Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Members Present: Carla Perugini-Erickson, Derek Brown, Christopher Wester, Dave Wartko
Others Present: Diane Lauber (Tax Collector), Mark Wither of Lightning PC
Chairman Erickson called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Approval of Meeting Minutes: Motion by C. Wester to approve the meeting minutes from April 22, 2008, seconded by D. Wartko. Unanimous.
Boulder Brook Sewer Discharge Permit Agreement Status: Chairman Perugini-Erickson presents to the board the certificate of registration for the domestic sewage general permit for Boulder Brook Active Adult Community issued to Tesco Rentals LLC by the State of Connecticut DEP. The permit was issued on April 21, 2008 and will expire on June 11, 2012. Nine months prior to its expiration a mass mailing will be done to notify the permittee of the expiration date and how to file for a permit renewal. The certificate serves two purposes. It is an acknowledgement from the state DEP that the permit registration has been processed and it is also a way for the state DEP inspection staff to know that Boulder Brook ahs the appropriate permit for their discharges. Chairman Perugini-Erickson says that she will let Mayor Chatfield and Attorney Casagrande know that the WPCA has received the permit. She will schedule a meeting with the Mayor to sign off on teh Town of Prospects behalf.
Toll Brothers Sewer Constructions:
Chairman Perugini-Erickson says she has no new updates on Toll Brothers and asks all members if anyone has anything new to share. There is no new business to discuss at this time.
Sewer Billing Procedures/sewer user fees:
Chairman Perugini-Erickson states that Mark Wither from Lighting PC is here to discuss our computer and additional phone line options in order for the City of Waterbury to dial up and receive data from the flow meter for The Regency at Prospect. Diane Lauber is also present and begins the discussion by informing the board that the original quote given for a computer was for a desktop computer not a laptop computer as originally thought. She continues to say that there is a phone line in the tax office currently running to be temporarily hooked up to the postage meter. There is no more room on the current AT&T card being used by Town Hall to add another line. In order to add another line we would need to purchase another card, which three years ago was quoted to cost $1,000.00. Discussion continued and it is determined that it is best to get a new line rather than using the one hooked up for the postage meter. D. Wartko feels that all we need to get is a POTS line. Diane is advised to contact AT&T to see what our options are. Mark Wither suggests verifying with the City of Waterbury that all they want is to dial in and pick up the data compiled to verify billing as opposed to wanting real time connectivity; because what they want will determine if we need one or two lines for a modem. D. Lauber says she will recheck with the city of Waterbury. D. Wartko questions Mark about the type of computer that was quoted. Mark states that it is not a clone and that it is a brand new computer built by Lightning PC. He continues to say that all products are tested and certified to run. Mark states that the computer quoted will be able to handle sewer billing on its own in the event that for financial purposes the WPCA decides to use the computer for sewer collections. C. Wester feels that the WPCA should have a stand-alone computer that is capable of running the software etc. Mark continues to detail the differences between having a laptop versus a desktop. Chairman Perugini-Erickson likes the idea of the computer being portable. C. Wester doesn't feel that portability is necessary and is in favor of getting a Desktop PC. Chairman Perugini-Erickson asks that a motion be made to get a desktop computer. Chairman Perugini-Erickson questions the resolution to additional lines coming into the building. Diane will have a definite
answer ror our next meeting as to now tne issue is to oe resoivea. it is ner reeling mat we are oetter on to nave a separate line. Chairman Perugini-Erickson agrees since having a separate line and charge can easily be allocated into the user fees. At this point Chairman Perugini-Erickson wants the issue to be finalized so that she can present a letter to Toll Brothers regarding the costs incurred for setting the system up at Town Hall. D. Wartko states that he is not in agreement with the way this will be set up and continues to ask Mark more questions. His personal feeling is that this computer is too large for what we need to do. Questions are then raised regarding Pond Place and if that flow meter will also need to have remote access. A brief discussion followed regarding the need to have that flow meter eventually upgraded. Chairman Perugini-Erickson feels that she would rather have a system in place with the expansion ability for what may happen down the road. She feels it would be best to have a system designated to sewer billing. She does not feel it is an unreasonable cost and reminds the board that Toll Brothers is going to pay for it. Motion by C. Wester to get the Desktop PC as quoted from Lighting PC, seconded by D. Brown, 3 in favor, 1 opposed.
Mark questions if a fee schedule has been set up. Chairman Perugini-Erickson informs him not yet and that we are looking to do a workshop sometime in August with a Public Hearing to follow in October. She states that we have deferred to billing per bedroom. As time rolls on if it is not appropriately addressing things properly we can always amend the current ordinance. Mark offers some insight into billing by usage specifically from the towns of Kent and Redding both of whom switched from beds to usage. Chairman Perugini-Erickson is interested to know how long they have been billing by usage. Discussion continued on whether or not Toll Brothers has a billing preference. It is thought they would prefer to be billed by usage. Diane questions how the billing will work for the 15-20 units that will have a CO when we get the bill from Waterbury. She wonders if the bill will be split between just those units or will Toll Brothers pay a portion. Chairman Perugini-Erickson says that there are community buildings as well and she is not really sure how it will be split We need to find out if it comes out of the condo association fee or if it is split amongst the residents.
Waste Waters Facilities Plan Schedule:
C. Wester informs the board that the RFQ was published on May 6, 2008 in the Waterbury Republican American. At this point we are currently waiting for submittals. There have been a few inquiries, mostly people asking questions about fees and the budget etc. Chairman Perugini-Erickson states that she wants to let the Mayors Office know to have interested parties contact the Vice Chair of the WPCA. She says she will provide this contact information to the Mayors Office. C. Wester then informs the board that he has not spoken with the DEP regarding funding and when he tries to contact them he keeps getting hearsay responses that there is currently no money in the fund. Discussion then followed regarding the 2008 budget for the Waste Waters Facilities Plan being cut to $20,000. Chairman Perugini-Erickson says the Mayor did contact her with regard to pulling money out of the current budget for the Waste Waters Facilities Plan to pay some of Scott Poryanda's bills. She told him that she didn't want him to pull it from the $15,000 and would speak again in mid June at which point we are hoping to have the submittals in order. Questions are raised as to what happens if we are unable to use the money by June 30, 2008. D. Wartko informs the board that if we ask the Mayor it will be held and put into a separate account for next year. We just have to ask the Mayor to roll it over. Before our June 24 meeting we need to have an opportunity to receive submittals and review them as a group. It is determined that the WWFP subcommittee will review the submittals. C. Wester says that he is looking to select three firms to interview. From that point we can conduct interviews and select the most qualified firm. It is determined that a Special Meeting will be held on June 24 at 5:30 P.M. for the purpose of conducting three interviews with our regular meeting to follow at 7 P.M. where the WPCA will make a final selection. Motion by C. Wester that we receive submittals on the appointed date of June 12, 2008. Dave Wartko and Chris Wester will short list three, after which Chris Wester will write letters to the selected three contacting them for an interview to be held at a Special Meeting on June 24, 2008 beginning at 5:30 P.M. to be immediately followed by our Regular Meeting at 7:00 P.M. where the WPCA will make the final selection, seconded by D. Wartko, Unanimous.
Chairman Perugini-Erickson would like an item to be added to the Regular Meeting Agenda entitled Request for Submittals Selection Process.
Correspondence:
A letter from State DEP dated May 19, 2008 regarding the DEP undertaking an improved GIS layer for those municipalities with sanitary sewers. They are asking for a response on Prospects GIS status. The board filled out the questionnaire and Chairman Perugini-Erickson will send it back to the DEP.
An invitation from the Prospect Public Library to attend a dedication of the Gazebo in memory of Domenic Moschella on Saturday May 31, 2008 from 3:30-5:30.
A summary of failures for the month of April dated May 6,2008 from Chesprocott.
A notice from the Connecticut Association of Water Pollution Control Authorities regarding the spring workshop to be held on Thursday May 29 from 8:30-1:30 at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Cromwell.
A summary of failures for the month of March dated April 3,2008 from Chesprocott.
A Waste Water sampling analysis for Pond Place from Mayor Chatfield to Maurice Fortier of the Waterbury WPC.
A copy of the Town of Cheshire Sewer Regulations (and Amendment) through 2005 from Attorney John Knott.
Approve WPCA Clerk for reimbursement: Motion by C. Wester to approve reimbursement for WPCA clerk, seconded by D. Brown. Unanimous.
Open: C. Wester states that he spoke with Maurice Fortier following our last meeting and asked if he could provide guidance for pond place upgrades. Maurice said he has already described to Scott Poryanda how he wanted it done and doesn't feel it is appropriate for him to put it in a letter for us. C. Wester says he will get in contact with Scott regarding this matter to see if Scott can pull a quote and spec package together. Chairman Perugini-Erickson would like the spec and quotes in place for when we hold our workshop that way we can have a special assessment for Pond Place upgrades.
Adjournment: Motion by C. Wester to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m., seconded by D. Brown. Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carla M. Perugini-Erickson Chairman