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The Raynham Channel
Sewer 04/10/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
Have you ever wondered what actually happens in those municipal meetings that keep your town functioning? Pull up a chair and listen in as the Raynahm Board of Super Commissioners tackles the nuts and bolts of local governance.
For anyone who thinks local government is boring, this raw, unfiltered recording of a municipal meeting reveals the fascinating reality of how communities make decisions about the infrastructure we all depend on. From sewer connections and pump maintenance to generator upgrades and budget deliberations, these discussions directly impact residents' daily lives—even if most citizens never witness them.
The meeting offers surprising moments of fiscal transparency, as commissioners express genuine surprise at seeing budget line items actually decrease year-over-year. "When does it ever go down?" one commissioner asks incredulously when reviewing indirect costs. The bidding process for the Route 44 Pump Control Project reveals dramatic differences between contractors bidding on the same work, with ranging prices. This stark contrast demonstrates the importance of competitive bidding in protecting taxpayer dollars.
Beyond the technical discussions, the meeting captures the authentic feel of small-town governance—complete with side comments, gentle teasing among commissioners who clearly know each other well, and genuine concern for serving constituents effectively. The closing reminder about upcoming local elections carries a powerful message about civic responsibility: "If you have a complaint about something... if you didn't vote, then you didn't participate."
Whether you're a municipal government enthusiast or simply curious about how local decisions are made, this unvarnished look at democracy in action will give you newfound appreciation for the detailed work happening in town halls everywhere. Listen, learn, and perhaps consider attending your own local government meetings!
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I'd like to call the meeting to order. For the Rainham Board of Super Commissioners for this month of April 10th, as usual, our first act of administrative work is for approval of the minutes of last month's meeting, which was 313 and you had the opportunity to see. Look through. I did okay, and how about you, mr? To 32, 13 February 13. Yeah, no, last night, I'm sorry, was march. I'm sorry I won't get the approval from the last minutes on the same date.
Speaker 1:This is april 10th yes, it is all right, I'll entertain a motion to accept the minutes as printed, so moved. Second motion made by mr bkel, seconded by Mr Calagaro. Any further discussion there being none all in favor, aye, aye, 3-0. Okay, correspondence, I have none. I think what we should do, gentlemen, is dedicate a few minutes every month and send a note to our superintendent so that he doesn't feel left out. The communication I get enough notes. Okay, all right, superintendent's report. He's just trying to prove he's been working all week.
Speaker 2:Oh yes, oh man Looking good.
Speaker 1:Superintendent's report for.
Speaker 2:April 10, 2025. Under Department of Operations, we have had three connections to the sewer system since our last meeting Of interest. We did have one ADU permit pulled as of today. I know there's one more sitting in the queue. There's been some interest in it. Probably two more questioning about it, but right now we have one permanent hopeful.
Speaker 2:The new pump assembly from Gomerup has arrived and waiting to be installed. We're working on scheduling with Hays Pump for the installation. They said they'd come up and help us with that. Chaco Media has been ordered for the order control unit located at the 44 pumping station and we're hoping to receive that and change that meteor out before the warmer weather hits or summer weather hits. Um, it's been about a year and a half. Maybe we go about a year and a half two years on that. So that's all about all we get out of that media the guys have been busy changing out bearing and seal oils on the Gorman Rope pumps.
Speaker 2:Thirty stations were completed, times two pumps, meaning 60 pumps have been serviced. We have four stations left so we need more pumps left. Along with that work the department has also been changing out the oil on the 27, on 27 pump station generators. The move 44 station we do not change that ourselves. That's a big diesel engine so we have a crack power. Come in and give that full service every year. The others seven, of course, with the new generators that were just recently installed, so they didn't require installed, so they didn't require any change. On a boiler Upper generator project, the installation on the exhaust system for the two indoor generators has now been completed, those being Market Basket and Mill Street stations.
Speaker 2:Tyne Vaughan is working on developing a punch list for the project, so we're hoping to have that hopefully possibly closed out next month. Today the photographer took pictures of the eight, so we're hoping to have that hopefully possibly closed out next month. Today the photographer took pictures of the eight surplus generators that will be auctioned off. As you know, I have seven that were changed out the generax but I also had another one sitting out back which is a really older one. It was from the Paddock Road, the old Paddock Road pumping station. So I will have eight generators that will be getting auctioned off. Those pictures that you see on the left, as you probably know, is the new pump out back for Gomer Rupp that we're waiting to install, and that right picture is the new generator with the exhaust system completed.
Speaker 1:That exhaust system bigger than it was before.
Speaker 2:No, it's not well. Yeah, I guess the muffler's a little bigger because it is an 8-cylinder and we replaced 6-cylinder engines with 8s. That insulation that's on there it looks bigger. It was a little heavier duty than what was originally there, so it looks really big but it really isn't much different. Next page Tyne Boyle projects.
Speaker 2:Bids were open on Thursday April 3rd for the Route 44 Pump Control Project. We had five bidders for the project, ranging from a low bid of $178,000 to the high bid of $363,000. I did receive the recommendation to award from Tyne Boyle late this afternoon which we'll be discussing later in the agenda. I am also awaiting a contract proposal from Tyne Boyle for construction oversight on the project, so hopefully we have that next month for you as well. The Popeyes Restaurant. I had asked the developer of this project to camera the sewer line connecting to this property due to the fact it has been sitting idle for roughly 10 years. The camera did show some sludge sitting in the line, which ended the camera work. They will be coming back with a vacuum truck to clean the line and then re-inspect that picture. You can see, if you make it out on the bottom, it probably had three, maybe even four inches of sludge sitting there. The camera made it about halfway up and then hit that sludge and couldn't go any further. So that's an older line.
Speaker 2:It's an AC pipe line that runs underneath 44, actually from the Shaw side over to an easement at McDonald's to our sewer main that's running, that 27-inch sewer main running along the the Route 138 construction. The gas company continues with their gas main relocation project. Apparently the crew is located south of Route 495 and is working in front of the parking ride lot which is located to the right of Gilmore Hall. The second crew continues with their work on the north side of Route 495, but with the new gas main now installed and tested, they have now moved on to service line connections, simulcast building from what.
Speaker 2:I've been told this project is still working towards a temporary occupancy. I believe the goal is maybe even get it next week. I have not obtained an occupancy on it yet. I did receive some documents I was waiting on today, which was certified test results for the testing of the new sewer line they installed. So I received that and I received the as-built plan for the sewer West Pine State, formerly known as Layla, down on Pine Street. There's a project meeting over on Pine Street for the continued work for the development. That'll be on Monday. The next phase of the project will be the work on Pine Street where they will be cutting the road down, I believe about six to eight feet to take out of it. That will be at the high point of the crest, just beyond the subdivision, just beyond the subdivision.
Speaker 2:Work after that will involve infrastructure work to include water, sewer and drainage installation. Also occurring on Monday will be the main rail testing on all the installed gravity line within the subdivision and also the pressure testing of the small section of low pressure force. That subdivision work is not completed. They're waiting to install the line down pine street to connect to it. So that would be part of that infrastructure work. And, as you may know, time election the 2025 annual time election will be held on Saturday, april 26th. All precincts voted. The middle school poll polls are open 10 to 8 pm. In the commissioner's calendar he's on the ballot, so please vote for him Only one position this year.
Speaker 1:Yes, seems that he's on the ballot every year for something or other. He's a very popular young man. Yes, Young, I'll take that you know you're not young anymore. No season you, yes, yeah, are you in the fall season? I think I would say so. I think it's a spring myself, is that it, mr well, thank you for the report. And as usual, it's all-inclusive and very informative. New business Rules 44 control project.
Speaker 2:Thank you. So we opened five bids, as mentioned, ranging from 178,396 up to 363,816. You'll notice Fall River Electric base bid being 133, and you'll see three alternates here. Those alternates are for the purchase of, if we had enough money in the warrant article to obtain three spare VFDs. So if these fail, like we just had, 20 years later after the original one was installed, we'll have three spares to put in there. So, including those three spares, the total bid being $178,396.
Speaker 2:So on April 3, 2025, the uranium and solar department opened five bids for the Route 44 Pump Station Control System Replacement Project. The bidders their respective bid prices. In Tyvon's opinion over the problem, construction costs are as follows and as you can see the graph there, tynaborn's opinion of probable construction costs was $275, although that did include some engineering work in that construction. Proposed opinion of probable costs. As requested, we reviewed again. This is Tanya Boren's report. As requested, we reviewed bid information submitted by the apparent low bidder, as well as reviewed performance and financial reference information. Results of our review summarized below together with opinions and reactions.
Speaker 2:Under bid evaluation, fall River Electric Associates, being the low bidder, appears to be in conformance with the requirements of the bidding documents. Fall River's written bid total was $178,396. Fall River's bid compares variably to the OPC-6. Reference evaluation for performance. Fall River provided five project references consisting of pump station upgrades, skater upgrades and vfd replacements. The evaluate evaluation was favorable. I have to say I'm familiar with far river electric as well. They've been involved with some pump station builds here in town as through part of the phases throughout town they've been involved with some of our stations and building them and I believe they had some involvement with the Roof 44 pump station upgrades over the years too, so they're familiar with the station.
Speaker 2:The feedback obtained from both internal and external references was positive. Reference evaluation for financial standing. Tyneborn goes on to state, based on the information made available in review, as well as time once direct experience with far river is our opinion that far river has demonstrated it is the lowest responsible and eligible bidder.
Speaker 2:we trust that the information provided herein will assist rain and sewer pilot in making an award of the contract for the group 44 pump station control system replacement, and that will be contingent upon the following Receipt of required performance and payment bonds. Receipt of required certificates of insurance. Receipt of signed agreements. Upon authorization by the Rainier and Seward department, we will issue a notice to award the contractor designated as the lowest responsible and eligible bidder, notifying them that they are the successful bidder and requesting they submit required bonds and certificates of insurance, and this is signed by uh dan holmes, senior project manager, manager from high bar. So, uh, with your uh approval, I would be looking to sign the notice to award.
Speaker 1:After looking at an awful lot of quotes at different jobs, what did we put aside for the project? Was it $275,000? $275,000, correct. And so even with the $178,000, we've got to pay, tie and bond, only to make it $200,000, we might be able to get it in for about $220,000. The thing that surprises me is that there's a $50,000 spread between first lowest and the next bid yeah, and another $30,000 for the third. Better, wow, it's no. Top guy is twice.
Speaker 2:almost every time it's so when we open that bid we had that same concern. After the bid Dan had called Far River to make sure that they didn't forget anything. So they said they were confident with the bid.
Speaker 1:Well, it's also, I know. Alternate one, two and three. Yeah, that's the same item, three times so and with the same dollar amount, which is fine. Look at the fourth guy down yeah $500 more for the first.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we don't know what that was about. We don't know what that was about. He was here too when we opened the bids.
Speaker 1:I've seen an awful lot of bids, especially when we were doing the school with the 25 alternates. Everybody had a base bid and the numbers for the alternates were all over. But they're buying the same thing.
Speaker 2:Look at alternate on number three and number five. They're lower than alternate, for they're the winning bidder.
Speaker 1:Interesting. Well, you know, sometimes, sometimes you've got to. If you take a chance at really cutting, knowing that they want alternate one, two and three, you get the base bid and it doesn't look like it's too bad and you're paying maybe three grand, as this shows, three grand more for the alternate than, but that's the only one that is lower than him, but he's also. Yeah, well, that's seven, but he is. He's 219. Is it the gap? It doesn't make sense. When you look at it, joe, you can see it. If the exact amount of money was just put in a different place, you know, when you get over to the right-hand side, it's 178, 247, 267, 262, 320, 363. Experienced bidders versus unexperienced business. Well, yes, I learned that very quickly when I sat as a commissioner here on bids on construction, as compared to bids for construction of a building that I spent 45 years doing. You can't make that.
Speaker 1:They charge you a buck, a square foot for something one thing of interest to you put the pipe in and you're making money, extra money, down every one of the pipes. You get to the pump house and the pump house is probably 65% of its actual cost. But they've got the money already. And road construction is the same thing. It's completely different.
Speaker 2:So one thing you've been talking is that far River Electric would, in the bid request bid specs, we requested that the contractor be no further than 45 minutes away, just case of an emergency. Far River was actually the only one that was local. All the others were in Western Mass. One of these might have been from Connecticut, I think it was. Daigle Electric was from Connecticut. So we got lucky that Far River, being low bidder, is local.
Speaker 1:Well, that's an extra plus for them, other than the fact that they were the low bidder. Maybe they needed the work, who knows? So I think we want to move the process through because it's good Our superintendent was looking for a recommendation and you go through the same process. You can engage the contract and when it's time to be signed, you can go through the process. We accept the low bidder's bid and verbally award the contract to Fall River Electrical Associates at the request and recommendation of our superintendent. I need a motion so moved, I'll second that motion. All right, I'll second that motion. Aye, the motion to award the contractor for the electrical associates for $178,396, made by Mr Bickle, seconded by Mr Kelleher. All those in favor. Aye, aye, aye, it's a 3-0 vote. Thank you for the service there, mr Superintendent. Okay, are you going to have to drive there? Rob, you said there's no phone in there. Glad it was the closest bidder. Yeah, seriously, no phone call. No phone on the bidder.
Speaker 2:What's that?
Speaker 1:I thought it said somewhere there was no return phone number on that oh no, so what they were saying you're saying in the report?
Speaker 2:Yeah, they were saying that for references they didn't provide phone numbers. Oh, okay, so Tonya Vaughn had to reach out by email, Exactly, and then get in their phone numbers for the references.
Speaker 1:Alright, old business. The update of the final budget number that has been secured and, as we voted, the budget subject to minor adjustments by the powers to be or the powers to be did.
Speaker 2:So Commissioner Bettencourt and I attended the Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday night and discussed some of the changes, and this is one of the changes being indirect costs. This is the formula they use for indirect costs. We have the current year and last year's comparison and you'll see the new indirect cost being $121,297. Last year, $121,708.
Speaker 1:It actually went down a little. You see the funny part about that it was $11,708. But it was 121,716. The $8, I found it, I think it was in the, the Selectman Salary, 557. I have it marked on one of the ones I had, Because when I saw it the $8 was in the Selectman salary town administrator only, and that's where the $8 difference was. It went from that to that. Okay, so we want to talk about the bottom line.
Speaker 2:So you had a statement that gave you the budget.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You'll see highlighted again when they create the budget. We always know that either health insurance or retirement and pension could change along with the indirects. You'll see the change of health insurance New amount is $116,084. My original budget carried $120,456. So that's a decrease of $4,372. That retirement cost and pension, that new number is $170,416. My original budget carried $159,301, so that's an increase of $11,115. That's an increase of $11,115. So basically, if you look at the percentage that Chris is showing now, health insurance increase was 7.93% over last year. Retirement and pension was 12.33%. I basically had them pretty much swapped. My health insurance was a 12% increase and my retirement that I was carrying was 5%, so kind of swapped on that.
Speaker 2:On your next page again, it shows the indirect cost being $121,297. My original budget on indirects carried $125,360, and that's a decrease of $4,063 from what I was proposing and it is a $408 decrease from last year. So what was the amount we voted in the February meeting? $125,360. No, no, bottom line. Oh, bottom line, bottom line. We had three million one hundred and six thousand three forty-six.
Speaker 1:Okay, and that's going to be three million one hundred and nine thousand twenty-six dollars. Correct, okay, because we're not going to go back to itemizing and what we said to the finance committee we will clarify after adjustments, because we told them it was subject to adjustment. So after the adjustments we're going to vote the 3109-026. They have the same documents that we have.
Speaker 2:Which is an increase from what my budget was of $2,680. Yeah, well, dollars, $2,680 increase.
Speaker 1:It's nothing because we don't know what it is, yeah, but when you stop and you say life isn't like that, but when you, I always. I like this one very much. It was the calculation for the indirect cost. Okay, last year was a hundred and twenty one thousand seven sixteen. This year is a hundred21,297. $500, tom. It's one of the very few years we can kind of smile and say Hello, that's fine, because that's exactly what I said to Chris. Chris, we're in the numbers. Business. When does it ever go down? Talking about labor? Huh, so, but it's, it is what it came up with and it's fine. And it's the same formula. It's been tweaked. This is the second year that it's been done this way. It's been tweaked and it's going to be tweaked again till we get to the point where everybody knows what goes into that number, because there were items in last year's that didn't have to be in and items that should have been in that wasn't in.
Speaker 1:So I said that, chris, it balances most of the time, but let's not try to remember whether it's a balancing make a list of what's in there and that's what you put in, because whoever follows you is gonna fall back to so in a motion on yes, I want a motion to reestablish the total budget at 1 billion.
Speaker 1:No, you gotta go. Gotta go to the third page. It goes from one to two to five. Right yeah, $3,109,026 for FY26. So moved, second, moved by Mr Bickle, seconded by Mr Kelleher, and this was just a confirmation of what the final number was going to be after the powers to be made, the adjustments that had to be done, all those in favor, aye.
Speaker 2:Aye.
Speaker 1:It is a unanimous vote. Thank you so very much for the work you put into it, mr Carey. All right, emergency work. You put into it, mr carey, all right. Emergency business. I have none. Commission reports, public forum press time there being none, please remember to vote on the 26th of April. For our town officials, it's a privilege a participate, and you have a complaint about something? Don't complain to me. Mr Sass, did you vote? If you didn't vote, then you didn't participate. Motion to adjourn for the purpose of doing administrative work only Moved, second Moved by Mr Bickle, seconded by Mr Kelleher. We are officially adjourned at 6.27 pm. Thank you, see you next month.