Public Meeting Notice  Board of Certification of Operators of Drinking Water Supply Facilities Meeting - 6.5.26

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In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, notice is hereby given that the Board of Certification of Operators of Drinking Water Supply Facilities will be convening their monthly meeting.

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting please reach out to Cheryl Yebba at 617- 701-8711. The Agency will make best efforts to accommodate requests received in a timely manner. 

In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, notice is hereby given that the Board of Certification of Operators of Drinking Water Supply Facilities convened a regular monthly meeting on:

Microsoft Teams meeting June 5, 2026

The topics shown below were discussed at the aforementioned meeting: At 9:03 A.M. the Chair M. Celona called the open meeting to order.  

Informational note: All votes were taken by roll call. Where each member voted in favor, the vote will be reported as unanimous.

Board members present: 
 

• Mr. Michael Celona, Chairman,
• Mr. Dave Coppes
• Ms. Erin Graham
• Ms. Parker Honey
• Mr. Blake Lukis

Board members absent:
 

• Mr. Andrew Reid
   

DOL Staff present: 
 

• Ryan Doherty, Executive Director  
• Aashna Alim, Program Coordinator  
• Nirit Eriksson, Board Counsel 

Acknowledged public attendees:
 

• Jennifer Pederson, Massachusetts Water Works Association

1. Reviewed March 13, 2026 and April 17, 2026 meeting minutes.
2. D. Coppes made a motion, and it was seconded by B. Lukis, and the members present by majority VOTED: to approve the minutes as written.
3. Motion Passed - Roll Call:

2. Executive Director Reported:
3. The number of OIT applications processed and licensed since the April 2026 meeting:      

2. DOL changes to agenda and minute formatting for accessibility
3. The Drinking Water Board has completed its licensing software transition from ePLACE to eLIPSE as of May 18^th and requested that any technical issues be reported to the Support team. 
   1. D. Coppes requested guidance documents for navigating the new portal. 
      1. Executive Director Ryan Doherty offered to share DOL how-to-guides that are posted on both the DOL and Board’s websites with Board members.
      2. B. Lukis requested printable version of the agenda and provided positive feedback on the new eLIPSE Portal account creation experience. 
         1. Executive Director Ryan Doherty explained that Board members will continue to receive a printable version of meeting agendas in member meeting packets.
4. Chair Celona announced that R. Alfasso has left the Board 
   1. R. Alfasso introduced her replacement, P. Honey. 
      1. Board members and staff briefly introduced themselves and thanked R. Alfasso for her service. 
5. Board Counsel Reported: 
6. N. Eriksson announced that she will be leaving DOL and that this will be her last meeting as Board Counsel. 
   1. Board members thanked Counsel Eriksson for her service.
7. Discussed:
8. TCH Compliance waiver request - M Chernicki:
9. A MOTION was made by D. Coppes, and it was seconded by E. Graham, and the members present unanimously VOTED: to accept the TCHs acquired in 2026. 
10. Course waiver request – K. Rodgers:
11. A MOTION was made by D. Coppes, and it was seconded by B. Lukis, and the members present unanimously VOTED: to deny the waiver request for Distribution course due to insufficient experience. 
12. Course waiver request – D. Hentschel:
13. A MOTION was made by E. Graham, and it was seconded by D. Coppes, and the members present unanimously VOTED: to approve the waiver request for Basic Treatment course. 
14. Discussed other matters not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance of meeting: No matters presented.
15. Training Contact Hour Applications: 

1. Chair Celona announced that training organizations seeking to apply for course approval should do so via the new eLIPSE system, except for organizations with banket approval. 
2. Chair Celona recognized public attendee Ms. Pederson to speak. Ms. Pederson shared that she noticed that TCH completion certificates and notarized CORI forms are now required to be uploaded with every renewal on eLIPSE and suggested that these renewal application process changes be made known to all operators, noting that MWWA will include this information in their training sessions. 
3. Temporary Emergency Certificate & Provisional Certificate Status:

8. Reciprocity Application Review:

9. Application Review:

*Member Coppes recuses himself from any MWRA license applications.

**Member Lukis recuses himself from any Dedham-Westwood Water District license applications.

***Member Celona recuses himself from any Lynn Water & Sewer Commission applications.

****Member Reid recuses himself from any Weston & Sampson applications. 

1. A MOTION was made by D. Coppes, and it was seconded by B. Lukis, and the members present unanimously VOTED: to approve all the decisions reflected above.
2. Adjournment – the next meeting is scheduled for July 10, 2026, at 12:30 P.M.
3. D. Coppes made a motion, E. Graham seconded, and the members present unanimously VOTED: to adjourn the meeting.

Documents relied upon during the open meeting:

• Agenda
• Draft Minutes of March 13, 2026 
• Draft Minutes of April 17, 2026 
• TCH Compliance waiver request – C. Reed
• Course waiver request – K. Rodgers
• Course waiver request – D. Hentschel 
• Applications for review pending decisions 

1. Review Minutes of the following meetings:
   1. March 13, 2026 
   2. April 17, 2026 
2. Executive Director Report
   1. Number of OIT applications processed and licensed since the April 2026 meeting:      

3. Board Counsel Report 
4. Discussion:
   1. TCH Compliance waiver request – C. Reed 
   2. Course waiver request – K. Rodgers 
   3. Course waiver request – D. Hentschel
5. Topics not reasonably anticipated by the Chair 48 hours in advance of the meeting: 
6. Training Contact Hour applications: 

7. Temporary Emergency Certificate and Provisional Certificate Status applications: 

8. Reciprocity applications:

9. Application review:

*Member Coppes recuses himself from any MWRA license applications.

**Member Lukis recuses himself from any Dedham-Westwood Water District license applications.

***Member Celona recuses himself from any Lynn Water & Sewer Commission applications.

****Member Reid recuses himself from any Weston & Sampson applications. 

10. Executive Session (M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(1))
    • To discuss individuals’ character, rather than competence
11. Closed Session (M.G. L. c. 112, § 65C – Investigative conferences and settlement conferences)
    • Discuss complaints prior to the issuance of an order to show cause
    • Discuss terms of a negotiated settlement of complaint case
12. Closed Session (M.G.L. c. 30A, § 18 ¶ 5(d)-Adjudicatory conferences) 

Adjournment – the next scheduled meeting is July 10, 2026