ROLL CALL
Members Present: Joseph Carino, Richard Aries, Frank Ferrero, Carol Fletterick, and
Ed Havens Jr.
Members Absent: Robert Dickinson, and Michael Patitucci
Alternates Present: Thomas Deming
Richard Siedman
Alternates Absent: None
Staff Present: C. Fred Shaw, Superintendent of Pollution Control
Others Present: Mr. Jim Dina, 789 Main Street
Chairman Carino called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Chairman Carino explained that the purpose of this public hearing was to present to the public information pertaining to the upgrading of the Water Pollution Sewer Facility and four pump stations. Mr. Carino introduced Fred Shaw as the person who would be conducting the presentation. Mr. Carino explained that the hearing was being held because of a public referendum to seek authorization to fund the upgrading that Mr. Shaw will be explaining.
The Legal Notice (Exhibit A) was read into the record by Elizabeth Locicero, Recording Secretary.
The meeting was turned over to Fred Shaw who explained that he would be referring to the package entitled Camp, Dresser & McKee (CDM) Town of South Windsor, CT Water Pollution Control Facility Improvements (Exhibit B). Mr. Shaw explained that the current facility would be upgraded. The current capacity is 3.75 million gallons per day (mgd) average daily flow water with a 9.5 mgd storm related peak flow. The plant capacity would not be increased. The upgrades to the plant include the current system for treating the waster water, the headwork's building, the influent pumping, the primary settling tanks, the aeration system, the secondary system and disinfection. The plant is also being upgrading to handle the solids portion of the treatment process which is the settling and thickening of the
sludge, dewatering of the sludge and the transport of liquid sludge to the Hartford Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) for further treatment. Mr. Shaw explained that they have been working with the Town's consulting engineer, CDM, for several years in order to upgrade the system to meet current and projected discharge permit requirements. The new State requirement for removal of nitrogen has been considered in the design plans for the upgrade of the Treatment Plant.
Mr. Shaw explained, using a map of the coastline of Connecticut, the problem with pollution in Long Island Sound, and the need for control of nitrogen to reduce this pollution. The plant upgrade would reduce nitrogen in the plant discharge to the Connecticut River.
Mr. Shaw provided a history of the Treatment Plant beginning with the design in 1966. The plant began operation around 1968. In 1969, the secondary treatment process was designed. The Headwork's was added in 1980, in 1986, improvements were made to the garage and administration building. In 1996 aeration modifications were made, in 2000 with a state grant, an ultraviolet disinfection system was added. In 2002 the wastewater Facilities Plan was completed. This Plan evaluated the pump stations, Treatment Plant and over 130 miles of sewer line to determine whether the system was capable of meeting the future growth needs of the community. All alternatives were considered for the upgrade of the Plant. The most cost effect alternative was chosen. Provided in the design was a process for
nitrogen removal, mechanical upgrades, and liquid sludge transport capability. The proposed liquid processing train improvements would be installed at the Headwork's, and Control Building. There would be new energy efficient pumps installed, upgrades to the primary clarifiers, and a system provided for nitrogen removal which involves adding aeration tanks and two new secondary settling tanks. The current disinfection process would continue to be used. In a separate project, there will be improvements made at the outfall structure at the Connecticut River. Under the proposed solids processing train, the Town would continue to use gravity thickeners but would install new dewatering equipment, which will dewater secondary sludge to be combined with primary sludge for storage in a new sludge storage tank. This sludge would be transported to the MDC for final disposal. Included with these improvements will be a new odor control system using a
biofilter to collect all the gases from the headwork's building, sludge processing area, sludge storage area and from the main pump wet well. These gases would be directly conveyed to a biofilter for the control of odors. The Plant site is close to the flood plain of the Connecticut River, the south end of the site will need to be cleared. Mr. Shaw reviewed the site layout. Mr. Shaw went through the layout pointing out existing buildings and their upgrades and the new structures and also the instrumentation systems. There is currently little automation at the plant. A new Supervisory Collection and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system is planned which will monitor and control equipment from a distance. The electrical systems are in poor condition and need to be upgraded to current code. There will be improvements to the Administration/Garage Building including relocation of the new laboratory and control room to a climate
controlled vibration free environment. There will be improvements in the garage area to provide for a workshop and parts storage area.
The implementation schedule is expected to be:
Go out for bids in spring 2009
Construction time will be about 30 months.
Construction to begin fall 2009 with the completion in spring of 2012
The project costs:
Construction Costs $ 40,035,000
Engineering $ 4,800,000
Legal/Finance $ 2,185,000
With a total project cost of $47,000,000
Mr. Shaw completed his presentation.
Chairman Carino asked if anyone from the public wished to speak.
Mr. Jim Dina, 789 Main Street identified himself and stated that his house is closest to the Plant. Mr. Dina said he was there representing himself but that there is a group of residents "Residential Recapture" that have met and discussed the planned improvements and there were still some concerns and questions that they had. Mr. Dina explained that his group has seen the presentation before. Currently they are discussing the increased costs for the upgrade. Mr. Dina read an excerpt of a letter from December 15, 2002 written as a group drafted by John Blade and was forwarded to Mike Gantick and copied to Mayor Streeter. The letter discusses their concerns about the noise, pollution and odor. The letter asked about the alternative of pumping to MDC.
Mr. Dina felt that their group still had questions about the costs and alternatives of pumping to MDC and didn't feel that there questions had been answered and required more information.
Mr. Shaw provided Mr. Dina with a packet of information and responded that there had been many meetings with the Main Street residents and every time there has been discussion of the Facility Plan completed in 2002. This plan included the option of bypassing the Treatment Plant and pumping to the MDC. This option proved to be the most costly. The plan was presented to the Town and the State DEP, and each approved the selected Modified Ludzack - Ettinger (MLE) alternative as the most cost effective alternative for upgrading the Treatment Plant. It was agreed to move forward with the design and the design was completed in 2006. The Town has been waiting for DEP to comment on the design plan and specifications. The State has indicated that the comments won't be provided to the Town right away, and the DEP
recommended moving forward with the project. The MDC alternative was considered from the very beginning, and it was found to be the least cost effective alternative as considered by the Town's consulting engineer.
Mr. Dina felt that there would be cost savings to the Town by decommissioning the plant and not having the cost of running the plant. Mr. Shaw explained that South Windsor wouldn't be members of the MDC and would not have a voting part to play. The Town would lose control. The MDC is working on a current project with an estimated construction cost of $1.6 billion. The costs to upgrade their plant haven't yet been considered. These are the costs the Town of South Windsor would have to share with other MDC towns.
Mr. Dina asked what the annual cost to run our plant was. Mr. Shaw responded that is cost $2.4 million dollars, which included the Treatment Plant operations; maintaining the collection system, and pump stations.
Mr. Siedman asked if it was accurate that people using septic would not be paying for the plant. Mr. Shaw responded that those on septic system would not pay for the Plant and pump stations upgrades.
Mr. Carino closed the public hearing on the Plant improvements, but reconvened to hear the information on the pump station upgrades.
Mr. Shaw presented a map showing the location of the four pump stations (Rye Street, Route 5, Barrington Estates and Ellington Road). The four pump stations are being upgraded. In many cases, they are more than 25 years old and in need of mechanical, structural, electrical and site upgrades and improvements. Mr. Shaw reviewed highlights of each of the pump stations and the recommended upgrades as outlined in handout "Dry Pit Pump Stations Upgrades $2.75 million" (Exhibit C).
Chairman Carino asked if there were any comments on the pump station upgrades or any further questions on the Treatment Plant proposal. As there were none, the public hearing was closed at 7:55 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
______________________________
Elizabeth Locicero
Recording Secretary
Date Approved: October 7, 2008
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