WPCA Meeting Minutes 12/08/2022
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
DECEMBER 8, 2022
“Subject to Vote of Approval”
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Sheehan called the regular meeting of the Water Pollution Control Authority to order at 7:00 p.m. via an in-person / Zoom meeting at the Simsbury Town Hall. The following members were present: Michael Park, Tom Hickey, Ed Kelly, Lucian Dragulski, and Jacques Brignac. Also present were Tom Roy, Director of Public Works, Michael LeClaire, Assistant Superintendent and Alison Sturgeon, Administrative Secretary.
2. SAFETY BRIEF – There was none.
3. PUBLIC HEARING – PINE HILL HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION SEWER UPGRADE
Mr. Sheehan read the legal notice.
LEGAL NOTICE
TOWN OF SIMSBURY
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
The Simsbury Water Pollution Control Authority will hold a public hearing on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 7:00 pm in the Main Meeting Room at the Simsbury Town Hall, 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT. The purpose of this hearing is to review a proposal and possibly take action for upgrading the sanitary sewers which serve: 1-12 Middle Lane; 1-12 Woods Lane; 1-7 and 9 & 11 Stebbins Brook Lane; 1 & 3 South Road; 33, 35, 37 & 39 Pine Hill Drive; and 553 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT. All interested property owners shall have the opportunity to appear and be heard.
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
Paul Gilmore, Chairman
Mr. Roy stated that the WPCA operates and maintains an advanced wastewater treatment plant, which has a capacity of 3.8 MGD, five pump stations, 85 miles of sewer lines and 2,300 manholes. There are approximately 4,500 residential and non-residential accounts. The service area includes Simsbury as well as portions of Avon and Granby, who are co-owners of the treatment facility. These Towns also participate in debt reduction and O&M funding. Mr. Roy stated that the WPCA is the sole decision-making authority for sewer installations and repairs. Finances are solely supported by user fees.
Mr. Roy stated that this project dates back to 1979 with an assessment and upgrade recommendations by Tighe & Bond. He stated that the Pine Hill Homeowner’s Association currently owns and maintains the existing sanitary sewers, although those sewers are not constructed to Town of Simsbury standards. This project proposes to replace and/or install new main lines and to extend existing laterals to approximately 25FT from the homes as needed.
Mr. Roy stated that the preliminary cost estimate for the survey, lateral construction, main line construction and restoration is $975,000. The project includes: 2,120LF of main line sanitary sewer; 2,335LF of sewer laterals; and 7,200SY of pavement. The total equal cost to each homeowner would be approximately $24,375. He stated that homeowners have the option of financing the project with the Town and to repay this cost over a 15-year period at the Town’s bond rate (assumed to be 4%) and simple interest. No payments need to be made until the project is completed and accepted. The breakdown of the monthly expense would be $216 the first year, declining to $140 in the last year.
Mr. Sheehan asked if there were any questions from the public.
Mr. Diodato, 12 Middle Road, stated that after the project is completed, the Town would take ownership of the sewers. He questioned if the Town would also take ownership of the roads. Mr. Roy stated that the Town will not take ownership of the roads nor will they take ownership/responsibility for laterals; only the main line of the sewers will be maintained by the Town.
Mr. Oakes, 3 Woods Lane, questioned if the Town would maintain the storm sewers. Mr. Roy stated that the storm sewers, also known as catch basins, are the Homeowner Association’s responsibility. He stated that if there are any
catch basins that are in need of repair/replacement, this should be done prior to the sewer upgrade. Also, the water company may want to be a part of this project as well. If so, they could help with the restoration costs of the road. Ms. Burt, 12 Woods Lane, questioned who would pay for the water line replacement, if that project moved forward. Mr. Roy stated that the water company would be responsible to pay all costs for a water line replacement project.
Ms. Haefs, 9 Stebbins Brook Lane, questioned what would happen if she wanted to sell her house before the assessment was paid in full. Mr. Roy stated that the assessment would be a lien on the property. It would be paid off in full when the house was sold. It was stated that the Homeowner’s Association voted to approve a maximum of $787,250 to fund this sewer upgrade project.
Ms. Wong, 6 Woods Lane, questioned how there would be transparency during this project. Mr. Roy stated that a paid consultant or Town staff member would be on site daily to make sure the project was running smoothly and to make sure residents are getting what they are paying for. Mr. Sheehan stated that the contractor will not get fully paid until the sewers are accepted. Mr. Oakes questioned how change orders would be handled. Mr. Roy stated that once the project starts, they can only manage the costs at that point. Ms. Burt questioned if the Town can guarantee the costs. Mr. Roy stated that they structure the bids as an itemized list. Some items come in over budget and some come in under budget. Ms. Burt questioned if there was a cap on a bid. Mr. Sheehan stated that for the past decade since he has been on the WPCA, they have not had a project go over more than 5% of the bid.
Mr. Koff questioned if there was a 5% contingency in the cost estimate. Mr. Roy stated that he was unsure if the contingency was included in the estimate.
Ms. Wong stated that many products have recently increased in price. She questioned who would be looking to see if these increases are justified. Mr. Roy stated that he would be willing to have monthly meetings with residents to keep them informed. He stated that even if prices increase, once the bid comes in, they will have a dollar value for every unit quantity. The contractor usually includes a contingency in their bid price.
Mr. Diodato questioned how payments of the assessment are made. Mr. Roy stated that the WPCA pays for the project up front; each resident will then be assessed. The first payment will be required in November after the project has been completed and accepted.
Mr. Diodato questioned if the WPCA has a right to force this project to go through. Mr. Sheehan stated that if there is a health hazard, the Authority can enforce and require a sewer connection; there is no health hazard in this case. The Simsbury WPCA is always interested in how residents feel. In this case, it will be a neighborhood decision.
Mr. Koff asked to be given a “safe” cost estimate that he could bring back to the Homeowner’s Association for another vote.
Mr. Sheehan closed the comment period of the public hearing.
After a short discussion, the WPCA decided to close the public hearing and not continue it.
Dr. Park made a motion to close the public hearing for the Pine Hill Homeowner’s Association sewer upgrade project. Mr. Hickey seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Mr. Sheehan stated that once the Homeowner’s Association has voted and approved a higher cost, this would be put back on the agenda for another public hearing.
4. 10 MASSACO STREET, APT P / ELDERLY RELIEF – UNDER REVIEW BY THE TOWN ATTORNEY
Mr. LeClaire stated that the Town Attorney is reviewing this issue.
5. BELDEN FOREST COURT CONDOMINIUMS – CONTINUED DISCUSSION
Mr. LeClaire stated that the Town Attorney has reviewed this issue and a public hearing will be needed in order to make any modifications to the fees. Mr. Kelly stated that the Authority members also requested that he review language as well as some definitions that needed to be changed.
After a short discussion, the Authority members agreed that they were not ready to set a public hearing date. They requested a formal written opinion from the Town Attorney. They also asked that the meeting minutes and meeting notes be sent to them again for their review.
6. STATUS REPORT ON SEWER EXTENSION PROJECTS, ETC.
Mr. LeClaire stated that interest letters were sent out to Sand Hill Road. Six responses were received out of 16 letters, 4 of which were not interested and 2 of which were interested.
Mr. LeClaire stated that the main line has been installed on Eagle Lane. Regarding developer projects, he stated that Cambridge Court off of Hoskins Road continues to be built, although at a slower pace. There are still 2 more homes to be built on Griswold Place. The Ridge at Talcott Mountain just connected the sewers for the last of the apartments; one more building remains.
7. TREATMENT FACILITY REPORT
Mr. LeClaire stated that all permit requirements were met for the month of November. He stated that the Manchester Landfill is no longer accepting special waste from any WWTP. Simsbury grit disposal is now being brought to a waste management facility in Fitchburg, MA. Staff is creating a bid specification for a new grit washer which will allow this material to be classified as a municipal waste to allow for easier disposal.
Mr. LeClaire stated that Granite InLiner will be returning in January to complete the lining of several sections of pipe that were unable to be done due to access issues. Staff will be reviewing the completed sections to determine any future needs. Also, Weston and Sampson has completed the initial analysis of the clarifiers to determine what actions need to be taken to ensure the tanks can be ready for future use.
8. CORRESPONDENCE
The Authority members reviewed a letter from Mr. Piazza, dated November 29, 2022, to 969 Hopmeadow Street regarding their FCC.
9. OCTOBER MEETING MINUTES – POSSIBLE APPROVAL
Mr. Kelly made a motion to approve the November 10, 2022 meeting minutes as written. Mr. Brignac seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
10. ADJOURN
Mr. Hickey made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 p.m. Dr. Park seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
_________________________
Jay Sheehan, Vice-Chairman