WATER POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Virtual Zoom Meeting
March 16, 2022
MINUTES
Present: Amy Atamian, Dave Pattee, Vanessa McPherson, Kirby Klump, Todd Eubanks, and Chuck Cilo.
Also, Present: Jeremy Nixon and Scott McFarland of Veolia. Emmy Bumagat, WPCC Administrator.
Amy Atamian called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM
ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 16, 2022, MEETING.
Page 2 bullet 1, add: “Both the grinder and screen trains are working well.”
Page 2 bullet 4, add: “Disinfection season will begin on April 1, 2022.”
MOTION: APPROVE MINUTES, AS AMENDED, OF THE FEBRUARY 16, 2022, MEETING. V. McPherson, motion. K. Klump, second. Approved unanimous.
ITEM 2: REPORT FROM VEOLIA WATER PLANT MANAGERS
TRAINING:
· VNA Training (lockout/tagout) completed by all personnel.
· Fire prevention and response and fire extinguisher use to be completed in March
HEALTH & SAFETY:
· No injuries or illnesses reported during this period
· The monthly safety inspection was completed on 2/3/2022
· All PPE is in fully supply and good working order
MAINTENANCE:
· 19 of 19 preventative maintenance work orders were completed
· No corrective maintenance work orders were issued
ADMINISTRATION/MANAGEMENT:
· No odor or noise complaints were received
· Energy management efforts continue
Mr. McFarland has been making efforts to cut down on energy use at the plant.
OPERATIONS:
· February monthly reports to USEPA and CTDEEP were submitted on March 8, 2022, with full permit compliance in all categories
· 1.09 MG of wastewater influent was received, and 0.91 MG of wastewater was processed
· 46,155 gallons of sludge was wasted by the GBT
· 13,400 gallons of thickened sludge was hauled for offsite disposal
· Removed 98.6% of BOD and 98.7% of TSS
· No significant process alarms were experienced
· All process parameters remain within acceptable ranges
OTHER:
· Planning is underway to perform touch-up cleaning and painting at selected plant locations. March will be more of a planning month. PAC addition begins April 1st, and there will also be a membrane cleaning done in April.
· Veolia signage to be upgraded this spring to assist vendors in locating the facility
OTHER DISCUSSION:
· Compressor companies have been investigated. More information will come from Veolia next month. Pricing and inflation have become trickier when making sure that all necessary parts and services are being included.
· Waste cap: the WPCC does not own and is not responsible for the hazardous waste cap in the field behind the plant. However, the EPA comes and investigates it on a random basis to be sure that roots have not broken the seal. The waste cap is not being maintained by the property owner, so the Town of Redding has been making sure that all brush is kept groomed.
· A fencing company is going to give an estimate to fix the gate and missing fence pieces between the field and the WWTP.
· Veolia’s IT department may be taking over the computer services from Decian. Decian may be reducing their monthly charge. If this change occurs, the commission requests that Veolia be sure that there is sufficient hardware and security installed.
· The rate increase given by Veolia in November 2021 (4.3%) is not in line with the percent increase on the monthly invoices. Veolia to figure out what is going on.
· V. McPherson asked about the CCTV screening. J. Nixon stated that he will be calling in the spring the schedule as he is finishing other projects.
· Landscape needs:
-Emmy is writing a landscape RFQ to be sent to numerous landscape companies in the area
_There are several trees that need to be removed surrounding the plant. The highway department reached out to Knapp Tree who does work for the Town, and they showed interest in the work. A. Atamian stated that quotes need to be given by multiple companies and voted on before work can commence.
Veolia left at 8:00 PM
ITEM 3: DISCUSSION AND ACTION OF INVOICES AND FINANCIAL STATUS
MOTION: Approve all bills to be paid totaling $54,694.82. D. Pattee, motion. C. Cilo, second. Approved unanimous
Bills to be Paid:
· Airgas: $18.48
· Aquarion Monthly: $336.27
· Eversource: $6,856.26
· Frontier: $323.94
· Hocon: $2,600.24
· Hocon: $1,879.52
· Hoffman: $380.00
· Hoffman: $380.00
· Hoffman: $380.00
· Hoffman: $380.00
· Hoffman: $380.00
· Hoffman: $380.00
· Hoffman: $380.00
· Hoffman: $565.00
· Hoffman: $470.00
· Oak Ridge Hauling: $160.37
· Veolia Monthly February 2022: $29,918.32
· Veolia Reimbursable December 2021: 8,906.42
OTHER DISCUSSION:
· All Hoffman invoices matched snow events.
· Veolia increase should be 4.3% and is not.
· Mr. Cavecchia, owner of 60 Redding Rd, is making regular payments on his delinquencies working towards a zero balance.
· Testimony for the bill submitted to the House of Representatives regarding delinquent sewer accounts was submitted by A. Atamian to Pat Moisio to be sent to the CTx Legislative Team.
· There is still a potential ~$8,600 in unbilled lab invoices from Veolia. Emmy will follow up with the Veolia administrator.
ITEM 4: COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS
· Ongoing planning for the RES STEAM Fair station is going well
ITEM 5: PUBLIC COMMENT
NONE
ITEM 6: ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn: D Pattee, motion. T. Eubanks, second.
Meeting adjourned at 8:26 PM
Submitted by Katherine Stauffer