WPCA Minutes September 10, 2013
Present:
- Chairman Kurt Zemba, Vice-chairman Tom Risom, Sec’y/Treasurer Doug Wilkinson
- WPCA Members Frank Chan, Rob McCarthy, Richard Prendergast, Dimitri Tolchinski; alternate Andrea Lombard
- First Selectwoman Bonnie A. Reemsnyder, Sanitarian Sonia Marino
- Woodard & Curran representatives Jay Sheehan and David Prickett
- 7 people in audience, including Selectwoman Mary Jo Nosal and Selectman Skip Sibley
Absent/excused:
- WPCA members Donna Bednar, Ernest Lorda
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1. Call to Order
Chairman Kurt Zemba called the meeting to order at 7:30pm
Alternate Andrea Lombard was appointed to replace Donna Bednar.
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2. Approval of the Minutes - August 15, 2013
A motion was made by Tom Risom, seconded by Doug Wilkinson to approve the minutes of August 15 with no corrections. Motion passed.
3. Correspondence
Kurt Zemba requested that an email from Stephen Dix to First Selectwoman Bonnie Reemsnyder, as well as Kurt’s response, be entered into the Minutes of this meeting. Those documents are attached.
4. Chairman’s Report
- FY 2013-2014 Budget Distribution
Copies of the FY 2013-2014 WPCA Budget were distributed to members. First Selectwoman Reemsnyder confirmed that unspent funds from the previous fiscal year have been carried over to the current year as requested.
- CT Green Infrastructure Symposium
Kurt Zemba distributed information about a symposium he will attend on September 19. Daniel Esty, DEEP Commissioner, will make opening remarks. Tom Risom stated that the Zoning Commission has “aggressively adopted” a position favoring low impact development in the Town. Cathy will send a copy of the Symposium Agenda to members and Kurt will report on the event at the October meeting.
Kurt provided background on a Water Resource Committee which examined the impact of water resources leaving our Town. A copy of the Committee’s Report is available in the Selectman’s office & will be provided to WPCA members upon request.
Bonnie stated that the Water Resource Committee recommended the adoption of a Water Resource Code. The Board of Selectmen considered the complexities of jurisdictional and oversight issues that would apply to a water resource ordinance and agreed that a Water Resource Code could not be considered without careful vetting by an attorney.
Kurt believes water resource issues can be effectively managed with existing agencies, noting that three local bodies (Health Department, WPCA, Board of Selectmen) and one state (DEEP) are already empowered to deal with water issues.
- WPCA Attorney – Action Required
Kurt, Bonnie & Sanitarian Sonia Marino met with Attorney Andrew Lord, who has extensive professional experience dealing with the DEEP and is current chair of the East Haddam WPCA. Other attorneys considered were former WPCA attorney Mike Wells, who advised that the DEEP is not his strength, and Matt Rinaldi, who declined consideration due to a potential conflict of interest.
After discussion, a motion was made by Dimitri Tolchinski, seconded by Frank Chan, to initiate a contract discussion with Attorney Lord for the balance of the 2013 calendar year. Motion passed.
The topic of WPCA attorney will be on the agenda of the January WPCA meeting.
- Appointments: Frank Chan to the Monitoring Committee
Kurt advised that he has appointed Frank Chan to join Dimitri Tolchinski and Committee Chair Tom Risom on the WPCA’s Monitoring Committee.
5. Wastewater Management Project
- Report by Woodard & Curran on Project
Kurt recognized David Prickett and Jay Sheehan of Woodard and Curran to update the WPCA on the Wastewater project. David reported that Woodard & Curran met this week with representatives from East Lyme, Waterford, and New London. Based on information gathered at those meetings, W&C have developed cost estimates for both local and regional wastewater management options.
A tri-town agreement for the New London Regional Treatment Plant is currently in place.Both East Lyme and Waterford made it clear to W&C that they are not interested in reopening that agreement, which is split among New London: 55%, Waterford: 30%, and East Lyme: 15%.
New London’s Water & Wastewater Supt. does support a regional alternative for Old Lyme. New London has requested a re-rating of their plant from 10.0 mgd to 11.5 mgd through the DEEP, and expects to have capacity available.~ The buy-in (right-to-capacity) for the New London regional option would likely be in the $5,000 per EDU(equivalent dwelling unit) range.~
Kurt read from an email sent by David recounting the meetings, and asked that the email be entered into the minutes. A copy is attached.
Woodard & Curran also visited the four East Lyme pumping stations. David noted that two are already beyond the expected life cycle and the others have some mechanical challenges associated with hydraulics.
A member reported that, coincidentally, the Niantic pumping station experienced a problem and stopped functioning on the afternoon of the 9/10/13 WPCA meeting.
Both capital and operating costs were estimated for both options by W&C. The difference in the estimated cost per EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) for the local wastewater option and the New London Regional facility was determined to be insignificant.
W&C also prepared tables illustrating estimated annual costs per user (per EDU) with and without grant funds and at different interest rates. The annual cost range per EDU was approximately $2600 to $4000 monthly over a 20 year period for either option.
It was noted that land is not an obstacle for the local option in terms of capacity. David stated that W&C has gathered enough soil science data from parcels already tested to apply to other parcels of land. He also noted that permitting questions need to be clarified with the DEEP.
One possible solution to local wastewater needs is a hybrid plan, which would use local wastewater treatment as the primary facility, but include pipe and a shut off valve connected to the regional facility as a back-up. The cost for emergency back-up would be negotiated with New London.
W&C will update their report with a bar graph or other means to illustrate the high and low project estimates. Cathy will post the updated cost estimate report to the Town website.
- Discussion on the framing and reporting of information – Questions
The Wastewater Project charge calls for the WPCA to recommend a treatment plan to the Board of Selectmen in 2013. With a negligible cost difference between the local and regional options, the WPCA will need to discuss other relevant factors, including long-term water balance, ease of budgeting for long-term capital needs, and potential pollution impact as they develop their recommendation.
Kurt suggested and members agreed to determine which alternative to pursue at the October 8 meeting. Prior to the meeting, the WPCA Land committee (Kurt, Rob & Bonnie) will discuss options, and DEEP issues will be discussed by Attorney Lord and the First Selectwoman.
- Information Session Preparation & Scheduling - Education Committee
WPCA will discuss scheduling a Public Information Session at their October 8 meeting.
- Proposed Land Discussion ---Future Actions for Land Review Task Force
Kurt, Bonnie, and Rob will confer before the October meeting.
6.~ Sanitarian’s Report – Sonia Marino
Sanitarian Marino asked about outstanding pump-out issues. Notices of Violation were sent to two properties in 2011 but there is no report of a follow up in the property file. Tom Risom will try to help with missing information.
Sonia also reported an ongoing stormwater problem on Portland Avenue. The WPCA will ask Consulting Engineer Brian Curtis to evaluate that situation & make a recommendation. Dimitri and Kurt will follow up with Brian Curtis, and will also request a trend analysis update on the 39 test holes in Town.
7. Old Business - None
8. New Business - None
9. Public Comment
Jim Fazzino had questions about DEEP permitting for the local Wastewater treatment option and cost/funding options. He also asked about the timeline for the Wastewater process.
The two beaches under Consent Order by the DEEP have a June 2016 compliance deadline.
Allowing 2 years for construction, that means design work for a treatment plan probably needs to be in place and ready to bid by June 2014.
First Selectwoman Reemsnyder stated that the Town “is not trying to undermine the two beach associations currently under DEEP Consent Order.”
10. Adjournment
A motion was made by Richard Prendergast, seconded by Rob McCarthy to adjourn at 9:30pm. Motion passed.
Catherine Frank
9/12/13
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