July 15, 2009
A regular meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners was called to order at 6:30 pm by Acting Chairperson Lucien Langlois.~ Commissioners present were, Paul Poulin and Stephen Tardiff. Absent from this meeting was ex-officio member Mayor David Bertrand and Richard Fournier. Also present was Superintendent, Roland L. Viens and Debbie Baillargeon.
There were no Public or Board comments at this time.
It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Tardiff with all in favor, to accept and place on file, the Minutes for the June 17, 2009 regular meeting.
Under the Berlin Water Works Monthly Status Report dated July 10, 2009, Superintendent Viens reviewed the following with the Board:
1. Superintendent Viens stated that the staff had dewatered and inspected the Godfrey Dam; the process is usually completed later in the summer. The process has improved the raw water quality at the Ammonoosuc Treatment Facility requiring fewer chemicals to process the water.
2. The US Forest Service has requested a luncheon meeting with the Board of Water Commissioners; the Board has decided to meet on September 28, 2009 at 12:00 pm here at 55 Willow Street.
3. Superintendent stated that the funds for EPA Grant #4 were expended with work completed this month. We have begun to spend down EPA Grant #5 to complete Abenaki Lane water line installation. The staff broke through the ledge on Abenaki Lane last week and tied in the School Street intersection this week. The new water main has been pressure tested and chlorinated following favorable test results in the morning the line will be placed in use. The staff will move to Goebel Street for the next water main project.
4. Superintendent Viens informed the Board that employee Ralph Lapointe donated a kidney to his sister last week and will be out of work for approximately six weeks.
5. Superintendent Viens received a call from Mike Couch today; Chapman has been hired to clean up the Hexaport site in Industrial Loop by the owner. Superintendent Viens had called the owner last week inquiring about purchasing a trailer; he was given a price of $4,500.00. The trailer will be discussed later tonight on the agenda. The entire area will be cleared by Chapman that will eliminate the possible contamination of the Brown farm well that posed a concern last month when barrels of oil were spotted outside the building.
6. Superintendent referred to a letter the Board had in their meeting packet regarding a revised scope for EPA Grant #5 that was submitted to Richard Skarinka, NHDES, he has had no response as of today. The revised scope will allow the completion of water main installation projects in EPA Grant #4 that has been expended, the expenses are primarily paving.
7. In March Rich Lougee from Senator Gregg’s office called to tell us that $400,000 was earmarked for EPA Grant Funds for Berlin Water Works, Superintendent Viens stated that the application package for the $400,000 should be here in the fall this will be EPA Grant #9. During the month of June there was communication among Richard Fournier, Mayor Bertrand and the City Manager regarding an earmark of $400,000 for another EPA Grant, Superintendent Viens was on vacation but Mayor Bertrand did respond that Berlin Water Works was interested in the EPA Grant that would be EPA Grant #10.
8. Superintendent Viens showed the Board the PAX mixing system that arrived this week for the Lancaster Street Water Storage Tank.
9. Berlin Water Works received a map from the City Planning office of the Riverside Heights Manufactured Home Park, with all assigned house and street addresses for each lot. There are presently two houses in place that will be shown in open house this summer.
It was moved by Commissioner Tardiff, seconded by Commissioner Poulin with all in favor to accept the Berlin Water Works Monthly Status Report dated July 10, 2009.
After a brief discussion it was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Tardiff, with all in favor, to accept and place on file, the Cashier’s Report for period ending June 2009.
Under Old Business:
- Wind Farm Access – David Brooks Proposal: David Brooks came to the office today with a draft easement for the Board’s review. The Board discussed possible future development at the Ammonoosuc Treatment Plant Facility and how the proposed easement would affect the Berlin Water Works. A possible fee for David Brook’s easement was discussed. The Board suggested that the Superintendent make a list of concerns to be submitted along with the draft easement from David Brooks to be presented to the Berlin Water Works attorney Paul D. Desjardins for his review.
b. Water and Assessment Rates – Status –Following the last meeting the Superintendent was directed to contact Elvis Houle regarding the proposed water rate structure. Mr. Houle stated that it would be outside his expertise as he deals more with hardware than software, he did however tell the Superintendent that he would call back with a suggested person for the software solution; he has not called back as of today.
c. Godfrey Dam repair project –Loan & Grant application/Engineering /ER Amendment- Following the June Board meeting Gregg MacPherson of Rural Development called the Superintendent. Mr. MacPherson stated that there are presently two fund sources for the available Rural Development Loan and Grant program, the first is the regular money that is provided yearly for qualified projects and the second is the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Berlin Water Works had requested four to five years project time to expend the $4,000,000 requested for water main projects and the $900,000 requested for Godfrey Dam resurfacing, therefore, Gregg MacPherson is trying to submit both projects under the regular money provided for qualified projects. The decision will be completed the first week
of August. Superintendent Viens told Mr. MacPherson that the Environmental Reviews will be completed by July 17, 2009 and will be submitted to his office at that time. The bridge build project for Godfrey Dam access will be bid with two alternate proposals: the first will be for a pedestrian bridge and the second will be for a bridge that will allow the use of a pick up truck.
d. Stimulus Funding Application – NHSRL and USDA RUD (ER Amendment/Contract-Status: Superintendent Viens previously covered the USDA RUD applications. Staff has posted the Environmental Review for the NHSRL in the newspaper and the thirty day comment period is up on July 20, 2009. The staff is ready to go on Goebel Street, which is the first street in the scope for NHSRL #7 Project BWW 09-2. The staff will begin to run temporary water lines to prevent customers from being without water during the construction and will begin cutting pavement to prepare for digging. The project will begin in front of the Berlin Foundry where the crew will drop a tee with three valves, two for Goebel Street and one for the Berlin Foundry, from this point they will head south on Goebel. The sign
for the project has not been ordered yet, Senator Gregg has protested the use of Stimulus money for funding signs for the projects, and the Board suggested that the Berlin Water Works cover the price of the sign for the project. Superintendent Viens stated that next month the office will have the first pay request to submit under the new requirements for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
e. Brown Farm well head protection Geo Insight – NHDES Grant awarded $19,978 Status: Superintendent Viens stated that he had done a walk through with Geo Insight and they have listed some of there concerns over the plans for the City sewer lift station, it has been decided to change the fuel from petroleum to lp for the generator in the lift station. Geo Insight has completed the first step in the study of the Brown Farm Well head protection area. They have requested a test well on the property across the river from the well, the owner Ted Lacasse has been notified and Geo Insight will contact him with an agreement to sign for the test well.
f. Ammonoosuc Treatment Plant – Proposal –Child Advocacy Center: Superintendent Viens stated that there is nothing to report.
g. BWW & PWD Interdepartmental Services Report – May 2009: Although there was no report this month, Superintendent Viens stated that Public Works Director Michael Perreault had worked with Berlin Water Works to complete eight or nine paving projects. Abenaki Lane will require curb to curb paving and Berlin Water Works will contact Central Paving to complete the paving, Mike Perreault is aware of this decision, he does not have the equipment to complete curb to curb paving. The initial reviews of charges from the City of Berlin for paving have shown that the costs are higher with the City; staff will continue to review paving costs.
h. Provan & Lorber, Inc. – USDA RUD Grant – RR Crossings, Borings & Tank Mixing Status – Amendment to Contract for Bore Insurance- With the progress on Abenaki Lane last week the staff was able to move the excavator to the River Street, Rocky Lane crossing project. The crew was having a problem with one of the crossings and it was found to be a second abutment that had been buried. DBU Construction has completed the two bores at the River Crossing at an approximate cost of $18,000. The crew is now running 12” water main parallel to the railroad tracks. The Railroad crossing is being planned as a jacking but Geo Insight has had the test borings on either side of the tracks and found no refuse. DBU has shown interest in completing the work with boring and
pulling a sleeve as they did under the river crossing. This Friday, July 17, 2009 there is a meeting here at Berlin Water Works with Provan & Lorber Inc., the Railroad and DBU by phone to discuss the possibility of boring the railroad crossing for the project. If the boring plan is implemented Berlin Water Works may be able to complete the River Street, Rocky Lane project sooner than planned.
i. FY 2010 Budget– Review Possible Adjustment for Stimulus Project Work and additional temp employees and equipment: Staff is collecting data on a new pavement cutter, the present hydron pavement cutter broke down and we are finding it difficult to get the correct parts for repair. We have borrowed the pavement cutter from the City Public Works and find the gasoline powered cutter five to one times better than our present pavement cutter. Staff will continue to gather information for a new pavement cutter. Also under equipment Superintendent Viens found a fifth wheel trailer at Hexaport for $3,500 the capacity of 21,000 lbs. The trailer is 40 feet long. The trailer would be used to move pipe to the water project sites. It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner
Tardiff with all in favor to authorize the Superintendent to purchase the fifth wheel trailer from Hexaport for $3,500. Some of the other equipment that the staff is collecting information on is a 320 excavator, skid steer and equipment trailer. The staff has found that some skid steers can be purchased with wheels and also a conversion kit for tracks. The Board asked why we would need tracks on the skid steer and Superintendent Viens stated that it could be used brush and maintain the five mile transmission line and the River Street, Rocky Lane water main that currently cannot be cut with a tractor. Superintendent Viens contacted Aldea at the Employment Office asking for prospective temporary employees with a CDL, who will fill in while Ralph Lapointe is out of work and the new water main projects begin. The list of applicants was reviewed by staff and Michael Perreault and was narrowed down to four candidates. It was moved by Commissioner Tardiff, seconded
by Commissioner Poulin with all in favor to authorize the Superintendent to interview the four candidates and to hire one temporary employee.
There was no other old business at this time.
New Business:
- Approve August Payment Principal and Interest of ’93, ’94 and ’95 Water Bonds: It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Tardiff with all in favor to approve payment of the August Principal and Interest of ’93, ’94 and ’95 Water Bonds in the amount of $696,168.75.
b. Employee Review: Superintendent Viens passed out information. The Board will move this item to closed session.
c. Under other new business and communication: Superintendent Viens stated that there may be money left over in the present Rural Development funds for additional projects, he will make a list of possible projects to be submitted to Gregg MacPherson for revised project scope to expend the balance of funds.
There was no other new business at this time.
It was agreed by the Board to hold their next regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2009 12:00 PM.
It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Tardiff, with all in favor, to enter into the non-public session under RSA 91-A:3II (a) Personnel – Wages and – Grievance and RSA 91-A:2I(b-c) – Collective bargaining and consultation with legal counsel. By roll call vote, with all members voting in favor, the Board entered into the non-public session at 7:46 PM. At about 7:55 PM by unanimous roll call vote, it was moved by Commissioner Tardiff, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor that the Board returns to their regular public meeting.
There being no further business to come before this meeting at this time, it was moved by Commissioner Tardiff, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor, to adjourn this meeting.
The meeting did so adjourn at 7:56 PM.
A True Record:ATTEST: Paul Poulin, Clerk of the Board
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