Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Thomas A. Gross, Sr., Mabel Mumford-Pautz and J. Brian Kirby, Medford Capel, Utilities Commission Manager, W. S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Joan Merryman, Stenographer, and guests.

Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting. Mr. Kirby moved that the minutes of the meeting of September 21, 1998 be accepted as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mayor Bailey stated that the Utilities Commission has cash on hand and in banks of $231,390.77.

Mayor Bailey called on Mr. Capel for his report. Mr. Capel reported that the lagoon ponds are clear and there are many small fish in the ponds. He reported that there had been a couple of problems with sewer lines, mostly from grease, but they have used the jetter to clean out the lines and they are open. He said he wanted to stress getting equipment to look into the sewer lines.

Mr. Capel said he has been researching camera equipment that can go into the sewer lines and film the inside of the lines. He said he arranged for demonstrations by two manufacturers of the equipment which were attended by some of the Council. He said there was a third company that has not come yet to give a demonstration. He said the camera was self-propelled, goes into the line and films the interior of the line. He said it was a panning camera which rotates so you view all of the line. The tape created by the camera measures the footage of the lines and locates services lines, open joints, cracks in a pipe, etc. He said the list prices he has been quoted so far run between $37,000 and $59,000. Mr. Capel recommended that the Town advertise for bids for the equipment to get a better price.

Mayor Bailey said it would be advantageous to have this equipment. The camera could pinpoint where a blockage or leak was in the line; it can solve the problem of determining whether a problem exists in a Town line or in a property owner's line; it can locate the leak or blockage in a property owner's line; and it can document the locations of all the Town lines. She asked Mr. Capel about the time and expense of digging up a street to locate a problem. Mr. Capel said it costs a couple thousand dollars each time we have to open a street to make repairs and we probably do this five, seven or up to ten times a year. He said there was also the inconvenience of having to repair streets, the availability of blacktop in winter to repair the street. He said over a few years, this equipment would pay for itself. He said the charge for renting this type of equipment was $1000 a week and they rent for a minimum of two weeks. He said we have rented this type of equipment in the past. Mr. Capel said he would like authorization to advertise for bids for the camera equipment.

Mayor Bailey asked the Council how they felt about this. Mr. Bristoll said he felt the equipment would be a help in locating leaks and charting out the lines. He said he felt the Town should decide whether we can spend those funds this year since it had not been budgeted. He said he thought we should have a demonstration from the third manufacturer and that Mr. Capel should develop a set of specifications and put the equipment out for bid. Mr. Kirby said the demonstration was very interesting and he felt it would be invaluable in locating leaks and making repairs. He said he would endorse getting the equipment if the funds are available, and getting information on extended warranties on the equipment. Mr. Gross had no questions. Mrs. Mumford-Pautz had no comments.

Mayor Bailey asked Mr. Ingersoll to comment. Mr. Ingersoll said he would remind the Council that they had budgeted $40,000 for a facilities study which has not been done. He said he had received the qualifications from engineering firms who want to bid on the study. He said a lot of what we hoped that study would do, give us a idea of what the conditions were under ground, could be accomplished with this equipment. He said some of the cost of the facilities study could be cut and the funds diverted to the purchase of the equipment. He said he had not reviewed this year's budget for capital items to see how it stands. He said he felt this was long overdue and we should find a way to buy it. The office fields phone calls all the time about mains being clogged up when in fact the problem was that of the property owner's line. Occasionally, however, it may be a main which seriously affects several properties on a block. Mayor Bailey asked for a motion.

Mr. Bristoll moved as follows: 1) that Mr. Ingersoll check the budget to see what funds are available; 2) that a demonstration be done by the third company; and 3) that Mr. Capel draw up specifications and advertise for bids. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

There being no further business, Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills. Mr. Bristoll moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Mr. Bristoll moved that the meeting be adjourned at 7:58 p.m., was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.

Submitted by:

Joan Merryman

Stenographer

Approved by:

Margo G. Bailey

Mayor