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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 Click here for May 9, 2005 Minutes Click here for June 13, 2005 Minutes |
For minutes prior to January 2004, please
contact Judy Archer of Public Works
at 203-854-7791 or jarcher@norwalkct.org
JULY 11, 2005
ATTENDANCE: John Atkin, Chairman; Jim McInerney; Timothy Buzee; Beatrice Ruiz
(arrived at 6:15 p.m.); Mayor Alex Knopp (arrived at 6:25 p.m.)
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Director DPW; Lisa Bardon, DPW Operations Manager
OTHERS: Vicktor Huliew, OMI; Thomas Hamilton, Director of Finance; Cathy Mallon Traynor, Malcolm Pirnie
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Atkin called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. and announced that since a quorum was not present, agenda items would be discussed out of order.
APPROVE MINUTES FROM JUNE 13, 2005
Chairman Atkin said some of the things he was quoted as saying he did not, and this was true of what other members said throughout the minutes.
** CHAIRMAN ATKIN MOVED TO TABLE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM JUNE 13, 2005
TO THE NEXT MEETING.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Chairman Atkin said that election of officers was always held at the Authority’s June meeting. Mayor Knopp nominated John Atkin as Chairman of the Authority. There being no one else nominated, nominations for Chairman were closed. Mayor Knopp nominated John McInerney as Vice Chairman of the Authority. There being no one else nominated, nominations for Vice Chairman were closed. Mr. Alvord said the Secretary did not need to be a member of the Authority, and Dilene Byrd from the department expressed interest in taking on this responsibility.
** MAYOR KNOPP MOVED TO TABLE VOTING ON THE POSITION OF SECRETARY.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Mr. Hamilton said the report from MUNIS was posted through July 6th. Year end of June 30 would be closed soon. He said the numbers indicated a healthy surplus of revenue year to date, even though expenditures and debt service increased. Mr. Hamilton said that revenue from last month was on target. Firm results for the prior year would be available at next month’s meeting. He said there would be a few encumbrance items. Ms. Bardon said that approximately $20,000 to $30,000 would be rolled forward to next year; the exact amount would be known by August or September. Transfers would be done internally and reported back to the WPCA. Mr. Hamilton said that the presentation is a budgetary basis but the actual audited financial results would be on a full accrual basis. This would mean that adjustments would be necessary. He said more information about the fund would be available next month.
AGREEMENT WITH MALCOLM PIRNIE
** MAYOR KNOPP MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH MALCOLM PIRNIE, INC. TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR CONTRACT OPERATIONS MONITORING FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED
$118,000. (ACCOUNT NO. 22 4062 5298).
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
SANITARY SEWER ON RIORDAN STREET
Ms. Bardon presented plans prepared by Mr. Linnartz to extend the sanitary sewer to serve five houses on Riordan Street. The cost would be borne by the developer; maintenance would be turned over to the City after installation. She said it was necessary to approve the resolution to allow the developer to connect to the sewer system. She said that there were no engineering issues; the system would accommodate the extra usage in that area. The sewer would be built to the City’s standard and inspected by the City’s engineer.
** MR. BUZZEE MOVED THE WPCA TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED SANITARY SEWER ON RIORDAN
STREET AS SHOWN ON PLANS PREPARED FOR SHAMSUL ADAM, 5 RIORDAN STREET, NORWALK,
CT. SCALE 1” = 40’, DATED MAY 30, 2005 REVISED JUNE 21, 2005.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR’S REPORT
FY 04-05 Report on Contracts Operations
Ms. Traynor said Malcolm Pirnie was hired to help the City develop a base line which would assist in planning for capital improvements. It would also provide areas of focus for OMI so that the partnership could continue to be fostered. She said that there were areas that required attention now and some later on. Ms. Traynor explained the sections in the report. She said that five pump stations were looked at, and recommendations on each were made. She said that in general, Malcolm Pirnie felt OMI was doing a good job, and the system is in decent shape. There were no permit violations. A reduction in the collection system was being proposed for the 04-05 fiscal year. Mr. McInerney asked about the rise in chlorine residual violations over the past six months. Chairman Atkin wondered if the WPCA should be concerned about the increase in chlorine residual permit violations. Ms. Traynor said that in the past, there were more violations but through collaborative efforts the situation has substantially improved. Ms. Bardon said there was a capital project to look at the chlorination system; an RFQ would be sent out soon.
Chairman Atkin asked about the collection system and if the sewer inspection was complete. Ms. Bardon said there was a great deal of activity during the past fiscal year and consideration would be given to performing maintenance in intervals. Additionally, OMI proposed a different cleaning schedule in their contract.
Mr. Alvord said the system was audited; this was built into the capital program.
He said the plan previously approved by the WPCA was in place. Ms. Traynor said
the summary was updated to note this. Mr. McInerney said the Fort Pt. pump station
was a priority. Ms. Bardon said the capital budget did not allow enough time
for all the pump stations to be addressed; stop gap measures were taken in certain
instances. $200,000 was not enough to address Fort Pt. It was the oldest and
largest station, and health and safety issues were a major concern.
Regarding the asset management plan, Mr. Alvord said this was new and information
was not readily available or current. OMI was asked to assess all the stations.
He said the City’s engineer looked at them also. Existing underground fuel tanks
require immediate attention. He said everyone understood the importance of risk
management, but the City did not want to spend funds excessively.
Mr. Huliew said he had just received the report today, and there were about 20 items that OMI would take objection to. A formal letter would be submitted. Chairman Atkin said that Mr. Huliew should have been given an opportunity to review the report before tonight’s meeting.
Collection System Issues
Mr. Alvord said the collection system is on a three-year cycle but an adjustment could be made without amending the contract. This was already discussed with OMI. The intent is to prioritize those issues that require attention sooner rather than later.
Status of 3rd Taxing District Letter of Intent
Mr. Alvord said the letter from CMEC was received and a draft response would be available by the end of the week. CMEC would do a review and share their results with the WPCA. He said there is a time element involved; Wallingford agreed to install generators, but CMEC would prefer them to be installed in Norwalk. If the City doesn’t negotiate in good faith, the generators would be installed in Wallingford and Norwalk would not receive the benefit of $1.5 million of free power. Mr. Alvord said he didn’t believe the law department reviewed the document, but it was important to conclude negotiations within 30 days. He termed the situation a win-win.
Intermunicipal Sewer Issues
Mr. Alvord said there were seven Westport residents that were customers on Norwalk’s system, and had been for many years. The City has not been able to bill them in accordance with its normal billing procedures. One of the customers asked to pay their bill. Bills for 2003-04 consumption data would be sent this year. Ms. Bardon said the agreement to provide a sewer extension to the residence at White Woods Lane in Westport was by an action of the board. Westport’s P&Z did not extend their sewer system master plan to include that property.
Approved Bylaws / OMI Client Survey Results
Mr. Alvord said these were included for information only.
CONTRACT OPERATIONS REPORT
Public Works Director Report
Ms. Bardon said there was nothing out of the ordinary going on. She said she would continue to hold bi-monthly meetings with OMI.
OMI Report
Mr. Huliew said that some pump stations were rebuilt in house. He said there were 250 work orders of which 195 had already been completed. He said that OMI would hire so that there would be 22 full-time employees on staff at all times. Mayor Knopp asked about the financial projection for the year on nitrogen. Mr. Huliew said the check for about $300,000 was expected to arrive in August. He talked about the BOD loadings that were coming in on a daily basis. He said he could provide additional information if anyone was interested.
Keeler Brook Consent Order Update/Construction Schedule/Impacted Area
Ms. Bardon showed the members a map of the affected area, and said that a contractor had been selected. OMI would provide a schedule for the construction. The notice to residents would be issued once the pipeline schedule was received. A press release would be posted at the same time. She said that line projects had not been done very often. Home owners would be asked to reduce consumption during construction.
Collection System and Pump Station MRR Accounts
Mr. Alvord said current balances would decrease because MRR would pay for Keeler Brook.
ACTION ON ANY ITEM DISCUSSED HEREIN
Chairman Atkin said there was no specific action that had not already been addressed. He reminded the members of the next meeting date of Monday, August 8th. Mayor Knopp thanked Chairman Atkin and Vice Chairman McInerney for their diligent efforts which have made the WPCA as successful as it is.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Knopp adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carol A. Graham for
Telesco Secretarial Services
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