TOWN OF SOMERS
WATER POLLUTION
CONTROL AUTHORITY
P. O. Box 308
Somers,
Connecticut 06071
MINUTES – WPCA MEETING
Tuesday,
February 5, 2008
7:30 p.m.
Town Hall
Conference Room
I. Call to
Order:
Chairman Jim Botellio called the meeting to order at 7:45 p.m. Members present were: Jim Botellio, Steve Getman, Dan Fraro and Charles Colby (7:45). Also present were: Steve Jacobs, Sanitarian; Mike Mocko, Ward Engineeting and Marilyn Faust from 32 Rye Hill Circle.
Fuss & O’Neill:
John Hankins and Tim St.Germaine
Department of Corrections (DOC):
Dave Batten, Mark Rachet, Rich Pease and Tim Carey
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP):
Maurice Hamel
II. Approval of Minutes: January 8, 2008
Steve Getman made a motion to approve the January 8, 2008 minutes, as written. This motion was seconded by Charles Colby and unanimously approved.
III. CT-DOC
a. PCE
Remediation – Fuss & O’Neill
Both John Hankins and Tim St. Germaine participated in an overhead presentation covering the history of the PCE contamination from 1993 up until the present time. This contamination was caused by the release of cleaning solvents (PCE) into the groundwater, bedrock and finally into most of the wells in the Rye Hill Circle area of Somers – emanating from the laundry area of the CT. State Prison. Fuss & O’Neill spearheaded the massive remediation program paid for by the State. Hydrogen Release Compound has been very successful in degrading PCE contamination. Great strides have been made in the past fourteen years but there are still some areas that require remediation and testing. For instance, Marilyn Faust of 32 Rye Hill Circle reported that their contamination level has remained the same after all these years. They are using a filtration system provided by the State and have elected not to hook up to public water.
Dave Batten of DOC said that four households have not chosen to go onto public water. The DOC would like to have all Rye Hill Circle residents on public water
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2/5/08
Page 2
b. Sewer Main Replacement Update
Dave Batten of DOC said that the Osborn and Northern prisons need a new sewer line. The project went out for bid and a contractor was selected. However, we could not settle on the bond issue. The contractor held his price for as long as he could.
Currently, this project is going out to bid again – possibly within the next three or four weeks. We will go before the bond commission again. The line will be gravity feed from the backside of Osborn all the way down to Lego.
IV. Somersville WPCF –
Expansion Update
Mike Mocko reported that because of the weather, no further work has been done on the site. We are still finishing the primary effluent pumping station. We are currently making sure that the equipment that has been delivered is what we wanted. Still have one pumping station to go in. All equipment has been delivered and should be installed soon.
Should be in fairly good shape sometime in March. Steve Jacobs remarked that there has been no problem handling the ten additional occupied houses in Somers Village, so far this year.
V. Sunset
Drive – TCP Contamination
Steve Jacobs received a revised document from the DEP and he can see very little change to the document. Town Attorney Carl Landolina is not satisfied with the wording of the consent order. Now it is back with the DEP. The biggest issue was the wording intimated that the town was responsible for this EDB contamination. There is also a question about long-term monitoring.
Maurice Hamel from DEP said he would look into why the consent order has not been processed, and asked how many houses would be going on public water. Steve Jacobs said about 25 houses. Mr. Hamel asked if the town could do a survey of Sunset Drive residents and ask:
1. Are you in favor of hooking up to public water?
2. Are you willing to abandon your current well?
Steve Jacobs indicated that he was willing to conduct this survey.
Mr. Hamel asked if we can give these people a time limit to tie into the public water system. The construction schedule needs to be considered and it would be better to hook up all of the houses at the same time. Steve Jacobs remarked that about half of the wells are not contaminated at this time. Mr. Hamel said that if they decide not to hook up to public water at this time, then they are on their own in the future.
VI. Correspondence/Audience
Participation
Steve Jacobs reported that the water bills were sent out on time. We have 39 accounts left and billed out about $12,000.00. The largest delinquent is the Somersville
WPCA Minutes
2/5/08
Page 3
Mill. Brophy & Ahern are still the owners. They have reneged on their agreement so we can begin to charge interest on the account again.
We received a letter from Hazardville Water Company regarding the ownership of the Somersville water system because the time limit is running out on the original 20-year agreement. Because there is a two year delay from the time we are done paying the bond and the date of the water system completion, HWC has an additional two years to make up their mind.
VII. Bills:
Joe Ward Engineering $1,615.00
McCalister Bicknell $168.84
CBS maintenance $90.00
McCalister Bicknell $177.53
Dan Fraro made a motion to approve payment of the bills; seconded by Charles Colby and approved unanimously by the Authority.
VIII. Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn made by Charles Colby; seconded by Steve Getman and unanimously approved by the Authority. The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Dan Fraro, Secretary
Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary
MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.