Board of Water Commissioners Meeting — July 29, 2026

The Swansea Board of Water Commissioners held a regular meeting on July 29, 2026, attended by Commissioners Lisa Martelli, Ernie Bacon, and Jim Pelletier, along with Superintendent Jeff Pelletier. The board approved the regular and executive session minutes from July 1, 2026, and reviewed district bills and communications, including invoices from Waterwork for $9,870, Hub Insurance for $110,303.16, and workers' compensation for $6,466. Superintendent Pelletier briefed the board on a class action antitrust lawsuit concerning PVC pipe manufacturer Northern Pipe and reported on recurring dual check valve backflow assembly failures at the Swansea Ambulance Corps facility. The board also discussed the water meter replacement initiative, noting that contract work with Hydro Utilities was wrapping up to transition remaining installs in-house, leaving approximately 212 non-responsive customers who may face shutoff notices or fines.

The board held in-depth discussions regarding regional water supply initiatives and capital improvements. Updates on the Somerset water interconnection highlighted potential delays with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and interbasin transfer regulations related to an inactive well in Dighton. The superintendent presented encouraging results from a treatment facility pilot study submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), projecting an estimated $22 million cost for a green sand filtration plant to treat iron and manganese. In other business, commissioners voted unanimously to reject a request from 13 Broadband for a telecommunications cabinet easement at 700 Wilbur Avenue, approved entering into an Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) trust with Bartholomew & Company with a 70/30 asset allocation, renewed the annual Rockwell Automation service contract with Northeast Electric for $5,153.87, and awarded an HVAC replacement contract for the desalination facility to AirMasters for $11,915.10.

Under personnel matters, the commissioners unanimously approved permanent status for billing clerk Christine Matosa and office manager Terry Wilcox following their probationary evaluations. During the superintendent's report, Pelletier presented financial guidance from UniBank recommending the renewal of short-term project notes rather than issuing long-term bonds, shared recent water quality and THM testing results, and detailed operational adjustments to wells and filters. Commissioner Martelli reported on coordination with the Board of Selectmen, who agreed to reduce municipal field and park watering by 75% to align with district drought restrictions. The meeting concluded with a vote to enter into an executive session to discuss real property negotiations.

AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Watch the video to verify.