TOWN OF SOMERS

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

WPCA MINUTES

2/10/04; 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; Charles Colby; Elinor Labutis; George VanTasel; Dan Fraro and Jim Faust.

Also present was Steven Jacobs, Registered Sanitarian.

II. 145-147 Main Street - Proposed Housing Project - Two J's, LLC

Ward Engineering submitted a draft agreement of the cost estimate for engineering

services for the development of 147 Main Street as an Age Restricted Housing (ARH) project.

A letter was also received from DEP that stated the original estimate of two gallons per square

feet for sewer usage was still acceptable. A permit modification can be requested if this turns

out to be an unrealistic estimate.

Steve Jacobs said the only other question was the estimated cost from Ward Engineering. This

cost is estimated to be $28,890 - and all present agreed that this figure appears reasonable.

Developer Jeff Lipton reported that all of the mapping has been completed. The entrance to

the ARH complex will be off Shaker Road. Jeff pointed out a piece of property - about 200'

back from the road - consisting of four to five acres that he is holding aside for possible future

commercial development. The Plan of Conservation and Development would like this piece

of property held for commercial development. The zone would have to be changed from residential to commercial and sewers would have to be put into this piece of land.

Jeff pointed out the brook and catch basins. He said everything flows to the pond and then across the street. The plan calls for 80 - 90 units maximum - most of them will be single family units.

He is trying to keep the cost affordable. Jeff feels his project gives a tax advantage to the Town -

80 or more units without town roads or children in the school system. Jeff said he knows he is

responsible for putting in the sewer and water lines. He would like to keep the cost per unit at

or slightly below $200,000.

Jeff's proposal is to pay for 50% of the engineering cost. He is willing to pay a minimum of

$2,500 up to $3,000 per unit when the unit is hooked up to the sewer system. The cost of the

sewer plant expansion is about $400,000. Jeff would agree to pay for the extra amount of the

system that he actually uses - i.e., $3,000 per unit times (80) units for a total of $240 - $270,000.

He feels the Town should be fair and not expect him to pay for the whole improvement. He

said he has a fairly substantial infrastructure cost and he stated that he should only be responsible for the amount he actually uses.

Jim Botellio said that "those that benefit are those that pay". Up-front engineering cost should

be paid for by the developer. The cost of the new sand beds has not been established. If we

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need more than one bed, then we will put in two beds. The cost could be offset by the cost of

hooking up each lot. Normally, the Authority takes this hook-up money and keeps it in the

sewer maintenance account. If we need two new sand beds to handle the increase in sewer usage, then the cost goes to the developer at approximately $200,000 per bed. Perhaps the Town would

consider a tax break for a period of time. There was a brief discussion about what was proposed

for development of the Somersville Mill.

Jim summed up by stating (1) the developer should pay for the entire engineering cost and (2) each unit's assessment would go towards the cost of the new beds. This money could be invested back in for a possible tax benefit.

Jim Botellio talked about the background on the water system. He does a cash flow every year with the Treasurer and the water system is still heavily in debt.

It would cost $4,705 per unit to hook up to both the water and sewer systems. Jeff would like to

go to the Board of Selectmen and the Board of Finance to see if the Town would subsidize bonding of the costs involved. Jim Botellio said the WPCA will not be responsible for the bonding. The

Authority got burned once with the bonding on the water system and the water account is still

in debt.

Jeff Lipton said it would be cheaper to bond for these expenses. Jim Botellio said the Authority

will agree to take the $2,500 per unit for hooking into the sewer system and put it towards the

expense for the new sand beds. Jeff said it is a good investment for the Town. It should take

(5) years from start to finish for the development to be completed and sold. He already has a

list of people who are interested in purchasing these units.

Jim Botellio said the Authority is in favor of this ARH development in Town - it is the right thing

to do. If we bond for five years, then the Town will get its money back within (5) years in taxes.

The Town would have to do this as a town project.

Jeff Lipton said he will try to get on the next BOS meeting agenda and present this proposal to

the Selectmen. It was decided to hold back on the engineering services agreement until we know

how the Town feels about bonding this project.

If bonding is approved by the Town, then it would have to go before a Town Meeting for final

approval.

III. WPCA 2004-05 Budget:

Steve Jacobs reviewed the estimated revenues with the Authority and then the proposed

2004-05 budget. The Authority suggested that he highlight the cost of the lagoon cleaning in the

budget - a cost of $35,000 which only happens every four years.

Charles Colby made a motion to approve the draft of the 2004-05 budget, as presented. This motion was seconded by Elinor Labutis and unanimously approved by the Authority.

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V. SEWER/WATER BILLING:

a. Update

b. Collector Position

Steve reported that George Razkowski from Vernon has been in for the past two Fridays. The billing system is up-to-date and all areas have been reconciled. We had to pull the Somersville Mill bill and do it manually. He has asked George to set up a special account for the Mill so

this does not have to be done in the future. Steve would like to have George continue to monitor

the system and credit the payments throughout February. This should get us through the water

billing and also he could generate a delinquent sewer billing. George asked if the Authority would be willing to hire him permanently as a collector on a part-time basis. Steve Jacobs said he knows the Authority would not pay him $70.00 per hour to do this job - but might entertain a reasonable offer to do this job. Steve said he is becoming more familiar with the billing system and Janet

Bennett, who is a temporary full-time employee in Land Use, would also like to learn the billing

system.

A title searcher noticed a sewer lien on 58 Main Street that was never released. The account is

current and shows on the billing system that the assessment has been paid off. Steve requested

that Jim Botellio sign a lien release for 58 Main Street. Charles Colby made a motion to release

the sewer lien for 58 Main Street; seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved by the Authority.

V. Scitico Pump Station - Hazardville Water Company Maintenance Bills:

HWC looked at their meter readings and reduced Somers' percentage to 45.2%. Town Attorney Carl Landolina faxed over the new maintenance bills. After a lengthy discussion,

it was the consensus of the Authority that there are other properties that should not be assessed

to the Somers water line and they requested a complete customer list off the new main.

VI. Connecticut Department of Public Health - Regionalization Proposal:

Steve Jacobs provided a list of "Services Provided by the Town Sanitarian which are

not provided by the North Central District Health Department and Estimated Cost". 36% of

the services provided by the Sanitarian would not be provided by the health district. The

Authority would prefer not to join a health district; however, Steve Jacobs feels that it is only

a matter of time before joining a health district is mandated by the State. The possibility of forming our own health district - possibly with a few other small towns - was discussed.

VII. CORRESPONDENCE/AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:

The quarterly report received from the DOC will be discussed at the next meeting.

A report received by DEP shows that 58 Springfield Road is heavily contaminated with cadmium.

The DEP has not made a decision whether or not the State will do the clean-up of this property.

There is a code update seminar on February 27, 2004 in Enfield that Steve Jacobs will attend.

Steve will fax the bill for the sewer repair at the Somersville Mill to Attorney Carl Landolina.

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The Mill people have refused to pay this bill and perhaps the property can be liened for this

amount.

Vlll. BILLS:

McCalister-Bicknell $68.58

Renewal of Soil Scientist certification $35.00

George VanTasel made a motion to pay these bills; seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously

approved by the Authority.

IX. ADJOURNMENT:

Motion to adjourn made by Charles Colby; seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously

approved by the Authority. The meeting adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Dan Fraro, Secretary

Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.