TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2008
Members Present: Carla Perugini-Erickson, Dave Wartko, Christopher Wester, Derek Brown
Others Present: Diane Lauber (Tax Collector)
Chairman Perugini-Erickson called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
Approval of Meeting Minutes: Motion by C. Wester to approve the meeting minutes from August 26, 2008, seconded by D. Wartko, Unanimous.
Waste Waters Facilities Plan Schedule: Chairman Perugini-Erickson informs the board that she tried to get in touch with Attorney Casagrande however she has gotten no response so at this point we do not have enough information on the legality issues to enter into a formal agreement with Wright-Pierce, C. Wester states he has been in touch with Wright-Pierce letting them know that we are not ready at this point to enter into an agreement. Chairman Perugini-Erickson says she will send Attorney Casagrande a hard copy of our minutes from August 26, 2008 as well as the contract in an attempt to get some clarification from him before the next meeting.
D. Wartko spoke with the chair of Town Council regarding allocating additional funds. He encouraged the WPCA to come before the Town Council and feels is would be better to pay now than later. It is determined that an answer is still needed from Attorney Casagrande before we can proceed.
Boulder Brook: Chairman Perugini-Erickson informs that board that since she has been unable to get in touch with Attorney Casagrande there is no update on this matter at this time.
Toll Brothers Sewer Construction: Chairman Perugini-Erickson has no new updates regarding Toll anc asks the other commissioners if they have anything to share. C. Wester states he has been trying to get in touch with Scott Poryanda regarding the open bottom manhole issue but has nothing to report at this time. Chairman Perugini-Erickson continues on by reviewing two sanitary sewer progress reports from Gene McCarthy dated August 16,2008 and August 22, 2008, Chairman Perugini-Erickson also notes that she has received a call from Attorney John Knott regarding the Toll Brothers Sewer Construction but has not been in touch with him to determine what he wanted.
Sewer Billing Procedures /sewer user fees: Diane Lauber was present to review costs associated with billing in order for the board to determine a sewer user fee. She informs the board that she has made phone calls to the Connecticut Water Company trying to determine what the cost would be to bill by water usage. However she has gotten no response. She also lets the board know that the POTS line has been installed in her office. She is unsure of the cost for it but will get those figures form the Mayor's Office. She details the initial cost of $5,655.00 which would include licensing fees for software, up to two days of on site training, project management which she feels we will not need, billing costs for printing the bills and the computer. In addition to that another $600.00-$750.00 would be needed to cover the cost of a new validator to validate sewer bills. Annually the cost would be $1,250.0U tor support and licensing fees as well as billing costs. The cost of the POTS line still needs to be figured into the total annual cost. . After the first year Diane is sure there will be an annual maintenance fee for the computer although she didn't have that figure on hand. It is thought that that figure could possibly be built into other maintenance fees. D. Lauber states she feels it is unnecessary to include a fee for clerical costs at this time. It is the annual costs not the initial cost that will determine the sewer user fee. Discussion followed on the estimated Operation Maintenance and Capital Improvement funds, which will be built up over a five-year period assuming the computer will need to be replaced within five years. The commissioners briefly discussed the differences in setting a fee for residential versus commercial properties.
D. Wartko briefly informs the board that a group came before Planning and Zoning proposing a cluster of 77 units next to Pond Place. Although the majority of the project will be in Waterbury a portion will connect with Greenwood Drive in Prospect and 7 feet of the road will be in Prospect. He states that when the road goes in he will try to make sure that a sidewalk is put into place for easier access to the Pond Place metering station.
Motion by C. Wester to set a Public Hearing for Monday November 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. at Town Hall for the purpose of receiving public comment regarding sewer use charges, seconded by D. Brown, Unanimous.
Discussion continued on how a user fee will be set and presented to the public at the Public Hearing. It is determined that we will be presenting a formula to calculate a yearly fee for both commercial and residential properties versus setting a numerical fee. It will need to be explained that the first bill is going to be an estimate whereas future bills will be based on the formula. Discussion continued on setting a fee. It is thought that an estimated annual sewer bill for the residents at The Regency at Prospect will be roughly $110.00.
Correspondence:
An e-mail from Mike Scaviola informing all boards and commissions of a forum to be held on September 29, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. at Long River Middle School regarding the Board of Education land purchase.
Call from John Kaufmann regarding a proposed industrial subdivision at 99 Union City Road. They are proposing to offer the Town of Prospect open space in lieu of paying a fee. A portion of the property is in an aquifer zone.
A copy of the Approved Meeting Minutes from the August 6, 2008 meeting of the Prospect Planning and Zoning Commission.
A notice from the Conservation Commission of Beacon Falls announcing a Community Forum event entitled Save the Date - for Great Open Space to be held October 16, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at Woodland Regional High School.
An evaluation from the Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse dated August 15, 2008 from Bill Hogan regarding the priority rating system for the Clean Water Act funding.
The August summary of failures and repairs from Chesprocott Health District.
The Toll Brothers Regency at Prospect Phase II Sanitary Sewer Progress report dated August 16, 2008 from Gene McCarthy.
The Toll Brothers Regency at Prospect Phase II Sanitary Sewer Progress report dated August 22, 2UU8 from Gene McCarthy as well as a copy of the test record of the 8" sanitary sewer as well as a detail of th Air Release Valve Manhole installed along the 4" forced main.
Approve WPCA Clerk for reimbursement: Motion by D. Brown to approve reimbursement for WPCA clerk, seconded by C. Wester Unanimous.
Open: C. Wester passes out a packet of standard sewer specifications for the City of Waterbury for all members to review.
Adjournment: Motion by C. Wester to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 p.m., seconded by D. Brown, Unanimous.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carla M. Perugini-Erickson