M E E T I N G M A T T E R S
Townsend BOARD OF SELECTMEN SEPT 12.
Compiled by Karen Mann

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Selectmen signed a contract allowing for a pump to be constructed in the new Harbor Trace Well.

According to Water Superintendent Paul Rafuse, the construction on just the well should be completed in the next two weeks. The well was built by F.G Sullivan Drilling Company Inc. Selectmen had approved the construction of the well, but not the pump station.

"It is a two phase project," Rafuse said.

This second part of the project was award to Winston Builders Corporation, for $971,900.

Selectmen wanted to know if town council had approved the legality of the contract and Town Administrator Gregory Barnes said they had. They also wanted to know what Rafuse thought of the contract, in terms of the technical aspects of it.

"We don't have the technical background," said Selectman David Chenelle. "Do you agree with the contract?"

Rafuse said he did and that his engineers created a contract they are satisfied with.

As Rafuse had stated at a previous selectmen's meeting, the well will not be used to pump additional water during the day. He said the town is allowed to pump 499,000 gallons of water a day.

"The well is for redundancy purposes," said Rafuse, adding it will ease the use of the two existing wells.

Currently these two wells pump out water for 10 to 12 hours a day but with the addition of another well, they will each pump for about four to six hours a day, according to Rafuse. Selectmen agreed they would sign the contract, contingent

upon the Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust Fund giving their approval on the project. According to Barnes, the trust fund organization must approve financing for the project.

In other news:

 Selectmen voted to close the portion of Brookline Street in front of the Townsend Congregational Church for the Second Annual Gregory E. Reeves Memorial Scholarship Run. This is where the race starts and ends, and registration takes place there as well. The area will be closed on Saturday, Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 Selectmen discussed whether or not to write off $26,000 in uncollected ambulance service fees. The Ambulance Department uses Coastal Billing, which, according to Barnes, does a thorough job in terms of billing customers. Barnes said the people who owe money have been notified five times of their outstanding bill. The company does not take it as far as litigation, and Barnes said it is up to town officials to decide how aggressive they want to be with the outstanding bills. He said in the past, the town has been lenient with those that are uninsured.

Chenelle said he was not comfortable waiving $26,000 of debt without at least looking into the issue more. The board agreed and decided to set up an appointment with representatives from Coastal Billing and the officials from the ambulance department to discuss other options.

 The date for the fall Town Meeting was set for Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. to be held in Memorial Hall.