TOWN OF SOMERS

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

WPCA MEETING MINUTES

9/2/03; 7:15 p.m.

Town Hall Conference Room

 

I.            PUBLIC HEARING:

            a.            Somersville WPCF O&M Budget

            b.            Maple Ridge CSS O&M Budget

 

            Chairman Jim Botellio called the public hearing to order at 7:20 p.m.  Secretary Dan

Fraro read the legal notice.

 

The Somersville WPCF budget was presented with a 3% increase for a sewer user charge of

$170.00 per EDU.  There were no questions from the audience.  There was a brief discussion

about keeping the Plant Operator/Maintainer's hours to no more than (19) hours per week.

In an emergency situation, the Plant Operator/Maintainer will be paid for his extra hours.

 

The Maple Ridge Community System budget was presented with a 3.3% increase for a sewer user charge of $63.90 per EDU.  There were no questions from the audience.

 

George VanTasel made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.  The public hearing closed at 7:22 p.m.

 

II.        CALL TO ORDER:

 

            Chairman Jim Botellio called the regular meeting to order at 7:22 p.m.  Members present were:  Jim Botellio; Elinor Labutis; Dan Fraro; George VanTasel; Steve Getman and Charles Colby (7:45).  Also present was Sanitarian, Steve Jacobs.

 

III.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES:            8/5/03

 

            Two changes were made on Page 1 of the minutes.  "Eleanor" was changed to "Elinor" and under Minutes Approval, "Goodman" was changed to "Getman".

 

George VanTasel made a motion to approve the 8/5/03 minutes, as amended.  This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

IV.            DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE APPROVAL:  SOMERSVILLE WPCF O&M BUDGET

 

            George VanTasel made a motion to approve the Somersville WPCF O&M Budget for 2003-04 with a $170.00/per EDU charge - a 3% increase over the last fiscal year.  Dan Fraro seconded the motion.  The vote was:  (4) in favor; (0) opposed; (2) abstentions (Labutis & Getman).  The motion passed.

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

9/2/03

Page 2

 

 

V.            DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE APPROVAL:  MAPLE RIDGE CSS O&M BUDGET:

 

            George VanTasel made a motion to approve the Maple Ridge CSS O&M Budget for 2003-

2004 with a $63.90 per EDU charge - a 3.3% increase over the last fiscal year.  Steve Getman seconded the motion which was unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

VI.       145 MAIN STREET:

                        J. Lipton - Proposed Sewer Service Expansion

 

                        A letter was sent to Town Attorney Carl Landolina with (2) legal questions:  (1) Do we have to consider the conditional approval of the Somersville Mill for sewer service expansion and (2) would we be opening the door to any development if we approved this project.

 

Attorney Landolina felt that this property fronts on existing sewer and water lines and hooking up would not be a problem.  However, he has not replied to the question concerning the Somersville Mill.  Steven Jacobs sent Atty. Landolina the WPCA minutes of 8/6/91 which is when the WPCA conditionally approved the Mill project.  Also a copy of the letter dated 8/7/91, in which Steve Jacobs outlined the conditions of approval.  No formal agreement was signed with the Mill.

 

It was estimated that the flow from the Mill project would be 16,200 gallons per day and the estimate for the ARD development is 16,000 - 20,000 gpd. 

 

If the Authority agreed to the sewer expansion needed for both projects, it would probably mean that a new sewage treatment plant would have to be constructed.  George VanTasel remarked that the Authority would not make enough on the sewer user charges to fund a new sewage treatment plant. 

 

Jeff Lipton, developer of the proposed ARH project, would be required to fund (2) new sand beds to accommodate the additional flow generated by his project.  The Authority said it would be willing to request a tax break from the Tax Collector and Assessor for a few years for the ARH

development. 

 

George VanTasel suggested going to the Board of Finance with this proposal.

 

If it turns out the Authority does not have a 1991 commitment to the Mill, we could hold a special meeting with Mr. Lipton to go over the conditions of approval - similar to what was done with the Mill.  Get the answer from Attorney Landolina and then we can proceed.

 

Steve Getman asked if the DEP would give us any problem with expansion of the system.  Steve Jacobs did not feel there would be a problem with the DEP.  They were agreeable to the Mill

expansion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

9/2/03

Page 3

 

VII.            HAZARDVILLE WATER COMPANY:

            a.            Fire Hydrant Maintenance

            b.            Scitico Pump Station Maintenance

 

                        Steve Jacobs reported that he has heard nothing concerning our repeated requests to meet with them.  They just keep sending past-due bills, totaling $3200.  The hydrant situation also has not been resolved.  The WPCA is willing to pay the bills but would like to sit down with them to understand the apportionment situation.  Steve Jacobs will forward bills to Carl Landolina

to attempt to set up a meeting. 

 

VIII.            SEWER/WATER BILLING UPDATE:

 

            Steve Jacobs presented Connie McKenna's Billing System Operator's Report to the Authority.  She received a major payoff today from DLB Realty for 111 Main Street.  She will be meeting with Blair Lawson and Karen LaPlante to set up for the sewer billing which will go out October 1st. 

 

Jim Botellio asked about foreclosing on the delinquent accounts.  He will meet with Connie to see what progress has been made.

 

Dick Jackson forwarded to Steve Jacobs a solicitation for a bid schedule from a company who would like to take over the entire sewer and water billing.  The Authority does not want to do this.

 

IX.            CORRESPONDENCE/AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:

 

            Attorney Landolina sent a letter to the attorney for the Somersville Mill requesting a reimbursement of $2,480.00 for the repairs the Town did on the Mill's sewer system.

 

Sent out an Invitation to Bid to local septic tank cleaners for cleaning the tanks at the Somersville Treatment Plant.

 

Wood Construction was awarded the contract to hook up 43 Rye Hill Circle to public water.

 

The Treasurer has been requested to issue a check to Richard Cheney for $2,600.00 because he was not allowed to hook up to public water at his 175 Highland View Drive property.

 

Lisa and David Graham of 212 Four Bridges Road have requested to be released from their maintenance agreement contract.  Contract sent to them - awaiting return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

9/2/03

Page 4

 

X.            BILLS:

 

            Sonitrol                                               $229.79

            Lloyds Hardware                                $44.01

            Mike Mocko (filling in for S. Jacobs)            $85.00

            Amco (they came in and fixed the

            flow recorder and it is now workin

            properly.  We held the bills.                      $725.00

                                                                        $280.00

 

XI.            ADJOURNMENT:

 

            Motion to adjourn was made by George VanTasel; seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.  The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Dan Fraro, Secretary

 

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.