For minutes prior to January 2004, please contact Judy Archer of Public Works
at 203-854-7791 or jarcher@norwalkct.org

December 11, 2006

ATTENDANCE: John Atkin, Chairman
Jim McInerney, Vice Chairman
Mayor Richard A. Moccia
Beatriz Ruiz
Fred Wilms
Bill Krummel
Tony Doumlele

STAFF: Hal Alvord, DPW Public Works Director
Lisa Bardon, DPW Operations Manager
Ralph Kolb, Wastewater Systems Manager

OTHER: Kevin Dahl, OMI, Inc.
Victor Huliew, OMI, Inc.
Tom Hamilton, Finance Director

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chairman John Atkin called the meeting to order at 5:36 P.M.

2. APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM WPCA MEETING HELD ON
NOVEMBER 13, 2006.

Mr. Atkin suggested tabling the minutes until the January WPCA meeting.

*MAYOR MOCCIA MOVED TO TABLING THE MINUTES UNTIL JANUARY.

*MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

3. APPROVE WPCA ANNUAL DUES IN THE AMOUNT OF $ 6,162 FOR
MEMBERSHIP IN THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLEAN WATERS AGENCIES.

Mr. Alvord explained that one of the things the City has not benefited from for some period of time is being members of certain professional organizations. Ms. Bardon is taking the lead on Clean Water Funding for the City. Ms. Bardon explained that the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), formerly the Association of Metropolitan of Sewer Agencies (AMSA), is a solid organization and have been around for a long time. Membership is as a City and not as an individual so several people can get updates through the organization. Ms. Bardon thought what would be most appropriate to review with the Board is what NACWA does at the national level as far as securing funding for the clean water projects. For example, there is a bill that was introduced by NACWA called the Clean Water Trust – they are advocating to get this passed and as funds are drying up at the State level this is another opportunity for funds to be available to help utilities like us out to fund our clean water projects. NACWA does a lot of lobbying for clean water money. Every month they have a legislative update about the clean water legislature on their website. Ms. Bardon said other technical information is available but she thought funding would be a topic most interesting to the Board.

Ms. Bardon said the State’s Clean Water Fund is not looking very good for this year and an update is included in the Board package. There is $160,000,000 in projects ready to go across the State right now only one project in seven is being financed. Even in light of the lack of funding, EPA has stated that they are not going to lighten up on enforcement.

*MR. KRUMMEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE ITEM.

*MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

4. FINANCE REPORT

a. YTD Revenues/Expenditures Report

Mr. Hamilton handed out copies of the City’s draft Audit Report for June 30, 2006. He explained that the WPCA continues to have very good financial performance, which is consistent with what has been reported for the last year. The first schedule is a statement of net assets and at the bottom of the page shows unrestricted net assets of $7,228,871. Operating expenses were $7,700,000 which lead to a positive operating income of around $2,500,000. However, the income number does not include the expense on our long term debt which is non operating income.

b. Draft Captial Budget & Budget Schedule

Ms. Bardon explained that there is a glitch in the MUNIS system. Revenue has not been posted for some reason. Mr. Palumbo of the Tax Collector’s Office told Ms. Bardon that total billed revenues were $9,747,735. Next month Ms.Bardon will be presenting the operating budget to the Board in draft form. The capital budget was prepared for this meeting because this will be advancing through the various committees sooner than the operating budget will. The projected actuals for 06-07 looks like again the WPCA will be in good financial shape. Ms. Bardon said that we are projecting about $500,000 will be contributed to the fund balance at the end of this year if everything remains on target which it appears it should be. Mr. McInerney asked that staff indicate what consultants were working on each capital project listed on the budget.

c. Town of Wilton Sewer Charge

Ms. Bardon said that the interlocal agreement with Wilton will expire next year and we will need to renegotiate it. Mr. Alvord said that there are several things that we would like to see incorporated into the new agreement. We have also had discussions with Westport about developing an interlocal agreement because we have a lot of properties, both commercial and residential, connected to our system. We had some resistance from some of the property owners from Westport this year when they got their bills. The WPCA billed 381,000 to Wilton for FY 2006-07.

5. Public Works Director Report
a. Discussion on Sewer Connection Fees
Mr. Alvord said that he had a first meeting with Malcolm Pirnie on developing an impact fee program. Mr. Alvord stated that a schedule of various connection fees charged in the State was obtained. New Haven just put a program in place. An outline of the connection fee program will be presented to the Authority at the January meeting. He explained that staff’s recommendation would be to schedule a pubic hearing for the February meeting and then depending on the results of that public hearing take action on the issue. Mayor Moccia stated there will be some provision proposed to allow flexibility with redevelopment and affordable housing projects. Mr. Alvord explained that a working group meeting took place that included the Redevelopment Agency, Planning and Zoning, and Finance Departments. Ms. Bardon said we also discussed having public education information sessions as to make people aware that this was happening. The reason that we are looking at implementing it quickly is that there are some big developments out there and it is an equity issue. Targeting large and small developments that are putting a big demand on our system. This is a case where we need to be treating everybody the same. It has to be fair and equitable.

b. Collection System Issues- General:
Mr. Kolb showed what parts of Norwalk are connected to the sewer on a map. He explained that the green area is serviced by the wastewater treatment plant. Mr. Kolb presented a second drawing that illustrated the Westport service area.

1. 36- inch sanitary sewer emergency replacement project update
We just replaced 400 feet of 36’ reinforced concrete pipe. That job is done and we are just finishing up some of the quantities to determine what the final price is. There were a few change orders. There were some laterals that we were not aware of which was added to the cost. Mayor Moccia asked if there is an idea of what the cost might come up to be. Mr. Kolb explained that he is still working with the contractor finalizing the cost.

2. Westport Avenue Sewershed Issues and Connection Deferment/ 6 Gwendolyn Update

Ms. Bardon said that we are deferring connection in the Westport Avenue service area for approval of sanitary connections. Reason is the state of the infrastructure, primarily due to inflow and infiltration and this has had some impact on development in that area. She said staff was working closely with P&Z. If you are increasing flow, if you are a single family home and you are knocking down your house and you are building another single family home you will not be impacted because you are not increasing flow, but if you are a single family home and you are subdividing your property you will not get a Certificate of Occupancy until sewer system rehabilitation takes place. The total project cost is projected to be $1,500,000. Ms. Bardon stated the WPCA is diligently prosecuting this project.

c. Information Copies: Clean Water Fund Status Report
No Comments.

6. CONTRACT OPERATIONS REPORT

a. Public Works Director Report

1) Contract Operations Status

Mr. Kolb stated that a meeting between the City, OMI and Malcolm Pirnie is scheduled for later this month to discuss Amendment No. 3.

b. OMI Report

1) Monthly Operating Report – September 2006

Mr. Dahl reviewed various items on the monthly report:

o Plant Activities
o Maintenance – Huckleberry Generator Installed
o Work orders noted - no violations.

o Collection Systems

o No pump station MRR activity.
o One spill report: (i) Perry Avenue, caused by grease/roots, approx. 50 gallons
o Lochner is still working on the Westport Avenue Engineering

o Personnel - Noted

o Safety – No reportable incidents

o Total Nitrogen Performance – Expected operating range
o Performance - Charts were reviewed

2) Collection System and Pump Station MRR Accounts

Mr. Dahl stated status of MRR account balances.

7. SCHEDULE OF WPCA MEETING FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2007

No Discussion.

8. ACTION ON ANY ITEM DISCUSSED HEREIN

No Discussion.

9. ADJOURNMENT

*THE MAYOR MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN

* MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Dilene Byrd