Nyack Water Board Meeting

March 9, 2023 A regular meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners was held on the above date at 9 North Broadway, Nyack, NY. The meeting was called to order by Chairman McDowell at 4:30 PM. The following were present: William McDowell Chairman Michelle Bullock Commissioner Eileen Colarell Commissioner John Phillips Commissioner Elizabeth Turk Commissioner Barbara Kunar Secretary Kelvin Smith Acting Superintendent Jim Roberts H2M architects & engineers Absent: Thomas Lynch Superintendent Upon motion by Commissioner Bullock, second by Commissioner Colarell, and carried, the Board accepted the minutes of February 9, 2023. The Cash Flow Statements for February 2023 was presented to the Board for review. Schloss & Schloss, PLC submitted their proposal to continue to serve as legal counsel to the Board. Commencing March 21, 2023 their monthly retainer will be $1,450.00. Upon motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Colarell, and carried, the Board voted to retain Schloss & Schloss as the Water Department counsel and authorized Chairman McDowell to sign the agreement.  Torres T Landscaping submitted a proposal for lawn service for the coming season, April 2022 through November 2022. The cost, which is the same as last year, is $1,500.00 per month ($12,000.00 season total). Maintenance includes weekly mowing of 2 sites, string trimming of pathways and walks and blowing all hard surfaces. Upon motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Turk, and carried, the Board voted to accept Torres T Landscaping’s proposal for lawn maintenance. H2M architects + engineers projects update: 1. Emergency Water Main Repairs: • H2M contacted J Fletcher Creamer (JFC) to initiate restarting work outside the plant. JFC will advise H2M and Nyack Water as to schedule resumption of repairs. 2. Route 9W Culvert Leak Repair: • Nyack Water and H2M decided it would be best to isolate the leak in the 9W culvert to determine where the leak originated. Environmental Construction completed the project on 3/7/23. 3. Master Planning efforts are ongoing: • GIS/Modeling A. Fine tuning the hydraulic model to be an accurate representation of the water system. B. On 3/8/23 the GIS team completed a web map of the distribution system. This will be undergoing a secondary review to ensure accuracy. • Asset Management – asset management database is nearly complete. Next steps include aging the assets and evaluating their condition. • Capital Planning – asset condition assessment will be tied to capital plan. This component along with developing potential rate cases should be the priority after the water main work in front of the plant is completed. 4. Plant Operational Assessments: • Continue to lend support on technical issues. • Helping trouble shoot demand increases and demand management. • H2M in conjunction with the Water Department and Neal Systems has been evaluating the effluent flow being pumped into the system.  5. Watermain Installation Phase A: • GCE has completed all main installation. • GCE will complete removal of old Fire Hydrants and perform any necessary trench maintenance in the next two weeks. • H2M is realigning roadways to be included in Phase B and C of the watermain project and completing design for submission and approval by RCDOH. H2M anticipates bidding Phase B in June/July 2023 with a construction start of Fall 2023. 6. Plant Upgrade for PFAS removal: • RCDOH provided review comment in collaboration with NYSDOH. H2M is addressing all comments and concerns of both regulatory agencies and will proceed to a 90% submission thereafter. • H2M has obtained NYSDEC wetland approval pending notice of the project in the Town of Clarkstown local newspaper. The NYSDEC will then provide an approval after the affidavit is received. • Design team and subconsultants continue on schedule. 7. Lead Service Lines: • RCDOH is holding periodic check-ins on the status of the inventory investigation. H2M will assist the Water Department as needed. 8. Emergency Response Plan, Cybersecurity and Vulnerability Assessment • The Health Department has reached out to remind the Water Department that an updated ERP an VA is due soon. H2M will prepare these reports on behalf of the Water Department. Our 2016 Jeep Patriot has been totaled by the Insurance Company. The market/settlement value is $13,726.92. The original title, which the Insurance Company needs, is missing. Secretary Kunar will request a duplicate title from DMV. Upon motion by Commissioner Colarell, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the Board voted to release the vehicle and accept payout from the Insurance Company pending title receipt. Klaus Wimmer, Regional Manager from Homeland Towers made a brief presentation to the Board regarding the proposed cell tower on the Water Plant property. Following the presentation, he answered questions as they arose. The 2023-2024 Budget was not ready for presentation. Superintendent’s Report: Acting Superintendent Smith reported on the following items: 1. Route 9W/Catherine Street Culvert Leak – Environmental Construction Company installed two (2) new valves. One valve is north of the culvert and one valve is south of the culvert. 2. Leak – Route 9W/Catherine Street – While working in preparation for the culvert repair, what was assumed to be another leak flooded the fire house on Catherine Street. • Our foreman contacted Admiral Conservation Services (ACS) for leak detection. ACS determined the leak to be further south on Route 9W. It was not in the determined location. • Ray Jovine Leak Detection was called by Mr. Smith. • CCE excavated in search of the leak. No leak was found. • In conclusion, ACS should no longer be contracted for leak detection. Their charge is astronomical (currently approximately $4,000 per day) and their detection record is poor. 3. West Nyack Road Break – On February 22, 2023 a leak was discovered In front of Pizzarena, 726 West Nyack Road. It was determined to be from the system improvements. GCE was contacted and made the repair. 4. Fire Hydrants – Ordered six (6) new Hydrants from Sigelock. Hydrants were delivered on March 8, 2023. At 5:50 PM, upon motion by Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the Board moved into executive session to discuss personnel issues. At 5:59 PM upon motion be Commissioner Phillips, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried the Board moved out of executive session. Our next meeting will be Thursday, April 13, 2023. There being no further business, upon motion by Commissioner Colarell, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 6:24 PM. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Kunar