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Sewer Commission 09/11/2025
The Raynham Board of Sewer Commissioners begins their monthly meeting with solemn reflections on the anniversary of 9/11, sharing personal memories of that tragic day before tackling the town's infrastructure challenges.
• Ongoing issues at the Market Basket Pumping Station where soap suds are causing pumps to fail and require emergency maintenance
• Successful implementation of a new experimental pump at White Street station working "flawlessly"
• Completion of sewer billing for January-June 2025 after resolving conversion issues with the VADAR system
• Updates on the 44 pump control project requiring additional equipment for better bypass capabilities
• Progress on local road improvements including Mill Street and Elm Street East projects
• Temporary repairs to the South Street East Old Colony Bridge allowing full traffic flow
• Approval of a $7,264.12 change order for electronic controller and wiring improvements at a pumping station
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Good evening. I open the monthly meeting of the Board of Sewer Commissioners for the Town of Rainham at 6 pm. On September 11th. Where were you on 9-11? If you watch TV today, a lot of people can remember it was a tough day. I know where I was. I do too.
Speaker 1:I was having breakfast at Friendly's with the superintendent of schools. When the first tower hit. After breakfast I had a meeting down the Social Security to set up my retirement, because he had to do it three months in advance, and when I had to go home to get an original document that wouldn't take the copy, the second plane hit the tower. I went back and the doors were locked. As we all know, everything was love of town, so it's a tough memory.
Speaker 1:I see it every once in a while and if you've had the opportunity to go to New York and go to Ground Zero, it's a real simple emotional thing, and especially when you go down in the basement I think it's the south tower, that's where this part of the exhibit is and the beams still standing. They didn't tear it open and you get the slush wall against the water and everything and you're sitting there and you can't help but think you're in a cemetery and it is extremely quiet in there and especially around the two ponds, the two bases in the building. It's a tough one, All right. Approval of minutes. Have we had an opportunity to read? Yes, it looked good to me. Any changes? Nothing. No, We'll put that in the formal motion. So moved. I'll second that motion to accept as written. Okay, you said you'd put it in the formal motion.
Speaker 2:I asked Joe if he would?
Speaker 1:Yeah, and he said so moved. Okay, so you're second in that. Okay, you said you'd put it in a formal motion. I asked Joe if he would and he said so moved. Okay, so you're second in that. Okay. Joe Bickle and Jeff Kelleher All those in favor? Aye, it's a vote 3-0. Correspondents no. All right, we're down the superintendent's report. Everybody can go to sleep these with the minutes.
Speaker 1:No, no, she listed on on there on her she labels it yes, okay, but she doesn't give her a copy. No, but it's listed each facet. Yeah, okay, she summarized the guy. Yeah, yeah, big news, we got another connection yeah, wow, yeah, one more.
Speaker 2:Things have slowed down a little bit, but they're going to be picking up. September 11, 2025,. Superintendent's Report on the Department of Operations. We have had again, just one connection to the sewer system. This last month the guys have been busy addressing an issue with the Market Basket Pumping Station. We've had an ongoing problem with pump one over there. It keeps failing on us, in other words, shutting down on a pump failure. A new suction line spool piece has been ordered. When it was removed for cleaning it was realized it was showing some significant wear. So things that they've done over there is replace our rotating assembly. That helped out some. It actually primes up a lot quicker when it does have to reprime again.
Speaker 2:Clean the suction spool piece. They voted another one of them. We kept having problems uh, we actually. So pump one was actually off on monday night and pump two was in lead to carry the station, which isn't the problem usually 2 30 in the morning. That station called out with pump two failing. So now we've got no pumps running.
Speaker 2:So they had to go out at 2.30 in the morning to get the station running again. And one thing they found and they had noticed it in other times that they were taking the pump apart, there was a load of suds, soap suds, in the pump. And I don't know if Market Basket, the store, goes through cleaning this time of year, but apparently there was a cleaning company cleaning the floors, maybe stripping the wax or whatever they were doing in there, but both pumps were full of suds, soap suds. What happens with them pumps if they lose prime? The soap suds displace the water and they can't get rid of that air that's in there and it just will not run. So what you got to do is you go fill the pump up with water, flush it all out, get the thing going.
Speaker 2:So anyways, 2.30 in the morning, they were doing that, got it running. We haven't had too much problems with it. Matter of fact, pump one is back online and has been good knock on wood for a full day now. So they did replace a ball valve on the suction gauge. It looked to be in good condition but it was one of the things that hadn't been changed. I told them change it and TOFA again hasn't called out.
Speaker 1:Got a question. Sure, I could see soap suds in the kitchen area behind the meat counter where you go in and you wash things and so on and so forth. But would the entire building floor drain system be hooked up to the sewer?
Speaker 2:Yes, all of it would. Yeah, Yep, all gets hooked up. So I thought maybe they were stripping the floors with wax removal or whatever, and it was kind of causing us problems. Now, if the pump doesn't lose prime, it isn't going to be a problem, but because we have an issue possibly with that spool piece being worn and the pump not holding prime, it could lose prime itself.
Speaker 1:I suggest you let them know.
Speaker 2:Yes, the guys have been over there. Actually they opened manholes today behind Market Basket which leads from their store to us, seeing if they could find anything. They weren't finding anything. We feel as though maybe the process is over, that they've been doing it, but the guys Ron has gone in and spoke to them about it Did they confession out of anybody.
Speaker 1:No confessions Is if it was between the store and the pump station. And once it's in the pump, the dry well, the wet well, and we're trying to move, it is when we have the problem.
Speaker 2:Right if the pump loses prime. If the pump doesn't lose prime, it doesn't. If it loses prime, it acts like a washing machine that just annotates it. If the pump is full of water, it'll pump it out. It's just when it loses prime. It has some air in there already and creates a bunch of stuff.
Speaker 1:Because you'll never find it in a manhole going into it because it's too late.
Speaker 2:No, yes, all right. So anyways, that's one thing. They've been battling, actually for about a week now. An update on the white street pumping station, where we had changed out the complete pump with the experimental unit from going to rep, you may remember. Uh, that pump, uh, knock on wood, has been working flawless, so we haven't had one issue with that one. So I think they're onto something with that new model, uh, the bi-rack I mentioned last month that was removed for repair at the 44 pump station.
Speaker 2:That's been repaired now and it's back in place with the secondary wet well reopened so that 44 is back up and running. Full speed on that, chris, our electrician. He had replaced the exterior lighting this week at the Mill Street and my basket pump stations. The old high-pressure sodium style lights were replaced with LED lighting. One other thing he's been doing he helped out today over at the town building replacing some lights in the Selectrooms room. They have a lot of light bulbs out and Greg Bottoms asked if he could change them out to LED, so he replaced all the lights in the Selectrooms meeting room. Another thing I don't know if you noticed on the way in. If not, take a look on the way out. The guys actually striked all the lines out here, redid the handicap sign and everything they did that with, bought some paint from Granger street marking paint and got a three inch roller and they did all the strikes. So it all looks pretty fresh out here now.
Speaker 2:SUI user billing Brenda has completed the the sewer billing for January through June 25. Initially Brenda had run into an issue with the conversion over to the VADAR system, which is a fairly new billing system the town uses. That problem has been resolved, with VADAR having to diagnose some issues on their end. So bills have now been turned over for processing. Residents and commercial customers connected to the sewer system should be seeing those bills in their mailboxes within a couple weeks. The bill date will be september 18th with a due date of monday, october 20th. Confined space training. The confined space training refresher from Apollo Safety was originally scheduled for September 9th out here in the garage. That had to be rescheduled for Wednesday, September 24th. Apollo Safety couldn't make the 9th. I believe I told you the 23rd. It's going to be the 24th. I see here it's the 24th. Yes, Training again will be out here in the garage. The upper generator project.
Speaker 2:All eight generators have now been picked up, but the last two are finally leaving. Last week, as mentioned previously, we had gotten $10,566 out of that auction and that will be returned to retained earnings. As a matter of fact, I spoke with the town administrator today and they were working on that transfer into the sewer system, because who were retained or have they received the money?
Speaker 1:they have the checks of it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, who 44 pump control project. The contractor that continues to work with time going in the submittal process. There was a team's meeting with time on far everybody, far river electric being the contractor, harbor Controls, who is the sub for Fall River, and myself a couple weeks back. In reviewing the new equipment and wiring, the contractor had some suggestions for some additional equipment and wiring which will be required for the updated VFDs to work properly and will also be easier for repairs in the future. One thing that we're doing different over there with updated VFDs to work properly and will also be easier for repairs in the future. One thing that we're doing different over there with the VFDs we have three VFDs for three pumps. Only one VFD over there right now has a bypass mode. So if something goes wrong with the PLC you can only bypass one pump and actually run it off the VFD control itself. If there's a problem with that pump, then you're out of luck. One thing with this upgrade we're doing all three VFDs are going to be able to be bypassed With that work. The contractor was suggesting some additional equipment and wiring. That's going to result in a change order which is later on in the agenda. So that's going to result in a change order which is later on in the agenda Town meeting.
Speaker 2:The fall special town meeting date has been set for November 17th 2025. Article requests need to be in by Friday, october 10th. So we have a meeting October 9th. Thursday evening October 9th. I have a couple of draft articles which right now will be for our typical transfer to stabilization and also the transfer to the account for the bill related to the Taunton plant upgrades. I am awaiting certified retained earnings from the town accountant before determining the amounts. But just on a reminder, last year we did $750,000 into the Taunton bill account for the Taunton bill and we did $300,000 into the stabilization. Lockwood-rainham-riverwalk 40B project. Force main pressure testing was successfully performed on two additional sections of sewer force main. This brings the sewer main installed and tested just beyond halfway through the project and tested just beyond halfway through the project. We currently have 35 units connected and occupied with 29 additional building permits pulled For so forth, a total of 64. And I did mention to you last month that they got an approval through the Board of Appeals for an additional 14 units over there. Rainy.
Speaker 1:Hill.
Speaker 2:Highway Department projects. With Verizon finally relocating their wires on mill street and with the old utility poles now removed, the contractor was able to get started with the remaining work last week. This work will include a sidewalk continuing up mill street from the recently replaced bridge, with some roadway layout changes to sewer service services required, extending further onto the properties so they wouldn't be under the pavement.
Speaker 2:We'll say widen that road up so that works finally been done. I've been talking about that a couple, two or three months now that we are expected to do it Roadway pulverizing and regrading the sewer. Frames and covers were removed in the area, with metal plates being placed over the manhole structures. Cm Corp will be in town next week to readjust and install frames and covers. A couple riser sections were removed from a manhole in front of the American Legion due to the rate of the road being lowered in that spot roughly a foot. So we had two six inch collars on top of the, the structure that we basically took out. We're not don't have to put them back in, we'll. They'll be just doing a couple layers of brick with the new frame and cover put back on there.
Speaker 2:Cn corp. Joe, you may remember, is a mario. He did a phase six project for us, a couple over in town. The milling and paving work has also started this week on Elm Street East from Hickory Drive up to Rainium Bridgewater Town Line near Route 104. We will be replacing six frames of covers as part of this work and five others will be getting adjusted to the new payment. Just want to know that when I say we, the contract is doing the work of where they're making sure that they're doing it properly and trying to keep stuff out of the man on the track got a question yeah that road goes down to where the old loss main went.
Speaker 1:Yes, in front of Rosina's. Yeah, does that go down to 104?
Speaker 2:no, that's going to stop. So bridge water uranium line is before that. So basically, when you come up elm street you go to the old north main and get a turn left to get over. I want to say maybe halfway down into that, maybe just before the gully is where the line is and below so they'll have nice road here.
Speaker 2:Then back to the old stuff up over there, and that's in bridgewater, yeah um norm highway superintendent did try to work something up with bridgewater but I guess it didn't come to be so again they're just going for the line. Now the pictures down below. There you'll see that one of them, sewer service, is being extended. We put about eight feet on on what was down, what was existing there. There the picture in the middle is the frame that was getting lowered at that point. They're just removing it and again putting plates on it for now. But that is the meal that's getting lowered. You know the right. There's the pulverizer machine chewing the road up. It's coming out really nice over there.
Speaker 2:On the next page we get a South Street East Old Colony Bridge replacement. The bridge still remains closed to traffic with temporary repairs continuing to be made. The repairs are completed on the Taunton side. Hm Lopes has now moved over to the Rainham side to continue with additional repairs. I guess one thing is that the Taunton side was in far worse condition than what the Rainham side was, from what I was being told.
Speaker 2:The most recent update from the town administrator is that once these temporary repairs are made, the bridge will then be allowed to open to full traffic to include trucks and buses within the weight rating of the bridge. Last month I was saying that it was going to be one lane with lights on each side, but that has changed. It's changed yet again. That's what I heard it's changed. Yeah, based on what Greg was telling me.
Speaker 1:Administrator, that's all I got for you, I'm going to replace the bridge.
Speaker 2:Yeah, this is just temporary right now. So next, I believe next June, if they're still on on schedule, that's when it's supposed to get bit out and I think they're hoping that the work would get started in the fall of next year. So maybe a year from now they'd start it. Yeah, I think they're saying the two or three here closed down on it to get it done but, all right, new business.
Speaker 2:Yep, we have the change oil which I previously mentioned. Again, this is for additional equipment and wiring work Presented by the contractor. You'll see the amounts breakdown harbor controls quote was $6,820. General contractor 5% overhead 341. And then an additional bond cost because they're increasing the project amount. So it's a bond cost of $103.12 and the new amount change order amount sorry, $7,264.12 brings that contract up to $185,660.12. Original was $178,396, original was $178,396. Again, recommended by Ty and Boyd. My feeling is anything that we can do to improve that, the reliability of that station.
Speaker 1:I'm all in favor of it.
Speaker 2:All right and you're still going to get it done on the original completion date? I would assume. Yeah, I guess that's up in the air, but I would assume that will be done. It said additional 30 days requested for time application at the bottom of the first page.
Speaker 1:Yeah, first of the year, basically. Well, it said you know, I'm just looking substantial completion 12-1-25. That's the original and it says ready for final payment 1-125. That's the original and it says ready for final payment 1-1. So I'm assuming that he's figuring it. He can get it all done under the schedule that he had under his contract.
Speaker 2:So Good, I wouldn't want him to have to get. They may ask for extra time, but this is just what a small piece of equipment. Or is this an electronic? It's for the electronic controller. Yeah, they were telling me that. Well, from what it says IO, it says I open import output cash for the computer system, wiring them to up from the VFDs to that. But I know some wiring was involved.
Speaker 1:You don't have to tear walls on the port of man. No, no, it's installing.
Speaker 2:Yes okay, and you recommend it. I do recommend it. We think to improve that station a little further.
Speaker 1:Okay, entertain a motion to recommend the superintendent's recommendation. To accept the superintendent's recommendation for a change of order in the amount of 7,264.12, with the contractor that is doing the work.
Speaker 2:I'll motion that and I'll second.
Speaker 1:Any further discussion, none.
Speaker 2:All those in favor.
Speaker 1:Aye, aye, aye, it is a vote 3-0. Go sign the document and get it taken care of. Yes, okay, no old business. No, no emergency. No commission Public forum Press time. You don't qualify as press or public, but you are public. Are you a resident?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Well, do you have any questions?
Speaker 2:Not at this moment. I'll let you know.
Speaker 1:Okay, if you have trouble, just flush it a second time, that's all All right. That being said, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn for the performance of administrative duties only. So moved. Second, moved by Mr Bickle, seconded by Mr Kelleher. All those in favor, aye, aye, it's 3-0, we are 621. 621. Thank you. See you next month.