TOWN OF SOMERS

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

WPCA MINUTES

2/5/02 - 7:30 p.m.

Town Hall

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

 

            Chairman Jim Botellio called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.  Members present were:  Jim Botellio; Elinor Labutis; Dan Fraro; George VanTasel; Charles Colby; Simon Lipton and Steve Getman (8:15).  Also present was Steve Jacobs, Sanitarian.

 

II.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES:                 1/15/02

 

            George VanTasel made a motion to approve the 1/15/02 minutes, as written.  This motion was seconded by Elinor Labutis and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

III.            CONNECTICUT DOC - PCE MITIGATION UPDATE:

 

            A copy of Fuss & O'Neill's latest environmental investigation has been filed in the Town Library. 

 

The Hydrogen Release pilot project is working as they expected.  They will monitor for another year in the laundry area and will submit a full report in the fall of 2002.  This project changes the groundwater chemistry and was started 8/8/01.  The SWIA area pump and treat system was started in July of 2001 and a full monitoring report will be submitted in July of 2002.  This area first tested 1,800 parts per billion.  Since August, these levels have dropped from 700 parts per billion to 140 parts per billion.

 

The original pump and treat deep bedrock well (MW-80) was started in 1994.  The PCE levels continue to lower in that well. 

 

There was no PCE contamination detected in any of the catch basins.

 

The water table is below the sewer line that was in question.  The PCE level was very low.  PCE levels are starting to come down in the bedrock aquifer wells.  There are (3) air strippers that are working now.

 

In general, contamination in the bedrock aquifer has declined steadily since 1994.  Winwood Circle area is stable at trace levels and the PCE levels are decreasing within the plume.  The levels on Polo View Drive have also dropped. 

 

Steve Jacobs suggested testing the recovery wells installed in the Rye Hill Circle area because residents with wells are not allowing the State to test their well water on a quarterly basis.  PCE levels in the Rye Hill Circle area have stabilized and are going down.  82 Rye Hill Circle dropped dramatically but the well water has not been tested since 1999.            The

 

WPCA Minutes

2/5/02

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Authority agreed that the State should be contacted about testing the monitoring wells in the Rye Hill Circle area and Steve Jacobs will write a letter to the State.

 

IV.            SEWER/WATER BILLING:

            a.            Update

            b.            Vendors

            c.            Hydrant Fees

 

            Chairman Botellio asked that his report on hydrant fees be discussed first because he has to leave the meeting early.

 

Jim Botellio recapped our choices in handling hydrant fees paid to the water companies:

            1.            Pay them for hydrant maintenance

            2.            Do nothing.  Continue not paying for maintenance and let the water companies initiate court proceedings.

            3.            Take the water companies to court.

 

The Authority previously agreed that #2 is the best option.  In a meeting that Jim Botellio had with the  1st Selectmen,  Mr. Jackson also agreed that this is the best course of action.  The Town will put aside the money for hydrant maintenance in case we lose a court case.  We still intend to attempt to recover the $24,000.00 already paid to the water companies for hydrant maintenance.

 

The Town had agreed to transfer an additional $5,200.00 per year to the water account for fire protection.  This transfer is supposed to take place in the near future.  The Town has already paid the $800.00 per year for fire protection that was agreed to previously.

 

            b.            Vendors:

 

                        Steve Jacobs talked about the demonstration given by Connecticut Management Services of Killingworth, CT of their billing system for water and sewer accounts.  Ed Sullivan, Cathy Cabral, Connie Carenzo and Steve attended this demonstration.  Steve feels that this system could be superior and more operator-friendly than the BMSI system.  BMSI will be radically increasing their maintenance cost in order to subsidize their changeover from a DOS system to Windows.  The CMS system is already Windows-based and operates on the Access program.

 

Karen LaPlante could not attend the demonstration but she will be coming to the demonstration of this system in operation in Vernon on Wednesday, 2/13/02.  After seeing this system in use, it should be easier to decide whether the system is better and more convenient to work with.  The new system would cost about $5,000.00 plus a 15% maintenance fee.

 

Connie Carenzo reported that the water assessment billing went out on schedule on 2/1/02.

The total new commitment was for $32,962.38 - plus $24,785.04 in delinquencies.  There was very little payment activity in January.

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2/5/02

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V.         WPCA 2002-03 BUDGET:

 

            Steve Jacobs presented a draft of the proposed 2002-03 WPCA Budget, as well as a projection of 2002-03 WPCA revenues.  Each line item was reviewed individually.  This budget results in a net budget increase of 2.8%.

 

After a discussion, Dan Fraro made a motion to approve the proposed WPCA 2002-03, as written.  This motion was seconded by Simon Lipton and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

VI.            CORRESPONDENCE/AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:

 

            A notice was received from DEP that our sewer treatment plant application has been received and sent to their technical staff for review.

 

Steve Jacobs met with the DEP in regard to the Wilson property on Hampden & Stafford Roads.  The DEP will be issuing an order to the property owner to investigate the contamination found on the site.

 

We received an application for a water service hook-up from Diane King of 143 Four Bridges Road.  She has a well on the property, but the water is extremely hard.  George VanTasel made a motion to approve a water service hook-up at 143 Four Bridges Road.  This motion was seconded by Simon Lipton and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

Dick Jackson received a letter from CRCOG, which states that recent legislation puts nail salons and beauty salons under the responsibility of the towns. The State has not yet provided training for inspecting these types of businesses.

 

Bruce Tyler received his new EDU assessment for 166 Main Street and has already paid the bill.

 

VII.            BILLS:

 

            Steve Jacobs said there is a seminar on the changes in health code regulations to be held in Uncansville, CT on 2/20/02 with a registration fee of $10.00 that he would like to attend.  George VanTasel made a motion to approve Steve Jacobs' attendance at this seminar; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

            Ellington Printery (inspection forms)                          $86.53

            Avery Septic (cleaning the pump station)              $65.00

 

George VanTasel made a motion to approve payment of these (2) bills; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

2/5/02

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VIII.            ADJOURNMENT:

 

            Motion to adjourn made by George VanTasel; seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.  The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Dan Fraro, Secretary

 

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.