A. ROLL CALL
Members Present: Richard Aries, Donald Antaya, Robert Dickinson, Carol Fletterick, Vicky Paliulis and William Vees
Alternates Present: Ed Havens, Jr. and Richard Siedman
Staff Present: C. Fred Shaw, Superintendent of Pollution Control
Ether A. Diaz, Recording Secretary
Others: Buzz Karnback, Managing Partner (Bone Fish Grill application)
Wes Sykes (Bone Fish Grill application)
Karen Isherwood (Amoun Pita & Distribution application)
Chairman Richard Aries called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following actions were taken during the March 6, 2013 Regular Meeting of the Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA).
B. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
February 5, 2013 – Regular Meeting
Motion was made to accept the minutes of February 5, 2013 as presented.
The motion was made by Mr. Ed Havens, Jr.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Robert Dickinson
The motion failed as the minutes were grammatically corrected
The minutes were grammatically corrected.
Motion was made to accept the minutes of February 5, 2013 as amended.
The motion was made by Mr. Donald Antaya
The motion was seconded by Mr. William Vees
The motion carried unanimously
C. NEW BUSINESS
1. Bone Fish Grill, Evergreen Walk (Approval to Connect)
Mr. Fred Shaw reported that this is an application for a new restaurant in Evergreen Walk to be located where Atlanta Bread used to be. Mr. Wes Sykes of Bloomin’s Brands, Inc. was in attendance representing the applicant. He was seeking approval to install two grease interceptors. In regards to the grease interceptors, Mr. Shaw reported that the applicant needs to have the tanks pump out on a quarterly basis and maintain records on site in compliance with Town regulations.
Motion was made to approve the application as presented for connection to the Town’s sewerage system for an existing commercial building located at 466 Evergreen Way, South Windsor, CT as more specifically shown on plans entitled “Bonefish Grill, 400 Evergreen Way, Suite #466, South Windsor, CT 06074” Prepared by Vaughn R. Hill, P.E., Lexington, KY; Sheet Title “Soil, Waste & Vent Plumbing Plan”, Sheet No. P2.0 and Sheet Title “Plumbing Piping Diagram”, Sheet No. P4.0 dated 07-02-2012 and Revised on 07-30-12 and 10-09-12. This approval is subject to the following conditions (1) Installation of two grease interceptors meeting all Town and the State of CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) requirements; (2) Final technical approval of the Town
of South Windsor Engineering Department; and (3) Final Authority approval and acceptance of the sanitary sewerage connection will be conditional upon obtaining from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) a permit for grease removal and the installed sewer line having been inspected by the Town staff, and upon the written verification of the Town staff that said sanitary sewer line was installed in substantial conformance with the design plans approve by the Authority, and meeting all regulations and appropriate technical specifications relating to sanitary sewer construction.
The motion was made by Mr. Donald Antaya
The motion was seconded by Mr. Robert Dickinson
The motion carried unanimously
2. Amoun Pita & Distribution, 361 Pleasant Valley Road (Approval to Connect)
Ms. Karen Isherwood from Isherwood Civil Engineering was in attendance representing this applicant. She explained that this is an existing lot in an industrial zone. The current application is to abandon the existing septic system to building #361 and connect building sewer with a 2% slope and a new monitoring manhole on the property; the lateral will be connected to the existing manhole on Pleasant Valley Road. The proposed project includes floor drains within the building which will be connected to a 1250 gallon grease interceptor. This proposal also includes allowing the Town access to a private manhole on the building sewer for monitoring purposes. This project has received approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Motion was made to approve the application as presented for connection to the Town’s sewerage system for an existing commercial building located at 361 Pleasant Valley Road, South Windsor, CT; as more specifically shown on plans entitled “Site Plan Prepared for: Amoun Pita & Distribution, 361 Pleasant Valley Road, South Windsor, CT”; Prepared by Isherwood Civil Engineering, South Windsor, CT; Project 1042, Sheet C-1, Dated January 18, 2013; and subject to the following conditions: (1) A draft of an easement allowing the Town access to a manhole on the building sewer for monitoring purposes must be submitted, reviewed and approved by the Town Attorney; (2) Final technical approval of the Town of South Windsor Engineering Department; and (3) Final Authority approval and acceptance of the sanitary
sewerage connection will be conditional upon obtaining from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) a permit for a grease interceptor and the installed sewer line having been inspected by the Town staff, and upon the written verification of the Town staff that said sanitary sewer line was installed in substantial conformance with the design plans approve by the Authority, and meeting all regulations and appropriate technical specifications relating to sanitary sewer construction.
Motion was made by Ms. Vicky Paliulis
The motion was seconded by Mr. Donald Antaya
The motion carried unanimously
3. Industrial/Commercial Sewer User Charge Billing (Approval)
Mr. Shaw provided the Authority a copy of the proposed Industrial/Commercial Sewer billing List for FY 2013/2014 for review and approval (see Exhibit A). Most of the user charges are based upon flows reported by the MDC and the Connecticut Water Company. In comparing the list with last year’s list, there has been a decrease of 4% in total flow, and 6% increase in revenues. There were five new businesses connected to the sanitary sewer during the past year. Except for Environmental Services,
Inc., all other Town businesses that use a private meter to measure the water usage that is not discharged to the sewer have submitted their information for purposes of adjusting their bill. In the case of Environmental Services Inc., Mr. Shaw will pursue the updated meter reading and the bill will be adjusted as necessary.
The Authority reviewed the list carefully and a discussion ensued; Mr. Siedman expressed his concern on Wentworth Park Association. This is a commercial building with one meter servicing twenty-two units (22). This matter was further discussed under Unfinished Business - Item G3.
Motion was made to approve the Industrial/Commercial Billing List for FY 2013/2014 as presented by Mr. Fred Shaw (see Exhibit A.)
Motion was made by Mr. Robert Dickinson
The motion was seconded by Mr. William Vees
The motion carried unanimously
D. COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS
1. Sewer System Evaluation Project (Update)
Mr. Shaw provided the Authority a copy of a schedule that he received from Wright-Pierce, Inc., (see Exhibit B) to perform the Inflow and Infiltration study in an effort to identify sources of extraneous clean water flow in the sewer system; this study is funded by a State Clean Water Fund grant. Mr. Shaw reported that during this week, flow meters will be installed at seven locations throughout the Town to conduct sewer manhole inspections.
2. Task Force Committee (Discussion)
Chairman Richard Aries reported that at the last Task Force meeting there was discussion to determine if there was a more equitable and cost effective way to distribute residential sewer user charges. The Task Force Committee reviewed the information that was previously reviewed during the February WPCA meeting. Mr. Shaw explained that the main idea was that over the years the water consumption has decreased for a number of reasons. He explained that people are using low flow toilets and low flow shower heads; appliances are more efficient now, people are drinking more bottle water and of course the water rates also has caused people to be more conservative about water usage. He also explained that The MDC has reported that it has been impossible for them to be able to operate a water usage charge
system based upon water consumption. Mr. Shaw explained that in the case of the Treatment Plant, the surcharge regulations are based upon the operation of the plant; about 90% of the cost of operating the Plant is involved with removing solids (suspended solids and B.O.D.) Mr. Shaw expressed that there must be a large component of the user fee that is fixed or is related to treatment costs regardless of water consumption; to distribute costs solely on water usage would be inaccurate and may contribute to instability in rate setting. Mr. Shaw is working on some recommendations that were raised in the Task Force meeting.
3. GIS Sewer Mapping Project (Update)
Mr. Shaw provided the Authority a copy of a work schedule that he received from Wright-Pierce to complete the GIS Sewer Mapping Project (see Exhibit C). He explained that there are certain sections of sewer system for which the Town does not have asbuilt record drawings. Wright-Pierce was hired based upon Town staff recommendations and WPCA approval to assist the Town in completing the mapping of the sewer lines throughout the Town.
4. Draft 2013 South Windsor Plan of Conservation and Development – Public Meeting March 19, 2013
Along with the Agenda was included an invitation to the South Windsor Planning & Zoning Commission Public Hearing on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall, Council Chambers (see Exhibit D). This meeting is to discuss the 2013 South Windsor Plan of Conservation and Development. The draft Plan includes information on the Town sewer system and a map for sewer service areas. The Authority has the opportunity to read this information and make any suggestions.
E. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION - None
F. BILLS, CHANGE ORDERS, DISBURSEMENTS - None
G. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
1. Review Proposed Budget FY 13/14 (Approval)
A draft copy of the Water Pollution Control Authority Budget was distributed in January for review and approval by the Authority. This is the third meeting that this subject matter is been on the Agenda; the intent was to review the budget over a number of meetings. Mr. Shaw gave an explanation of the changes during the January meeting; at the February meeting upon request of the Authority, Mr. Shaw provided additional information concerning other capital projects; project status and how much money was in the undesignated funds. Once approved, the proposed budget will be submitted for the Town Manager for inclusion within the submittal to the Town Council. There will also be a meeting with the Town Council to review the budget. Chairman Aries expressed that the Authority has reviewed in depth
the budget and there will still be adequate time to ask any further questions and make revisions to the budget. Therefore, he suggested approving the proposed WPCA Budget for FY 2013/2014 as presented.
Motion was made to accept the Water Pollution Control Budget for FY2013/2014 as presented by Mr. Fred Shaw.
The motion was made by Mr. Robert Dickinson
The motion was seconded by Ms. Vicky Paliulis
The motion carried unanimously
2. Approve Map for Sewer Service Area (Approval)
Mr. Fred Shaw made reference to the Map for “Future Sewer Service Area” dated March 5, 2013. This map was presented at the last WPCA meeting for approval; however, there were white color coded areas on the map that weren’t identified. The map was reviewed with the Town GIS Technician and the Planning Department to properly identify those white color coded areas relative to future sewer service areas. Mr. Shaw reported that the map is consisted with the local plan of development and with OPM Plan of Conservation and Development. The only suggestion made was to remove the word “Future” in the title.
Motion was made to approve the Map for Sewer Service Area as presented.
The motion was made by Mr. Robert Dickinson
The motion was seconded by Mr. William Vees
The motion carried unanimously
3. Commercial Condominiums (Discussion)
Mr. Shaw provided a list to the Authority that he obtained from the Town’s Assessor’s Office listing all the Residential Condominiums in Town (Exhibit E). He explained that this list was previously reviewed by the Authority years ago when the issue was raised as to how the Town bills commercial condominium firms in Town. Mr. Shaw explained that there are twelve (12) residential condominiums in Town; only two condominiums (Plum Ridge and Parkview South) have individual meters for each residential
unit. These condominiums are served by the CT Water Company. The other ten (10) condominiums are served by the MDC and only have one single meter for the entire condominium development.
Mr. Richard Siedman expressed his opinion that Commercial/Industrial Condominiums should be billed in the same way as Residential Condominiums are billed. They should be charged the minimum user fee for 93,000 gallons plus overage per unit. He made reference to Wentworth Park Association; this is a commercial building with one meter servicing twenty-two units (22) which will be billed based on flow. Ms. Vicky Paliulis would like to have an idea of what other communities do in regards to this matter.
Mr. Antaya suggested that each commercial condominium unit should be billed individually the current sewer charge plus overage; everyone agreed. Ms. Carol Fletterick asked if the billing procedure for the Commercial Condominiums is something that was approved during the presentation of the project. Chairman Aries asked if a decision was made and how was the decision made to bill commercial condominiums differently. Mr. Shaw responded that the only project that he recalls of was Wentworth Park; at the time of approval the two Wentworth developments were approved by the Authority with the understanding that the associations were going to be billed based on the total flow, and at the time, the developer agreed to this condition.
The Commercial/Industrial list includes Evergreen Way and LA Fitness; therefore, Mr. Shaw was asked to request a legal opinion from the Town Attorney as to what is the legal definition for a condominium. This item will be added on the next meeting Agenda for further discussion.
H. MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING CLAIMS - None
I. ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made to adjourn the meeting at 9:03 p.m.
The motion was made by Ms. Carol Fletterick
The motion was seconded by Mr. William Vees
The motion carried unanimously
Respectfully Submitted,
______________________________
Ether A. Diaz
Recording Secretary
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