WPCA Minutes 11/08/2018
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 8, 2018
“Subject to Vote of Approval”
1. CALL TO ORDER
Paul Gilmore called the regular meeting of the Water Pollution Control Authority to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Water Pollution Control Facility, 36 Drake Hill Road, Simsbury. The following members were present: Jay Sheehan, Michael Park, Ed Kelly, Lucian Dragulski, Tom Hickey and Jacques Brignac. Also present were Anthony Piazza, Water Pollution Control Superintendent; Thomas Roy, Director of Public Works; and Alison Sturgeon, Clerk.
2. SAFETY BRIEF – Mr. Gilmore gave a safety brief noting the exits in case of an emergency.
3. PUBLIC HEARING - ASSESSMENT HEARING FOR 318-331 BUSHY HILL ROAD
Mr. Gilmore read the legal notice.
Mr. Sheehan made a motion to open the public hearing. Mr. Hickey seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Mr. Piazza stated that this project originally went out to bid in the fall of 2016. When the bids came back higher than anticipated, the project was put back out to bid in the spring of 2017. There was a decrease in the bids of approximately $65,000. He stated that the bid was awarded at a cost of $195,966; the final construction cost was $188,123. The cost savings was from the State paving project being incorporated with this project. The final assessment for each property is $15,051.44. Future assignments on Oakhurst and Woodhaven total $67,715. He stated that 318A, 318B, 331, 331A and 331B Bushy Hill Road will have deferred assessments. The billing for the regular assessments will go out in November of 2019.
Mr. Gilmore asked if there were any comments or questions from the public.
Mrs. Imse, 326 Bushy Hill Road, asked that the meaning of a deferred assessment be clarified. Mr. Piazza stated that when a property has a deferred assessment, the homeowner will not be billed until time of connection. Mr. Sheehan explained that the properties that are deferred do not have houses on them; currently, there is nothing to connect to the sewer.
Mrs. Imse questioned for how many years would the assessment be due, as well as how the interest on the assessment is calculated. Mr. Roy stated that the assessment is paid over a ten year period. The interest is simple interest on the loan; the interest is only paid on the balance of the loan.
Ms. Johnson, 320 Bushy Hill Road, questioned when the assessment payments would start. Mr. Piazza stated that the first bill will be due in November of 2019.
Ms. Lingheld, 322 Bushy Hill Road, questioned if the contractor would be back in the spring of next year to look at and make any necessary improvements to the grassy area that was seeded. Mr. Roy stated that the Town is currently holding back a portion of the total contract costs to ensure that the contractor reseeds in the spring.
Mr. Kelly questioned how the number of homes that have been included in the future assignments was determined. Mr. Piazza stated that the cost of the section of pipe from Woodhaven to where the sewer was tied in at Oakhurst was divided among the homes.
Mr. Sheehan made a motion to close the public hearing. Mr. Kelly seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
Mr. Sheehan made a motion to approve the assessments as presented for 318-331 Bushy Hill Road. Mr. Hickey seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
4. REQUEST FOR FCC WAIVER – 384 HOPMEADOW STREET
Mr. Piazza stated that Mitchel Auto Group, 384 Hopmeadow Street, is adding a 1,000 s.f. service bay onto an existing building. Since they will be using this as a drop off bay only, the business owner is asking for a waiver of the $1,809.60 facility connection charge. He stated that if the Authority were to waive this fee, he would recommend several stipulations be put on the approval.
Mr. Sheehan questioned if this was an open air addition. Mr. Piazza stated that the bay will be fully enclosed with garage doors.
Mr. Gilmore stated that there would not be restrictions on what the addition could be used for in the future or if the dealership were to sell. He would not be in favor of waiving the facility connection charge.
Mr. Hickey questioned if there was ever a circumstance similar to this when the FCC was waived. Mr. Piazza stated that, to his knowledge, there is not an example of this in his 5 years employed with the Town of Simsbury.
Mr. Kelly stated that he would think that water would be used in cleaning the floors of the drop off area, especially in the winter months when it can be messy. Mr. Piazza stated that the plans do show floor drains for the addition, which will be connected to the sanitary sewer.
Mr. Kelly made a motion to deny the request for a waiver of the $1,809.60 facility connection charge for the addition of a service bay at 384 Hopmeadow Street. Mr. Hickey seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
5. FLOW ALLOCATION - POLICY DISCUSSION
Mr. Roy distributed an updated draft of the flow allocation policy to the Authority members. No vote is needed tonight. All of the discussions, thus far, have been implemented into this draft policy.
Mr. Gilmore questioned if it was appropriate to charge people a fee when there is a legal requirement to provide them with this service, if there is sufficient capacity. Mr. Sheehan stated that the WPCA would use this fee to find additional capacity for future connections. If the fees were used for I&I removal, it would allow for more capacity and in turn, more users.
In response to a question regarding what that fee should be, Mr. Roy stated that he would recommend it be a fee that can be modified. He recommended the WPCA start by looking at what it costs in terms of dollars to remove one EDU of flow from the line in I&I reduction.
6. STATUS REPORT ON SEWER EXTENSION PROJECTS, ETC.
Mr. Roy stated that he would like to move forward in setting the public hearing next month for the Maple Court and Old Mill Court project. He stated that there is no need for a public hearing for the Massaco Street upgrade; this was paid out of the sewer assessment fund. He stated that Jim Corley, WPC Inspector, did a great job communicating with residents during the project. Mr. Roy stated that the public hearing has been set for February 14, 2019 for Winterset Lane and work will begin on Phelps Lane within the next week or two.
7. TREATMENT FACILITY REPORT
Mr. Piazza stated that all permit requirements were met for the month of October. He stated that staff has shut down the disinfection and phosphorous monitoring systems for the winter seasons. Northeast Communications has completed the SCADA system programming; staff will be conducting a program demo on 11/9 to ensure that system requirements are met. Installation is expected to be completed on November 14th.
Regarding the NPDES Permit status, Mr. Piazza stated that Steve Muollo of the DEEP has informed the Town that the NPDES is in review at this time. Once final review is completed by the State, the Town will be provided a draft copy for review and comment. From discussions with the DEEP, no major changes are expected.
8. CORRESPONDENCE
The Authority members reviewed a letter to the State DEEP regarding the approval for an increase in Strontium discharge for Oldcastle Precast in Avon.
9. OCTOBER MEETING MINUTES – POSSIBLE APPROVAL
Mr. Hickey made one edit to the October minutes.
Mr. Hickey Dragulski made a motion to approve the October 13, 2018 minutes as amended. Dr. Park seconded the motion, which was approved. Mr. Gilmore and Mr. Sheehan abstained.
10. ADJOURN
Mr. Hickey made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:51 p.m. Mr. Sheehan seconded the motion, which was unanimously approved.
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Paul Gilmore, Chairman