided based on frontage. He said that an article on the spring Annual Town Meeting could change the bylaw provisions.
Conway said that the abutters have been made aware of the postponement of the Town Meeting vote. The timetable for construction will not change as the funds wouldn’t be available until July 1, 2020 anyway.
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Conway told the board that National Grid has agreed to provide the town with $1,200 for four trees to replace two trees it had to remove on Broadway as part of its Woburn to Wakefield 345 kV electric transmission line project. Conway said that the four new trees will be planted in the general area of the removed trees.
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The board discussed ways to increase publicity and awareness around recycling, especially what materials can and cannot be recycled. Conway indicated that with shrinking markets for recycled materials, contractors and towns need to be more careful to avoid contamination.
