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Regular Meeting of the Utilities Infrastructure Advisory Board held on Wednesday, October 20, 1999 in the Town Hall Meeting Chambers at 6:00 PM.

The meeting was attended by the Town Manager Dunham, Deputy Town Clerk Herrmann and the following regular members: Craig Baskin, Barry Essig, Sandy Foster, Peggy Smith, Jeff Willens and John Smith.

2. Approval of Minutes of May 19, 1999

Dr. Smith move to approve the minutes of May 19, 1999, seconded by Mr. Essig.

Motion carried unanimously.

3. General Discussion

Chairman Willens advised that he would like to prepare an interim report for the Town Commission in November which lets the Commissioners and the residents know what the board is doing. He stated that he would also like the letter to include a commendation to the Town Commission for beginning the drainage surveys. Town Manager Dunham explained that the town has budgeted $150,000 for surveys and floodplain management studies.

Chairman Willens questioned why the town is doing all this surveying and not just fixing the problems to which Town Manager Dunham explained that the engineers need specific data on elevations in order to solve the drainage problems.

Mrs. Foster questioned if the sewer system could be installed at the same time as the new drainage system to which Town Manager Dunham explained that the sewer and drainage lines are separate adding that he did not believe the Town Commission would support the installation of sewer lines at this time.

Mr. Baskin questioned if the report to the Town Commission would include an explanation that the drainage is a long process and not something that can be done overnight to which Chairman Willens advised that it would.

Dr. Smith questioned if those who have the problems in their streets will be required to pay more for the drainage to which Town Manager Dunham stated that the issue of funding the drainage is separate and has yet to be discussed by the Town Commission.

Chairman Willens stated that he would like to include in his report a time line of what the UIAB has done in regards to drainage. He also suggested that a rough footbridge be placed on a part of Hudson Ave. as a temporary step. This suggestion was not endorsed by the rest of the UIAB.

Mrs. Foster questioned if the streets could be pumped out into the Ocean to which Town Manager Dunham explained that it could not be pumped into federal water.

Mrs. Smith suggested that since Town Manager Dunham is working with the surveyors, he write the section of the interim report regarding drainage. Chairman Willens stated that he felt the report should come from the UIAB and should cover drainage, sewage, potable water, underground utilities and no-see-ums. Regarding underground utilities, Town Manager Dunham explained that those areas with underground utilities are having more problems as a result of the hurricane.

Regarding sewer lines, Chairman Willens stated that he did not think the change would be made in Ocean Ridge until septic systems are made illegal. He stated that he would like to have the report reflect that while the board thinks this is an important issue, they do not believe it is prudent at this time.

Regarding no-see-ums, Town Manager Dunham explained that someone would be at their November meeting to speak about alternatives to pesticides. Chairman Willens stated that his report would reflect that the board is still actively pursuing this issue.

Chairman Willens stated that the potable water might be the only issue in which the town may make a profit. Dr. Smith advised that it would take a significant amount of funding to start, as a plant would need to be built. Town Manager Dunham stated that Highland Beach is currently investigating a reverse osmosis plant adding that he had hoped to have an estimate for their study by this meeting, but that he did not.

Chairman Willens stated that he thought the town’s financial planning needed to be comprehensive where many projects are reviewed at one time. He stated that he believed a capital budget would help to keep the taxes low. He also suggested that any plans for the National Wildlife Property be delayed until further study can be done to see if using it as a catch basin may be the best alternative. Town Manager Dunham explained that the Town Commission is already investigating that option and nothing will be done with the property until a survey is done.

Regarding Hurricane Irene, Town Manager Dunham stated that Ocean Ridge and Boynton Beach got the most rainfall in the area. He stated that when the tides went down, the streets did drain properly. He explained that BFI has made a special effort to remove the waste from the town as quickly as possible. Chairman Willens added that he would like to commend the efforts and actions of the town during the storm in his report.

Mr. Baskin stated that he would like to see the report written in a way that it could be published in the Ocean Ridge Reporter and all the residents can be informed of what they are doing.

Mrs. Foster notified the board that she would be unable to attend the November 20^th meeting.

Town Manager Dunham explained that the staff would be requesting that the Town Commission fill the two vacancies on the board at the next Town Commission meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 PM.