Documents: Minutes

 

BOSTON GROUNDWATER TRUST (BGwT)

BOARD MEETING

May 20, 2010

 

The Board of Trustees of the Boston Groundwater Trust held its meeting in the Patriot meeting room, of 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. Tim Mitchell, Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay

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

Mr. Peter Sherin, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Ms. Molly Sherden, Beacon Hill Civic Association

Mr. Peter Shilland, Ellis Neighborhood Association

Ms. Mary Hall, Greater Boston Real Estate Board

Mr. Bill Linehan, City Council District 2

Mr. Jim Hunt, Mayor’s Office

Ms. Nancy Grilk, Mayor’s Office

Also present:

Elliott Laffer, BGwT Executive Director; Christian Simonelli, BGwT Technical Coordinator; William Onuoha, Mayor’s Office: Anne M. Pistorio, North End Water Front Residents Association (NEWRA) Groundwater Working Group; John Curran, New England College of Optometry

 

  1. Adoption of the minutes of the March 18, 2010 Meeting

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

    Mr. Laffer noted that there is no signature on the minutes. Mr. Gilbert, Trustee, was not present at the last meeting. Discussion followed.

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

    Voted: To accept the minutes of the March 18, 2010 meeting.

     

  2. Financial Report

    3. Ms. Sherden reviewed the BGwT Financial Report and Reconciliation Detail. Discussion followed.

    Mr. Sherin, Trustee, questioned the banking expense line item in the amount of $80. Ms. Sherden noted that it is the bank’s policy to charge $20 for reviewing a check that has a double signature on it. Ms. Sherden noted that BGwT policy dictates that any check in amount of $5K and greater requires two signatures, (the Treasurer and one of the co-chairs.) Discussion followed.

     

  3. Adoption of FY 2011 Budget

    4. Mr. Laffer reviewed the proposed FY 2011 budget. Discussion followed. Mr. Gilbert noted the reserve funds the BGwT has and suggested that the board look into ways of allocating some of the funds to further publicize the BGwT’s efforts. Discussion followed.

    Mr. Laffer noted that the budget filed by the Mayor has again included level funding for the BGwT in FY2011. Discussion followed.

    Mr. Hunt, Trustee, moved to adopt the BGwT FY 2011 budget as presented.  Mr. Linehan, Trustee, seconded the motion.

    Voted: To adopt the BGwT FY 2011 budget as presented.

    See the attached Boston Groundwater Trust FY11 Draft Budget.
    [Web page or Excel spreadsheet]

     

  4. Office Move

    5. Mr. Laffer noted that the new owners of 234 Clarendon St. are renovating the building and are planning to raise the rent. Mr. Laffer referred to his five year rent projection that indicates a $25K difference between 234 Clarendon St. and the new office location at 229 Berkeley St. The BGwT will remain a subtenant of the Back Bay Association at the new location. Discussion followed.

     

  5. Meeting with the MBTA General Manager

    6. Mr. Laffer reviewed the meeting he has the MBTA’s new general manager, Rich Davey, who is also a resident of Back Bay. Discussion followed. Refer to item #2 in the attached [linked here] Executive Director’s Report: May 20, 2010.

    Mr. Gilbert expressed concern over MBTA’s ability to solve the groundwater problems of houses without improving the impermeability of the wall. Mr. Laffer noted that the MBTA is very confident they can fix the leak. Discussion followed.

     

  6. Neighborhood Focus: South End with Updated Piling Cutoff Data

    7. Mr. Simonelli reviewed the current dynamics of the South End. Topics reviewed were pile cut-off elevations, buildings found to be underpinned, composition of the fill, existing infrastructure, observation well levels and coverage, and recharge. Discussion followed. There seems to be an area on Tremont Street with low levels of groundwater for many decades, and yet no obvious signs of distress in the buildings. Also the low levels on Tremont Street are unexplained. Christian will investigate records of storm storm sewers and other underground structures. The Technical Advisory Committee is considering this issue.

     

  7. Executive Director’s Report

    8. BGwT Executive Director Mr. Elliott Laffer distributed his report. Discussion followed. Refer to the attached [linked here] Executive Director’s Report: May 20, 2010 for a complete list of all activities.

     

  8. Technical Coordinator’s Report

    9. 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: May 20, 2010 for a complete list of all activities.

     

  9. Other Business

    Mr. Mitchell, Trustee, noted that Nikko Mendoza has resigned from the Mayor’s Office and that Mr. William Onuoha will be taking her place on the BGwT board. Discussion followed.

    Mr. Mitchell also noted that Ms. Hall, Trustee, will no longer be serving on the BGwT board. The Trustees thanked Ms. Hall for her service. The Mayor’s office will be contacting the Greater Boston Real Estate Board to ask them to nominate a successor. Discussion followed.

    Ms. Grilk distributed the City’s new booklet on environment and global warming.

    Ms. Grilk told the Trustees that they each would be re-appointed to service from June, 2010 for two years, and that the Clerk’s office would be contacting each trustee to come to take an oath.

    Mr. Gilbert noted that the residents will be monitoring any signs of settlement in lieu of digging test pits at their Fensgate building located on Hemenway St. Discussion followed.

 

The meeting adjourned at 5:48 p.m.

NEXT MEETING: July 29, 2010 @ 4:00 pm at the Lenox Hotel.

Notes submitted by Christian Simonelli, BGwT Technical Coordinator, on 5/21/10.

 

Respectfully submitted

Galen Gilbert, Secretary