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| WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY MINUTES |
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Click
here for February 14, 2005 Minutes Click here for March 14, 2005 Minutes Click here for April 11, 2005 Minutes |
For minutes prior to January 2004, please
contact Judy Archer of Public Works
at 203-854-7791 or jarcher@norwalkct.org
MAY 9, 2005
ATTENDANCE: John Atkin, Chairman; Jim McInerney; Tim Buzzee; Beatriz Ruiz
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Director DPW; Lisa Bardon, DPW Operations Manager; Ralph Kolb, Wastewater Systems Manager
OTHER: Karen Mignone, Attorney from Pepe & Hazard; Kevin Dahl, OMI; Vicktor Huliew, OMI; Robert Sardaro, OMI; Mike Mitchell, OMI; Holt McChord, McChord Engineering and Associates
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TOUR (flow schematic provided)
The tour of the wastewater treatment plant began at 5:30 p.m.
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Atkin called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m.
APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM WPCA MEETING HELD ON APRIL 11, 2005
** MR. MCINERNEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE APRIL 11, 2005 MINUTES, AS AMENDED.
Corrections to the minutes of April 11, 2005 are as follows:
On pages 1, 2, and 3, the word (s) “Commissioners” should be “Directors”.
On page 2, the time noted as “6:55 p.m.” should be “5:55 p.m.”
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY, JOHN ATKIN,
TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH CONESTOGA-ROVERS & ASSOCIATES, TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK REMOVAL
PRGRAM, FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $30,000. ACCOUNT #224062 5789
** MR BUZZEE MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
AUTHORITY, JOHN ATKIN, TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH CONESTOGA-ROVERS & ASSOCIATES,
TO PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH THE UNDERGROUND
STORAGE TANK REMOVAL PROGRAM, FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $30,000. ACCOUNT #224062
5789.
Mr. Kolb handed out a copy of the cost estimate proposal from CRA. At that time of the proposal request, there were 5 underground storage tanks identified. Now there are 6 underground storage tanks. Ms. Bardon said that there are actually 7 underground storage tanks, and OMI will be removing one of them from the Sammis Street Generator Replacement project. She mentioned that Ms. Mignone, the environmental attorney from Pepe & Hazard, is present at tonight’s meeting. She had recommended hiring a licensed environmental professional (LEP) to assist the WPCA with bid documents and soil sampling. She recommended 3 firms and had received proposals from them. The lowest cost estimate was received from CRA. They are a reputable, international firm with an office in Connecticut. CRA has not been to any of the sites yet. They will be going out to all of the sites and giving a fixed cost, which should be below the $30,000 estimate. Mr. Alvord said that as the pump station evaluation program continues, more tanks could be located. Ms. Mignone said that the condition of the tank (s) determines how extensive the damage could be. Mr. Kolb said that 2 tanks are still in active use, and 2 of the remaining 4 are full of diesel but not in use. The motion on the floor is for six tanks for professional services.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT
Ms. Bardon gave an update on the Finance Director Report. She stated in the board packets, Item 5 is the year to date budget report. She pointed out that on the second page of Item 5, it looks like they will be $80,000 overbudget on the OMI agreement by the end of this fiscal year. She said that the previous budget was not prepared by the WPCA staff, and therefore she was unclear at how the previous year’s budget was derived. She stated that Mr. Hamilton said some changes were made per the agreement, and that could account for some of the underbudgeting from last year. They had also calculated a CPI lower than what actually came out. A possible transfer might only be able to find $30,000 between line items of the existing budget, possibly from salary and wages. At the next board meeting, Ms. Bardon would like to suggest making a transfer from the undesignated fund balance for an additional $50,000. The sewer bills are ready to be mailed out. The only information they couldn’t obtain from the First Taxing District was the commercial account data in the names of “human beings” not corporate entities. A total of 370 accounts will be billed on the Calendar Year 2001 data and have a corresponding revenue of just under $400,000.
Ms. Bardon said that per the operating agreement, OMI pays half of the contract monitoring expense, up to $150,000 per year adjusted for CPI.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR REPORT
A. Proposed Connection from Sisters of Notre Dame, Wilton
Ms. Bardon provided an information sheet. In early February, Ms. Bardon had met with the School Sisters engineer. The School Sisters are under a consent order to either abandon or improve their on-site treatment system. One of the proposals is to connect to Norwalk’s system at Old Belden Hill Road or through Wilton’s existing line at Main Avenue. Ms. Bardon said that she is working with the City Engineering Department, and they have not determined if Norwalk’s system can handle the flow at the Old Belden Hill Road location, but they outlined criteria for the Sisters’ engineering firm to follow. Ms. Bardon had attended the Wilton WPCA meeting last month. She said she would recommend to the Board execute anamendment to the existing 1973 interlocal agreement. It is not recommended to enter into a separate agreement with the School Sisters. The current agreement has one bill being sent to Wilton, and they determine how to do the collecting and monitoring. The current agreement automatically renews every 10 years, so it is up next for renewal in 2008. There are 2 major points that should be addressed if the agreement is amended for the School Sisters. One is the control of waste quality and the other is the control of flow. Norwalk can’t protect itself with the old agreement, because the Town of Wilton can send any amount of flow down that one pipe. The WPCA doesn’t have to approve the School Sisters flow coming down Main Avenue. That flow is at 15,000 gallons. Mr. McInerney wanted to clarify that the recommendation is to reopen the interlocal agreement to include the School Sisters, and put proposed limits on flow and quality for Wilton’s existing connection. Wilton is reluctant to do so.
Holt McChord, Principal of McChord Engineering Associates, said that 5 years ago the School Sisters were told by the DEP to upgrade the water treatment pipe. The Old Belden Hill Road tie-in is the preferred solution. The more expensive route would be to go to the Miller Driscoll School down to Main Avenue.
Mr. Buzzee left the meeting at 7:30 p.m.
B. 3RD Taxing District Proposal For On-Site Power Generation at WWTP
Mr. Alvord gave an overview. The WPCA had been approached by the 3rd Taxing District to replace the emergency generators at the plant for free. The Mayor had some concerns about previous offers, so a meeting was held with everyone involved. The approval was given to proceed with the review of the installation of two generators by the 3rd Taxing District at the treatment plant. 3rd Taxing District would like some formal acknowledgement that they are going to go through this study at their cost, and there is a commitment on our part that if the results work out, we are willing to proceed with them to look at the options.
C. Main Life Pumps/Headworks Project Status
Mr. Kolb had 7 engineering firms submit RFQ’s. There will be 3 interviews on Friday. One firm will be chosen to come up with scope of work. Ms. Bardon said that the selection panel consists of Jim McInerney, Dick Linnartz, the principal engineer for the City, Marisa Diaz, a junior engineer, Lisa Bardon, and Ralph Kolb. The recommendations will be available at the next meeting. The three short-listed firms are Stearns & Wheeler, Wright-Pierce, and CDM
D. Collection System Issues – General: None to Report
E. Information Copies:
1. NPDES Comment Letter to CTDEP
Ms. Bardon said the most significant item of the information copies provided was the comments on the NPDES permit. She worked on this with members of OMI, City staff, and Pepe and Hazard. She will contact DEP to set up a meeting to discuss the permit, and Pepe and Hazard will be attending as well. The residual chlorine limits seems to be the most important point to deal with.
2. Request for Qualifications – Contract Operations Monitoring
Ms. Bardon said the date has been extended to May 18 for returns. An authority member will be asked to participate in the short list and interview processes.
CONTRACT OPERATIONS REPORT
A. Public Works Director Report
1. Monthly Operations/Weekly Coordination Meetings Briefing
Ralph Kolb reported that there was a meeting last month, and an action log is included for reference.
B. OMI Report
1. Keeler Brook Consent Order Update
Mr. Dahl reported on the HW Lochner engineering firm was retained. The bid package will be available tomorrow. Bids opening will be on May 27th.
2. Monthly Operating Report – March 2005
Mr. Dahl reported that repairs have been made to one of the bar screens. The
primary clarifiers have been repaired, and the main lift pump’s motor was repaired.
There were no safety violations. The total nitrogen performance is performance
band “D”. CT Aquaculture sampled the effluent quality as reported in last month’s
report.
3. Collection System and Pump Station MRR Accounts
Mr. Dahl read from his report. He stated that the firm AJ Penna doesn’t have a contract. They are on a “call as needed” basis.
ACTION ON ANY ITEM DISCUSSED HEREIN
None.
ADJOURNMENT
** MR. MCINERNEY MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m. .
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Marr
Telesco Secretarial Services
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