Board of Public Works

Minutes Board of Public Works Meeting of July 15, 2014 A special meeting of the Board of Public Works was held on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. at the Division of Public Works, Administration & Engineering offices, 9 Riverside Street, Nashua, NH 03062. Members Present Mayor Donnalee Lozeau, Chair Ken Siegel, Aldermanic Liaison Commissioner Kevin Moriarty, Vice Chair Lisa Fauteux, Director of Public Works Commissioner Paul G. Bergeron Steve Dookran, City Engineer Commissioner Tim Lavoie Jeff Lafleur, Superintendent, Solid Waste Commissioner Tracy Pappas Mario Leclerc, Superintendent, Wastewater Stephen Bennett, Esq., Corporation Counsel Celia Leonard, Esq., Assist Corporation Counsel David Dean, Aldermanic President Mayor Lozeau called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. and called the roll. Commissioner Moriarty: Present Commissioner Lavoie: Present Commissioner Bergeron: Present Commissioner Pappas: Present Mayor Lozeau: Present I. MOTION: Commissioner Moriarty to approve the Agenda as presented. SECONDED: Commissioner Lavoie MOTION CARRIED: Unanimously II. MOTION: Commissioner Moriarty to approve the Minutes of the Board of Public Works Meeting of May 20, 2014. SECONDED: Commissioner Pappas MOTION CARRIED: Unanimously III. Public Comment: None IV. Presentations: Representatives of software vendors provided presentations on web-based software which included Work Orders; Paving and Asset Management. The two companies represented were Cartegraph and PubWorks. V. Engineering A. MOTION: Commissioner Lavoie to eliminate the position of Engineering Designer/Inspector and to create the new position of Construction Inspector Engineering Assistant in the City Engineering Department. Starting salary is not to exceed $59,330. Funding will be through: Department: 160-Admin/Engineering; Fund: General Fund; Account Classification: Wages Full Time 80%; Department: 169- Wastewater; Fund: Wastewater; Account Classification: Wages Full Time 20%.  SECONDED: Commissioner Moriarty MOTION CARRIED: Unanimously The UAW Clerical/Technical Grade 12 position of Engineering Designer/Inspector has had the primary responsibilities of performing a variety of construction inspection duties under the supervision of a professional engineer. In addition, this position provided design assistance in the preparation of plans. Recently, this position became vacant upon the retirement of Dan McCoy. Based upon a review of the Engineering Department needs, it was determined that revisions to the position will aid in overall department efficiency and responsiveness. This new position will be required to perform construction inspection more independently and with less supervision. The position will be required to make an increased number of field decisions in a timely fashion. This position will provide quality control while observing contractors working on larger city projects, including daily contract compliance to project plans and specifications. This position will ensure proper material testing according to industry standards and provide layout as needed on site. During the season when construction is limited, this position will be involved in the design of projects. The roles, responsibilities and qualifications of this position are defined in the PDF. The new position will be in the Merit System at Grade 13. The starting salary will not exceed the FY15 budget for the position of Engineering Designer/Inspector. VI. Wastewater A. MOTION: Commissioner Pappas to approve the purchase of two (2) WEMCO E5K-H sludge recirculation replacements pumps for the primary anaerobic digester from WESCOR Associates, Inc. of Wrentham, MA in the amount of $41,800. Funding will be through: Department: 169 Wastewater; Fund: Wastewater; Account Classification: 81 Capital Outlay/Improvements. SECONDED: Commissioner Moriarty MOTION CARRIED: Unanimously The Wastewater Treatment Facility’s primary anaerobic digester went online in 1999. The anaerobic digester uses micro-organisms to consume and breakdown the sludge fed to it from the primary and secondary settling tanks. Once broken down, the sludge is sent to the dewatering process to remove the water and load it into truck trailers for transport. The micro-organisms rely on exact temperatures to be maintained to survive and for optimum performance. To maintain the temperatures, two recirculation pumps are used. These pumps pump the sludge from the bottom of the digester tank, through a heat exchange system, and then back into the top of the tank. These recirculation pumps are the original pumps that were installed in 1999. They were manufactured by WEMCO to exact specifications for the digester project. Both pumps are in need of replacement at this time as they have failed and are beyond their useful life. One pump is still being used. The connecting pipes are specifically sized and fitted for WEMCO Pumps. WESCOR Associates in Wrentham, MA, is the only WEMCO Pump supplier in the area. Minutes Board of Public Works Meeting of July 15, 2014 Page 2  VII. Solid Waste A. MOTION: Commissioner Pappas to approve the contract with PPL Renewable Energy of Allentown, PA for Landfill Gas Project Development and Operation as the Four Hills Landfill. Revenue from the contract will be credited to Department: 168 Solid Waste; Fund: Solid Waste. SECONDED: Commissioner Moriarty MOTION CARRIED: Unanimously The City issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Landfill Gas Project Operation and Development at the Four Hills Landfill on March 17, 2014. RFQs were solicited from five firms and the offering was posted on the City’s website under reference RFQ1502-041614. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting was held on March 21st with representatives from five firms in attendance. Under the RFQ the City of Nashua’s primary concern is the control of fugitive emissions and odors. The City intends to manage well field consistent with this priority. The City will retain control of the gas collection system, including operation, expansion, maintenance, monitoring and reporting related to the collection system. The selected vendor shall provide services to assume operation of the existing gas-to-energy facility and flare and to further develop the landfill gas-to-energy project at the Four Hills Landfill. The chosen vendor’s work will include the following: 1. Provide recommendations and options to assist the City in financing all or part of the buyout of the facility from the current operator; 2. Provide proposal to the City for revenue sharing from the purchase of gas, sale of power, RECs, or other environmental attributes associated with the project; 3. Secure all RECs and energy markets; 4. Examine and resolve all technical requirements necessary to achieve successful permitting, design, construction and operation of the landfill gas control system; 5. Guarantee system delivery, performance, and operation; 6. Maintain and coordinate with ongoing operations as required. On April 16, 2014, submittals were received from five firms: PPL Renewable Energy Allentown, PA Ameresco Framingham, MA Commonwealth Resource Management Corporation Boston, MA NPP/BAI Development Team New Province Partners Greenwich, CT BAI Group Inc. – Roman Consulting, Phoenix Power Group Inc. and Cummins, Inc. SCS Energy Rochester, NH The selection team consisted of Lisa Fauteux, Director of Public Works, Jeff Lafleur, Superintendent of Solid Waste and Kerry Converse, Environmental Engineer reviewed the submittals. Based on their review three firms were interviewed. It was a unanimous decision to proceed forward with PPL Renewable Energy. Minutes Board of Public Works Meeting of July 15, 2014 Page 3  Negotiations of the scope of work and fee schedule are near completion. The large majority of the contract terms have been agreed to and are reflected in the attached drafts. It is anticipated that final document will be provided prior to or at the meeting. The term of the contract will be for 25 years with two (2) five (5) year renewal options. The contract is comprised of two agreements: Purchase and Sale Agreement and Licensing Agreement. Under the Purchase and Sales Agreement, the City collects gas from the landfill gas collection system and delivers all of the gas (the “Output”) to PPL at a defined delivery point for PPL to either use in its engine(s) or the flare. The City maintains ownership of the gas collection system and flare and PPL will own the engines and other electrical generation components. With this arrangement, unlike the current contract, the City controls the gas collection system. The License establishes the right of PPL to a) have its engines and other equipment on city property at the landfill, and b) to access their facilities. The License also includes rules which will govern the removal of the engines and the continued operation of the gas collection system, including the flare, at termination. This is a revenue generating contract where the revenue will be credited the Solid Waste Fund. The City is under a court order to finalize this contract by August 1, 2014. DISCUSSION: Attorneys Bennett and Leonard distributed updated documents to the Commissioners. The updated documents included: Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release; Purchase and Sale Agreement, Bill of Sale and Notice of Termination of Lease relating to Four Hills, LLC and Suncook Energy, LLC (both “Fortistar”) and Landfill Gas Purchase and Sale Agreement, License, Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement, Bill of Sale and Exhibit E Contract Price relating to PPL Renewable Energy, LLC. Under the Agreement with PPL the City will manage the wells and gas collection. This allows the City ensure odors are controlled and the landfill permit is not in jeopardy of being revoked by NH DES. PPL will operate only the electrical generator system. City will manage the gas collection and have the responsibility to deliver the gas to PPL. The City receives royalties based on PPL’s annual adjusted gross revenue. PPL will use the current electrical generator at this time. However, a larger generator will be installed within three years. PPL is in the process of obtaining the appropriate permitting for the larger generator. It is anticipated that taxes will be in the range of $12K to $15K and they will be subtracted from the royalties. The initial term is 25 years with two five year options. The City has first right of refusal for to purchase part or all of PPL’s system at the end of the contract. B. MOTION: Commissioner Moriarty to approve the hiring of Dale Brunelle of Alton, NH for the position of Solid Waste Technician. Funding will be through Department: 168 Solid Waste; Fund: Solid Waste; Account Classification 51 Salaries and Wages. SECONDED: Commissioner Lavoie MOTION CARRIED: Unanimously The position was posted internally and no applications were received. The position was then advertised externally and twenty (20) candidates applied. The interview team included Jeff Minutes Board of Public Works Meeting of July 15, 2014 Page 4  Lafleur, Superintendent of Solid Waste, Kerry Converse, Environmental Engineer, Kevin Naro, Solid Waste Foreman, and Matt LeBlanc Solid Waste Foreman. After screening the applications, three of the twenty candidates were interviewed. After review of the interviews it was determined that Dale Brunelle has years of experience and training to be offered the job. It is the recommendation of the interview team to hire Dale to the position of Solid Waste Technician VIII. Commissioner’s Comments: Commissioner Pappas requested that any future motions for hire include how many resumes were received and how many applicants were interviewed. Commissioner Pappas discussed issues the Evergreen Cemetery is having with watering grounds. Director Fauteux advised the Board she will contact Superintendent Snow to see what and anything DPW can do to assist. Commissioner Bergeron inquired as to whether all the soccer fields at Mine Falls are closed. Director Fauteux will follow up with Superintendent Caggiano as to the status of the soccer fields. Commissioner Lavoie requested the plants be trimmed at the corner of Amherst Street and Jewel Lane. MOTION: Commissioner Pappas to adjourn MOTION CARRIED: Unanimously Meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. Minutes Board of Public Works Meeting of July 15, 2014 Page 5