WPCA Minutes 11/10/2016

Meeting date: 
Thursday, November 10, 2016

WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY

REGULAR MEETING

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

“Subject to Vote of Approval”

1.             CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Paul Gilmore called the regular meeting of the Water Pollution Control Authority to order at 7:03 p.m. in the Simsbury Water Pollution Control Facility Conference Room, 36 Drake Hill Road, Simsbury. The following members were present:  Michael Park, Lucian Dragulski, Ed Kelly, and Tom Hickey.  Also present were Anthony Piazza, Superintendent; Tom Roy, Director of Public Works; Alison Sturgeon, Clerk, as well as other interested parties.

2.             SAFETY BRIEF – Mr. Gilmore gave a safety brief noting the exits in case of an emergency.  He also reminded everyone to start up their snow blowers to prepare for the upcoming winter season.  He also warned to never put your hands near the blades, even when the snow blower is not running.              

3.             80 CLIMAX ROAD – DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLY SET PUBLIC HEARING

Mr. Piazza stated that the developer has submitted a complete request for a sewer extension.  This written request to serve a potential development at 80 Climax Road was submitted with a different plan and letter from a previous application (for the same development) where the Town of Avon had agreed to accept the flows which flow through Avon.  He stated that they are still waiting for the Town of Avon to respond to the new application to confirm that the flows from the site can be conveyed through their Town.  Mr. Piazza stated that the developer also emailed a request to start an amendment to the Simsbury/Avon Agreement.

Mr. Dragulski made a motion to formally receive the application of 80 Climax Road for a sewer extension.  Mr. Hickey seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.

Regarding the re-evaluation of the sewer capacity, Mr. Roy stated that David Prickett Consultant has received water usage for residential properties through the subject area.  They have modeled the water usage along with the flow study, where they took actual measurements of the volume of sewage in the collector pipes, which they have compared with data from the treatment plant.  He stated that they have begun to make some broad generalizations and have met with staff to discuss the overview and to start to plan a course to move this to the next phase.  He stated that there are measurable levels of I&I in the sewer system; there is ground or surface water entering into the system or from illegal connections.  The I&I numbers are robbing the Town of a fair amount of the total capacity of the system; in affect, the I&I is paralleling the actual designs that the plant was set up for.  The next issue with the consultant will be to look at individual drainage basins and identifying individual lots.  Regarding the next phase, Mr. Roy stated that he has asked the consultant to look at the pipe capacity for each of the drainage basins. 

Mr. Hickey made a motion to amend the agenda to discuss the sewer service area and where the Town stands on the project for capacity re-evaluation.  Dr. Park seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved. 

Mr. Gilmore stated that he would like to find out, in terms of being at capacity if everyone hookup up, based upon the usage of how their property is zoned, the size, etc.  He questioned if this is this based upon 190 gpd per EDU or if it is based upon the average home being a 3 bedroom home using 450 gpd.  Mr. Roy stated that it is based upon the 190 gpd and the assumption is very broad in saying that every single one of the parcels within the timeframe of the current plan, would be connected.  Mr. Gilmore questioned if this was capacity for the trunk lines or for the plant to receive.  Mr. Roy stated that this would be for the plant to receive.  He stated that the consultant has also been asked to, for the next phase for each of the sewer sheds, to determine the critical pipe and to get us where we are within that pipe.  Mr. Gilmore questioned when the upgraded treatment plant went online.  Mr. Piazza stated that it went online in 2007.  Mr. Gilmore stated that the plant is now 11 years away from what was the design life of the redevelopment.  He stated that 11 years will be the Authority’s remaining useful life timeline in determining how many undeveloped parcels they would reasonably anticipate that would seek to access the capacity within the next 11 years.  Mr. Roy stated that 16 years may be a better timeline for an upgraded plant to be online.  The Authority agreed. 

Mr. Gilmore stated that his recollection is that the connections each year have been substantially below the annual expectation for each of the years that the upgraded plant has been in operation.  An analysis will need to be done in terms of the reasoning behind the lower than excepted connections; if this trend is expected to continue; and what that means for the next 16 years. 

Mr. Kelly made a motion to set the public hearing for the sewer extension request for 75 & 80 Climax Road at the December 8, 2016 meeting. 

Mr. Kelly stated that he feels the Authority may be rushing to hear this application.  He stated that in the past, they study the information needed and take the appropriate amount of time to reach a decision.  Mr. Gilmore stated that this was a valid concern.  He stated that this Authority needs to act on the allocation request within 65 days of receipt of the request.  If this is not acted upon within the 65 days, it will be deemed as being granted in the manner which it was requested.  Mr. Kelly stated that a great deal of information and data needs to be collected by staff.  Mr. Gilmore stated that they could ask for an extension of time from the applicant in order to collect and study this information.  If they will not grant this extension, the Authority can act on it with incomplete information as best they can, although no policy would be established at that time. 

Mr. Roy stated that the Authority needs to take action on the applicant’s request for allocation.  Mr. Gilmore stated that the letter from Mr. Piazza in response to the applicant’s request may not be the formal response that is needed from the Authority.  He believes the applicant is entitled to a response from the Authority.  Mr. Kelly stated that this would be different from what the Authority has done in the past.  Mr. Roy stated that this is a relatively new Statute for this kind of subdivision.  It is an 830-G application where they have the ability for workforce housing to, in effect, change the zoning.  This is why it sets in place different procedures. 

Dr. Park seconded the motion.

Mr. Gilmore stated that the Authority needs to look at the sewer extension and allocation request separately.  Mr. Kelly stated that he believes that the allocation should be decided prior to the public hearing for the sewer extension.  Mr. Roy stated that the only decision that needs to be made at the December meeting is regarding the flow allocation.

The motion was unanimously denied.

Mr. Kelly made a motion to set the public hearing for the sewer extension request for 75 & 80 Climax Road at the January 12, 2017 meeting.  Mr. Hickey seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.

Mr. Roy stated that if the Authority members would like the Town Attorney at the December and/or January meetings to let him know.  Mr. Piazza stated that the Town of Avon and the Intervener should also be invited to the public hearing.  Mr. Roy stated that the Authority should consider having the public hearing meeting at another venue. 

4.             STATUS REPORT ON SEWER EXTENSION PROJECTS, ETC.

Mr. Roy stated that they continue to work with Maple Court and Old Mill Lane to finalize the easement documents; the design is currently being done as well.  Regarding the 560-573B Hopmeadow Street project, the Town has received several bids.  The lowest bid came in at $69,922 from R. R. Hiltbrand.  Mr. Roy stated that Stratton Forest Homeowners Association is in the process of getting their easements in place prior to making a formal request for the Town to take over their sewers. 

Mr. Roy stated that the Andrew Drive project has been completed with the temporary pavement in place.  They will be finalizing the billing in the near future; there was more rock than what was originally expected.  Three of the homeowners on Andrew Drive have already connected to the sewer.

5.             TREATMENT FACILITY REPORT

Mr. Piazza stated that all permit requirements were met for October.  He stated that they have completed the shutdown of the UV disinfection system and online phosphorous analyzer for the winter months; replaced the online analyzers for the oxidation ditch due to failures; and finished the reprogramming of aeration controls to be used with new DO analyzers installed during the summer, which will allow for better control of DO with another potential electrical savings.  Mr. Piazza stated that they also continue to monitor the process and track the effects of the different controls.

Regarding the Farmington River bank stabilization, Mr. Piazza stated that the contactor has finished with the installation of the rip-rap along the entire project length.  They are currently working on the soil lifts; plantings are expected to be completed in the month of November.  Mr. Piazza stated that the contractor has asked to purchase the sensors from the Town, which were bought by the Town as a cautionary measure prior to the work being performed.  There was a consensus that the sensors could be sold as long as Town policy is followed.  Mr. Dragulski suggested that a credit be given to the Town against the project.

Dave Prickett Consulting is continuing the interpretation of the data to establish flow capacity available in the basin. Additional water data from Avon Water and Aquarion Water is required to assist in the project; staff is actively working on acquiring the needed information.

Regarding the collection system, Mr. Piazza stated that staff continues with cleaning of the system.  One manhole frame was reported knocked of the barrel in the farm next to Dorset Crossing.  Staff reset the frame and raised it above grade to make it more visible to the farmer.

Mr. Piazza stated that Operator Joe Boruff is back to work after his surgery.

6.             CORRESPONDENCE

The Authority reviewed an FOI request from Attorney Wise dated November 3, 2016.  Mr. Piazza stated that staff is in the process of collecting this information and will notify Attorney Wise as soon as it is ready for his review.

7.             OCTOBER 13, 2016 MEETING MINUTES – POSSIBLE APPROVAL

Mr. Dragulski made a motion to approve the October 13, 2016 minutes as written.  Mr. Hickey seconded the motion, which was approved.  Dr. Park and Mr. Kelly abstained.

Mr. Gilmore asked that since the September 8, 2016 minutes have not yet been approved, all comments should be directed to Alison Sturgeon.  Once the edits are made, the minutes can be voted upon at the next meeting.

8.             EXECUTIVE SESSION

Mr. Kelly made a motion to go into Executive Session at 8:40 p.m.  Mr. Hickey seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.

Mr. Kelly made a motion to come out of Executive Session at 9:08 p.m.  Mr. Hickey seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.

9.             ADJOURN

Mr. Hickey made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:10 p.m.  Dr. Park seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.

______________________

Paul Gilmore, Chairman