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Minutes of Water Pollution Control Commission, 04/15/2020

AGENDA: Water Pollution Control Commission

RECEIVED 04/22/2020 4:56pm
Kathleen R. Miserendino - Redding Deputy Town Clerk

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Virtual Zoom Meeting
April 15, 2020

Present: Amy Atamian, Todd Eubanks, Rich Regan, Dave Pattee, Kirby Klump.
Also Present: Katherine Stauffer, WPCC Administrator and Eugene Burke, Veolia.

Amy Atamian called the meeting to order at 7:33 PM

ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 19, 2020 MEETING.

Under members present: remove “Vice Chair” next to Dave Pattee’s name. Add Rich Regan’s name.

Under Item 1: Remove “Vice Chair” from Mr. Pattee’s name.

Under item 3 Motion: Remove “Vice Chair” from Mr. Pattee’s name.

MOTION: Approve the minutes from the February 19, 2020 meeting: K. Klump, motion. D. Pattee, second. Passed unanimously.

MOTION: Add to agenda the approval of the April 6, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes. D. Pattee, motion. A. Atamian, second. Passed unanimously.

MOTION: Approve minutes from the April 6, 2020 Special Meeting. D. Pattee, motion. T. Eubanks, second. Passed unanimously.

ITEM 2: REPORT FROM VEOLIA WATER PLANT MANAGERS

REPORTS FROM MARCH 2020

Health and Safety:

  • Veolia Water monthly safety training topics conducted in March 2020 included:
    • Fire prevention
    • Fire extinguisher use

This project has completed 19 years with no safety incidents.

Noteworthy Operational Information / Maintenance and PM:

  • March 2020:
    • Weekly power washing of the on-line primary drum screener.
    • Wasted 16,079 gallons of sludge from recycle wet well to the GBT
      • In February there were 10,400 Gallons.
    • 6,500 gallons of waste sludge was removed for off-site disposal.
    • Mulvaney Plumbing will be changing back flow preventer and lab sink faucet and supply hoses.
      • Dave Pattee asked if the backflow preventer is required to have. Mr. Burke clarified that it is, and it is old. Aquarion has notified Mr. Burke that per code, it needs to be replaced. It is not emergent, but it does need to be replaced. Due to the coronavirus, they are not allowed to enter the plant at this time.
    • UV Service was done

Regulatory and Compliance:

  • There were no permit violations

Alarms:

  • None

CBYD:

  • No CBYD in February
  • 3/4/20 and 3/31/20: 115 Redding Road – No mark out required
  • 3/4/20 and 3/31/20: 52 Old Georgetown Road – No mark out required
  • 3/6/20: North Main St – No mark out required

Points for Discussion:

  • Drum screen repair
  • Upcoming electrical repairs- aeration tank mixer, lab exhaust fan, odor control fan failure.
    • A large scum build-up in the aeration tank was removed. It traps particles and becomes thick sludge. After the scum gets thick, it creates a film over the aeration tank sensor causing it to be on constantly, sending a false signal to the membranes to stay on.
    • Pump in the aeration system keeps foam level down to prevent the membranes from overworking. Over the past 5 years, it has been fixed multiple times. Pure Power Electric has come out and informed Mr. Burke that the pump that is currently installed is not actually built to run 24/7, as it has been. The pump floats and because of the way the membrane tank functions, it bounces around and slams against the walls, causing cracks and failure.
    • The cost for a new pump is $649.49 plus labor. Mr. Eubanks asked if it may be smart to reach out to other vendors for quotes, Mr. Burke stated that he has investigated what other vendors would have charged, and the pumps would be upwards of $900.
    • Eubanks asked if the existing pump was ever mounted at all, Mr. Burke replied that it was not, and it was held to the tank by a chain.
    • Burke worries that the sludge buildup will cause an issue with odors and cause the membranes to overwork. Although there is an odor-control system in place, there are some things that it cannot get to.
    • Pattee asked where the foam goes when it gets sucked up by the pump. Mr. Burke stated that it gets submerged 4 feet deeper into the tank and mixes with the sludge that has already been broken up.
    • Eubanks stressed that there need to be multiple quotes for work over $1,000. Mr. Burke will get the other quote, in writing. Mr. Regan voiced concern that this is a pressing issue and the membranes are working harder than they need to due to a false signal.

MOTION: Approve proposal from Pure Power Electric to repair the aeration mixing pump and add a timer in the amount of $3,039.12. With the stipulation that Mr. Burke get a competitive quote showing Pure Power has the better price. R. Regan, motion. T. Eubanks, second. Passed unanimously.

  • Started PAC for phosphorus removal on March 26, 2020.
    • Permit requires the plant be under 1.08lbs/day on a rolling average. Currently, the phosphorus levels are well under that.
    • It was started prior to the permit requires to ensure the levels would be controlled and adjustments could be made as needed.
    • UV system was not started before permit required, as it would need to be cleared with the State. The UV system was started on April 1, 2020.
    • Samples are taken in 2 different ways to allow for better control of the phosphorus levels.
  • Blower parts replacement
    • Kaeser compressor came to the plant to do a service and they found that one of the blowers is worn. This is not an emergency repair, but it is something that will need to be looked at in the future. All the other units are running perfectly. Mr. Burke rotates the blowers, but they have been installed since 2007. This will be tabled until the start of the new fiscal year.
  • Chemical inventory.
    • Due to COVID-19, there has been worry throughout the State that there will be a lack of chemicals at the Wastewater Treatment Plants. Mr. Burke assured the commission that the plant is stocked with 12 months’ worth of chemicals.
  • Atamian asked if there has been any progress made with the drum screener. Mr. Burke explained that, because of COVID-19, Municipal Maintenance employees cannot stay overnight at hotels, but have been putting everything together in their shop. Hopefully, there will be an update soon.
  • Burke informed the commission that Oak Ridge Hauling is picking up every week when really it could be every other week. He asked if it could be a cost savings to the town, or if it is a flat monthly fee. Ms. Stauffer will investigate having them come bi-weekly and if it would be cheaper.
    • Atamian asked if there is any concern with odor or vermin coming about with a bi-weekly trash pickup. Mr. Burke assured the commission that this would not be an issue.
  • Burke informed the commission of their efforts to keep the plant clean, practicing social distancing, and doing whatever can be done to stay healthy.

Veolia left at 8:29 PM

MOTION: Add discussion of new tenant at 20 Portland Ave (Landmark Academy) to agenda. A. Atamian, motion. D. Pattee, Second. Passed unanimously.

  • Aimee Pardee, Zoning Official, sent notice that Landmark Academy now has a new tenant and will have about 176 kids and 25 employees, comparable to what it had been in the past. D. Pattee stated that based on DEEP allocations, there would be about 2,000 GPD used. No action necessary.

ITEM 5: DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON INVOICES AND FINANCIAL STATUS

Another quarterly installment was mailed out April 1, 2020. Governor Lamont gave towns the option of choosing a lower interest rate program or a deferral program for upcoming taxes due, due to COVID-19. Ms. Stauffer explained both options to the commission and that the Board of Selectmen would be deciding by the end of the month.

MOTION: Request transfer from the BOF for $85,000. T. Eubanks, motion. D. Pattee, second. Passed unanimously.

MOTION: Pay all invoices (except Veolia Monthly – April 2020 $28,671.92 and Little Blue Construction 2019 $2,676.00), subject to fund availability, totaling $40,978.69. R. Regan, motion, K. Klump second. Passed unanimously.

  1. Aquarion Meter Readings: $67.37
  2. Aquarion Monthly: $205.32
  3. Edgerton: $1,411.95
  4. Frontier: $625.51
  5. Hocon Gas: $15.00
  6. Keough’s Paint and Hardware: $30.14
  7. Little Blue Construction 2019-2020: $1,135.00
  8. Oak Ridge Hauling: $160.37
  9. TaxServ Capital Services: $178.92
  10. Veolia Reimbursable – February 2020: $8,477.19
  11. Veolia Monthly – March 2020: $28,671.92

There was more discussion regarding last year’s bill from Little Blue Construction for snowplowing. Ms. Stauffer presented a spreadsheet showing dates and amounts billed versus what the highway department had on record. The events could not be reconciled. Ms. Stauffer will reach out to the company’s owner to try to get an answer and maybe get another revised bill to reflect the correct dates.

ITEM 6: COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS

Mr. Regan took a moment to remember long-time commission member, Jim Miller, who passed away in January. He suggested that the commission send a letter to his wife offering condolences. Him and Katherine will work together to send the letter.

ITEM 7: PUBLIC COMMENT

NONE

ITEM 8: ADJOURNMENT

MOTION: Motion to adjourn made by D. Pattee. Seconded by T. Eubanks.

Meeting adjourned at 9:01 PM

Submitted by Katherine Stauffer

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