TOWN OF SOMERS

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

P. O. Box 308

Somers, Connecticut 06071

 

WPCA Minutes

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

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; Dan Fraro; Steve Getman and Jim Faust.  Also present were:  Steve Jacobs, Sanitarian, and Mike Mocko, Ward Engineering.

 

II.        Approval of Minutes:            9/4/07 and 10/9/07

            9-4-07 minutes, change date on page one from August 8 to August 7.

            10-9-07 minutes, change “sheds” to “houses”, item VIII, page 2

            Steve Getman made a motion to approve the 9/4/07 and 10/9/07 minutes as amended.  This motion was seconded by Dan Fraro and unanimously approved.

 

III.       3 School Street – Jill Conklin – Sewer Bill Grievance:

            Hold until Jill Conklin arrives.

 

IV.       98 Maple Ridge Drive – A. Sullivan – Sewer Bill Grievance:

            Andrea Sullivan was present and stated that her sewer bill was sent to the previous owner of 98 Maple Ridge Drive, and she did not receive the original bill.  Then she received a bill that assessed a late fee as well as placing a lien on her property.  She paid the bill, excluding the interest fee and the lien fee.  She feels that these fees should be rescinded.  Steve Jacobs verified that the computer records should have been updated to reflect the new ownership.

 

After a brief discussion, Dan Fraro made a motion to remove the lien fees and interest charges from the sewer bill for 98 Maple Ridge Drive as well as making sure that the computer record is updated to reflect the new ownership.  This motion was seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

III.       3 School Street – Jill Conklin – Sewer Bill Grievance

            Ms. Conklin did not attend this meeting. She moved from Hall Hill Road to 3 School Street about a year ago.  The sewer bill was sent to the right address but Jill claims that she never received the bill.  The Authority asked Steve Jacobs to invite Jill to the next WPCA meeting in order to resolve this issue. 

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

11/13/07

Page 2

 

V.        Somersville WPCF – Expansion Update

            Mike Mocko reported that the project is moving along smoothly.  He has received two large bills from our contractor, Hinckley Construction.  With the sewer plant at 20% of completion, the bill is $132,044.40 with $14,600 held back on retainage.  Quality Avenue pump station is at 80% completion with a resulting bill of $58,614.  Mike Mocko feels that the bills are in order.  Jim Botellio said the WPCA will pay Hinckley Construction $132,044.40.  The balance due for 100% completion of the project will be $652,219.60 spread over December, January and February.  The contractor has to bring in the tanks and truck in the sand.  The December bill will probably be about $300,000 with $150,000 due in January and February.  The balance due in April or May will be about $52,000.  The contractor for Somers Crossing contributed $170,000 to the project and the rest of his contribution went towards engineering costs.   Mike Mocko presented his bill for $3,690 which covers September through November 12, 2007.  First Selectman David Pinney issued a purchase order for $50,000 to cover grading, tree clearing and temporary fencing.

 

Steve Jacobs reported that one of our primary pumps failed at the sewer plant and Frank Smith Company set up a temporary pump.  The cost was about $6,000 to replace the pump and the piping.  This pump could be used in the future as a temporary pump if something happened to one of the new pumps.

 

VI.       Sunset Drive – TCP Contamination

            Mike Mocko has been in touch with Maryann Danyluk from the State DEP and basically, the project can not move ahead until the problems with the consent agreement are ironed out.  Once that happens, the town would be in a position to submit an engineering report with a cost estimate to cover the installation of public water on the street.  Our town attorney is not satisfied with the language in the consent order and they are trying to work it out.  The series of events should be as follows:  (1)  preliminary engineering report (2) DEP will go to the Bonding Commission for bonding of the entire project (3) cost estimate for engineering of the water main and construction cost estimate for the water main.

 

VII.     Sewer/Water Collection

            Steve Jacobs reported that on the new sewer system on Goodwin Drive, only five paid their assessment in full; one paid half and the others are on the 10-year payment plan.  We only collected about $38,000, 40% of the total assessment of $92,900. 

 

Overall, collection on the sewer bills is down from last year.  There are quite a few delinquents and we may do a second billing and re-check all the addresses of those who did not pay to be sure they are accurate.

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

11/13/07

Page 3

 

 

VIII.    Correspondence/Audience Participation

            Received a request from the Town Clerk for 2008 meeting dates.  Steve Jacobs has prepared a draft.  After review, Jim Faust made a motion to approve the 2008 meeting dates as listed; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

Somersville Mill has been sold by the present owners, eliminating the town as a prospective owner.  Steve Jacobs gave First Selectman David Pinney a copy of the mill’s current water assessment which is a little over $15,000.  The water assessment has been liened.  The sewer assessment has already been paid.

 

Steve Jacobs talked to Hazardville Water about the charges for the valve that failed at

Maple & School Street.  They did not recalculate and it’s 45.2% of the total cost just as it was in 2004.

 

Regarding Brittney Lane, only two homes were over the potable limit for arsenic. All other properties were clear of contamination.  The DEP has this information.

 

Received the PCE update from the prison – the perimeter remains the same.  Also, the quarterly report from the DOC shows very little change.  A question arose whether restarting MW50D,  the deep bedrock well,  would help lower the levelson the east side of Rye Hill Circle.  Steve will discuss this with John Hankins of Fuss & O’Neill.

 

IX.       Bills:

            Hinckley Construction (Quality Avenue pump station)    $58,614.00

            Hinckley Construction (Somersville sewer plant upgrade)          $132,044.40

            Ward Engineering (engineering inspections)                               $3,690.00

            McCalister-Bicknell (lab supplies)                                             $145.65

            Somers Hardware                                                                    $6.29

            Electric Technology (emergency pump replacement)      $6,037.67

            CVS Zerox (quarterly map copier maint. agreement)     $90.00

            Mike Mocko (insp. during S. Jacobs vacation)              $237.50

            Journal Inquirer (public notices)                                     $133.79

                                                                                                            $165.27

            GMH Fencing (temporary fencing)                                            $9,535.00

 

            Motion made by Jim Faust to approve payment of the bills; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority.

 

 

 

 

WPCA Minutes

11/13/07

Page 4

 

X.        Adjournment:

            Motion to adjourn made by Steve Getman; seconded by Jim Faust and unanimously approved by the Authority.  The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Dan Fraro, Secretary

 

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.