Scrolling down or clicking the bookmarks will take you to all the submitted minutes for meetings held in November.

Tuesday, NOVEMBER 27th, 2007

EAST LYME WATER & SEWER COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

The East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission held a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at the East Lyme Town Hall, 108 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic CT. Chairman Hogan called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:05 PM.

PRESENT:                Beth Hogan, Chairman, Steve DiGiovanna, Dave Zoller. Joe Mingo, Roger Spencer, Mary Cahill, Robert Gadbois, Dave Murphy, Dave Bond

ALSO PRESENT:     Brad Kargl, Municipal Utility Engineer

                                 Michael Giannattasio, Director of Public Works

                                 Attorney Edward O’Connell, Town Counsel

                                 Paul Formica, In-coming Chairman

ABSENT:                 No One

1.      Call to Order

Chairman Hogan called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.

The Pledge was observed.

Ms. Hogan called for a motion to add the Approval of the September 25, 2007 Minutes to the agenda as Item 2b.

**MOTION (1)

Mr. DiGiovanna moved to add: Approval of the September 25, 2007 Minutes; to the agenda as Item 2b.

Mr. Mingo seconded the motion.

Vote:  8 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

2.      Approval of Minutes

à    Special Meeting Minutes – October 25, 2007

**MOTION (2)

Mr. Mingo moved to approve the Special Meeting Minutes of October 25, 2007 of the Water & Sewer Commission as presented.

Mr. DiGiovanna seconded the motion.

Vote:  5 – 0 – 3.  Motion passed.

Abstained:  Ms. Cahill, Mr. Gadbois, Mr. Zoller

à    Regular Meeting Minutes – September 25, 2007

**MOTION (3)

Mr. DiGiovanna moved to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of September 25, 2007 of the Water & Sewer Commission as presented.

Mr. Zoller seconded the motion.

Vote:  8 – 0 – 2.  Motion passed.

3.      Delegations

Ms. Hogan called for anyone who wished to speak under delegations.

There was no one.

4.      Approval of Bills

There were none.

5.      Communications

à        See Correspondence Log

Mr. Kargl noted the letter dated November 6, 2007 from Denise Ruzicka, Director, Inland Water Resources Division at the DEP regarding Well 5 Operations – Consent Order DIV-1997-1008V. Of concern to the DEP is how the streamflow readings are taken and when. They are looking for more stringent recording and for weekend readings to be taken. He said that he has explained to them that the readings and the recording of them would be under more stringent means than what is being done at present.

Mr. Mingo asked Mr. Kargl if it would be expensive to get electronic readings of the stream gauge.

Mr. Kargl said that he would estimate that it would cost about $10,000 for each of the three (3) that they would have to monitor.

Ms. Hogan asked Mr. Kargl if he would read the letter as a positive or a negative.

Mr. Kargl said that he would see it as constructive and a positive.

Mr. Giannattasio noted that the letter was a constructive directive and not a punishment.

6.      Benefit Assessment Committee Report

Mr. Kargl said that he has supplied them with the minutes of the meeting that they held on October 11, 2007. The new Finance Director was present and it was a meeting designed to outline what they have to do and to bring everyone up to speed on the projects that they need to get done. He noted that the Pine Grove project was the first on the list as they would have to determine the benefit assessment. Next would be the Boston Post Road project.

Ms. Hogan asked Mr. Kargl if he has an estimate.

Mr. Kargl said that a guess would be in the $13,000 range.

Ms. Hogan asked about the percentage of hook-ups that are done.

Mr. Kargl said that it could be around 30%.

Attorney O’Connell explained that Pine Grove is under the standard assessment and that Boston Post Road is under the ‘opt in’ because it was constructed by someone other that the Town.

Mr. Mingo asked how far from accepting the Boston Post Road project they were.

Mr. Kargl said that is should be very soon.

Attorney O’Connell said that he has the legal documents from the Attorney for the developer and that he is in the process of matching them up to the maps.

Mr. Giannattasio noted that there are some new homes going up and that so far the developer has not allowed them to hook in. He said that he sent the developer a letter noting that they should put forth a good faith effort but at this point in time it has not yet been heeded.

Mr. Kargl said that there are two (2) homes in question here.

7.      Chairman’s Report

à        Tri-Town meeting update on Wastewater Capacity

Ms. Hogan reported that the most recent Tri-Town meeting was successful and asked Mr. Kargl if they have heard anything back yet.

Mr. Kargl reported that East Lyme had hosted the most recent meeting and that a scope of work of the facility was sent to the DEP for review. The DEP sent it back with some recommendations that were incorporated into the document. The Committee approved the scope of work and a copy is being reviewed by all of the Town Attorney’s involved (East Lyme, Waterford & New London).

Attorney O’Connell said that he has spoken with the Waterford Town Attorney who has informed him that he has not yet received his packet to review. The New London Attorney has received his packet and is in the process of reviewing it. In speaking with the Attorney’s he said that they have all agreed that they should speak with ‘one voice’ and that they should meet to be able to get to that point.

Mr. Mingo said that one of the things that he sees coming out of these meetings is a discussion on the problems that they all have and how they solve them. He suggested that they should meet with the other WPCA’s a few times a year to discuss these common problems and how they handle them.

Mr. DiGiovanna said that while they want to expand the wastewater treatment plant in New London – are they permitted to do so?

Mr. Kargl said that this is the process that they are involved in now and that it has been encouraged by the DEP and at higher levels.

(Note:  7:30 PM - Mr. Bond arrived and was seated.)   

à      Other

Ms. Hogan said that she would like them as a Commission to start reviewing the water supply plan.

Mr. Kargl said that he could put together a summary of the water supply plan for discussion.

8.      System-wide Chlorine Disinfection/East Lyme Water System – Public Information Meetings

Ms. Hogan said that they just had the first session and that there were not that many people who attended and that depending upon how many show up at next week’s session, she thinks that people are going to say that they did not know about this.

Mr. Kargl synopsized what they have done in terms of notification to the public and added that it will also be in the newspaper, in future bills and on the website and local access channel.

Mr. Mingo said that he thinks that this is all ‘much to do about nothing’ and that most of the people who have come to live in this Town came from areas that have chlorinated water and also expect that ours is the same way. They are not aware that the water is not chlorinated.

Mr. Giannattasio said that on the positive side that they could establish meetings as they go forward and explain this as they did for the Pine Grove project.

Mr. Zoller said that he thinks that the notice that was sent with the billing was a personal invitation to everyone to come to the informational sessions. The lettering was large enough so no one could say that they could not read it and he said that he does not see any excuse for anyone not knowing what is going on or complaining about it later.

9.      Proposed Regular Meeting Schedule for 2008

Ms. Hogan called for comments on the schedule they had received in their packets.

The Commissioners asked that the December meeting be changed to the third Tuesday of the month due to the Christmas Holiday. This date would now be December 16, 2008.

**MOTION (4)

Mr. DiGiovanna moved to accept the Schedule of Meetings for 2008 of the Water & Sewer Commission as amended. (Attached at end of Minutes)

Ms. Cahill seconded the motion.

Vote:  9 – 0 – 0.

10.   Staff Updates

a.   Pine Grove Sewer Extension Project

Mr. Kargl reported that they have not seen the final bills from Ludlow or Cinami yet primarily because they have a few things to do with respect to paving and touch-ups. The final acceptance by Water & Sewer is some two (2) months or so away.

Mr. Mingo asked about other work that was done – outside of the scope of work and how it was paid for.

Mr. Giannattasio said that the work was itemized and that Public Works has paid for their share.

Mr. Mingo asked about the storm drains going to the Niantic River and the impact.

Mr. Giannattasio said that they have reduced the amount of run-off as they have reduced the pavement (impervious surfaces) and increased run-off to other surfaces that can absorb and filter it.

b.   Boston Post Road Sewer Extension

Mr. Kargl said that this was previously discussed and that the review of the legal documents and mapping is currently in progress.

c.   Boston Post Road Tank Painting Project

Mr. Kargl reported that the outside of the tank has been completed this week (blue paint) and that they will then go inside where they will be working on scaffolding, etc.

Mr. Zoller recalled that primer was discussed and asked if it was being used on the interior, exterior or both areas.

Mr. Kargl said that it was on the exterior where they did spot repair on white metal and then primed those spots, plus the total tank and lastly applied two (2) coats of final paint. The interior will be sand blasted and that will take it down to the metal. It will be easier to do this area as it will be in a controlled environment.

Mr. Murphy asked about the tight schedule that they were on and how that was going.

Mr. Kargl said that it was going very well and that even with the temperatures that they have had, they had been able to paint. While they can paint at no lower than 35º - they are heating the tank from the inside and this has enabled them to stay on schedule.

d.   Crossley Court Sewer Extension

Mr. Kargl said that he is working on the bid specs.

Ms. Hogan asked if it is part or all of this area that would be under mandatory hook-up.

Mr. Kargl said that it is the whole area.

Mr. Mingo asked if they should hire someone on the outside to do the specs.

Ms. Cahill said that they should not be spending money.

Mr. Giannattasio said that it would not be cost effective and also, they do not have it factored into the budget.

Mr. DiGiovanna asked if they are looking at a spring start for this.

Mr. Kargl said yes and added that the people living there knew that it would not be until at least spring.

e.   Brook Road Water and Sewer Extension

Mr. Kargl reported that Mr. Calkins, Sanitarian with Ledge Light has met with this neighborhood and explained that there is not a legitimate need here and that it would be quite costly to put this service in. The few issues that exist there could be solved by other means. He said that Mr. Calkins will do his follow-up survey and give them a report and that they will wait for that report.

f.   38 Hope Street

Mr. Giannattasio said that there was a request from the applicant regarding the operations and maintenance plan regarding the prohibition of pets and that it has turned out that from their marketing perspective that the ‘no pets’ has had a serious effect on their marketing of units. They would like to amend this and following discussion with management, the Chair, and the DPH, the following proposal conditions were discussed - the construction of a small dog park with an on-site maintenance plan and signage in the rear (‘no pets allowed’ in the 200’ radius around the well – public water supply area); that public notice in the Day would be made regarding this request stating that this Commission and the DPH support this change. He said that he expects that this would be done in December.

Mr. Mingo said that he was not aware that this was the case with this community and noted that with elderly people that it is almost required that they be allowed to have a pet. He asked about the pet area and if it would be fenced in.

Mr. Giannattasio said that it would be fenced in and that there would be a disposal program in place. They have also discussed having wood chips there.

g.   Camp Rell Readiness Center

There was no discussion.

h.   Darrow Pond Project

Mr. Kargl said that the preliminary results from the pump test are done and that they are going through the data and preparing a diversion permit.

i.    Walnut Hill Development 

There was no discussion.

j.    Maguire Group Monthly Status Report

Mr. Kargl noted that the new items in the report are in bold. He said that the Well 2A groundwater study is done and it has been found not to be influenced by surface water.

k.   Water Department Monthly Report

Mr. Kargl reported that they used 6M more gallons of water this October due to the warm weather as compared to the previous year in October.

Mr. Murphy asked about the service repairs and how this was budgeted for.

Mr. Kargl said that it is a line item in the budget.

Mr. Giannattasio looked it up and found that the usage for the line item is actually less than last year at this time and that there is no real trend for it.

Mr. DiGiovanna asked about water main replacements.

Mr. Kargl said that the cast iron piping is being looked at and that they are finding that the breaks are in areas where the piping is installed in boggy areas. He said that this is a capital improvement item.

Mr. Mingo asked about asbestos pipe.

Mr. Kargl said that they do have some of it and added that it actually holds up quite well. 

l.   Sewer Department Monthly Report

Mr. Kargl noted that while they used more water this October that they also had some 90,000 gallons less usage on the sewer side.

m.  Regionalization Issues  

There was no discussion.

n.   Rates/Capital Improvement Plan

There was no discussion.

o.   Prison Communications

There was no discussion.

p.   Other

There was no other business.

11.   New Business

Ms. Cahill said that she has been on the Water & Sewer Commission for some 26 years and that she has worked with many people during that time and for many Chairs. She said that she would like to commend Ms. Hogan for being right up with everything that has been going on and coming prepared to the meetings.

Mr. Mingo thanked Ms. Hogan for her service.

12.   ADJOURNMENT

**MOTION (5)

Mr. Mingo moved to adjourn this November 27, 2007 Regular Meeting of the East Lyme Water & Sewer Commission at 8:10 PM.

Mr. DiGiovanna seconded the motion.

Vote:  9 – 0 – 0.  Motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen Zmitruk,

Recording Secretary