TOWN OF SOMERS

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

WPCA Meeting Minutes

9/7/04; 7:15 p.m.

Town Hall Conference Room

 

I.          Public Hearing

                        Somersville WPCF/Maple Ridge Community System

                        Set User Rates for 2004-05 O&M Budgets

 

            Chairman Jim Botellio opened the public hearing at 7:16 p.m. and read the legal notice of the hearing.  There was no public participation.  After a brief discussion of the two budgets that determine the user rate for the 2004-05 fiscal year, a motion was made by Steve Getman, seconded by George VanTasel and unanimously approved to close the public hearing.  The public hearing was closed at 7:28 p.m.

 

II.        CALL TO ORDER:

 

            Chairman Jim Botellio called the meeting to order at 7:28 p.m.  Members present were:

Jim Botellio; George VanTasel; Steve Getman; Jim Faust; Elinor Labutis; Dan Fraro and Charles Colby (8:10).  Also present was Sanitarian Steve Jacobs.

 

III.            Approval of Minutes:                     8/3/04

 

            Correction was made to the agenda that listed the minutes to be approved incorrectly.

On Page 2 of the 8/3/04 minutes, first line, "Cametota" was changed to "Camerota".  George VanTasel made a motion to approve the 8/3/04 minutes, as amended.  This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved.

 

IV.            Somersville WPCF - 2004-05 O&M Budget

 

            After a brief discussion of the budget, the Authority approved the 2004-05 Somersville user rate at $175.10 per EDU, an increase of 3%.  Jim Faust made the motion; seconded by George VanTasel.  The vote was:  (5) in favor; (0) opposed; (2) abstentions (Getman and Labutis).  The motion passed.  This new EDU rate will be published in a local newspaper and the budget will be placed on file in the Town Clerk's office.

 

V.         Maple Ridge Community System - 2004-05 O&M Budget

 

            After a brief discussion of the budget, the Authority approved the 2004-05 Maple Ridge user rate at $65.00 per EDU, an increase of 2%.  Steve Getman made the motion; seconded by Elinor Labutis and unanimously approved by the Authority.  This new EDU rate will be published in a local newspaper and the budget will be placed on file in the Town Clerk's office.

 

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

9/7/04

Page 2

 

VI.            Somersville WPCF - Plant Expansion

 

            Ward Engineering has not signed the agreement to engineer the expansion.  Steve Jacobs will contact Ward Engineering to find out when the agreementwill be available.  George VanTasel made a motion to authorize Chairman Jim Botellio to sign the agreement for the expansion when the agreement comes back with approval by Ward Engineering; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

VII.            Sewer/Water Billing

            a.            Collection Update:

                        Steve Jacobs reported that the billing system is in good shape.  He has been working with George Rostkowski from Vernon to generate the reports needed by the Treasurer.

Letters were sent to (6) delinquent accounts threatening foreclosure.  One account paid off their

delinquent balance.  The others will be contacted once more before turning the accounts over to the Town Attorney for foreclosure.

            b.            Billing Operator:

                        Steve Jacobs reported that Land Use has a new part-time secretary who is willing to learn the billing system and should be trained by George Roskowski, who is an expert on the

billing system.  It was the consensus of the Authority that this training should proceed as quickly as possible as the sewer billing goes out on October 1, 2004.

 

VIII.    HWC vs. Town of Somers

 

            A meeting will be held with the Finance Board at their regular meeting date of 9/27/04.  This will be held as an executive session with the Town Attorney, Board of Selectmen and Jim Botellio to discuss this lawsuit.  A meeting has been scheduled for 9/9/04 in the Selectmen's Conference Room to discuss this issue with Ed Sullivan, Treasurer; David Pinney, First Selectman and Jim Botellio, Chairman of the WPCA to go over the background material and issues that finally culminated in this lawsuit against the town.  This issue should be resolved one way or the other by the end of the month.  Also, the Town Attorney has been requested to check on the ratio on the split of charges that has been established by the Hazardville Water Company.

So far, HWC has refused to supply this information.

 

IX.            Correspondence/Audience Participation

 

            Steve Jacobs has received the quarterly report from the DOC on the PCE mitigation.  The results are pretty consistent with past reports - slight gradual improvement in PCE levels.  No change in the perimeter well tests.  This project has cost 6.344 million dollars, so far.  George VanTasel asked about the water main break at the prison; Steve said it was their own water system.  George also asked if Steve had heard from Bill Hogan on the sewer line restructuring and was told that a reply has not been received.

 

X.         Bills:

 

            Hach (SVO&M)                                            $59.65

            CT Management Svc. (billing system)             $180.00

WPCA Minutes

9/7/04

Page 3

 

            Lloyd's Power Equipment                                 $59.42

            Image Max (map copier paper)                             $141.97

            Sonitrol                                                             $245.88

            Avery Septic (90 Maple Ridge Emergency)            $75.00

 

            George VanTasel made a motion to approve payment of the bills; seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

There were also two transfers from the last fiscal year:

            $115 from postage to equipment grant

            $32 from lagoon operations to cell phone

            $339 from WPCA legal into equipment maintenance

The members of the Authority felt that an explanation of these transfers should be included in the future as they have no idea what department these transfers are made to and why they were made.

 

Motion was made by Charles Colby to approve these transfers; seconded by Elinor Labutis and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

XI.            ADJOURNMENT:

 

            Motion to adjourn made by Charles Colby; seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved by the Authority.  The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Dan Fraro, Secretary

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.