OLD LYME WATER POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Old Lyme Water Pollution Control Commission held a Special Meeting on Thursday, October 21, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. in the second floor Conference Room of Memorial Town Hall. Those present were Tom Risom, Chairman, Dimitry Tolchinsky, George James (arrived at 7:43 p.m.), Mervin Roberts, Luisa Grogan, Aimee Eberly, and Roger Breunig. Also present was Ron Rose, Sanitarian, Mark Gilbert and Charlie Chiu (McGuire Group).
Chairman Risom called the Meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
Chairman’s Report
Chairman Risom announced that he is stepping down after many years on the WPCA. He asked the Commission members to think about who might be willing to take the reins, noting that the next meeting in November will be his last.
Budget
Ms. Grogan expressed concern that she is not receiving copies of all the Attorney invoices and is therefore not including them in money spent to date in a timely manner. Chairman Risom stated that he should discuss this problem with the Town Finance Director, as no bills should be paid against the WPCA without his signature.
Ms. Grogan stated that the WPCA budget for 2011/2012 is $24,613.00. After discussion it was agreed by the Commission members to reduce well testing to once a year instead of twice a year.
Discussion on Sewer System Alternatives
The Commission discussed whether they felt they should move forward with the current proposed ordinance, noting the opposition from the community and the good discussion held at the September meeting. Chairman Risom stated that the beach communities appear to want to work with the Town to come up with a permanent solution, and that solution is not necessarily sewers. Mr. Rose discussed the R-10 Seasonal Determinations and noted that the data provided could be analyzed and used in the process of coming up with a solution. Ms. Bartlett noted that the R-10 applications do not contain any more Health Department information then is currently contained in the Health Department files.
Chairman Risom stated that next month he has asked Brian Curtis to come and present to Old Lyme WPCA what their options are as far as sewer system alternates. He noted that if there will not be a town-wide Ordinance to repair septic systems then community systems may be an option, or technology systems perhaps. Chairman Risom questioned whether the Town owes a resident a way to discharge if they cannot accomplish it on their own lot. He questioned whether the Town had any obligation if they revoked a permit to discharge. Ms. Eberly stated that that would be condemning the house. She noted that the Town would be under no obligation to provide housing.
Chairman Risom stated that he is concerned that residents might say that the Town owes them sewers. Mr. Rose stated that the Town owes them a place to put their septage, which they do, and that’s all.
Chairman Risom stated that Brian Curtis, or another consultant from Nathan Jacobson, will outline the options moving forward. He indicated that the State sent him an email suggesting that the WPCA meet with them in Hartford to discuss options so it is imperative that the WPCA become more educated on what their options may be.
The Commission discussed several different land parcels near the beach that could be used for small community systems, along with using land under roadways and rights-of-ways. Mr. Tolchinsky stated that advanced technologies may also be required as part of the community systems.
Discussion on Steve Ross Ordinance
Steve Ross Proposed Ordinance - An Ordinance to prohibit the exportation of water from Old Lyme in amounts greater than X gallons per day (specify a quantity) from aquifers above or below ground that include, but are not limited to, wells, ponds, lakes, streams, brooks and rivers. Water shall not be removed through sewer systems, pipes, pumping stations, tank vehicles (includes truck and rail), drainage and/or the diversion of any natural watercourse. Exportation of water may be permitted in excess of the amount specified by this Ordinance by Special Permit if it can be substantiated by appropriate engineering studies that such exportation will not result in an adverse impact upon the water supply and usage for residents, businesses, farms, etc., in Old Lyme.
Mr. Roberts indicated that the Ordinance does not state who has authority to administer this Ordinance. He indicated that he believes it should be the WPCA.
Chairman Risom stated that Mr. Ross is proposing that water not be exported from Old Lyme. He noted that currently a residential system is pumped and the water is taken to Mr. Yuknat’s facility and then the gray water is transported to wherever he is given the best price. Chairman Risom noted that this is exporting water and the Commission members agreed. Mr. Roberts stated that this problem could be eliminated with a local leach field. He noted that this solution would also be economical in the long run.
Chairman Risom stated that he feels this is a good proposal and suggested voting on whether to move forward with it.
A motion was made by Dimitry Tolchinsky, seconded by Mervin Roberts and voted unanimously to adapt Steve’s Ross proposal to the WPCA Ordinance as it develops for possible Town vote in June 2011.
Chairman Risom indicated that he will notify Steve Ross of the WPCA’s action and invite him to a future meeting.
Sanitarian’s Report
Chairman Risom asked Mr. Rose to report on any applications he has received as part of the R-10 Seasonal Determinations. Mr. Rose indicated that he has received 4 or 5 letters requesting approval and two people have come in and asked him what they need to do to get approval for year round use. He explained that the first step is for them to arrange test holes and noted that none have proceeded to date.
Mr. Rose stated that he has several requests from people that they not be required to pump because of extenuating circumstances.
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by George James, seconded by Luisa Grogan and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of July 15, 2010 and September 16, 2010.
New Business
Chairman Risom stated that he would like to add pump-out status to the regular agenda.
Mr. Breunig noted that Ms. Swaney was told to stop sending letters to people that are delinquent with pumping. Chairman Risom stated that they hired Ron Oschner to take action against the people that are noncompliant with pumping.
Mr. Breunig stated that there are 22 people who have never pumped; 32 people who should have pumped by the first deadline in 2005; and the last group of 110 are 1 year delinquent. He noted that 336 people are less than one year overdue. Chairman Risom stated that Ms. Swaney should send out 446 letters and the 54 people should be referred to Attorney Oschner. He asked that the list be verified and then sent to Attorney Oschner asking him to initiate litigation. Ms. Bartlett suggested that it be verified that the individuals have been sent the proper letters. Chairman Risom asked Mr. Breunig to double-check that the proper letters have been sent to the property owners.
The Commission agreed that there are some cases when it would be appropriate to extend the pumping cycle. Chairman Risom stated that this could be at the discretion of the Sanitarian. Chairman Risom stated that he will check with Attorney Oschner to be sure that there is a way of allowing this without going to Town Meeting.
A motion was made by Dimitry Tolchinsky, seconded by Luisa Grogan and voted unanimously to ask Attorney Oschner to find a way to allow the Commission to open up the pumping cycle from five to seven years at the discretion of the Sanitarian and based on the pump-out data.
Mr. Chiu explained that he is a wastewater consultant engineer and it was brought to his attention that the Town is having some challenges with wastewater. He indicated that he is new to Connecticut, but people are doing much of the things that the WPCA is talking about already in Delaware where he's from. Mr. Chiu stated that he is here this evening to learn about the situation at the beach which he learned about from one of the beach communities. He noted that he has not been engaged by the beach community.
Mr. Tolchinsky stated that Old Colony Beach has been given money from the State to do a study.
The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. on a motion by Roger Breunig; seconded by Mervin Roberts and voted unanimously.
Respectfully Submitted,
Susan J. Bartlett
Recording Secretary
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