OLD LYME WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY COMMISSION UNAPPROVED MINUTES
Regular meeting
Thursday July 19th, 2012 7.35pm
First Floor Meeting Room
Memorial Town Hall
52 Lyme St, Old Lyme, CT 06371
Call to order/welcome:
Chairman Dimitri Tolchinski opened the meeting at 7.35pm by congratulating Secretary Stacey Pamplin on the birth of her baby and wishing them both good health. Chairman introduced all members of the WPCA to the audience.
-Voting members present: Dimitri Tolchinski Chairman WPCA, George James, David Redfield, Mervin Roberts, Luisa Grogan, Keith Czarnecki, and Roger Breunig.
-Excused Members: Louis Russo, and Andrea Lombard..
-Also present: Brian Curtis- WPCA Engineer, Bonnie Reemsnyder (First selectwoman), Mary Jo Nosal (Selectwoman), Skip Sibley (Selectman's office), Ron Rose Town Sanitarian and Kurt Zemba.
Approval of June 12 Meeting Minutes:
Motion to approve 06.21.2012 minutes was made by Dimitri Tolchinski and seconded by Roger Breunig.
ALL VOTED IN FAVOR
Chairman’s Report:
Motion for chairman to revise the order of the agenda and bring the public comment forward was made by Roger Breunig, seconded by Luisa Grogan.
ALL VOTED IN FAVOR.
Public Comments:
Doug Whalen (President of Old Colony Beach Association) spoke to the commission in detail about various studies taken place in the Old Colony Beach area to detect pollution in the water, bringing to the committee’s attention the results of said tests. He stated the beach residence want to remove the ground water from causing existing pollution. Doug stated the Old Colony Beach Association has created their own WPCA and emphasized the OCB Association’s WPCA wants to work with the town of Old Lyme’s WPCA to resolve water pollution issues. Doug answered questions from
committee members.
Carlos (DEEP Engineer) gave an explanation of the types of pollution which have been found in the local area, and what methods the DEEP uses to detect pollution.
George Hicks (DEP Senior Engineer) answered a question from Mervin Roberts and gave an explanation of the different organizations that perform studies on pollution.
Frank Noe (Old Colony Beach Resident) Asked the WPCA various questions which were answered by members.
Ron Rose (Old Lyme Town Sanitarian) explained to the committee and the audience why the beach communities were originally declared seasonal. Ron stated the key to achieve year round use is to work together.
Frank Dellaripa (Miami Beach Association) spoke of a personal experience with water problems, and suggested working together to devise a new strategy.
Marilyn Azel (Resident Of Old Lyme) shared a personal experience with unclean drinking water. She wants to have clean water for the children.
Ron Rose (Old Lyme Town Sanitarian) gave an explanation of the type of systems which should be used to convert to year round house. He answers questions from the audience.
Scott Boulanger (Miami Beach Association, President Federation of Old Lyme Beaches). Spoke of diverting some of the system costs, and assistance with costs to the residence for rectifying existing problem. Scott also answered questions from committee members.
Roger Breunig (WPCA Member) informed the audience of the WPCA’s plans and emphasized working together.
Keith Czarnecki (WPCA Member) shared a personal experience, and his opinions with the people.
Frank Noe (Old Colony Beach Resident) shared facts concerning the local tax costs and housing.
Doug Whalen (Old Lyme Beach Association) requested the WPCA provide engineered studies and facts. Doug read a letter from Robert Scully, State Health Department Lead Engineer.
Brian Curtis - Sound View, Miami Beach, Hawks Nest Waste Water Management Study, presented by WPCA Sub Committee on June 21st,2012 WPCA Meeting:
Brian Curtis- WPCA Engineer informed the committee with the details of study performed on Sound View, Miami Beach and Hawks Nest areas. Brian Curtis also spoke of various systems that can be used on site to treat waste water and gave an example of a potential community system site. Brian displayed large ariel print of the local area, and gave a presentation of these prints to the commission. In his approximate calculation the study’s cost is estimated from $150,000 to $200,000.
A motion was made by Roger Breunig to approve the scope of work presented by Brian Curtis, and pass to the selectman's office, seconded by David Redfield, the committee voted 5 in favor, 2 against, motion passed.
Brian Curtis - Engineering opinion on Chairman Dimitri Tolchinski’s proposal for the Community Septic System:
Brian Curtis- WPCA Engineer compared the community system site options and concluded further investigations should be made into cost for all options and maintenance to evaluate sufficiently.
Chairman’s Report:
Chairman Dimitri Tolchinski read a summarized version of the below report to the attendees:
Chairman’s Report: Town of Old Lyme WPCA July 19, 2012 Meeting
The Beach Communities are rejecting the Town Health Department’s recommendation and request to improve their septic systems, which would result in less than 100% Health Code compliance.
If homeowners have to spend as much money, or more, for noncompliant septic systems, which would still restrict them from improving their properties in the ways they would like, then the sewer is their choice.
The six chartered beach communities have started making the decision to conduct their own studies of the existing septic systems situation, and three of them have become committed to the sewer idea.
The Town of Old Lyme does not have any authority to stop these beach communities from working directly with the State DEEP.
The Town of Old Lyme can prevent future sewer development by offering beach communities a community septic system, which is also in 100% Health Code compliance solution equivalent to the sewer.
There is a chance to get the beach communities and DEEP to agree and to accept the Town of Old Lyme proposal to use a suitable parcel of land for a community septic system.
Theoretically, one acre of land, with perfect soil quality characteristics and meeting the minimum ground water separation distance requirements for septic systems, can absorb 40,000 gallons of sewage water per day.
Having this land available for this purpose to the beach communities within close distance to them would be the ideal situation.
If the Town of Old Lyme really wants to follow a sewer avoidance policy, here is the chance to prove it.
Such land has been located in the beach communities’ “back yard.” It has 29.41 acres of flat, beautiful land. Most of this land should have very good soil, suitable for a community septic system. This land is located at 220 Shore Road, Town of Old Lyme, Map 8, Lot 32-1.
This is private land which could be purchased for the right price and which could help solve all the septic system problems in our town. Eventually, we might convince the beach communities connected to the New London Sewer Plan to reconnect their pipe to this Community System.
So far, the three beach communities committed to the sewer would discharge about 200,000 gallons of sewer daily. If 500,000 gallons could be discharged to this parcel of land a day, with the average house discharging 250 gallons per day, this land could serve 2,000 houses. Consequently, the cost per house to purchase the land would be very affordable.
Also, because the Town of Old Lyme would be involved in this proposal, it would make it possible for the WPCA to keep properties which already have 100% Health Code-compliant septic systems to stay the way they are.
If the DEEP approves our proposal, they might help with 25% of the project construction cost and with the purchase cost, and they can finance it for 20 years with 2% interest to the homeowners.
How can we approach this?
The first thing to do is to have a meeting with the land owners, beach communities and the DEEP. We should consider starting to work on this project as soon as possible. I see it as the last chance to satisfy everyone, including the Town of Old Lyme by keeping the sewer avoidance policy, and the beach communities, the State Health Department, and the DEEP by having 100%-compliant septic systems.
This land would not be wasted after the community system is installed. It would be very valuable and would be used for the needs of many beach communities.
As Chairman of the Old Lyme WPCA, I am ready to lead this task should the Commission allow me to proceed.
Dimitri Tolchinski, Chairman, Old Lyme WPCA
Dimitri Tolchinski requested permission from the committee to approach local land owners regarding purchasing land to use for a community system site in the future, and inviting land owners to the next WPCA meeting. The committee discussed the best way to achieve this.
Dimitri Tolchinski made a motion to approve Chairman Tolchinski and George James to approach land owners. Luisa seconded the motion, the committee voted 6 in favor and 1 opposed, motion passed.
Discussion regarding the Old Colony Beach Club Association meeting June 23rd 2012.
Dimitri Tolchinski informed members that Doug Whalen made an apology to various members and Old Lyme town staff in a previous meeting.
Doug made an apology to members and made it clear they are welcomed to all future meetings.
Review of response letter to Mervin Roberts letter from Macky Mcleary, Deputy Commissioner Connecticut DEEP.
NO DISCUSSION
Discussion about scheduling a forum/presentation in July 2012.
Bonnie Reemsnyder (First Selectwoman) stated she would like to see a controlled, informational forum from the WPCA and will support it fully should the WPCA create one. Bonnie Reemsnyder also gave reasons why this would be beneficial. This was noted by the chairman.
Dimitri Tolchinski requested the commission read the Old Lyme water source protection plan as it will be discussed at the next meeting and input from members will be requested.
Roger Breunig spoke of the initiatives of the subcommittee and reintroducing WPCA News mailing to residents. Roger suggested having the subcommittee give a presentation at the September’s meeting.
NO VOTE WAS TAKEN
Ron Rose - Sanitarian’s Report
Ron Rose read the Sanitarian’s Report to the Commission, and gave handouts of the septic pump out figures to members. Report suggests Old Lyme water usage is less than the previous year. Ron Rose also spoke about outstanding issues and how to resolve them.
NO VOTE WAS TAKEN
Luisa Grogan - Budget Report.
A budget report was given by Luisa Grogan, who informed the WPCA Members the budget is closed for this year with a remaining balance of $962.02. For the next fiscal year, 2012-2013, the WPAC budget remains at 24, 600.
Keith Czarnecki made a motion to accept the finance budget, seconded by George James. All in favor, motion passed.
New business
Bonnie Reemsnyder (First Selectwoman) read aloud a letter from Vijay Sikand, MD (Director of Health) to the board of selectmen concerning the WPCA. Dimitri Tolchinski will be provided with a copy of the letter.
NO VOTE WAS TAKEN
Old Business
No old business
NO VOTE WAS TAKEN
Public Comments
Doug Whalen (Old Lyme Beach Association) complimented Brian Curtis on his presentation and made suggestions to fund the project. Doug also applauded the idea of a WPCA forum. This was noted by the committee.
Adjournment
Roger Breunig made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Luisa Grogan. All voted in favor, motion passed.
Meeting adjourned by Dimitri Tolchinski at 10.45 pm
Stacey Pamplin
Secretary
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