MINUTES ARE
NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.
TOWN OF SOMERS
WATER
POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
P. O. Box 308
Somers,
Connecticut 06071
WPCA
Minutes
6/4/02;
7:30 p.m.
Town Hall
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Jim Botellio called the meeting to order at 7:32
p.m. Members present were: Jim Botellio; Simon Lipton; Elinor Labutis;
Dan Fraro; Charles Colby and Steve
Getman (7:40).
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 5/7/02
Elinor Labutis made a motion to approve the 5/7/02
minutes, as written. This motion was
seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.
III. 175 HIGHLAND VIEW DRIVE - WATER SERVICE:
After several letters and conversations with Bob Flagg of
Hazardville Water Company, it is the opinion of both Jim Botellio and Steve
Jacobs that Mr. Flagg will not relax the HWC requirement for the water line
extension at 175 Highland View Drive to extend to the middle of the
property. This is his stand - even
though there are no properties
beyond 175 Highland View
Drive that could connect to the water system.
Jim Botellio stated to Mr.
Flagg that the Town owns the water main and asked how can HWC tell us what we
can do with our system. The Town had no
desire to be in the water business and have requested that HWC take over the
water line. Right now, HWC is
using the line for profit -
without paying any taxes to the Town.
Jim Botellio has set up a
meeting with John Avery, President of HWC, for 6/14/02 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss
this issue as well as the issue of the water hydrants. Jim Botellio remarked that the WPCA has
always worked well with HWC and maybe Mr. Avery will be more receptive to
compromise. Perhaps the line could be
extended 20' into the property rather than hooking in at the corner of the
lot. Put in a blow-off or a
hydrant. This would end up at a right
angle to the property line.
Rick Cheney, the owner of
175 Highland View Drive, said that the cost of going half the distance into his
property with the water line would cost from $6,000 to $8,000. Mr. Cheney was sent excerpts from HWC's
regulations which he feels indicate a degree of flexibility depending on the
specific case. Jim Botellio will
attempt to negotiate in his behalf.
Dan Fraro asked what the
original cost was to connect from the edge of the property and Mr. Cheney said
it would have been $1,000. Dan Fraro
asked about the cost of a private well and was told it would be about
$3,500. Mr. Cheney said one of the bids
was $1,300 -
just to bring the line
across the road and put in a curb stop.
If the neighbor (who already
has a well) shared the cost,
he would have to pay 1/2 the cost of the extension; 1/2 the cost of the
blow-off valve - plus $1300. It is
doubtful that he would be agreeable to that.
Jim Botellio will get back
to Rick Cheney after his meeting with Mr. Avery on 6/14/02.
IV. SEWER/WATER BILLING
a. Delinquent
Bills
b. Software
Update
Connie Carenzo, Billing System Operator,
presented her April and May reports to the Authority.
Of the six accounts headed
for foreclosure, only (3) ended up actually going to the Town
Attorney for action. Two of the accounts paid sizeable amounts -
which removed them from the foreclosure list.
One account is already being foreclosed upon by the mortgage lender; and
the sewer and water charges are included in this civil summons.
In another account, the
address has been incorrect for the past (4) years. The bills were not returned nor were we notified of any
change. After considerable
investigation, the owner was located and came in to pay the entire bill. This is a sewer user account. Now we have the correct address and the
account is current.
Blair Lawson of CMS is all
set to install the new billing system into the Access program on
Connie Carenzo's
computer. The plan was that this
system would be learned by a new employee scheduled to come on board in
August. Connie Carenzo intends to
retire in February of 2003. First
Selectman Dick Jackson advised that money has not been set aside for this
position - although a verbal agreement was in place. Initially, this new position would be part-time and involve
basically the new sewer and water billing system only. If the new hire worked out, then she would
assume Connie Carenzo's other duties and the position would become full-time
when Connie actually retires. Jim
Botellio will talk to the
First Selectman and if
necessary, appear before the Board of Selectmen in order to resolve this issue.
V. CORRESPONDENCE/AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:
In the event that last minute bills come through towards
the end of the fiscal year,
the following motion was
made. Charles Colby made a motion to
authorize Jim Botellio to approve any end-of-fiscal year bills that might come
through before the next WPCA meeting on 7/2/02. This motion was seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously approved by
the Authority.
VI. BILLS:
Sonitrol $218.85
Avery Septic (Gudaitis-Maple Ridge) $360.00
Hank Anderson (gas slips) $78.50
American Business Machines (printer cartridge) $36.99
Arrow Data Services $550.00
State of CT - annual fee - sewer plant $1,065.00
Charles Colby made a motion to pay the bills; seconded by
Steve Getman and
unanimously approved by the
Authority.
VII. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn was made by Elinor Labutis; seconded by
Simon Lipton and unanimously approved by the Authority. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Dan
Fraro, Secretary
Connie
Carenzo, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.