TOWN OF SOMERS
WATER POLLUTION
CONTROL AUTHORITY
P. O. Box 308
Somers,
Connecticut 06071
WPCA Minutes
February 7,
2006
7:30 p.m.
Town Hall
Conference Room
I. Call
to Order:
Chairman Jim Botellio called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m. Members present were: Jim Botellio, Dan Fraro, Jim Faust, Charles Colby (7:45) and George VanTasel (7:50). Also present was Steve Jacobs, Registered Sanitarian.
II. Approval
of Minutes: 12/6/05 and
1/10/06
The 12/6/05 minutes were amended as follows:
Page 1, Section III, fourth line, change to: "We have formally requested".
Page 1, Section IV, second line, change "contamination" to "confirmation".
Charles Colby made a motion to approve the 12/6/05 minutes, as amended. This motion was seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved.
A motion was made by Charles Colby, seconded by Jim Faust to unanimously approve the 1/10/06 minutes, as written.
III. Shaker
Road, Gingras Development, LLC - Age Restricted Housing
The Authority reviewed the water connection agreement draft prepared by our Town Attorney, Carl Landolina. Because the water system will be privately owned by the developer, it was the consensus of the Authority that Item 8 of the agreement could be eliminated as there will be no need for a performance bond.
Charles Colby made a motion to approve the Water Connection Agreement as presented with the elimination of Item #8; seconded by George VanTasel and unanimously approved.
The Authority reviewed the Developer Permit Agreement (Sanitary Sewer) draft that was also prepared by the Town Attorney. This agreement is a little more involved and there were several areas of disagreement between the WPCA and the developers. It was the consensus of those present to return this draft to Attorney Landolina for clarification.
Attorney Bruce Tyler, representing the developers, said that the August 17, 2004 sewer agreement signed by both the First Selectman and the developer at that time Jeffrey Lipton would be the controlling document. The August 17, 2004 agreement did state that a payment of $200,000 would be paid by the developer minus the escrowed engineering fees and permitting fees. The DEP permit fee is estimated to be around $5,000.
WPCA Minutes
2-7-06
Page 2
The cost of renovating the sewer plant to accommodate the 80 units planned by the developer is estimated to be $200,000. Any amount owed over $200,000 will be split equally with the town and the developer.
Attorney Bruce Tyler stated that he feels a performance bond should not be required for the entire project. After a discussion, the Authority agreed that it would not require a performance bond unless it was a town requirement.
Attorney Tyler did not agree with item #16 whereby the developer is required to place an additional $5,000 in escrow for a third party inspection of the sewer line. He feels that the $30,000 already in escrow should be sufficient for all engineering fees.
Charles Colby made a motion to approve the Developer Permit Agreement (Sanitary Sewer) draft with the exception of clarification of #7 after the draft is returned to the Town Attorney for this clarification and his legal interpretation of the original agreement dated August 17, 2004. This motion was seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved.
IV. Somersville
WPCF - Expansion Update
Mike Mocko presented the plans for the sewer plant expansion and went over the site plan with the Authority. Mike said that all of the existing equipment can be left on line while the new tanks and beds are installed. Also, we should be able to switch over to the new equipment without losing the ability to operate the system. The system is all gravity flow until it gets to the new pump station. The pumps are a better design than what we have now. There is an addition of a disinfection chamber using ultraviolet light.
Two beds work as a unit. The pump station will give us a control that we never had before. Mike showed a drawing of the hydraulics. There will be a new splitter box and new septic tanks. Mike still does not have the numbers as to what it will cost to do all this. He is still working on the fine points of the plans and negotiating with the suppliers of this equipment. Mike said by the next meeting date or March 7, 2006, everything should be completed including the final costs. He estimates that the final engineering cost will run about $4,000 over the original budget.
V. Sewer/Water
Billing:
a. Collection Update:
Water bills went out on time - there are only 57 accounts left. Total amount billed was $17,500 and about one-third of the amount billed has been paid.
b. Delinquent Accounts:
Attorney Carl Landolina sent out two letters threatening foreclosure to Meyer on 24 Hall Hill Road and Knybl of 100 Maple Ridge Drive.
WPCA Minutes
2/7/06
Page 3
Jim Botellio reported that he has done another cash flow projection. Assuming the ARH project is approved and the developer pays 1/3 of his commitment by June and the other 2/3rds a year later, we will still own the water system through 2009-10. At that point in time with the money we collect from the new project, we will come out at the end of 2018 - 2019 only $9,000 under the total amount owed for bonding.
VI. WPCA
2006-07 Budget:
After a discussion, it was decided to add $500 to the Billing Clerical budget for the next fiscal year. Charles Colby made a motion to approve the WPCA 2006-07 budget with the addition of $500 to the Billing Clerical line item. This motion was seconded by Jim Botellio and unanimously approved.
Dan Fraro made a motion to add the following item to the agenda; seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved:
VI. Goodwin
Drive - Sewer Main Extension:
Steve Jacobs reported that two other properties have reported septic problems on Goodwin Drive. In order to service this area with public sewers, we would have to expand the sewer service area. If we include all properties in this area to split up the cost of the sewers, the preliminary estimate is
$5,800 per property for its share of the new sewer main. The cost of a new septic system is estimated to be $10,000. Steve Jacobs recommends sending out his revised letter to all properties in this area of Goodwin Drive, asking the residents if they would be willing to pay $5,800 for their share of a new sewer line plus approximately $185 per year for a sewer user fee.
Charles Colby made a motion, seconded by Dan Fraro, to approve sending Steve Jacobs revised letter to all residents of this area of Goodwin Drive. This motion was unanimously approved.
Steve Jacobs reported that he has met with Mrs. Griskus of 23 Goodwin Drive. She is agreeable to having a sewer easement on her property but would like to be compensated for granting the easement. It was the consensus of the Authority to have an appraiser evaluate the value of this easement and then we will offer her a one-time payment of that amount.
VIII. Correspondence/Audience
Participation:
Steve Jacobs stated that there is a seminar to be held in Meriden at the end of February that he feels would be beneficial to attend for the cost of $50.00. Charles Colby made a motion to approve Steve Jacobs' attendance at this seminar; seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved.
WPCA Minutes
2/7/06
Page 4
Received the discharge permit renewal from the DOC.
Malcolm-Pirnie sent results of the perimeter testing on Rye Hill Circle which remain just about the same.
Received an e-mail from the DEP with the consent order for the Sunset Drive TCP contamination.
IX. Bills:
Ward Engineering $15,167.78
Charles Colby made a motion to approve payment of this bill contingent upon Jeff Lipton depositing enough money in the escrow account. This motion was seconded by George VanTasel and unanimously approved.
X. Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn made by Charles Colby, seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan Fraro, Secretary
Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary
MINUTES
ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.