TOWN OF SOMERS
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
P. O. Box 308
Somers, Connecticut 06071
WPCA SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
3/4/04 @ 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; Elinor
Labutis; Dan Fraro; Steve Getman, Charles Colby and George VanTasel. Also present was Steve Jacobs, Sanitarian.
II. 145-147
Main Street
Proposed
Age Restricted Housing
Two J's,
LLC
Jeff
Lipton came forward to speak to the commission. He indicated that his Proposed Age Restricted Housing is on the
agenda for the next Board of Selectmen meeting, which is to be held March 8,
2004. He also said David Pinney is
planning to speak with Carl Landolina, Town of Somers attorney on Monday, March
3, 2004.
Jeff spoke
about the revitalization of the Somersville Mill and updating the sewer plant
in Somersville. He said that according
to the telephone survey prompted by the P.O.C.D. the majority of the people
surveyed were in favor of the improvements.
Jim
Botellio questioned Jeff how the project would be funded. Jeff Lipton indicated that he would put the
money up front to begin his project. He
said that it would be up to the Board of Selectmen as to whether they would
require a budget or a bond. He also
stated that the Board of Selectmen would need to vote on the matter and discuss
it with the town attorney. The matter
will then go to the Board of Finance if approved by the Board of Selectmen.
Jeff Lipton
stated that there would be approximately 80 - 87 units and that he still needs
to go before the Planning Commission with his proposal.
Jim
Botellio requested a drawing from Jeff Lipton of the proposed development.
Jeff had
questions regarding Hazardville Water.
Steve Jacobs stated that the Town of Somers would take over of the water
and sewer mains. Jeff stated
WPCA Minutes
March 4, 2004
Page 2
that the Town of Somers would not be responsible for
maintenance of the roads. He also said
that there would be underground electric.
III. Rye
Hill/Connecticut DOC
PCE
Mitigation Update
Steve
Jacobs discussed the Quarterly Report showing the status of the project. He discussed the current levels of
contamination in the area.
Jim
Botellio asked Steve if the State of Connecticut will continue to monitor the
area and Steve replied that yes, they would.
Steve indicated that the State is looking for an end point to the
project and he said that it would be up to the DEP.
Steve
said that the DOC has requested for the 5 remaining houses using filtration
systems to hook up to the public water supply by a final date.
Steve
said that he received a copy of Supplemental Investigation Report 2003
regarding boiler plant P.C.E. levels and that Fuss & O'Neil recommends a
re-sampling done in 2006. He told the
commission that he dropped off a copy of this book to the library. He also gave the library a copy of Active
Groundwater Remediation 2003 Status Report.
The report shows maps of the still contaminated areas. Steve said anyone interested in viewing the
reports may either stop by Steve's office or see it at the Library.
IV. Sewer/Water
Billing
a. Billing System Operator
b. Collection Update
a. Billing
System Operator:
Jim
Botellio told the commission that he has spoken to the Board of Selectmen
regarding the position. Steve stated
that the billing system has been
updated and that George Rostkowski has done an excellent job teaching
him the system. He indicated that the
water assessment bills went out according to schedule. Steve said that a new account had been
created for the Somersville Mill so that the account can be processed on the
computer per the agreement.
He also stated that all of the old records regarding the
Somersville Mill have been saved.
WPCA Minutes
March 4, 2004
Page 3
Steve
presented an offer by Mr. Rostkowski to be the permanent WPCA collector, to
come in 2-4 hours per week at $70.00 an hour.
The Authority felt this was too much to continue on a permanent basis
and feels training someone in house would be the best way to go in the long
run.
Steve told
the commission that he would like to keep George Rostkowski on for computer
consulting purposes whenever that may be necessary. He told the commission that Janet Bennett has been shown how to
input checks into the system and has knowledge of how to come up with pay-off
amounts when the need arises.
Steve asked the board for their
permission to have George help again with the sewer billing and delinquent
billing. The board agreed that there is
a need to keep George Rostkowski on for consultant purposes and made a motion.
Motion to
agree to keep George Rostkowski as a billing system consultant when necessary
was moved by George VanTasel and seconded by Charlie Colby and unanimously
approved by the Authority.
b. Collection Update:
Steve
Jacobs told the commission that the water assessment collection has been going
well.
Steve said
that there are still 29 delinquent sewer accounts but only two of which are
over 2 years old. He said that the
total delinquent amount for sewer was currently $11,900. Steve stated that there are 26 delinquent
water accounts with only six that are over two years old. He has two accounts that should have payoffs
very soon. The total due on water
assessments is $17,500 including principal and interest.
V. Health
Department Regionalization
Steve
handed out a new chart with updated notes to all the authority members
present.
Jim
Botellio requested a summary from Steve Jacobs showing the services that he
provides as town sanitarian for the Town of Somers which are
not provided by the North Central Health Department and what
the estimated cost differences would be.
WPCA Minutes
March 4, 2004
Page 4
VI. Correspondence/Audience
Participation
Steve
distributed a memo from the Town Clerk pertaining to Freedom of Information and
that information packets are available.
Jim Botellio requested that a copy be provided for all the Authority
members at their next meeting in April.
Steve said
that the final 2004/2005 budget had been sent to the Board of Selectmen for
final approval. Steve noted that a memo
was sent to Carl Landolina regarding the Somersville Mill property asking about
a lien for the sewer main repair cost.
Jim
Botellio noted to the Authority members that he has noticed a rise in water
level in the stream on Hall Hill Road.
He stated that it is approximately twelve to fourteen inches higher than
before road construction was performed in that area. The contractor involved in the operation is denying
responsibility for adding rip rap to the stream and increasing the water
level. Steve suggested that Dave Pinney
send a letter to the State DOT.
George
VanTasel stated that the WPCA may be entitled to additional funds by taxing the
Hazardville Water Company for use of Somers water lines. The Authority talked about looking into the
matter and asked Steve to contact Carl Landolina.
VII. Bills
Motion to
pay the bill for Sonitrol for the amount of $245.88 was moved by Charlie Colby and Seconded by Steve Getman
and unanimously approved by the Authority.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to
adjourn the meeting at 8:43 was moved by George VanTasel and Seconded by
Charlie Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet Bennett Dan
Fraro
Recording Secretary WPCA Secretary
MINUTES
ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING
WPCA Minutes
March 4, 2004
Page 5
Motion to
adjourn the meeting at 8:43 was moved by George VanTasel and Seconded by
Charlie Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janet Bennett Dan Fraro
Recording Secretary WPCA Secretary
MINUTES
ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING