TOWN OF SOMERS

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

WPCA Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 7, 2006

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, Steve Getman, Dan Fraro, and Charles Colby (7:45).  Also

present was Steve Jacobs, Sanitarian.

 

II.            Approval of Minutes:            February 7, 2006

            Steve Getman made a motion to approve the February 7, 2006 minutes, as written.  This motion was seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

III.            Somersville WPCF Expansion Update:

            Steve Jacobs reported that the wetlands permit was approved pending a 21-day appeal period.  It does not appear there will be a problem with approval.  Steve Jacobs received a copy of the Gingras maintenance agreement for the sewer system including the pump station.  The sewer and water agreements and the maintenance agreement have all been executed.

 

Mike Mocko is still working with Frank Smith to establish all the details for the electronics for the pump station.  Steve talked to Frank Smith last week and he understands we really need this information as soon as possible.  George Hicks of the DEP said he does not see any further problems with approval of the entire project.  Our sewer plant permit needs to be modified to include the expansion.  Everything else has been done. 

 

Hinckley Construction will be doing the construction work for the developer.  Aeschliman Engineering will be preparing the final as-builts and Frank Smith will be doing the pump station.

 

IV.            Goodwin Drive - Sewer Main Extension:

            Steve Jacobs reported that only half of the residents of Goodwin have sent back their letters indicating approval or disapproval of a sewer system in their area of Goodwin Drive.  Of this group, only half indicated approval of a sewer system.  Several of the residents have questions and eight of them are currently in the audience.

 

Steve Jacobs presented a drawing of the proposed sewer expansion area to the residents that were at the meeting.  Steve said that one of the residents has a serious problem that

 

WPCA Minutes

3/7/06

Page 2

 

 

must be remedied.  He said because the house lots are small, most of the other residents will have septic system problems in the future because there won't be enough room to put in an additional leachfield.  Steve Jacobs said the Authority is looking for an easement to go across the corner of one of the lots in order to have most of the systems gravity fed.

 

If the residents approve a sewer line in their area of Goodwin Drive, they do not necessarily have to hook up right away if their septic system is not giving them any problems.  However, they all would have to pay the assessment fee that is estimated to be about $5,800.  Financing through the town would be available over a ten-year period at a 6.1% interest rate - the same rate used for the Maple Ridge Drive system.  Hook-up to the sewer line would vary in cost from $1,000 to $2,000 depending on whether or not the line would have to be hooked up in back of the house or could be hooked up in the front.  Each property that fronts on the proposed sewer line would be assessed for the same amount, regardless of what the front footage of the lot might be.  A local contractor would be hired to do the work and he could be used to do the individual hook-ups if the homeowner wanted him to do the job. 

 

The next WPCA meeting will be Tuesday, April 4, 2006.  This issue will be an agenda item.  The homeowners were asked to attend the next meeting after they have had a chance to review the information presented tonight.

 

Steve Jacobs said he would be glad to meet with individual homeowners to evaluate the probability of using a gravity system on their property.

 

Steve Jacobs received the appraisal of the proposed easement to run the sewer line across the corner of a homeowner's lot.  The valuation was estimated at $1,000.  Steve Jacobs recommended proceeding with the acquisition of the easement for future use even if the residents decide against the sewer line.

 

Charles Colby made a motion to offer the owner of the property $1,000 to grant an easement for a sewer line to cross at the corner of her lot.  This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

V.            Sewer/Water Billing:

            a.            Collection Update

                        Of the water bills sent out, eleven properties did not pay.  Intent to lien notices were sent out today.

            b.            Delinquent Accounts

                        Meyers Motors finally brought his account to a current status.  The anticipated closing on the Pinney property should include payment to us for the water

 

WPCA Minutes

3/7/06

Page 3

 

 

 

 

assessment.  There has been no response from 100 Maple Ridge Drive.  This person also owes a great deal in property taxes.  This account will be forwarded to the Town Attorney to proceed with foreclosure action.

 

VI.            Correspondence/Audience Participation:

            Steve Jacobs reported that we finally received a bid from Wood Construction for connecting 111 Main Street and 19 Scitico Road.  This bid was forwarded to the State to be sure that there are funds available.

 

Received annual financial aid application from the State for water systems and as usual, we are not a large enough town to qualify.  Steve contacted Atlantic States Rural Water and Wastewater Association to see if there would be any small city grants available to help with Goodwin Drive.

 

Received the 2005 sewer user charge survey and we are still 30% lower than the average sewer user charge in the state.

 

Steve Jacobs discussed the lagoon cleaning project with Jeff Lipton who is willing to do this job.  He would clean the lagoon and dispose of the sludge on his land.  This will cost

$70,000 over the next two years.  The town will test the sludge.

 

Charles Colby made a motion to award the lagoon cleaning project to Jeff Lipton of Pleasant View Farms with a payment schedule of $10,000 upon signing the contract; $25,000 upon completion of the job and $35,000 by July 1, 2007 for a total payment of

$70,000 over a two year period.  This motion was seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

VII.     Bills:

            Sonitrol                                    $268.50

            S. Jacobs (reimbursement)           $35.00

            Stewart Appraisals                    $800.00

            (Goodwin Drive)

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

3/7/06

Page 4

 

 

VIII.            Adjournment:

            Charles Colby made a motion to adjourn; seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved by the Authority.  The meeting 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.