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

July 9, 2007

ATTENDANCE: John Atkin, Chairman
Richard A. Moccia, Mayor
Fred Wilms
Bill Krummel
Tony Doumlele

STAFF: Hal Alvord, DPW Public Works Director
Ralph Kolb, Wastewater Systems Manager
Tom Hamilton, Finance Director

OTHERS: Kevin Dahl, CH2M Hill OMI
Greg Higgins, CH2M Hill OMI

1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Atkin called the meeting to order at 5:40 P.M.
2. APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM WPCA MEETING HELD ON JUNE 11, 2007 (COPY INCLUDED)
Mr. Doumlele said that on Page 3, Item 7, he said the MUNIS report showed a $20 million dollar revenue error.
Chairman Atkin said that on Page 6, Item 13, he wished to clarify his comments that the jurisdiction of the WPCA Board in this matter would extend only to: (1) whether or not CL&P could discharge into the Westport pumping station service area, and (2) CL&P conforming to the WPCA's requirements for discharging groundwater to the Norwalk wastewater collection and treatment system; and that the location of the tanks was an issue not within the Board's jurisdiction. Mr. Alvord stated that the WPCA has a program in place that contractors may discharge groundwater into the City’s sanitary sewer system with permits and approvals by the State and City. Ms. Bardon said the contractor is billed based on the number of gallons discharged.
** MR. DOUMLELE MOVED TO APPROVE THE ITEM WITH CORRECTIONS
** MOTION CARRIED
** ONE ABSTENTION - MR. KRUMMEL

3. AUTHORIZE THE CHAIRMAN OR VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AN AGREEENT WITH OMI, INC. TO REPLACE GRAVITY THICKENER SLUDGE DISCHAGE PIPING AND TO INSTALL VENTILATION IN THE PRIMARY SLUDGE PUMP ROOM AT THE WWTP FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $36,000 IN ACCORDANCE WITH LETTR PROPOSAL DATED JUNE 15, 2007 (COPY INCLUDED)
ACCOUNT# 0903 4060 5777 CO256

Mr. Kolb stated that during the 1999 upgrade approximately 150 feet of gravity thickener sludge discharge piping was fiberglass pipe instead of glass lined steel pipe. Sludge gets caught and builds up in the fiberglass pipe and eventually causing a blockage. Fiberglass pipe to be replaced with glass lined steel pipe. He also said that the fan installed in the primary sludge pump room during the 1999 upgrade is too small and results in condensation on the ceiling. A larger fan is to be installed. Mr. Krummel asked if the fan is replaced with a larger one if it would add to the odor outside of the plant. Mr. Kolb said that it would not.

** MR. KRUMMEL MOVED TO APPROVE THE ITEM
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

4. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT

a. FY 06-07 Revenues/ Expenditures Report (MUNIS report included)

Mr. Hamilton reported that as of the end of June 2007, the revenues are just under $11.5 million dollars. He said there are still some year-end entries to be made. He said that the sewer revenues came in at $320,000 above the original budget and that the investment income came in very strong. He said there may need to be a $20,000- $23,000 transfer to cover the OMI agreement. He said that some money would also need to transferred into the electric account. He said that the Comptroller’s office would be working with Ms. Bardon and Mr. Kolb to determine the depreciation expense for the year. He said he would provide the final year-end numbers at next months meeting. Mr. Doumlele asked why the sewer connection fees do not show on the revenue report. Mr. Kolb said they are shown in the sewer permits line but as of July 1, 2007, there will be an account created for connection fees. Chairman Atkin asked why there was a $25,000 line for permits a year ago. Mr. Alvord said that line was always there for the sewer application fee. Chairman Atkin asked if the sewer connection fees weren’t put into that line would that account have been $25,000 short. Mr. Hamilton said there may have been some assumption that the sewer connection fee would have been implemented this year. Mr. Doumlele asked if there was any indication on the cost side showing the non- collectable accounts. Mr. Hamilton said no that would only show on the balance sheet. Mr. Hamilton said he would provide balance sheets if the Board requests them. Mr. Doumlele said that the city code requires the WPCA to have a list of delinquent accounts twice a year. Mr. Hamilton suggested providing a Tax Collectors report on a monthly basis which would include the sewer collections. Mr. Doumlele said he would still like to see the balance sheet twice a year.

b. Rate Bill (copy included)

Mr. Hamilton said there is a rate bill that needs to be signed by all members of the Board for the Tax Collector.

5. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR REPORT

a. FY 07-08 Revenues/Expenditures Report (copy included)

Mr. Alvord said a financial spreadsheet would be provided beginning July 1, 2007, and a sample has been included in the Board package.

b. CT Department of Aquaculture and DPW Response (letters included)
Mr. Alvord said that two letters had been provided in the Board package. One letter from Aquaculture, and the other is a response letter from the City. He said that the Aquaculture letter suggests the WWTP is contributing to a less then desirable state of the harbor to the point that it’s contributing to the closure of the shellfish beds. He also said that Aquaculture claims to have seen raw sewage in the harbor. Mr. Alvord stated that it is impossible for raw sewage to escape the WWTP. He also said there is no way that the fecal coliform counts that Aquaculture reported were from the WWTP. Mayor Moccia asked if Aquaculture had done this sort of checking on the Westport WWTP, which is under construction. Mr. Alvord said they have not. Mr. Alvord said that part of the intent of the response letter was to motivate someone to come up with some sort of testing program.

Mr. Alvord stated that OMI performed its own fecal coliform testing at various locations along the Norwalk River and upstream and downstream of the WWTP outfall. Chairman Atkin said it might be worth contacting the DEP to see if they could provide funding or do the testing on their own through the Interstate Environmental Commission to test the water to determine for sure if it is animal or human. He also said at this point based on what staff is saying it is not caused by the WWTP and would also prefer a neutral testing agency to be involved.

Mayor Moccia asked what the count of the shellfish beds are at this time. Mr. Alvord said they are all open. Mayor Moccia asked if staff thought that someone should be on call for after a rain event. Mr. Alvord said Aquaculture automatically does fecal coliform testing following a significant rain event and after a ½ inch of rainfall, the Heath Department shuts down the beds and Aquaculture is the only agency that can reopen them.

Mr. Wilms asked about litigation. Mr. Alvord has had discussions with Pepe & Hazard on that subject and has no concern that he can demonstrate that the WWTP did not cause the conditions that were reported in the Aquaculture letter and that his only concern is the cost involved with going into litigation.

Chairman Atkin asked since the river in this area is tidal, is it possible that some of the effluent is being picked up by testing north of the plant. Mr. Alvord said that was a possibility. Chairman Atkin asked if it was possible that after a rain event that some of the counts could have come from the WWTP. Mr. Alvord said not during this rain event and that the fecal coliform counts were still well below the permit level.

** MAYOR MOCCIA MADE A MOTION TO WORK WITH INTERSTATE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION AND/OR THE DEP TO COME UP WITH A SUITABLE TESTING FACILITY THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE AND TO EXPLORE GETTING SOME COST OPTIONS AND AT THAT POINT COME BACK TO THE COMMITTEE.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

c. DEP Discussion- Notice of Violation (NOV) due to Solids Excursion

Mr. Alvord said it is the intent of the DEP to issue a Notice of Violation for the solids excursion that occurred on June 4, 2007. He said there will be no financial penalties and that the requirements of the DEP were to mobilize a technical consultant to determine what may have caused the solids excursion. He said that Malcolm Pirnie has been working on that he expects a report with their findings in the next week or two.

d. WWTP Nitrogen Performance (Malcolm Pirnie investigation letter included)

Mr. Alvord said that the recommendations that Malcolm Pirnie had made on the nitrification report are being implemented. Mr. Krummel asked if a copy of the NOV should have been included in the Board package. Mr. Alvord said he has not received the report yet. Mr. Wilms asked if there were other plants that were issued NOVs. Mr. Alvord said other plants had experienced solids excursions during that rain event but was unsure if any NOVs had been issued.

e. Underground Storage Tank (UST) Update

Mr. Kolb said he had just received the conservation permit to have the contractor enter the Keeler Brook pump station to remove the UST. He said the contractor is scheduled to begin work at the end of July 2007, and at that point will determine if there is any contamination. He said he is still waiting on a report of the sites where contamination had been found.

f. Westport Avenue Area Inflow & Infiltration (I/I) Remediation Project- Freeholders Process (letters included)

Mr. Alvord said that the Freeholders Process is proceeding and that the Public Works Committee held a special meeting on June 26, 2007, to determine the necessity for applying the Freeholders Process for repairing the laterals. He said it was approved by the Public Works Committee and has now gone to Council for approval.

g. Sewer Connection Fee & Sewer Use Bill Appeals/Adjustments

1. 71 & 73 Fillow Street sewer connection fee (letter included)
Mr. Alvord said that legal ads had been posted in the newspaper and that agendas were posted on the website in advance regarding the sewer connection fee and it is his recommendation not to waive the fee. Mayor Moccia said that he had passed this over to the Law Department and that he would be abstaining from the vote because he knows Mr. Hines personally. Mr. Doumlele asked if staff had received any requests that had been granted. Mr. Alvord explained that anyone who came in prior to March 1, 2007, with a permit were waived but anyone who came in after March 1, 2007, had not been waived.

** MR. DOUMLELE MOVED TO DENY THE REQUEST FOR A WAIVER
** MOTION CARRIED
** ONE ABSTENTION - MAYOR MOCCIA

h. Information Copies

1. Certificate of Compliance for Order No. WC-5376 (letter included)
Mr. Kolb said that the Keeler Brook project had been completed about 1-½ years ago but part of the consent order was also a storm water component, which is moving forward on the Public Works side but is not complete at this time. Mr. Alvord said that Milone and MacBroom are completing the study portion of the storm water component but does not know what the potential cost will be at this time. Mr. Alvord said that all the construction on the sanitary side has been completed.

2. NACWA Clean Water Advocate Newsletter (copy included)
No discussion.

3. Insituform Technologies, Inc.- Clean Water for the World Brochure (copy included)
Mr. Alvord said that at some point he would like an educational piece created and brought to the Board for approval to further educate the public.

6. CONTRACT OPERATIONS REPORT

a. Public Works Director Report

1. Contract Operation Status
Mr. Kolb said he just received the rough draft of the Malcolm Pirnie inspection. He said by next month’s meeting a draft would be provided for the Board to review. Chairman Atkin requested that the draft be sent prior to the meeting for review.

b. OMI report

1. Monthly Operating Report- May 2007 (copy included)
Mr. Dahl reported that all five primary tanks were cleaned due to the April rain event. He said there were no permit violations but there were three individual contract performance guarantee violations and a monthly BOD violation.

2. Collection System and Pump Station MRR Accounts (copy included)
Mr. Dahl reported that five bypass reports that were filed and no MRR repairs or upgrades. He said there had been no changes in personnel and there were no safety incidents. He said that the nitrogen performance fell into band “A”. He said that the temperature rose significantly higher in May, which may have contributed, to the nitrogen performance.

7. ACTION ON ANY ITEM DISCUSSED HEREIN

No Discussion

8. ADJOURMENT

The August 2007 Meeting was canceled.

** CHAIRMAN ATKIN MOVED TO ADJOURN
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

The meeting adjourned at 6:55 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Dilene Byrd

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