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| WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY MINUTES |
For minutes prior to January 2004, please
contact Judy Archer of Public Works
at 203-854-7791 or jarcher@norwalkct.org
November 13, 2006
ATTENDANCE: John Atkin, Chairman (WPCA)
Frederika Bikakis-Hajian (WPCA)
Jim McInerney, Vice Chairman (WPCA)
Richard A. Moccia (Mayor)
Beatriz Ruiz
STAFF: Hal Alvord, DPW Public Works Director
Lisa Bardon, DPW Operations Manager
Ralph Kolb, Wastewater Systems Manager
OTHER: Kevin Dahl, CH2M Hill OMI
Greg Higgins, CH2M Hill OMI
Scott Orenstein
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman John Atkin called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m.
The following corrections were noted on the Minutes from the October 16, 2006 meeting:
Page 2 – Item 3 – Jim: “Approved by the Mayor” – word should be “Moved” by the Mayor. Mayor made the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
Page 4 – Item 11b – Contract Operations Report
Ms. Bardon said that we should clarify what samples were missed. Kevin Dahl
– two supplemental treatment BOD samples.
2. APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM WPCA MEETING HELD ON OCTOBER 16, 2006
John Atkin moved to approve the Minutes of the October 16, 2006 meeting as corrected.
* MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. APPROVE SANITARY SEVER EXTENSION ON POND STREET
Mr. Kolb explained that the WPCA just needs to approve the sanitary sewer extension on Pond Street for the Pro’s residence - instead of installing a septic tank they want to connect to sewers. Submit engineer’s drawings - they were already approved by DPW. All we need to do is approve the extension and also require the developer to submit a certified engineer’s report that the sanitary sewer extension was constructed and inspected per the City’s specifications.
*MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF ESRI ARCVIEW AND ARC INFO SOFTWARE IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,743.33 THROUGH AUTHORIZED BUSINESS PARTNER MALCOLM PIRNIE, INC. ($1,275 TO BE REIMBURSED TO THE WPCA BY OMI, INC.
Take a motion – so moved by Jim.
Ms. Bardon explained that there are only three licenses of Arc software and when Malcolm Pirnie came in to build the GIS they needed to access the Arc Info software to be able to update the mapping as part of the collection system master plan. In order to keep the project moving, we asked them to purchase an additional copy for us to install. At times we need up to seven people to use the software and Malcolm Pirnie is an authorized business partner of the Arc software products. You can only purchase through an authorized business partner. The price is the same no matter whom you purchase the software through. There was no markup on the software by Malcolm Pirnie. The city had to purchase the software for OMI because they use one of our computers. The license needs to be in the City’s name but they are reimbursing us for that cost.
*MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. APPROVE THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORK’S RECOMMENDATION FOR A NITROGEN CREDIT
SHARING OF 25 PERCENT FOR 6 MONTHS TO OMI, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $23,008
This item was tabled at the last meeting – technically it was taken off the table and put it back on the table. Moved to suspend the rules since it’s not on the agenda.
Moved by the Mayor
The Mayor wanted to table it at the last meeting because he wanted a little more information and was trying to get up to speed on how we work with the sharing and based on the information that Mr. Alvord provided him in the interim and his reading of it the Mayor has no problem with it at this time.
*MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. CORRECTIONS FROM WPCA APPROVALS ON OCTOBER 16, 2006
Fairly straightforward review of the technical corrections made by the Authority at the October 16, 2006 meeting.
Moved by Frederika Bikakis-Hajian:
a. Add CH2M HILL OMI to the language – opposite – we want to take it out - it’s a name change from CH2MHILL OMI to OMI, Inc.
b. Ms. Bardon explained that the agreement had expired so we could no longer
amend the agreement with Malcolm Pirnie. The technical correction is to enter
into an agreement with Malcolm Pirnie versus to amend the existing agreement
and also to carry over $22,000 from the last agreement. The amount is technically
the same but the approval is a different amount number.
*MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
7. AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN TO RETAIN ATTORNEY SCOTT S. ORENSTEIN, LLC TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES RELATED TO PREPARATION OF AGREEMENTS, PREPARATION OF LEGAL OPINIONS AND THE DEFENSE AND/OR PROSECUTION OF LITIGATION MATTERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ENGAGEMENT LETTER DATED OCTOBER 28, 2006
Motion – The Mayor thought it might be best if he recluse himself from any vote on this matter since Scott also works for corporation counsel.
Ms. Bardon introduced Scott S. Orenstein. She said that Scott has been an attorney in the office of corporation counsel for 1-½ years on a part time basis and at the same time has been establishing his own firm. Scott is leaving the City at the end of this month and we have had an excellent working relationship. We felt given his experience and familiarity with the work of the Authority it will serve the Authority well to have him on retainer for the Authority. Discussed with Peter Nolin and Peter is in support of this.
*MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
8. FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
a. YTD Revenues/Expenditures Report
Ms. Bardon said that there is not much to report. The MUNIS is not that updated right now. Mr. Hamilton is working on getting us an updated MUNIS year to date projection. Mr. Hamilton had an emergency and could not attend.
9. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR’S REPORT
a. Collection System Issues – General:
1) 36-inch sanitary sewer emergency replacement project update
Mr. Kolb explained that A.J. Penna Contractors were working for 1 ½ weeks and have replaced about 300 feet of pipe and have about 100 feet of pipe left to replace – 400 feet total. Repaving Four Point next calendar year – part of approved package going out to bid in January. Some minor change orders that have yet to be negotiated on the job. A couple of other items such as laterals found that they were not aware of, reconnecting the laterals, laying the sewer pipe, larger bell, we had to shave the bell to fit under the water main, the amount of materials, etc. There was no way to shut water down because it would shut the plant down. Expecting some change orders approvals. We do have a contingency but not sure where the contingency applies, we’re still negotiating.
b. Information Copies - None
10. CONTRACT OPERATIONS REPORT
a. Public Works Director’s Report
1) Contract Operations Performance Guarantees Status
Included in the Board package the Plant Performance – Annual Average (2003-2006). First page of the two page report is just a summary of each year for flow, BOD, TSS, Fecal Coliform and total nitrogen in concentration and lbs. per day. Included in the report are the permit limits with our MPDS permit with the state and contract limits, which are the performance guarantees - the limits that we have with the whole life of contract. Page 2 of the report includes Contract Year 2006 - all the exceedences or when the OMI was outside the performance guarantee for the contract. This is something submitted to the Board annually. The contract does have a statement where we could charge penalties for these exceedences if the Board determines we should seek some kind of penalties. The process for reviewing when there is an exceedance of a performance guarantee is the same as you go through for the nitrogen. We looked to see did OMI follow the SOP’s - the answer is yes. Did something else either intentionally or unintentionally that would have caused the violation? No, therefore we did not recommend a permit. There is a process we follow according to the contract when it happens. And again, we’ve been going through and reviewing the contract. We are about half way before we have a sound contract but these numbers are still within permit limits. Performance guarantee limits in the contract are much more severe then permit limits established in our NPDES permits from DEP and also OMI does report these to us and to the Board every month.
On the first chart the data on this report is through August of 2006. The year is June 2005 to May 2006 the calendar year – second page using strictly contract year 2006. The numbers on the 2006 row are divided by eight months. We don’t have complete 2006 numbers yet. Right now our flows are higher for the year. Nitrogen numbers looking really good. The data that we’ve been getting for September, October and even into November, the Nitrogen has been upper 5’s - low 6’s.
b. OMI Report
1) Monthly Operating Report – September 2006
September 2006 WWTP Monthly Report – presented by Kevin Dahl
o Plant Activities
o Maintenance – cleaning of Aeration Tank diffuser cleaning completed and Dechlor
tank cleaning
o Work orders noted - no violations.
o Collection Systems
o No pump station MRR activity.
o Two spill reports: (i) one on Meritt Street, grease of 400 gallons; and (ii)
one on Main Street & Heathcote, grease of 500 gallons.
o Lochner is still working on the Westport Avenue Engineering
o Cleaning the pumps.
o Personnel - October 30, 2006 a class three operator was hired full time to train on the first shift. Once trained he will be transferred to third shift. This meets DEP requirement to have a class three operator on the third shift.
o Safety – no reportable incidents.
o Total Nitrogen Performance – higher than normal flow
o Performance - charts were reviewed – only question was on fecal chart.
Fecal chart – August had a huge number - July and Sept had a higher than the
yearly average. Typically during the summer months there is a higher fecal count
because of the warmer weather - should be coming back down.
2) Collection System and Pump Station MRR Accounts
Discussion on MRR accounts – Kevin Dahl said they are expecting large invoices to come in one for $50,000 coming in for Allstate Power Vac. We owe some money to Lochner Engineering for Westport Avenue Project. Both will hit the books soon.
11. ACTION ON ANY ITEM DISCUSSED HEREIN
Impact Fee Situation. We got a scope today from Malcolm Pirnie and we have a
special services portion of the collection system master plan. We can fund the
study to be done and come up with a firm proposal for the impact fees. We will
have a structured proposal at the next meeting. We wanted something coordinated
for December 3rd when all interested parties will be involved and will be participating
in the development of the proposal.
12. ADJOURNMENT
6:10 p.m.
Next WPCA Meeting: Monday, December 11, 2006
5:30 P.M.
Room 231, Norwalk City Hall
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