2. Roll Call

3. Approval of Minutes - February 28, 2001

4. Special Business Item - Members of Colchester Town Staff to be in Attendance

a. Review Completed Work Done by the Water Quality Committee
b. Town Staff to Briefly Summarize their Roles/Connections to Water Quality Matters
c. Define Working Relationship between Water Quality Committee and Staff

5. Additional Business

6. Set Next Meeting Date and Meeting Location

7. Adjournment

*Meeting was held at the Town Offices

1. Call Meeting to Order

Mr. Romond called the meeting to order at 2:12 p.m.

2. Roll Call

Present: Members: Bill Romond, Pat Kearney, Steve Kruger, Moe Germain, and Betty Carvellas
Absent: Karen Bates & John Nichols
Also Present: Al Voegele, Genie Soboslai, Bryan Osborne, Rocco Graziano

3. Approval of Minutes - February 28, 2001

Mr. Germain made motion to approve the minutes of February 28, 2001. Mr. Kearney seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

4. New Business

The group introduced themselves and described their respective roles in the town or on the committee.

Mr. Romond then framed the goals of the meeting to:

1. describe the work of the Water Quality Committee to this point;
2. to forge a strong working relationship between the Town Staff and the Water Quality Committee;
3. to identify the next steps in our work.

Mr. Romond explained that the committee had spent a considerable amount of time formulating the mission statement and goals for the committee. The lengthy process was designed to create a collaborative environment, so the opinions of every town committee/commission was solicited, discussed, and then inserted into the work plan for the Water Quality Committee. In addition, town staff contributed ideas concerning the direction for the committee. The Mission Statement has been formally endorsed and adopted by the Select Board.

Discussion then focused on the fact that the Water Quality Committee, in laying out its action steps, began to realize that many of its priority goals were already being addressed at some level through the efforts of individual staff members. Studies relating to surface/stormwater with a resultant stormwater plan are well underway through the oversight of Town Engineer Soboslai. Mr. Osborne has led efforts to understand wastewater and related issues including the significant Forcier-Aldrich report. Mr. Graziano has been closely connected with any health issues relative to water quality and has worked with Mr. Gabos in the water quality monitoring initiatives. As the Water Quality Committee came to understand the extent of the work already underway by town staff, it became clear that the Water Quality Committee needed to work closely with the staff if the Water Quality Committee is to be effective in meeting its mission to "... study, analyze, and make recommendations to improve the quality of Colchester's waters".

Mr. Romond proposed to the staff that a role the Water Quality Committee might play would be, in addition to communication and education, to support the development of a comprehensive "Water Quality Plan" that helps to pull together the information, recommendations, and implementation steps taken already and which communicates the series of additional initiatives required if the town is to appropriately address the assorted water quality issues facing it. Such a plan would become the "road map" for the town in the future, indicating the priorities, actions, timeline, and approximate costs to address those issues. An extensive discussion followed, with participants clarifying what such a plan could or could not accomplish. All agreed that the town staff's job requirements allow only a small portion of their time to be devoted to water quality issues and that the Water Quality Committee is comprised of volunteers who, while interested and skilled in certain related fields, are not in the position to do all that would be required to produce such a plan.

Further discussion addressed the potential for the upcoming EPA funding of $150,000, secured by Mr. Osborne, to support development of a Water Quality Plan. Mr. Germain suggested it might be possible to use such funds to hire an individual, either as a consultant or town employee, to lead such an initiative. Mr. Osborne pointed out that the Select Board has been hesitant in the past to approve use of grant (temporary) funds to hire employees because when the funding ends, the town is left with a position to support with local funds. In addition, it is unclear at this time whether the EPA funds can be used for this purpose.

Ms. Carvellas had to leave at 3:08 p.m..

Discussion became more detailed regarding use of the EPA funds for existing projects or initiatives. Mr. Osborne and Mr. Kearney raised the issue of certain problems on Mill's Point but stopped the discussion at the request of Mr. Osborne because some portion of the matter is currently subject to litigation.

The Water Quality Committee agreed to discuss the details of a potential application for the use of EPA funds to support the development of a comprehensive Water Quality Plan, and Mr. Osborne agreed to investigate the potential use of such funds to support hiring of a person or consultant for such purpose.

Mr. Kearney had to leave at 3:20 p.m..

5. Set Next Meeting Date and Meeting Location

The committee agreed that the next meeting date would be March 28th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Colchester Meeting House. (The meeting may be on the main floor or in the basement level).

The agenda will consist of: Discussion of a potential grant application for the EPA funds, and recommendation of language concerning water quality issues and initiatives to be proposed for the Colchester Master Plan. The meeting may be shortened in order for members to attend the public informational session regarding radioactivity in some homeowner's well water.

6. Adjournment

There being no additional business to discuss, the Colchester Water Quality Committee adjourned at 3:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Bill Romond, Chair of the Colchester Water Quality Committee

Approved this       day of      , 2001