Monday, January 28, 2008
Members Present: Carla Perugini-Erickson, Derek Brown, Christopher Wester, Dave Wartko
Others Present: Attorney Antony Casagrande, Scott Poryanda
Chairman Erickson called the meeting to order at 8:23 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Motion by D. Brown to approve the meeting minutes for January 24, 2008, seconded by C. Wester, unanimous.
Old Business:
Sewer Moratorium Vote: Motion by D. Brown that the WPCA pass the resolution for the adoption of a moratorium which is herby approved prohibiting consideration or approval of any and all new applications for sewer lines, externsions of existing sewer lines, construction of either and/or any and all other public or community sewer related activity in the Town of Prospect for a period of eighteen (18) months, seconded by D. Wartko, unanimous.
Attorney Casagrande will submit the adopted Resolution to the Town Clerks Office. Once Submitted the resolution will take effect upon publication.
Review Conditional Approval for Boulder Brook Sewer: Chairman Perugini-Erickson presents a letter dated January 15, 2008 from Paul Stacey the Director of Planning and Standards Division Bureau of Water Protection & Land Resuse in regards to the approval of plans and specifications for Boulder Brook Condominiums. The letter indicates that the plans and specifications are approved for technical adequacy of the pumping equipment however; their long tern viability relies on proper monitoring, routine inspections, operation and maintenance of the equipment. Therefore the approval is conditional upon submission of proof of compliance with the following requirements:
1. A maintenance agreement between the owner and a property management or other acceptable vendor that provides for inspection at the facilities at least weekly and performance of routine preventive maintenance on a schedule to be provided by the pump station equipment supplier.
2. Verification of installation of transfer switch and and receptacle to plug in a portable emergency generator to run the pump station in the event of power failure.
3. Installation of additional alarms for loss of electric power, and wet well low water and modification to the wet well high water alarm elevation.
4. These alarms are to signal to a point of 24 hour attendance. This can be a commercial alarm monitoring company or the vendor from (1) above. The call down list for responders must provide for response to the side within one hour.
Chairman Pergini-Erickson suggests that a copy of this conditional approval should be sent to all Boulder Brook residents. We are in place to oversee and ensure that they are in compliance with this permit. The Permit will be issued once these four items are in compliance. Chairman Pergini-Erickson reminds the WPCA that as a board we still have authority over this system even if the Condo Association controls it. We have the right to recover any costs that may incur on our behalf from the Condo Association for inspections, etc. Once they get their permit it must be certified to us that they have the permit and we will then have to certify to the DEP that we can effectively manage it. Chairman Perugini-Erickson will follow up with Hank Berberat to make sure the four remaining items will be taken care of. Chairman Perugini-Erickson states the sewer discharge permit is almost there and until all items are completed it will be kept on our regular agenda.
Toll Brothers Extension Request: Scott Poryanda was present to update the WPCA on Toll Brothers request to extend the amount of time given for installation of a lateral across Scott Road to Williams Drive. It is requested the they have until September 1st to install the line. Scott sees no reason why is couldn't be done as early as July or August. It is decided to grant an extension until August 15, 2008. Motion by C. Wester to grant Toll Brothers permission for an extension of time until August 15, 2008 to install the sewer line crossing from sanitary manhole 15a to a point across Scott Road on the southerly side of Williams Drive as shown on plan SU-7 of the proposed residential development on Scott Road by Toll Brothers, seconded by D. Brown, unanimous.
Inspection Reports: Scott Poryanda informs the board that there is a problem with the as builts not being in compliance with that was originally approved. We need to know what Toll is planning on doing to fix the problem. Unless the problem is addressed we will not allow the flow to go. A letter should be sent to Gene McCarthy, Mayor Chatfield, and John Knott to notify them of the issue. It is the board's opinion that Toll should have the engineers address the problem and come up with solutions. Since the problem has to do with the actual installation, we need to take action to at least let Toll know there is an issue and something needs to be done since on the actual agreement our board approved installation.
Sewer Billing Procedures: D. Brown suggests we may need to change the administrative fees. The fees are currently set as $10.00 per bill however it is thought this may not be enough to cover the cost of software. Discussion continues about billing cycles. The ordinance currently states that billing will be quarterly. Diane Lauber, Tax Collector for Prospect asks if this means we will be sending out one annual bill payable in four installments, or will the town need to send our bills four times a year. Regardless of ordinance an annual public hearing will need to be held before the town can bill. D. Brown things our billing will correlate with the City of Waterbury and Waterbury currently bills four separate times a yeaer. We still need to come up with an estimated cost before we can begin billing. Once we get all of our information together a public hearing will be set.
New Business
2008 Budget Proposal: Chairman Perugini-Erickson asks if there are any changes to be made for the budget proposal. D. Brown suggests that we should raise clerking fees in order to bring them inline with what other boards are currently paying their clerks. It was brought to the boards attention that Inland Wetlands pays the clerk $140 per meeting, Planning and Zoning pays $175, Town Council pays $120, and Zoning Board of Appeals pays $120. Looking back at the 2007-2008 adopted budget the boards clerking fees were set at $600 for 12 regular meetings and $250 for special meetings for a total of $850 for the year. This total needs to be amended. D. Brown suggests amending the clerking fee to $140 per meeting for a total of $2940 for the year, which will include 12 regular meetings, 6 special meetings, and 3 public hearings. It is decided to change the title of line item 5900-02 from sewer fees & engineering to water quality testing. It is also decided to add a new line item for engineering services at an amount of $5,000. The 2008 Proposed Budget for the WPCA will read as follows:
5900-00 Meeting clerk $1680
5900-01 Hydrant Rental $85,000
5900-02 Water quality testing $3800
5900-03 Special meeting clerk $1260
5900-04 Waste water facilities plan $50,000
5900-05 Conferences $500
5900-06 Engineering services $5000
Chairman Perugini0Erickson will be sending a letter to Mayor Chatfield detailing the 2008 WPCA Proposed Budget. This will need to be done by February 8, 2008. Motion by C. Wester to accept 2008 WPCA proposed budget, seconded by D. Brown, unanimous.
Correspondence:
Letter from Paul Stacey date January 15, 2008 in regards to Boulder Brook Condos sewer permit conditional approval.
Open:
Adjournment: MOtion by D. Brown to adjourn at 9:44 pm, seconded by C. Wester. Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carla M. Perugini-Erickson, Chairman