REGULAR MEETING    Tuesday, AUGUST 26th, 2008

EAST LYME WATER & SEWER COMMISSION

MINUTES

The East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission held a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at the East Lyme Town Hall, 108 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic CT. Chairman Formica called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:02 PM.

PRESENT:                 Paul Formica, Chairman, Dave Zoller, Roger Spencer, Joe Mingo, Dave Bond, Dave Murphy

ALSO PRESENT:       Mark Kopchak, Maguire Group

                                 George Pendleton, Maguire Group

                                 William Nunnery, Water Specialist, Maguire Group

                                 Dan Meade, Consultant, Level A Mapping

                                 Attorney Edward O’Connell, Town Counsel

                                 Brad Kargl, Municipal Utility Engineer

                                 Michael Giannattasio, Director of Public Works

ABSENT:                   Mary Cahill, Steve DiGiovanna

1.       Call to Order

Chairman Formica called the meeting to order at 7:02 PM and invited a guest from the audience to lead the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

2.       Approval of Minutes

à    Regular Meeting Minutes – July 22, 2008

Mr. Formica called for discussion or any corrections to the Regular Meeting Minutes of July 22, 2008.

**MOTION (1)

Mr. Zoller moved to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of July 22, 2008 of the Water & Sewer Commission as presented.

Mr. Spencer seconded the motion.

Vote:  5 – 0 – 1.  Motion passed.

Abstained:  Mr. Mingo

3.       Delegations

Mr. Formica called for anyone who wished to speak under delegations.

There were no delegations.

4.       Approval of Bills

¨       Ludlow Construction Co., Inc. – Payment App. No. 12 - $83,859.93

**MOTION (2)

Mr. Zoller moved to approve payment of the Ludlow Construction Inc. Payment App. No. 12 in the amount of $83,859.93.

Mr. Spencer seconded the motion.

Vote:  6 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

5.       Water and Sewer Bill Adjustment Requests

There were none.

6.       Maguire Group Report/Presentation

Mark Kopchak, Maguire VP explained that they had put together a PowerPoint presentation on the following items (Copy of Presentation attached at end of Minutes):

¨          Status of Projects

¨          System-wide Chlorine Disinfection

¨          Regional Interconnection Feasibility Study

¨          Replacement  Well 3B

¨          Level A Mapping

Mr. Kopchak said that Dan Meade, hydro geologist was instrumental in working behind the scenes on the Level A Mapping. He explained that prior to Level A there was the 200’ radius around the wells that was under State jurisdiction. In 1989 there was well-head protection and in 1991 the State adopted the Level A Regulations which noted that public supply wells serving more than 1000 customers had to have a numerical model done. This all became due for this year. He went over this mapping with the PowerPoint presentation.

Mr. Kargl explained why the Latimer Brook aquifer and the Pattagansett aquifer do not become homogeneous.

Mr. Meade noted that even though they share common ground water that the Pattagansett is 5’ to 6’ lower than the other and that water flows downhill. He also noted that stratified drift aquifers are those that require the Level A mapping and not the bedrock aquifers.

Mr. Kargl asked about a spill in Latimer Brook and said that it would seem that they should not have contamination.

Mr. Meade said that was correct and that it would end up near the Niantic River and not the Pattagansett. He noted that Well 5 gets most of its water from Pattagansett Lake and that to combine the areas would make it too cumbersome and very difficult to calibrate and the DEP has strongly suggested keeping them separate. He added that the DEP does not want anything to do with the ‘Indirect Recharge Area’; only with the direct area. This means that all recharge areas will shrink from what they were.

Mr. Mingo said that in test borings that the State found that Pattagansett Road is sand and gravel to a depth of some 100’.

Mr. Meade said that is true, it is saturated sand and gravel.

Mr. Kopchak said that they submitted four (4) Level A mapping reports in June and that they are just getting some comments back from the DEP. He noted that the statutory deadline was July 1, 2008. He said that they would meet with the DEO and wrap up and finalize this from the comments that they receive and that it should be done by the end of the year and then the Town Zoning Commission who acts as the Aquifer Protection Agency for the Town, takes them over. He said that he and Mr. Meade would go up to Hartford.

Attorney O’Connell explained that the Zoning Commission was designated to also act as the Aquifer Protection Agency for the Town as the East Lyme Zoning Commission was well ahead of the rest of the State (by some 20 years) in enacting Zoning Regulations for an Aquifer Protection Zone. Now, each municipality has to appoint an Aquifer Protection Agency and East Lyme had already done so with the Zoning Commission who, once the Level A Mapping is complete, will apply and administer the Aquifer Protection Zone as defined by the Level A Mapping. He said that the Town is doubly covered and has been so for some 20 years.   

Mr. Kopchak said that they would answer any questions that they might have on the presentation.

Mr. Mingo asked about Well 3 versus interconnection and putting it off.

Mr. Kopchak and Mr. Kargl said that the interconnection is not a sure thing.

Linda Lipka, 11 Hillwood Drive, Niantic, from the audience, asked who is responsible and whom she should speak with regarding not being able to use the water on the weekends to wash her car. She said that she is a taxpayer and has been for many years and wants to know whom to address regarding this restriction.

Mr. Mingo said that it is the DEP who, with their consent order, restricts the use of two wells when the stream flow falls below a certain level as the alewife fish cannot get back up to spawn. He said that there is also a lot of information available that negates this restriction placed on them, by the DEP.  

Ms. Lipka said that she just wanted to know which agency to contact.

Carol Russell, 4 Bramble Bush Drive, Niantic, also speaking from the audience said that she was concerned about the aquifer protection areas and the businesses that operate within them as the levels of MTBE (former additive of gasoline that is no longer used) seem to be rising steadily for two or three of the wells. She said that there have been studies that have said that this could potentially harm people although the total effects are not known at this time.

Mr. Kargl noted that MTBE is no longer added to gasoline and that the levels cited in the water quality report fall well within the permitted guidelines.

Mr. Mingo asked about grant monies for any of these projects as they had said that they were going to seek out grant dollars. What is the status?

George Pendleton, Maguire Group said that if they are going out for funding that they have to pick it for the project and that they have held off based on tasks that are being identified right now and that are not yet decided upon or approved.

Mr. Kargl added that they have to have the project first that they would want to go after the grant monies for.

Mr. Murphy asked about funding for the projects that were discussed.

Mr. Kargl and Mr. Giannattasio said that Well 2A is bonded and that they do have some money set aside for the chlorination.

Mr. Mingo said that his personal opinion is that he is inclined to ask that the Town’s general tax revenues pay for the interconnection as there is a broader implication for doing this than to just serve the water customers. 

Mr. Kopchak said that they would not be buying out beyond what is needed.

Mr. Nunnery, Maguire Group noted that whey you have groundwater that you would not need as much chlorine as you would with surface water and that the water that is being connected has to be compatible.

Mr. Formica asked if they would like to entertain an action subcommittee to move all of these projects forward and make recommendations on which should be the priority. He asked for volunteers. Mr. Murphy, Mr. Bond and Mr. Mingo volunteered to be on this Project Action Subcommittee.

7.       Replacement Well 2A Pump House Construction Proposal

Mr. Kargl said that they were anxious to move this forward and that he would very shortly be sitting down with Pettini and further discussing their price. He said that if that can be worked out and they find that they can move forward that they would like to be able to do so before the next meeting of the Commission. If they cannot agree then they would also like to be able to go out to bid on this. He suggested that if the Chairman could be authorized to sign the proposal that they could move this forward.

Mr. Pendleton, Maguire Group said that the schedule on this is about 12 weeks.

**MOTION (3)

Mr. Bond moved to authorize the Chairman to enter into a contract with Pettini Contracting Corp. subject to a satisfactory review by staff and the bid amount in conjunction with other project expenses does not exceed the $500,000 authorized by the Water & Sewer Commission on March 27, 2007. If the review is unsatisfactory, staff will seek other qualified contractors to conduct this work through the bidding process.

Mr. Zoller seconded the motion.

Vote:  6 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

8.       Low Pressure Sewer, Rte. 156

Mr. Giannattasio explained that Point O’ Woods is ready to go to construction and that they have asked for a low pressure main. They have been given a design proposal and they will add $3500 for this and they expect to have 90% of the plans by tomorrow – then they could obtain a bid from the contractor. He said that time is the issue on the installation of this low-pressure main.

Mr. Mingo asked if there was potential revenue here.

Mr. Giannattasio said no, they did not have enough information right now and that they may need to call a Special Meeting for this purpose only.

9.       Communications

à         See Correspondence Log

There was no discussion.

10.   Status of Water conservation and Water Supply Emergency Response Measures

Mr. Formica recapped the letters that had been exchanged with the DEP regarding the water issues. He said that they are working with the DEP on turning wells 5 and 6 on. Additionally, he reported that the second weekend of ‘modified’ conservation that they went up over 3M gpd. He said that Well 6 will be shut off by Friday and that the prisons are still operating with disposable dinnerware and paper materials and will continue to do so through Labor Day. He has also worked with the marinas on conservation measures and the cleaning of boats.

11.   Pine Grove Sewer Benefit Assessment Status

Attorney O’Connell reported on the draft of the Sanitary Sewer Benefit Resolution for Sewer Main Extension No. 4 for Pine Grove. He explained the key points noting that this extension is exclusively residential area and that they have set as a flat rate assessment $12,066.00. The parcels with two dwellings will be assessed at two times that rate however; most have only one dwelling. He suggested that they could authorize the Chairman to set the public hearing as appropriate.

Mr. Spencer asked about the temple church building on Temple St. and how that was treated.

Attorney O’Connell said that he will check out how the churches are assessed on Main Street and treat it in the same way. They would also thoroughly look over any other unusual items on the listing.

Mr. Mingo asked in terms of total cost how short they would come in with this assessment.

Mr. Kargl said that the cost is $3.5M divided by roughly 180 to 189 residences which roughly comes to around $18,000 per residence. However; the water main and the road upgrade is another $170,000 that would have to be backed out of the total figure plus some other items, so it would be less of a difference.

**MOTION (4)

Mr. Zoller moved to authorize the Chairman to set the Public Hearing date as deemed appropriate for the Pine Grove Sewer Benefit Assessments.

Mr. Murphy seconded the motion.

Vote:  6 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

12.   Chairman’s Report

Mr. Formica reported that he would be developing a Memorandum of Understanding for the DEP on the projects that have been discussed this evening and the progress of those projects. He noted that he had recently taken DEP Commissioner McCarthy on a trip up the Niantic River and that they are working on year round conservation measures that can be implemented as conservation needs to be more than just ‘seasonal’.

Mr. Mingo noted that there were initiatives that were done before with UCONN on lawns and effective plantings that conserve water.

Mr. Formica said that they need to have measures in effect that are for year round and not just July.

13.   Staff Updates

a.   Conservation Measures

This was previously discussed.

b.   O & M Building Renovation

Mr. Giannattasio reported that he has been working with the insurance company on this and was given a map out which indicates that they only have a few items left to work out. It is estimated at $79,000 with about $5,000 to $6,000 being out of pocket expenses. He said that he should be able to give a final report on this in the near future.

c.   Point O’ Woods Sewer Connection

Discussed previously.

d.   Pine Grove Sewer Extension Project

Discussed previously.

e.  Orchard’s Subdivision

There was no discussion.

f.   Boston Post Road Tank Painting Project

Mr. Kargl reported that this project is complete.

g.   Crossley Court Sewer Extension

Mr. Kargl said that this is in the bid phase.

h.   Saunders Point Sewer Extension

Mr. Kargl said that this project is in the feasibility study phase.

i.    Darrow Pond Project

There was no discussion.

j.   Camp Rell Readiness Center

There was no discussion.

k.  Maguire Group Monthly Status Report

Mr. Kargl noted that this was in their packets and previously discussed.

l.   Water Department Monthly Report

Mr. Kargl noted that this was in their packets and previously discussed.

m.   Sewer Department Monthly Report

Mr. Kargl noted that this was in their packets and previously discussed.

¨       Hydrant Painting

Mr. Kargl reported that Mr. Mingo had suggested that they have a hydrant painting contest to get the hydrants painted and to make it something that would involve the public and be fun. There are some hydrants that are difficult to see due to the lack of paint on them and this could be something where this would beautify some items within the Town that are important. It was presented as something for them to think about.

n.  Regionalization Issues  

This was previously discussed.

o.   Rates/Capital Improvement Plan

There was no discussion.

p.   Tri-Town Wastewater Capacity

Mr. Formica said that there is an upcoming meeting on this.

14.   New Business

There was none.

15.   ADJOURNMENT

**MOTION (6)

Mr. Mingo moved to adjourn the August 26, 2008 Regular Meeting of the East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission at 9:30 PM.

Mr. Zoller seconded the motion.

Vote:  6 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Zmitruk,

Recording Secretary