TOWN OF SOMERS

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

WPCA MEETING MINUTES

10/1/02; 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; George VanTasel; Elinor Labutis; Dan Fraro; Simon Lipton; Charles

Colby (7:40); and Steve Getman (8:22).  Also present was Steve Jacobs, Sanitarian.

 

II.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES:                 9/10/02

 

            George VanTasel made a motion to approve the 9/10/02 minutes, as written.  This motion was seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

III.            SEWER/WATER BILLING:

            a.            Collections:

                        The sewer billing went out 9/30/02 - using the BMSI billing system.  The following is the breakdown by Authority.  The amount billed includes the delinquencies.

            Somersville   133 bills            Amount billed:                        $52,360.98

            Maple Ridge  45 bills                        Amount billed:                        $7,832.69

            On-Site      6 bills              Amount billed:                        $6,284.82

 

About (30) bills were pulled out because of various discrepancies and/or change of address.

The delinquent accounts did not show the penalties that should have been part of the bill.

Statements will have to be sent out to the delinquent accounts in order to show the penalties incurred.

 

            b.            Software Update:

                        The CMSI billing system has been installed in Microsoft Access on the Gateway computer - currently operated by Connie Carenzo.  Connie McKenna received her first lesson on the new billing system last Thursday and will receive additional instruction every Thursday afternoon from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. from Blair Lawson of CMS.  Dick Jackson and the Assessor are agreeable to this arrangement - as Connie McKenna is currently assigned to the Assessor's office.

 

Adjustments still have to be made to the new system before a billing can be run.  Year-end reports still have not been received.  Members of the Authority are cautious about paying for this system - even partial payment - until the system is proven to be working properly per WPCA requirements.  Year-end reports that compare exactly with the BMSI year end reports are essential to approval of payment for the CMSI system.

 

            c.            Billing System Operator:

                        The combined Position Description for "Administrative Secretary - Land Use and WPCA Billing System Operator" was reviewed and approved by the Board of

 

WPCA Minutes

10/1/02

Page 2

 

Selectmen at their 9/23/02 meeting.  After a discussion, it was the consensus of the Authority that the salary range for this new position description which includes the WPCA billing system should be upgraded - commensurate with the additional responsibility involved.

 

Charles Colby made a motion to recommend to the Board of Selectmen that the position description "Administrative Secretary - Land Use and WPCA Billing System Operator"

be given an upgraded salary range - commensurate with the additional responsibility involved.  This motion was seconded by Elinor Labutis and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

IV.            CORRESPONDENCE/AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:

 

            Jim Botellio met with the Treasurer to discuss the method that Steve Jacobs used to prepare the Somersville and Maple Ridge 2002-2003 sewer budgets.  Treasurer Ed Sullivan verified that Steve Jacobs had used the correct method in preparing these budgets.

The budget amounts had been approved by motion at the 9/10/02, but at that time the Authority had requested some changes in the method of preparation of these budgets.

 

Received a notice from the Department of Health that Hazardville Water Company has re-done their water supply plan and it is available to us if we wish to comment.  All comments have to be in by 10/15/02.  Jim Botellio said that he and Steve Jacobs would review this plan, as the comments have to be in before the next WPCA meeting.

 

Steve Jacobs sent out an Invitation to Bid for cleaning the tanks at the Sewer Treatment Plant last month.  Two bids were received:

            Skip's Septic            $5,100.00 plus $100.00 per quarter for cleaning pump station.

            Avery Septic            $4,235,00 which includes cleaning the pump station quarterly.

George VanTasel made a motion to approve Avery Septic as the contractor for cleaning the tanks and pump station at the Sewer Treatment Plant.  This motion was seconded by

Elinor Labutis.  The vote was:  (5) in favor; (0) opposed; (1) abstention (Colby).  The motion passed.

 

Ed Sullivan gave Steve Jacobs an accounting statement for our water project on Rye Hill Circle, which shows a balance of $2,228.27 that has never been spent.  This is money sent by the State to the Town for reimbursement of expenses incurred on this water project.  After a discussion, it was the consensus of the Authority that this money should be used to pay HWC for maintenance of the pump station.

 

An update on Rick Cheney - 175 Highland View Drive.  He has applied to the State for permission to install a well on his property.  The quote for the well was $3362.00.  It would cost $7100.00 to extend the public water main across his property - plus the water assessment fee of $2,600 that he has already paid.

 

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

10/1/02

Page 3

 

Steve Jacobs also reported that a developer, Mr. LaFleur, is working with Frank Lomangino to extend the water line in "A Somers Place" to lots he is planning to develop

adjacent to this subdivision.  This extension would also give Mr. Lomangino some additional lots that he could develop.

 

Spazzarini Construction has completed the emergency bypass line at the prison.

 

V.            BILLS:

 

            Steve Jacobs sent a letter to Bob Flagg of HWC stating that the WPCA did not think the bill sent to them fell into the category of "routine maintenance".  Mr. Flagg, in turn,

sent Steve Jacobs a copy of a docket dated 7/19/87 which defines routine and non-routine

maintenance items that would place the current bill in the routine maintenance category.

 

It was the consensus of the Authority that this docket is a separate document and not part of the maintenance agreement that was signed by the WPCA.  It was decided to refer this matter to the Town Attorney for resolution.  This bill will be held until the next meeting.

 

            Ellington Printery (lagoon slips)                                                  $127.68

            Connecticut Management Services (septic billing program)                     $600.00

            Connecticut Management Services (water & sewer billing program)  $5000.00

 

The original terms of the agreement with CMS were COD - which included training on

the operation of the billing system.  CMS would like at least half of the total bill paid.

The WPCA would like to see the year-end reports and a reconciliation with the BMSI year-end reports before releasing half the total amount due.

 

George VanTasel made a motion to pay half the total amount due to CMS when the year-end reports are received and reconciled with the BMSI year-end reports.  This motion was seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

George VanTasel made a motion to pay the bill from Ellington Printery.  This motion was seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

VI.            ADJOURNMENT:

 

            Motion to adjourn was made by George VanTasel; seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.  The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Dan Fraro, Secretary

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.