Last month I wrote that we would need to have a congregational meeting in November. Well, the time got away from me, and I never properly announced that meeting. So allow me to try again. Let’s have a congregational meeting December 14, 2008. I will be announcing that fact in church, and we will also mail out an announcement. As a congregation we need to decide which possible capital improvement projects we should pursue in the upcoming months. Council will present for your consideration a prioritized list of projects and a recommendation for amount of money to spend. Please plan on attending this important meeting.

I can now present an update on the possible solutions to our water system problems, since the two Ralphs, Bob Heidel, and I met with Mr. Eric McPhee, a sanitary engineer from the Drinking Water Section of the State of CT Department of Public Health and Mr. Vince Susco, Public Utilities Administrator for Town of East Hampton Water Pollution Control. Mr. McPhee explained to us that at the end of 2009 rules created by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency and the State of CT Department of Public Health mandate certain requirements for shallow wells. After inspecting our shallow well, Mr. McPhee informed us that our well will not be in compliance with the new regulations. Specifically, the walls of our shallow well are not sealing surface ground water properly. In addition if we were to repair and continue to use our shallow well, we would be required to use a disinfecting system, and we would be required to have our water tested frequently. Certain disinfecting systems, such as chlorinating system require daily monitoring. There are new requirements for UV systems with which we would have compliance difficulties, and the State is trying to discourage UV systems in general.

Mr. McPhee recommends that we connect with the water system at Shaw’s. We are hoping that we might be able to accomplish that connection at the Bank of America and run a pipe down the hill, connecting up with the pipe in our system at our current well. Preliminary discussions with a representative of Shaw’s indicate that they are willing to work with us. They have an ample supply of good water, which they are supplying to the Bank of America. We will continue investigating what needs to be done to accomplish such a connection and what the expenses would be. We would have to pay for the connection and any periodic charges for water that Shaw’s might ask. I will continue to keep you informed as we learn more.

Lastly, I wish to thank the entire congregation as we have now paid off the ELW hymnals, the altar edition, and the musicians editions. I am impressed how generous you were in contributing.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you always!