Water Pollution Control Authority

MINUTES HYBRID/WEBEX REGULAR MEETING WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AUTHORITY JUNE 2, 2022 PRESENT: Director, Joseph Fazzino Deputy Director, Donald Fisco Chief Engineer, Brian Robillard Vice Chairman, Scott Bishel Councilmatic Representative, Philip J. Pessina Commissioner, Jack Pieper Commissioner, Brian Gartner Commissioner, David Bauer I. Open Meeting (7:05 pm) 1. Public Hearing Barbara and Bob Westendorff from 190 Hunting Hill Avenue were present for the public portion of the meeting. They received a high water bill dated May 1st for 12,200 cubic feet of water. The Westendorff’s called our office to report the issue. Their water meter was checked and found to be in good working order. They were then advised to hire a plumber to look for any leaks in their home. They found a leak in an exterior pipe and hired a plumber to install a shut off valve. The new valve isolated the exterior pipe and the leak stopped. They will have to repair the exterior pipe in the near future. The Westendorff’s are asking that the extra water usage due to the leak between the time of the meter read (March 7, 2022) to the date of the bill (May 1, 2022) be removed from their bill. They feel that the Department should have notified them of the unusually high water use at the time of the read. The leak could have been repaired sooner which would have eliminated two months of leaking water. Director Fazzino indicated that the WPCA can’t discuss information presented during the public portion of the meeting. This would be added to the next agenda for discussion. He indicated we may be able to provide a credit for the sewer portion of the bill since the usage was related to a leak. Typically Good Will Adjustments would refund the bill for 50% of the above average use. Account Manager Bruton will calculate any potential refund and submit it in writing to the WPCA at their next meeting.  No one else from the public was present. This portion of the meeting was closed. II. Reports, Minutes and Correspondence 1. Minutes of Regular Meeting of May 5, 2022 A motion was made by Councilmatic Representative Pessina and seconded by Commissioner Bauer to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 5, 2022. Motion was approved unanimously. It was requested that “Councilman Bauer” be changed to “Commissioner Bauer” on the last page of the minutes under “Adjournment”. 2. Minutes of Special Meeting of May 5, 2022 A motion was made by Commissioner Bauer and seconded by Councilmatic Representative Pessina to approve the minutes of the Special Meeting of May 5, 2022. Motion was approved unanimously. 3. Letter from Director re: Sewer Rates-FYI The letter was provided to the WPCA for informational purposes. III. Transfers/Fund Updates 1. Monthly Fund Balance Report – May The Fund Balance Report was provided to the WPCA for informational purposes 2. Collection/Delinquent Report This report was provided to the WPCA for informational purposes. 3. Consumption Report This report was provided to the WPCA for informational purposes. IV. Old Business 1. Inflow/Infiltration, Sub-Basins #25, 26 & 27 Chief Engineer Robillard stated that Wright-Pierce continued with their inspection and study of sub-basins 25 and 26. There are 200 manholes slated for inspection in these areas. Approximately 20 manholes could not be inspected. They have been paved over, buried or are located in inaccessible easement areas. Our crews are working to locate and uncover these manholes. Next Monday, a TV crew will be 2  onsite to video the sewer mains identified by Wright-Pierce as needing inspection. The field work is scheduled to be complete by the end of June. Wright-Pierce will prepare a report summarizing system conditions and recommending any needed repairs. Prime AE completed their field work in sub-basin 27 and is working on their report and recommendations. 2. Resolution – Water Fund Loan – Update The resolution was provided to the WPCA for informational purposes. V. New Business 1. Good Will Adjustment – 61-63 South Main Street – Coronella A motion was made by Commissioner Bauer and seconded by Commissioner Pieper to approve the Good Will Adjustment for 61-63 South Main Street in the amount of $625.35. The motion was approved unanimously. 2. Good Will Adjustment – 35 Dewey Street – Kristiansen A motion was made by Commissioner Bauer and seconded by Councilmatic Representative Pessina to approve the Good Will Adjustment for 35 Dewey Street in the amount of $263.86. The motion was approved unanimously. VI. Staff Reports 1. Durham Water - Update Chief Engineer Robillard gave an update on the Durham project. Ludlow Construction paved the driveways for the booster station, meter building and the new water storage tank. They continued to troubleshoot SCADA issues, but believe they are close to resolving the communication problems. Ludlow completed the last of the water main connections on Talcott Ridge Drive. Next week they plan to install the chlorine booster and VFDs at the Long Hill Pump Station. The following week, Ludlow plans to fill and disinfect the new storage tank. They are tentatively planning to go online June 23rd. Commissioner Bauer asked if Middletown’s customers would be affected by the new service to Durham. Mr. Robillard stated that the demand from Durham is approximately 30,000 gallons per day which is small for our system and shouldn’t impact our customers. 2. Pameacha Project – Update 3  Director Fazzino stated that we have a purchase order in place for this project. Ludlow Construction will be the contractor for this work. We had a preliminary meeting with Ludlow and they will begin to work on material submittals. We are planning a pre- construction meeting which is tentatively scheduled for mid-July. This meeting will be closer to the start of construction and include the Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works and other utilities. 3. Other Commissioner Bauer submitted a document containing an annual report and asked if this or similar reports could be submitted to the WPCA for their information. He also noted that it may be beneficial to give this information to our customers so they better understand their rates and bills. Director Fazzino noted that we publish this type of information in our newsletter which can be found on our website. His explanation of the recent rate increases was also posted on the website. The Department prepares the Consumer Confidence Report which is mailed out to our customers every year. VII. Executive Session-None There was no executive session. VIII. Adjournment A motion was made by Commissioner Bauer and seconded by Commissioner Pieper to adjourn the meeting. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:40p.m. Respectfully submitted: ______________________________________ Brian Robillard Chief Engineer, Water & Sewer Department 4