Would you rather pore over thousands of water meter reading postcards, transferring numbers by hand, or let a computer do the work while you drive down the street?
That’s the question Bob Blair of Blair Supply Company posed to the Ballston Town Board on Tuesday, April 28, as he made a case for upgrading the town’s water meters to models that transmit their readings wirelessly, making it easier for town employees to collect and order the data.
Ballston sends postcards to residents twice a year asking them to report their water meter reading. Of course, participation is not 100 percent, and the readings may not always be truthful.
What you got right now is a local read register. You have to go in the house and actually read the meter, write it down and give it to the water clerk, said Blair, whose Rochester-based company has work with Ballston for a decade.
The newest models of water meters, in comparison, transmit readings every five seconds or so, making it possible for an employee with a laptop to drive about town collecting up-to-date readings without getting the homeowner involved.
There would be costs involved with an upgrade, of course. A single meter runs $170 from Badger Meter Inc., Blair’s supplier, but a package including 70 meters, a laptop, software and training runs at $24,000, with bulk discounts for large purchases of additional meters.
The Town Board indicated that the water clerk has been asked to compile data on reporting habits and the time spent compiling readings for comparison. Supervisor Patti Southworth said that compiling readings is `labor intensive` for the water department.
`It would relieve the responsibility for the homeowner. It would also save on administrative time,` she said. `It might be the time to consider it.`
Grant opportunities are available for upgrading. The state archives offers grants that are handed out every summer, and the federal economic stimulus plan includes money for green projects like new water meters, the reasoning being that accurate meters would curtail water usage, which is good for the environment.
`As meters get older, they tend to slow down,` said Blair.
A more accurate reading could cause residents to close the tap and, since Ballston buys water before selling it to residents, save the town money.
The age of the meters in Ballston varies, but many were installed as early as 1971.
According to Blair, applications for that type of federal stimulus money are due by May 28.
A number of municipalities around the state have bought wireless meters from Blair Supply, including the villages of Lake George, Hudson Falls and Voorheesville and the Town of New Scotland. Stillwater also made the switch to a similar system recently.
The Town Board did not take action following Blair’s presentation, but did forward his information to the water council for further discussion.
The Town Board and Jenkins Park Advisory Board members also engaged in a brief but lively debate at Tuesday’s meeting when the advisory board presented an update that suggested a raise for the park’s caretakers.
Minutes from a Feb. 11 meeting of the JPAB show that four members present unanimously approved granting a $5-per-hour raise to Norm and Eileen Collins to bring their pay to $20-per-hour. Since baseball teams are mowing more fields at Jenkins, this year could mean less mowing for the caretakers, meaning the town would not necessarily spend more money while rewarding decades of hard work from Norm Collins.
Councilman Jim Briaddy objected to the idea of the caretakers making `more than highway employees.`
The town’s 2009 payroll shows that Motor Equipment Operator John Hollowood has the highest hourly wage and makes $23.62 per hour, though some of his colleagues make under $20.
JPAB vice president Sat Ihara noted that Collins does not receive benefits or a retirement plan from the town and also supplies and maintains his own equipment.
`Norm’s giving you a lot of things for free,` said Ihara.
The JPAB provided rates from private lawn services that were far more than a $20-per-hour rate for Collins and did not include park maintenance. Board President Lynnette Ziskin noted that Jenkins Park is supported by a fee charged to a special district of 573 parcels.
`If we lose Norm, we would probably have to double that tax,` she said.
The Town Board allowed that Collins should not have to pay for equipment expenses out of pocket, but frowned upon a $5 pay raise. Allowing an itemized or separate charge for equipment in line with state rates was discussed.
`You want to make sure he’s being compensated in a way that seems fair, but it’s very hard for the board when your town employees do not receive that compensation,` said Southworth. `We need to be sure we’re balancing and being fair to everyone involved.`
The advisory board also proposed that liaisons from community groups be established and that the bylaws be amended to provide for two alternates and to establish term limits for board members.
Since the Jenkins Park special district was established under provisions set by the New York State legislature, though, it might be difficult for the town to affect such changes.
`If the district was established ender just regular town law, we would have no problem amending them,` said Town Attorney Murry Brower, who suggested that the advisory board consult with him on bylaw amendments.
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