TOWN OF SOMERS

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

WPCA Minutes

Tuesday, October 4, 2005

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, Jim Faust, George VanTasel, Steve Getman and Charles Colby.  Town Sanitarian Steve Jacobs and Joe Ward and Mike Mocko from Ward Engineering were also present.

 

II.            Approval of Minutes:            September 6, 2005

            George VanTasel made a motion to approve the 9/6/05 minutes, as written.  This motion was seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

At this point, a motion was made by Charles Colby; seconded by George VanTasel and unanimously approved to add the following item to the agenda.

 

III.            Somersville Sewer Plant Expansion:

            Joe Ward reported that he has received a response letter from George Hicks of the DEP.  One of his concerns is addressing the flow rate to the sand filter beds.  It is proposed to add two new sand filter beds.  Would the flow rate be adequate if one of the filters is out of use for maintenance.  He said Ward Engineering could negotiate with George Hicks on this point.  A higher loading rate could be justified based on plant experience. 

 

There were several other minor comments concerning the age of the components and their serviceability.  The primary effluent pump station is being totally replaced.  The new pump station should have a life of at least twenty years without any major maintenance. 

 

The final issue addressed the various sewer treatment processes.  He knows we have a lagoon and the sludge is disposed of  on farmland.  The problem the State has with that is the lagoon and land application of the sludge is not permitted by the State.  The lagoon and land application of the sludge would have to go through a permitting process which could be lengthy, expensive and probably not successful.  The lagoon in Somers is the last lagoon in the state.  Warren Herzig from the DEP would be in charge of the permitting process for the lagoon.

 

 

 

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10/4/05

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Jim Botellio felt that if we could prove that the monitoring well at the lagoon can meet drinking water standards, then we can prove that the lagoon is not polluting the groundwater.

 

After a lengthy discussion, Charles Colby made a motion that the Town of Somers should negotiate a contract with the Town of Vernon - effective by the end of this fiscal year -  to take the sludge from the Somersville Sewer Plant, which would include sewage from the proposed ARH development, and dispose of it inVernon.  This motion was

seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

Jim Botellio feels that we should have additional meetings with the DEP to discuss the issues mentioned during this meeting.

 

IV.       Sunset Drive - TCP Contamination:

            Steve Jacobs reported that nothing new has transpired since the last meeting.  Every well on the street has been tested and about half are at or above the potable standards.  Bottled water and filters are available from the State.  However, there has been no word from the State about bringing public water into this area.

 

V.            Sewer/Water Billing

            b.            Year-end Reports

                        George came in to do year-end water and sewer reports.  Things went good for the sewer report.  One of the water reports needs some work.  George will come back this Friday and try to correct the report.  Sewer bills were printed out and mailed on October 3, 2005.

 

            a.            Delinquent Accounts

                        We still have the same five delinquent accounts.  Two went to the collection agency and one $50.00 payment was made on one of the accounts.  Meyer still has not come in with another payment.  We will wait until the end of the month and if a substantial payment is not made, foreclosure proceedings will be started.

 

            c.            Billing System Operator

                        A new part-time Land Use employee, Lisa Lockyer, began work on Monday, October 3, 2005 and she sat in with our meeting with George on Friday.  Steve is willing to train her on the billing system.  So far, her work seems very satisfactory and she learns quickly.

 

 

 

 

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VI.            Correspondence/Audience Participation:

 

            Steve Jacobs noted that the next WPCA meeting is scheduled for November 8, 2005 which is election day.  Charles Colby made a motion to cancel the November 8, 2005 meeting and schedule a special WPCA meeting for November 1, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Conference Room.

 

A health grant was received from the State in the amount of $5,326.30.

 

An Invitation to Bid was sent out to local septic contractors for cleaning the tanks in Somersville.  Only one bid was received for $4,700 from Avery Septic.   There is $4,800 in the budget for this job.  The work will be completed by the end of November.

Steve Getman made a motion to accept Avery Septic's bid for cleaning the tanks in Somersville in the amount of $4,700.  This motion was seconded by Jim Faust.  The vote was:  (4) in favor; (0) opposed; (1) abstention (Colby).  The motion passed.

 

Received a notice from the DEP of intent to waive the public hearing for discharge wells up at the prison.

 

Received a consent order report on the mitigation work up at the prison - specifically the remediation pumps for the DVE area.  PCE levels are pretty stable in those areas.  Steve Jacobs talked to John Hankins who recommends the HRC application for this trickling filter area.

The cost of this project is up to 6.7 million dollars.

 

Notification has been made to Rye Hill Circle residents that the ten years of free water are over.  The residents will have to start paying for their public water usage.

 

No replies were received on the Invitation to Bid for public water service to 111 Main Street.  Steve Jacobs will check with the State to be sure it is okay to ask Wood Construction to do this job.

 

Steve Getman asked what percentage of lagoon septage was supplied by the sewer treatment plant and was told by Steve Jacobs - only about 10%.

 

VII.     Bills:

            Hank Anderson (gas for lawnmowers and tillers)                     $133.25

            Sharon Alman (notice of violation)                                          $55.00

            McCallister-Bicknell                                                                 $281.49

            Skip's (maintenance on collection system)                         $1,190.00

            Skip's Septic (fix problems with Maple Ridge pumping)            $270.00

 

           

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

 

Steve Jacobs presented a request for a transfer of $1,000 from equipment grant account and and an appropriation of $3776.30 into the food inspector account.

 

Charles Colby made a motion to approve the transfer of $1,000 from the equipment grant account and the appropriation of $3776.30 into the food inspector account, seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved.

 

VIII.            Adjournment:

 

            Motion to adjourn made by Jim Faust; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Dan Fraro, Secretary

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.