Documents: Minutes

 

BOSTON GROUNDWATER TRUST (BGwT)

BOARD MEETING

January 29, 2009

 

The Board of Trustees of the Boston Groundwater Trust held its meeting in the Conference Room of the Azure Restaurant, located in the Lenox Hotel. The Executive Director posted a meeting notice at City Hall in accordance with provision of the Commonwealth’s Open Meeting Law. Mr. Mitchell called the meeting to order at 4:02 pm. The following trustees were present, and the Chairman declared that there was a quorum:

Mr. Gary Saunders, Boston Back Bay Association

Mr. Tim Mitchell, Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay

Mr. Peter Sherin, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Mr. Galen Gilbert, Fenway Community Development Corporation (CDC)

Mr. Jim Hunt, Mayor’s Office

Mr. Aaron Michlewitz, North End Waterfront Neighborhood Council

Ms. Nancy Grilk, Mayor’s office

Ms. Molly Sherden, Beacon Hill Civic Association

Mr. Bill Linehan, City Council District 2

Mr. Peter Shilland, Ellis Neighborhood Association

Also present:

Elliott Laffer, BGwT Executive Director; Christian Simonelli, BGwT Technical Coordinator; Professor James Lambrechts, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Anne M. Pistorio, North End Water Front Residents Association (NEWRA) Groundwater Working Group; Paul Nelson, Resident North End: Fulton Street; Mr. Gordon Richardson, City-wide Groundwater Emergency Task Force (GET); Meg Mainzer-Cohen, President of Back Bay Association; Ms. Sigrid Haaland, Boston University

 

1.    Adoption of the minutes of the November 20, 2008 Meeting

Minutes were distributed to board members for review. Discussion followed.

Mr. Hunt, Trustee, moved to adopt the minutes. Ms. Sherden, Trustee, seconded the motion.

Voted: To accept the minutes of the November 20, 2008 meeting.

 

2.    New Trustee Introductions

Mr. Shilland, Trustee, introduced himself to the board. He currently works for Camp Dresser McKee and represents the Ellis Neighborhood Association. Discussion followed.

Mr. Linehan, Trustee, introduced himself to the board. He is a City Councilor for District 2 and was elected in 2007. He also has served as the Director of Operations for the City of Boston's Parks Dept. and most recently as the Special Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer of the City of Boston for the past six years. Discussion followed.

 

3.    Neighborhood Focus: Back Bay

Mr. Mitchell, Trustee, and Mr. Simonelli reviewed the current dynamics of the Back Bay. Topics reviewed were pile cut-off elevations, assessed value of the buildings in the area, deep infrastructure, observation well levels and coverage, and recharge. Discussion followed.

 

4.    Finance Report

Mr. Sherin, Trustee, reviewed the BGwT Financial Report and Reconciliation Detail. Discussion followed. Mr. Laffer noted that the funds are now 100% insured by the FDIC. Discussion followed.

 

5.    FY 2010 Budget

Mr. Laffer reviewed the proposed FY 2010 budget. Discussion followed.

Mr. Hunt discussed the current state of the City’s finances in these difficult economic times. Discussion followed. He noted that the BGwT has done an excellent job running an efficient and cost effective operation. Discussion followed.

Mr. Linehan noted that the city council is projecting a 7% cut across the board from FY09 funding. Discussion followed. Mr. Hunt suggested the BGwT run a FY 2010 budget scenario with a 7% reduction from FY09 that does not tap into reserves. Discussion followed.

Mr. Gilbert, Trustee, questioned the frequency with which wells are read and whether or not the BGwT should look at decreasing with which the wells are read. Mr. Laffer noted that reading the wells is the top priority of the BGwT and that should be the last thing the BGwT should look at trimming. Mr. Richardson agreed and noted that city-wide GET would be opposed to reading the well network less frequently. Discussion followed.

 

6.    FY 2009 SEP-IRA Contribution Approval

Mr. Laffer reviewed the budget allowance in FY09 for the Trust’s contribution to full time employees SEP-IRA accounts, and that it reflected a contribution of 3% of calendar year earnings as had been voted in the past. Discussion followed.

Mr. Hunt moved to adopt the contribution of 3% of earnings. Ms. Sherden seconded the motion.

Voted: To approve the annual 3% contribution to the Trust employees IRA-SEP.

 

7.    City-State Groundwater Working Group Update

Mr. Laffer reviewed the topics covered at the latest meeting. Discussion followed. Refer to the attached [linked here] Executive Director’s Report: January 29, 2009, for a summary.

Mr. Gilbert questioned where the BGwT is on obtaining information for the various pumps located throughout the city, which are owned by the agencies represented at the working group. Discussion followed.

Mr. Laffer said he has asked and not yet received any information. He noted that he will continue to look at it and give some thought as to how the BGwT can obtain that information. Discussion followed.

 

8.    Executive Director’s Report

BGwT Executive Director Mr. Elliott Laffer distributed his report. Discussion followed. Refer to the attached [linked here] Executive Director’s Report: January 29, 2009, for a complete list of all activities.

 

9.    Technical Coordinator’s Report

BGwT Technical Coordinator Mr. Christian Simonelli presented his activities since last meeting. Discussion followed. Refer to the attached [linked here] Technical Coordinator’s Well Monitoring Update BGwT Meeting: January 29, 2009 for a complete list of all activities.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:00p.m.

NEXT MEETING: March 26, 2009 @ 4:00 pm at the Lenox Hotel.

Notes submitted by Christian Simonelli, BGwT Technical Coordinator, on 1/30/09.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Galen Gilbert, Secretary