Water Pollution Control Authority
Regular Meeting Minutes
August 4, 2009
The regular meeting of the Water Pollution Control Authority was held on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, 20 Gildersleeve Drive, East Hampton, CT. The members in attendance included:
Mark Barmasse, Chairman David Kelsey
John Hanson Roger Abraham
Dag Lindland arrived 5:07PM
Also in attendance were John Tuttle, Town Council Liaison, Vincent F. Susco, Jr., Public Utilities Administrator. Pam McCann served as recording secretary.
Call to Order
Chairman Barmasse called the meeting to order at 5:00 P.M.
The chairman called for a moment of silence for former WPCA member Robert Heidel.
Approval of Minutes
Chairman Barmasse called for the approval of the minutes of the June 16, 2009 special meeting.~ Mr. Hanson, motioned, seconded by Mr. Kelsey, to approve the minutes.
The minutes were approved by a 5-0 vote.
Dag Lindland arrived at 5:07 P.M.
Public Remarks
There was no public comment.
Review of Correspondence
The correspondence list was reviewed by the members and is attached to these minutes. Mr. Susco reported on the remaining open items regarding the Flanders Road Force main installation. He indicated the final inspection of the grinder pump necessary to serve 14 Flanders Road has not been completed and that as build drawings have not been received. Mr. Tuttle provided additional information regarding the Flanders Road reconstruction project.
Town Council Liaison
Mr. Tuttle provided an update on recent discussions with the property owner for 49 Oakum Dock Road. He reviewed the options that were considered in securing the water source property. ~He explained the best option available is a public water supply permanent easement. ~This permanent easement will provide for all the needs (access, construction, operation, permanency, etc) for a potable water source at a minimum cost to the Town. ~He explained the property owner has agreed to work within the restrictions placed on the property.
The next step would require an appropriation by the Board of Finance for both this property and the Greer property (location of the water treatment plant) in Middle Haddam. Following that, the Town Council would be required to schedule a Town Meeting to approve the financing associated with the acquisitions.
Mr. Tuttle responded to several questions from the members before departing the meeting.
Board of Finance Liaison
No liaison was not present.
Operations, Management & Budget Committee
In an effort to accommodate the request of the Town Council Chairman and have the members of the Water Development Task Force and WPCA attend a Special Town Council Meeting scheduled for 6:30 P.M. this evening Chairman Barmasse requested the Joint Facilties report be tabled until the next meeting. The members agreed.
Budget Status
Chairman Barmasse called upon Mr. Susco to present the WPCA Budget Status report.
Mr. Susco reported no budget status report is available for the current fiscal year.
Mr. Susco presented the WPCA’s financial summary for fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. He indicated the year ended in the black and that management’s recommendation for the revenue budget for 09/10 will be presented at the September meeting.
Mr. Susco presented the WPCA end of year transfers for fiscal year 08/09. These transfers are made part of the minutes. After responding to questions from the members the following motion moved by Mr. Lindland, seconded by Mr. Abraham, was unanimously approved:
RESOLVED: that the Water Pollution Control Authority does hereby approve the line item transfers for the WPCA fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 substantially in the form presented at this meeting.
Mr. Susco presented the Village Center Water System (VCWS) financial summary for fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. He indicated the VCWS will end it’s fiscal year in the red due to the additional maintenance completed on Well#1 after the consent order had been closed.
Mr. Susco presented the Village Center Water System end of year transfers for fiscal year 08/09. These transfers are made part of the minutes. After responding to questions from the members the following motion moved by Mr. Abraham, seconded by Mr. Lindland Abraham, was unanimously approved:
RESOLVED: that the Water Pollution Control Authority does hereby approve the line item transfers for the Village Center Water System WPCA fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 substantially in the form presented at this meeting.
Mr. Susco presented the Royal Oaks Water System (ROWS) financial summary for fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. He indicated the year ended in the black.
Mr. Susco presented the ROWS end of year transfers for fiscal year 08/09. These transfers are made part of the minutes. After responding to questions from the members the following motion moved by Mr. Abraham, seconded by Mr. Lindland, was unanimously approved:
RESOLVED: that the Water Pollution Control Authority does hereby approve the line item transfers for the Royal Oaks Water System WPCA fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 substantially in the form presented at this meeting.
Mr. Susco reported that the recommended water rates for the 09/10 Fiscal Year submitted by WPCA were revised by the Town Council due to their strong desire to continue to reduce the Town’s contribution to these systems and establish self sufficiency. The new rates are $9.25 per EMU and $4.00/1000 gallons effective July 15, 2009. Revised rates have been part of these minutes.
Public Water System
Town Center Water System Operations
Chairman Barmasse called for the operation status of the TCWS. Mr. Susco reported the TCWS continues to perform within parameters. Mr. Susco reported, with the Center School closed for the summer, the well pump run time has decreased as demand has dropped. The malfunctioning chlorine analyzer has been replaced under warranty and we no longer are manually obtaining chorine residuals.
Mr. Susco reported work on the distribution system continues with the replacement of several curb stop boxes. All property owners have been billed for the repairs.
Mr. Susco reported the installation of the water main extension on Skinner Street has been completed. The main has been disinfected, pressure tested and has received a clean bacteriologic sample. It now remains up to the property owner (Epoch Arts) to install the water service and have the meter set. He anticipated that to occur in the near future.
Royal Oaks Water System Operations
Mr. Susco reported the “green sand media” for iron/manganese filter #2 has been replaced and water quality is improving. With full build-out of the Royal Oaks development in the near future and the current raw water quality, he believes this event will occur every other year. To minimize the effect on the budget, one filter will be replaced each year beginning in 2011.
The station continues to have chemical feed issues but to date have not caused any water quality problems. Labor to repair the feeders is beginning to climb and a better solution needs to be found.
At the request of management the DOHS was requested to establish a lower threshold for coliform and physical testing. Mr. Susco reported that the DOHS has determined the system can now begin quarterly rather monthly coliform and physical testing. The approval by the State for a reduction in water quality parameter testing does not come lightly and requires an exemplary track record on many levels. Mr. Susco complimented the water treatment operators who are responsible for this achievement.
Mr. Susco reported Pelletier Development Corporation has been contacted regarding several outstanding issues that remain at the Royal Oaks Development. As-built mapping and land transfer documents for the unimproved road are at the head of the list. Mr. Pelletier has agreed to have his lawyer begin the process of closing this project.
Mr. Susco reported the Water Development Task Force has developed a water connection policy based upon three criteria; health and safety, economic development and cost. The policy will be presented to the Town Council. Presently the WDTF is discussing the topic of assessments for those who do connect.
Proposed Public Water Systems
Belltown Place
There has been no activity on this project.
Mr. Susco distributed the State’s response to East Hampton’s ranking under the American Resource Recovering Act (ARRA) funding.~ There was no change in the rankings.
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Sewer Development
Skyline Estates
There is nothing to report at this time.
Belltown Place
There is nothing to report at this time.
East High Street/Marlborough
Mr. Susco updated the members on an issue that has developed regarding pumps to be installed at the American Distillery Lift Station. On July 16, 2009 during a site visit between the contractor (Kovac Construction Corp) and the WPCA it was determined there was a lack of vertical clearance for the pump motors.~ This was caused by the vertical dimension of the seal and motor resubmitted by the contractor and being 28 inches taller than the original submittal.~ The vertical clearance from the motor to the ceiling of the pump chamber was less then 9”.~ This would not allow room to lift the pump from above.~ Limited ability to lift the pump motors would create excessive time and effort to do routine maintenance on the new pumps.~ The WPCA informed the contractor that the pumps were not acceptable.
On July 28, 2009 the topic of the pumps at the Distillery was again discussed at a project field meeting.~ Numerous reasons were given as to how this occurred and after a lengthy discussion a resolution was determined but no party accepted responsibility for the error at this time. Cost of correcting the error could approach $50,000.00. To accommodate demands by the WPCA to finish the job, the contractor was informed by the engineer (Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc) that the close-coupled pump/motor would be acceptable for use at the Distillery.~ The understanding was that the pump motors would be ordered and the modifications to the pumps done at a local shop if the WPCA could be assured replacement parts would be “off the shelf” and readily available.
Mr. Susco expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of detail demonstrated by the parties and questioned the change order process that occurred without WPCA acknowledgement. To avoid any further delay at the site Mr. Susco requested a final landscaping site plan be developed and that planting be expedited.
Old Business
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Mr. Susco mentioned there is no news to report.
New Business
Mr. Susco requested that the discussion on a proposed manhole alignment program be tabled until the next meeting. The members agreed.
There being no further business, the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at 5:30 PM.
Adjournment
Mr. Lindland motioned, seconded by Mr. Kelsey, to adjourn the meeting. All voting in favor, the meeting was closed at 5:47 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Pamela McCann
Recording Secretary
Approved by unanimous vote of the Water Pollution Control Authority on September 1, 2009.
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