During a recent government meeting, key discussions centered around grievances, water quality achievements, and ongoing infrastructure projects.

One grievance was reported this month, with arbitration initially scheduled for the 29th but postponed, potentially pushing the new date to 2025 due to limited availability of arbitrators. Another grievance involves employees working off shifts who are seeking to take mandatory operator certification classes. The grievance has progressed through various levels of the grievance procedure and is now set for pre-arbitration discussions. The management emphasized their commitment to providing options for employees to obtain certification without incurring additional costs for replacements during training.

In a positive development, the water treatment department celebrated winning the award for the best drinking water in New England, marking the third time they have received this recognition. The award reflects the dedication of the staff to maintain high water quality standards.

Additionally, the department announced a planned conversion back to monochloramine for water treatment, which is expected to improve water quality and reduce chlorine taste and smell for consumers. This change follows a successful chlorine conversion earlier in the year aimed at enhancing the distribution system's maintenance.

Infrastructure updates included the completion of reviews for the raw water pump replacement project, with some items expected to arrive by late 2023 and others in early 2025. The department is also addressing decreased filter run times at the Merrimack River water treatment plant, although the quality of treated water remains unaffected.

Overall, the meeting highlighted both challenges and successes within the department, showcasing ongoing efforts to improve employee conditions and water quality for the community.