TOWN OF SOMERS
WATER
POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
P. O. Box 308
Somers,
Connecticut 06071
WPCA
MEETING MINUTES
9/10/02;
7:15 p.m.
Town Hall
I. PUBLIC HEARING:
a. Somersville
WPCF 2002-03 User Rates
b. Maple
Ridge 2002-03 User Rates
Chairman Jim Botellio opened the public hearing at 7:17
p.m. and read the legal notice.
Steve Jacobs reviewed the
draft of the Somersville budget with members of the Authority.
He explained the
expenditures and the revenues. Some
members of the Authority felt that the way the budget was presented seemed to
be confusing. Although the Authority
did not
find fault with the figures
presented, they did have some suggestions for changing the way
the budget was presented and
adding a few more notes of explanation.
Steve Jacobs agreed to alter
the format of the budget to reflect the additions requested. However, the proposed net increase of 4.0%
with a resultant EDU rate going from $158.36/EDU to $165.00/EDU was agreeable
to the Authority.
There was no one in the
audience.
Steve Jacobs presented the
Maple Ridge 2002-03 budget which reflects a 4.7% increase.
The EDU rate will go from
$58.90 to $61.82/EDU. The Authority
approved the draft as
presented and the resultant
EDU increase.
There was no one in the
audience.
George VanTasel made a
motion to close the public hearing.
Steve Getman seconded the motion.
The public hearing closed at 8:00 p.m.
II. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Jim Botellio called the special meeting to order
at 8:00 p.m. Members present were: Jim Botellio; Elinor Labutis; Steve Getman;
George VanTasel; Simon
Lipton (8:50); Dan Fraro
(8:55). Also present was Town
Sanitarian, Steven Jacobs.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: August 6, 2002
George VanTasel made a motion to approve the 8/6/02
minutes, as written. This motion was
seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.
WPCA Minutes
9/10/02
Page 2
IV. DISCUSSION - POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF 2002-03 SEWER USER
CHARGES
a. Somersville
WPCF
The
Authority requested that - in the future -a copy of the previous year's budget
be attached to the draft for the current fiscal year.
Steve Jacobs explained that
the main reason for the budget increase was to cover the expense of resanding
the filter beds at the Sewage Treatment Plant.
Steve Getman feels that more
explanation should be included under Comments so that the
Authority could see at a
glance that funds are saved every budget year for the re-sanding that is done
every three years. Also, in general,
more explanation should be given for each
budgeted figure.
Steve Jacobs agreed to add
more explanation to the Comments section.
Steve Getman and Elinor
Labutis recused themselves from voting on this item only because they both own
property in Somersville.
George made a motion to
approve the increase in EDU rate for Somersville 2002-03 budget
from $158.36/EDU to
$165.00/EDU - a 4% increase. Jim
Botellio seconded the motion.
The vote could not be taken
until two members arrive from another meeting because for this item only, we
would not have a quorum with two members recusing themselves.
b. Maple
Ridge Community and On-Site Systems
Steve
Getman made a motion to approve the increase in EDU for the Maple Ridge and
On-Site systems for the fiscal year of 2002-03 from $58.90 to $61.82 - a 4.7% increase. This motion was seconded by Elinor Labutis
and unanimously approved by the Authority.
V. SEWER/WATER BILLING:
a. Collection
Update:
Connie
Carenzo reported that most of the July checks have been entered into the BMSI
system. However, the month has not been
closed out as yet. There are several
problems that have to be checked out with Karen LaPlante, our consultant on the
BMSI system. Karen has had a death in her
immediate family; but Connie will be contacting her next week so they can schedule
a meeting on these issues.
WPCA Minutes
9/10/02
Page 3
b. Software Update:
Karen
LaPlante and Blair Lawson of CMSS met and reviewed the accounts.
Blair installed the new
system on Connie Carenzo's computer.
Training should begin on the new system and the sewer billing should be
done on both the new and old system so a comparison can be made on the two
systems.
Steve Jacobs said the WPCA
has a few options with the billing system:
A current Town employee has
expressed interest in applying for Connie Carenzo's position when she retires
in March of 2003. She is willing to
learn the new billing system. She
has experience in bill
collecting and dealing with the public.
She would like more stability
in her job. Her current position and Connie Carenzo's
position are both union jobs.
Steve Jacobs feels that she
would do a good job. If the Selectmen
would let her come into
Land Use for training on the
new billing system - probably one day a week - by Blair Lawson, then by the
time Connie leaves, she would be in good shape to take over the billing system
as well as Connie's other duties. Jim
Botellio said he would speak to Dick Jackson about this possibility.
Another option would be to
have George Rostkowski from Vernon - where they already use the new billing
system - come in at a rate of $35.00/hr. to operate the new system until a
qualified replacement can be trained.
In the meantime, Connie Carenzo would continue to operate the BMSI
system. Jim Botellio will also discuss
this option with Dick Jackson.
Steve Jacobs said that Dick
Jackson had asked him to redo Connie Carenzo's job description on a form that
he supplied and include the billing
system as part of the job.
Steve presented the form to
the Authority and they made some suggestions for additions to the form. Steve Jacobs will make these changes and
give it to Dick Jackson for review.
VI. DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS:
a. PCE
Mitigation Update:
Steve
Jacobs reported that the DEP has approved the Hydrogen Release Compound
remedial program on a full-scale basis.
b. Prison Expansion:
Town Staff met with DOC and Baystate
Environmental Consultants on 8/20/02 at Somers Town Hall to discuss prison
expansion in Somers. Land Use Staff
attended this meeting as well as Public Works. An environmental impact study will be done and presented to the
public. Comments will be
addressed. Minutes of this meeting are
available in the Land Use Office.
WPCA Meeting
9/10/02
Page 4
VII. CORRESPONDENCE/AUDIENCE
PARTICIPATION:
Steve Jacobs reported that he sent an Invitation to Bid
to local septic contractors for cleaning the septic tanks. The bids have to be received by
9/30/02. Steve will update the Authority
at the next WPCA meeting.
Dick Jackson did a few
transfers in our budget from the equipment grant to the cell phone line item
and into the Food Inspector account.
The account numbers were incorrect and had to be revised by Steve Jacobs
and the Treasurer.
The annual report was
prepared by Connie Carenzo and approved by Jim Botellio. It has been sent to the Treasurer's office
for inclusion in the annual report.
Steve Jacobs put in a
request to attend a 2-day seminar on soils in Rhode Island. The Selectmen refused the request because
the WPCA had not approved the request.
The workshop is on 9/19 and 9/20 with a fee of $100.00. It consists of work in the field and will be
educational and worthwhile to attend.
This fee includes overnight accommodations and meals. The seminar account is well funded.
Steve Getman made a motion
to approve Steve Jacobs' attendance at a 2-day seminar on soils to be held in
Rhode Island at a cost of $100.00 total fee.
This motion was seconded by George VanTasel and unanimously approved by
the Authority.
Steve Jacobs would also like
to attend a one-day seminar on re-certification of food service training. This is a mandatory seminar, requiring
attendance at one seminar per year for a total of (16) hours in three years in
order to maintain certification. The
seminar will be held on 10/22/02.
George VanTasel made a
motion to approve Steve Jacobs attending a free one-day seminar on 10/22/02 for
food service certification. This motion
was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.
Two members of the Authority
arrived at 8:55 p.m. The Authority
returned to Item IV. in order to take a vote.
IV. DISCUSSION - POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF 2002-03 SEWER USER
CHARGES
a. Somersville
WPCF
George
VanTasel made a motion to approve the increase in EDU rate for
Somersville 2002-03 budget
from $158.36/EDU to $165.00/EDU - a 4% increase. Jim Botellio seconded the motion. The vote was: (4) in
favor; (0) opposed. The motion passed.
VIII. BILLS:
Soil Scientist Renewal $100.00
Journal Inquirer $62.96
WPCA Minutes
9/10/02
Page 5
Lloyd's Power Equipment $36.29
Sonitrol $218.85
Hazardville Water Company ($l,457.83)
The WPCA agreed to pay a portion of non-routine
maintenance to HWC. However, routine
maintenance is the responsibility of HWC.
It was the consensus of the Authority that these items fall into the
routine maintenance category and should be paid by HWC.
It appears that the new
management is charging the WPCA for just about everything that goes wrong at
the pump station. Steve Jacobs will
write a letter to HWC, advising them of the Authority's decision.
George VanTasel made a
motion to pay the bills - minus the bill from HWC. This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved
by the Authority.
IX. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn was made by George VanTasel; seconded
by Steve Getman and
unanimously approved by the
Authority. The meeting adjourned at
9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan Fraro, Secretary
Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL
APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.