Emmitsburg Water Committee

Reorganized January 30th 2006

Joyce Rosensteel, Water Commissioner

Dave Martin

Temporary Chair

Term ends January 2008

Vacant

Vice Chair

Term ends January ?

Jenna Ott

Secretary

Term ends January 2008

Vacant

Term ends January ?

Enabling Legislation:

Chapter 2.60: WATER COMMITTEE

2.60.010 Purpose, Authority and Enforcement

1. The town of Emmitsburg has a responsibility to establish regulations and provide for a safe and reliable supply of water to residents of the town of Emmitsburg. 


2. The Emmitsburg town council establishes a water committee to promulgate special rules necessary and appropriate for the governance of Emmitsburg's water supply; to make recommendations to the town council regarding water conservation efforts, particularly in times of drought; and to seek alternative methods to fund critical water infrastructure projects which promote a safe and efficient water supply. 


3. The water committee shall consist of four members and the water commissioner. The members of the committee shall be appointed by the mayor with the consent of the board of commissioners. Members will serve for a period of two (2) years and shall serve without compensation. 


4. The committee shall organize at the first scheduled meeting after January 1st of each year and elect a chair, vice chair and secretary.


5. The chair, or in his/her absence, the vice chair or secretary shall preside at all meetings of the committee. The presiding officer shall decide all points of order or procedure set forth in this chapter, unless otherwise directed by a majority of the committee members present. 


6. Regular meetings shall be held at seven thirty p.m. on the third Tuesday of January, April, July and October, and a notice of the meeting shall be posted on the town cable channel, at the town office and other appropriate media outlets.


7. Special meetings may be called by the chair, or in his/her absence, the vice chair or secretary. Notice of forty-eight (48) hours shall be given to each member of the committee and the public. Special or additional meetings will in no way substitute for or replace a regular meeting, as herein required. 


8. It shall be the duty of each member to attend all meetings. Should any member miss three or more meetings without just cause, the committee shall recommend to the mayor and the board of commissioners to seek that member's resignation. 


9. A quorum shall consist of a majority of membership. The secretary shall see to it, with the help of the committee staff, that an accurate and true record of proceedings of each meeting be kept. Minutes should be recorded, typed and placed in the record. Copies shall be provided to the mayor and board of commissioners. The secretary or the presiding officer shall sign the minute book, resolutions, and other official documents as adopted or approved. (Ord. 03-18: Ord. 03-18; Ord. 02-14(part))

2.60.020 Qualifying Conditions

All applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

Water Committee Mission Statement:

The town of Emmitsburg has a responsibility to establish regulations and provide for a safe and reliable supply of water to residents of the town of Emmitsburg.

Authority:

The Emmitsburg town council establishes a water committee

1. to promulgate special rules necessary and appropriate for the governance of Emmitsburg's water supply;

2. to make recommendations to the town council regarding water conservation efforts, particularly in times of drought;

3. and to seek alternative methods to fund critical water infrastructure projects

4. which promote a safe and efficient water supply. 


Water Committee Goals and Objectives

1." Promulgate special rules necessary and appropriate for governance of Emmitsburg water supply".

Examples:

Citizens by email, letter, phone call, address their concerns to either the water committee, council, town manaager or the mayor related to but not limited to: water rates, rate structure, water quality, water resources, water storage or other questions raised by interested customers.

After seeking input from town citizens , staff, other sources such as neighboring towns or water experts, "promulgate special rules" to be considered by Town Council to address the concerns raised by citizens.

2. "Make recommendations" to town council regarding "water conservation" efforts, particularly in times of "drought".

Examples:

Recommend to council "drought" early warning systems to alert citizens about the following but not limited to:

raw water resources depletion (dam leaking, falling well water level), water plant failure(backup systems fail), rain water drought, water quality (boil water), water main disruptions (repairs or breakage).

Recommend to council direct methods of "water conservation".

Suggest conservation methods such as but not limited to agressive leak detection both in home and town delivery pipes, water rate incentives, (rate structure), public information strategies, metering all water used in town, reducing backwash water at water and sewer plants.

Conservation begins with the town water production and continues with individual and business conservation techniques.

Reduced demand for potable water for town consumption conserves rainbow lake and the wells and thus reduces costs of producing water by using less chemicals, electric, repairs and processing less water at the sewer plant.

3. "to seek alternative methods to fund critical water infrastructure projects"

Contact Governors office, US Senators, Congressmen, EPA, Farmers Home Administration, USDA and other sources of grants and low interest loans.

4. " promote a safe and efficient water supply"

Examples:

Collect information from other towns via phone, internet and visits concerning techniques pertain to their "safe and efficient water supply"