Minutes
Present: A. Atamian, J. Bacon, J. Miller, D. Pattee, R. Regan
Also present. Batorski & Ciccone (Veolia), K. Stauffer, Tax Collector Moisio
Mr. Regan called the meeting of the WPCC to order at 7:35 pm in the Hearing Room of the Town Office Building.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move that the minutes of the March 18, 2015 meeting be accepted as submitted. Pattee, Miller. Approved, 4-0-1. Mr. Regan abstained.
REPORT FROM VEOLIA WATER
A written report was submitted. Mr. Batorski highlighted the report and provided additional information.
- New water meter was installed at 20 Portland Avenue. This meter, along with the wiring and remote reader installed last year, is working accurately. After installation, Veolia was contacted by the school at that address and informed that they have a private state contractor that does all the maintenance on site. Mr. Regan commented that the meter and remote reader is owned by WPCC, and the school is not billed for any of the work. Mr. Regan requested that Ms. Stauffer draft a letter to the school explaining that the school does not own the equipment; the WPCC owns the meter and is responsible for payment for the installation. Mr. Regan will review the draft and send it to the school.
- Commission member John Fisher, Mrs. Lepoutre and Ms. Stauffer were on site for tours of the plant and the operation.
- Average daily flow ranges from 57,000 to 63,000gpd. Mr. Bacon requested the flow from the Meadow Ridge facility. Mr. Pattee noted that Meadow Ridge’s allocation is 45,000 gpd. Ms. Stauffer will get the specific information for Mr. Bacon.
- Updated energy usage data was also provided. The plant is now processing more with less energy usage, since the installation of the new membrane system.
DISCUSSION ON “CALL BEFORE YOU DIG” CONTRACT
Commission members reviewed the letter from Veolia, outlining a contract to have the Veolia plant employees do the “call before you dig” mark out rather than their subsidiary. The proposal will reduce the costs substantially. The cost per standard mark-out is $75.00, emergency mark-out is $175.00 and he “no sewer” map assessments and call back is $15.00. Mr. Miller has suggested one change in the Service Agreement, adding that, if applicable, subcontractors may be called in for the work at the same rate. Mr. Miller has discussed the contract with John Oatley (Veolia). He also confirmed with Mr. Oatley that if the plant operators are out doing mark-outs, there would be a “floating” operator available for the plant, at no additional costs.
Motion: move that the Water Pollution Control Commission approve the Service Agreement for Call Before You Dig mark-out service as reviewed and modified, using plant employees and authorize the Commission Chair, Rich Regan, to sign the agreement, pending review by Town Counsel. Miller, Pattee. Approved. Unanimous.
FINANCIAL STATUS AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
The available balance in the Usage account as of April 8, 2015 is $62,766.60. The quarterly billing went out in late March for a total of $67,673.36. To date, $33,081.80 of the total has been received.
Open invoices were reviewed.
1. Frontier, $235.76
2. Aquarion, $286.54
3. Eversource (CL&P), $2,389.15
4. Deluca Hardware, $36.07
5. Mary Maday, $270.00
6. Little Blue Construction, snow removal, $1,828.75
7. J. Mulvaney Plumbing (meter install, etc), $266.70
8. Veolia reimbursables for February, $24,494.81 subject to review by Mr. Regan
9. Veolia monthly services for March 2015, 26,746.29
10. Veolia Meter readings, $451.19
11. Transcanada, estimated bill, $3,500
Motion: move to approve payment of invoices listed above, subject to review of Reimbursables by Mr. Regan. Pattee, Bacon. Approved. Unanimous.
Invoices not approved: Veolia monthly invoice for April, 2015, $26,746.29
- The current balance in the Sewer Assessment Account is $26,641.30
- Board of Finance advance to WPCC as of June 15, 2014 was $1,225,713.75. A third advance for fiscal 2014-15 of $60,000 was taken in March 2014. The total advance amount allocated for the current fiscal year, 2014-15 is $237,350.
- The total now due from GSTD is $1,627,882.18
Mr. Regan expressed concern about the amount of funding that would be needed to finish out the fiscal year. The April billing was lower than the previous quarter, and the expenses for that quarter were considerable. He will process a request to the Board of Finance for the fourth payment of $$7,350.
A letter from Eversource suggesting a lower rate was reviewed. Commission members questioned whether the Town or board of educations received the same offer. Mr. Regan asked Ms. Stauffer to get more information on the offer and the various available rates.
OTHER BUSINESS
A review of the WPCC history and ordinance followed. There was a discussion of the difference in the wording of the Ordinance in the Town Ordinance book/website and the original copy. There was one particular sentence that seemed misplaced. Mr. Miller will follow up on this issue with the Town Clerk.
Letter from Planning Commission: a letter from Diane Taylor, Chairman of the Planning Commission, was received. The letter suggested a meeting and discussion of various town boards, including the WPCC, Zoning, Planning and Board of Selectmen, to discuss the future of the developmental plans for the Georgetown business district. Mr. Pattee reminded all that area is limited to 30,000 gpd for the sewer treatment facility. Mr. Miller will check with First Selectmen Pemberton to see if she would facilitate a meeting for discussion of the issues.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn the meeting. Pattee, Miller. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 810: pm
Submitted by Mary Maday