2015 – February 23 Minutes

Excused: J. Comer

L. Woods questioned the account for testing/licensing.  N. Couture noted that this account is used for employee certification.

T. Pellegrino questioned the insurance account #81700.  N. Couture noted that the yearly amount for insurance is paid out in July.

L. Woods questioned the account for Corrosion Control (#70150).  N. Couture noted that the account for chemicals is used for the purchase of chemicals.  R. Minter noted that this account is used in the event that the corrosion control equipment needs repair.

L. Woods noted that this budget is about 3% to the good.  N. Couture noted that this sounds about right.

A motion was made by G. Keller and seconded by L. Woods to approve the minutes from the January 26, 2015 Public and Non-Public sessions and the budget worksession of January 12, 2015 with the following change to the public session minutes of January 26, 2015: “A motion was made by T. Pellegrino and seconded by L. Woods to seal the non-public minutes of January 26, 2015.  The motion passed 5-0-0.” should be added to the minutes.

The motion passed 4-0-0.

Jeff Marts, Emery and Garrett Groundwater Investigations, LLC (EGGI) noted that the proposed pipeline route crosses the Witches Brook Aquifer and goes through the Naticook Brook Aquifer.  There will be some blasting needed to create the trench for the pipeline.  He noted that the run-off water from fire suppression efforts in the event of a gas pipeline explosion and fire may contaminate groundwater.  The possibility of a change of use (from natural gas to liquid petroleum hydrocarbons, i.e. gasoline or jet fuel) of this pipeline may cause concern for the District and the ratepayers.  The proposed route is to the north side of the power line easements, just north of Hollis through Amherst.  The District could lose the aquifer that supplies 50% of the water to the District in the event of serious groundwater contamination resulting from pipeline activities.

R. Miner noted that the proposed pipeline will be 36” in diameter.

T. Pellegrino questioned whether oil could be pumped through this pipeline after the gas.  J. Marts noted that some pipelines are constructed to do this.  He noted he is unsure about this particular pipeline.  T. Pellegrino noted that there should be notification if different products are transported through this pipeline.

J. Marts noted that the proposed route cuts across the sand and gravel portion of the aquifers.  He noted that it would be best to relocate the pipeline out of the Wellhead Protection Area for the Naticook Brook Aquifer (Wells #2 and #3).

T. Pellegrino questioned how much blasting would be needed.  J. Marts noted that there would be blasting through the bedrock and trenching through the sand/gravel.  He noted that the approval process takes about 1 year.  There is a limited window of opportunity to present comments.  He noted that if either well #2 or well #3 is lost the presence of this pipeline through the aquifer will cut down on the area available to drill a new well due to the 400’ radius from the pipeline to the wellhead.

R. Miner noted that technically there is no need to obtain an approval from the District to construct this pipeline.

J. Marts noted that the agencies involved are more likely to listen to arguments at this time in the process rather than later on as the route is more final.

L. Woods recommended that a letter go to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) before the middle of March.  He noted that the opposition of the District should be added to the draft letter from R. Miner to FERC based on the opposition of J. Marts to the proposed route.  September 2015 is the time for the formal filing at FERC.  A letter should be sent to FERC stating the District’s opposition with the EGGI letter enclosed as an attachment.  This project is not required to go through the NH Site Evaluation Committee; this project has not been presented to the state at this time.

R. Miner noted that there will be another meeting on this project at Hampshire Hill in Milford.

L. Woods noted that he has discovered in his discussions with interested parties that Tennessee Pipeline does not set up escrow accounts in advance, but they are dedicated to making things “whole”.

J. Marts noted that currently the District is in the information gathering stage.  R. Miner noted that an archeological survey is also needed.

The consensus of the Board is that the Thompson letter and the FERC letter be sent with changes.

R. Miner noted he will send copies of these letters to the town and ask that they be put on the town’s website.

Warrant Articles – J. Lavoie noted that the Warrant Article formerly noted as #7 has been moved to #3.  It was written by bond counsel and approved by the bond bank.  R. Miner noted that Treasurer M. Carrier is okay with the article as written.

A motion was made by L. Woods and seconded by T. Pellegrino to move that the Merrimack Village District Board of Commissioners approve the Merrimack Village District 2015-2016 Warrant Articles as presented.  The motion passed 4-0-0.

Elections – It was noted that L. Woods and Jack Balcom will stand for election to the Board of Commissioners at this year’s annual meeting.  M Carrier will stand for election as the District’s Treasurer.

Thank yous – L. Woods noted kudos to the staff for the work above and beyond during the snow events this winter.  R. Miner noted that an advertisement will be published to thank residents for digging out the fire hydrants.

Sewer issue – R. Miner noted there was a sewer issue at the business office.  The sewer pipe was snaked and the floors cleaned.  All is working fine now.

Meeting with town departments – R. Miner noted that the meetings with the town departments to discuss pending projects, etc. are going well

Sunset Shores – The District portion of this project will be $121,744.65.

There were no questions from the public at this time.

There were no questions from the press at this time.