TOWN OF SOMERS
WATER
POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
P. O. Box 308
Somers,
Connecticut 06071
WPCA
MEETING MINUTES
11/12/02;
7:30 p.m.
Town Hall
I. CALL TO ORDER:
Chairman Jim Botellio called the
meeting to order at 7:45 p.m. Members
present were: Jim Botellio; George
VanTasel; Steve Getman; Charles Colby.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: October
1, 2002
On Page 1, first line of fifth
paragraph: change "CMSI" to "CMS".
On Page 1, last line of sixth
paragraph: change "CMSI" to
"CMS"
George VanTasel made a motion to
approve the 10/1/02 minutes, as amended.
This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the
Authority.
III. Sewer/Water Billing:
a. Collection
Update:
Connie
Carenzo, Billing System Operator, presented her monthly report to the
Authority. In reviewing the
transactions of the past fiscal year, it was noted that there was an
overpayment on a water assessment. Ann
E. Griskus of 23 Goodwin Drive overpaid her water account by $136.58. It was requested that the Authority approve
a refund check in this amount.
George
VanTasel made a motion to approve a refund of $136.58 to Ann E. Griskus of 23
Goodwin Drive. This will be taken from
the water account. This motion was
seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.
Returns on the
Sewer User/Assessment billing on 10/1/02 are as follows:
(6) on-site
systems paid in full for a total of $1,436.49
Ten (10) out
of (45) accounts have not yet paid on the Maple Ridge system - which comes out
to 22% unpaid. Total receipts for Maple
Ridge were $3,455.53.
Thirty-five
out of (133) accounts have not yet paid on the Somersville system - which comes
out to be 26% unpaid. Total receipts
for the Somersville system were:
$37,897.53.
A delinquent
billing will be sent out in early December for both water and sewer accounts.
Karen LaPlante
said the cash receipts for the last fiscal year did balance with the two
billing systems. However, Connie
McKenna has not received much instruction in the
operation of
the new system.
WPCA Minutes
11/12/02
Page 2
Blair Lawson
has had Connie McKenna enter some things into the system but does not explain
why and how these things are being done nor does Connie have time to take notes
on the input she has done into the new system.
After a
discussion, it was the consensus of the Authority to have Steve Jacobs contact
the
people in
Rockville who are using the CMS system to see if they have an Operating Manual.
Also, Steve
Jacobs should contact Joe Alix who owns CMS and bring him up-to-date as to why
the WPCA has not authorized payment for
the system. Training on the system was
part of the agreement.
Blair Lawson
said that matrix printers do not have a good track record with Windows-based
systems. Charles Colby will look into
this and see what kind of printer will work well with this billing system.
IV. APPROVAL OF 2003 WPCA MEETING
DATES:
George VanTasel made a motion to
approve the draft of the WPCA meeting dates for 2003. This motion was seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously
approved by the Authority. These dates
will be turned in to the Town Clerk tomorrow.
V. CORRESPONDENCE/AUDIENCE
PARTICIPATION:
Jim Botellio reported that the DOT
turned down Rick Cheney's request for a well at his home on 175 Highland View
Drive and will require that he pays for extending the watermain to the middle
of his property and hooking up to public water.
Jim Botellio
feels that this is a financial hardship for Mr. Cheney. His lot is part of the old subdivision that
was approved in 1980 and abuts the new subdivision that has public water.
It was the
consensus of the Authority that Jim Botellio will contact James Okronsky of the
DOT - who issued this decision - to see if the DOT will reconsider this
decision and allow Mr. Cheney to put in a well.
Jim Botellio
read a DEP directive from William Hogan advising the WPCA of a new funding
program for collection system improvements.
Public Act No. 02-5 created a new opportunity for the funding of sewer
collection and conveyance system improvements through the State's Clean Water
Fund. This could apply to correcting
leaks in the sewer system, replacing manholes; improvements in the pump
station, etc. The funding request(s)
must be submitted to Mr. Hogan by 12/16/02 for funding consideration. Jim Botellio will meet with Steve Jacobs
next week to discuss areas where the Town may qualify for this funding.
VI. STATUS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION
& COMPENSATION FOR BILLING
SYSTEM OPERATOR
Position Description #02-006
combines the title of Administrative Secretary - Land Use with WPCA Billing
System Operator. First Selectman Dick
Jackson met with our
WPCA Minutes
11/12/02
Page 3
Town Attorney,
Union representatives and their attorney and came up with an agreement that
allows the WPCA to award performance bonuses in any amount they choose to the
Billing System Operator for exceptional performance for the prior year.
Connie
Carenzo, Billing System Operator, was awarded a bonus in 1999 in the amount of
$1,200.00 for her performance in 1998.
The Authority voted a bonus of $1000.00 for 1999 superior
performance. This bonus was denied by
the Town's Union lawyer and the presiding First Selectman. Therefore, no bonuses have been awarded for
the past three years.
After a
discussion, it was the consensus of the Authority to award a performance bonus
to Connie Carenzo in the amount of $1,000.00/yr. for the years 2000 and 2001
and to consider a bonus for 2002 at the end of the year.
Steve Getman
made a motion to award a performance bonus to Connie Carenzo, Billing System
Operator, in the amount of $1,000.00 per year for the years 2000 and 2001 for a
total of $2,000.00. This motion was
seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.
After another
discussion, it was the consensus of the Authority to award Connie Carenzo
another performance bonus for the year of 2002 in the amount of $1000.00.
Steve Getman
made a motion to award a performance bonus to Connie Carenzo, Billing System
Operator, in the amount of $1,000.00 for the year of 2002. This motion was seconded by Charles Colby
and unanimously approved by the Authority.
Jim Botellio
will talk to Treasurer Ed Sullivan about splitting up these awards in $1,000.00
increments so that the income tax will be less.
Members of the
Authority agreed that Connie Carenzo deserves these awards because her job
performance on the billing system has been excellent and the collection rate on
the billing is much higher than it has ever been.
VII. BILLS:
Lloyd's Power Equipment $478.32
Macalaster Bicknell $192.27
Ace Hardware $15.46
DEP - NPDES Permit $1,750.00
Ace Hardware $34.18
Quill $87.98
Journal Inquirer $94.44
Journal Inquirer $70.83
Steve Jacobs (Soil Scientist Dues) $35.00
Philip M. Eastwood (rental tractor
& tiller) $100.00
CMS (Conversion Services) $660.00
WPCA Minutes
11/12/02
Page 4
Avery Septic Service (clean (3) pumps &
pump
chamber at Treatment Plant $4,040.00
George
VanTasel made a motion to pay the bills; seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously
approved by the Authority.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn was made by
Charles Colby; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the
Authority. The meeting adjourned at
9:00 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Dan
Fraro, Secretary
Connie
Carenzo, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE
NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.