TOWN OF SOMERS

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

WPCA Meeting Minutes

2/1/05; 7:30 p.m.

Town Hall Conference Room

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER:

 

            Chairman Jim Botellio called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.  Members present were:  Jim Botellio, George VanTasel, Steve Getman, Dan Fraro and Charles Colby (7:40).  Also present were:  Steve Jacobs, Sanitarian and Mike Mocko, Ward Engineering.

 

II.            Approval of Minutes:            12/7/04 and 1/11/05

 

            George VanTasel made a motion to approve the 12/7/05 minutes, as written.  This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

            A change was made on page 3 of the 1/11/05 minutes; 7th paragraph.  Change figure of $3,950 to $3,750.

George VanTasel made a motion to approve the 1/11/05 minutes, as amended.  This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

A motion was made by George VanTasel to take the agenda out of order and consider agenda item V. at this time.  This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

V.            Somersville WPCF - Expansion Plan Update:

 

            Mike Mocko of Ward Engineering said the wetlands have been delineated at the

Water Pollution Control Facility and Ward Engineering will begin a boundary survey.  They will do a layout of the facility including elevations and location of critical components.  Ward should have complete plans and be ready for the permit application by the end of February.  Submittal should be made the early part of March.  We will be adding two new sand beds.  The facility is about 28 years old and some equipment has to be replaced to facilitate these two new beds.  This would include:  replacing pumps, new additional tankage, rearrangement of piping.  Members of the Authority expressed concern about the cost of the project.  Mike Mocko said the layout has to be finished before a cost estimate can be made. 

 

There was a discussion about replacing the concrete tanks that house the pumps with fiberglass tanks.  The big collection tanks are in good shape.  We should add three more septic tanks to handle the additional effluent from 1,000 to 100,000 gallons per day. 

WPCA Minutes

2/1/05

Page 2

 

Brief discussion about the possibility of using capital money if the project runs over budget.

 

The ARH developer plans on 85-95 housing units and feels that a pump station may be needed.  DEP will be contacted to see if they would approve a pump station.  DEP would probably not agree to having the developer own the pump station and would require that it be turned over to the town.  Steve Jacobs will meet with the engineers to try to eliminate the necessity of a pump station.  Steve Jacobs also said that garbage disposers should be prohibited in this development.

 

The original developer, Jeff Lipton, will probably wait until the project is approved and then sell it.

 

III.       2005-06 WPCA Budget:

 

            The revenue projects for the next fiscal year look good.

 

            The WPCA 2005-06 budget draft was reviewed.  The major change requested was to remove the cost of the Billing Operator from the Sewer Plant Superintendent and place it back in the Billing Clerical line item with a non-recoverable amount of $7,300, because without an additional town clerical employee in place, it will be necessary to out-source the billing operator job.

Charles Colby made a motion to approve the 2005-06 WPCA Budget, as amended.  This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

IV.            Sewer/Water Billing:

            a.            Collection Update:

                        The water bills went out a little ahead of time.  There was a minor glitch with one of the reports that was resolved over the phone with Blair, our consultant.

            b.            Delinquent Accounts:

                        Steve Jacobs sent letters to the (4) delinquent accounts and talked with personnel at the collection agency.  They will not touch the account that is tied up with bankruptcy procedures.  However, this property is liened - should a sale of the property take place.

Heard from one account that appears to be willing to set up a payment plan.  The other two accounts have not responded.  Steve Jacobs will call the account that indicated a willingness to pay and if payment is not made, all three delinquent accounts will be turned over to the collection agency within the next few days.

            c.            Collector:       already covered.

 

Charles Colby made a motion to add the following item to the agenda; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

WPCA Minutes

2/1/05

Page 3

 

VI.       166 Main Street - Change of Use - Chinese Take-Out Restaurant

 

            The sewer assessment on this building will go from 3.5 EDU's to 4.5 EDU's.  The water assessment will be based on 3.5 EDU's with a reassessment charge of $2,262.00.  This will require a public hearing.  Charles Colby made a motion to set a public hearing date on this issue for March 1, 2005 at 7:15 p.m., just prior to the regular WPCA meeting.

This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

VII.            Correspondence/Audience Participation:

 

            Steve Jacobs had a conversation with Bob Flagg of Hazardville Water Company.  Mr. Flagg has agreed to submit an itemized bill for the $25,000 owed to HWC for pump station maintenance.

 

Fax from Associated Measurement Company - they have checked out our flowmeter and it can be repaired.  However, the repair cost would be about $600 and we can buy a new flowmeter for $1150.00.  The existing meter is about eight years old.  After a discussion, Charles Colby made a motion to authorize the purchase of a new flowmeter; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

Steve Jacobs said there is a 2-day seminar in March for onsite wastewater treatment.  The cost is $245.00 for two days.  The State has urged that all sanitarians attend.  Charles Colby made a motion to approve Steve Jacobs attending this seminar for onsite wastewater treatment in March at a cost of $245.00, pending approval from the Board of Selectmen.  This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

Town Attorney Carl Landolina talked with Robinson & Cole and they can not represent us in the rate case because it would be a conflict of interest.  Carl is looking at the assessment of the water line.  The Assessor's Office has not responded with a value for the water lines.

 

VIII.    Bills:

            Quill (supplies)                                                          $44.99

            Quill (supplies)                                                          $52.19

            Journal Inquirer                                                            $86.57

            Markson Laboratory                                                    $25.81

            Quill (supplies)                                                          $59.98

            Markson Laboratory                                                    $65.77

            Joe Ward (from $7,500 escrow account)                       $2,445.00

                       

           

WPCA Minutes

2/1/05

Page 4

 

            Charles Colby made a motion to approve payment of these bills; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

XI.            ADJOURNMENT:

 

            Motion to adjourn made by Charles Colby; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.  The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Dan Fraro, Secretary

 

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.