Nyack Water Board Meeting

February 20, 2025 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 Pearl Gray Commissioner John Phillips Commissioner Elizabeth Turk Commissioner Latoya Aguillard Assistant Secretary Absent: Superintendent Thomas Lynch, Secretary Barbara Kunar, H2m Upon motion by Commissioner Turk, second by Commissioner Bullock, and carried, the Board accepted the minutes of January 2025 as written. The Cash Flow Statement for January 2025 was presented to the Board for review. The Statement of Revenue and Expenditures for January 2025 was presented to the Board for review. Robert Smith – With 7 years of tenure with the Village of Nyack Water Department as Assistant Operator, Grade II-A (Water Treatment), appeared before the Board and interviewed for the vacant Assistant Operator, Grade II-A (Water Treatment) and System Supervisor I position. Brian Wilson – With 6 years of tenure with the Village of Nyack Water Department as Assistant Operator II-A (Water Treatment Plant Operator), also interviewed for the vacant Assistant Operator, Grade II-A (Water Treatment) and System Supervisor I position. The Board of Water Commissioners will base their decision for the appointment of this position on the results of the County Personnel Assistant Operator, Grade II-A, Water Treatment, and System Supervisor I promotion test or through the County’s (HELP Program). This promotional test was administered on November 9, 2024.  Frantz Felix- Owner of 144 Third Avenue, Nyack (Account #13-2140), did not appear before the Board due to a scheduling conflict. Mr. Felix had intended to present his case regarding a dispute with the final water bill that Mrs. Felix called in the meter reading twice, and both readings coincided with the billing amount. However, Mr. Felix claims that the home was vacant during this period, and therefore no water should have been consumed. Felix has requested to be rescheduled for the March 2025 Board meeting to address his dispute. Jack Schloss -Presented to the board his one-year renewal retainer agreement. Chairman McDowell made a motion to approve the agreement, second by Commissioner Phillips, the motion carried, Commissioner Bullock, Commissioner Turk, and Commissioner Grey the Board has approved the one-year retainer agreement for Jack Schloss as written. Rockland Community College- Submitted picture proof showing a decimal in the new meter that should not have been included in the readings. After reviewing the matter, Assistant Secretary Latoya Aguillard made the necessary adjustment to the account. Rockland Community College requested a refund for the overage. A motion was made by Commissioner Phillips, seconded by Commissioner Grey, and carried by the Board to approve the reimbursement for the overage. The Board reviewed a memo submitted by H2M architects + engineers and presented by Chairman McDowell. A) Watermain Projects: a. Phase B: i. J. Fletcher Creamer (JFC) began construction on Monday 11/18/2024. H2M is providing an inspector onsite full time to watch over and document the JFC construction crews progress. ii. JFC Progress:1. Doscher, Hobe and Patterson – Water Main Installation has been completed. H2M had requested activation of the water main from Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH). RCDOH has requested JFC to resample Doscher, Hobe and Patterson due to the length of time the main sat stagnant.Resampling was performed on 1/13/25 & 1/14/25. RCDOH indicated approval would be forthcoming following satisfactory test results. a. On January 23, 2025, RCDOH approved the request to activate Doscher, Hobe and Patterson. JFC is currently transferring service connections on those roadways. 2. Central Avenue and Benson Avenue – Water Main Installation has been completed. H2M requested and was granted approval to place Central Avenue and Benson Avenue into service. JFC is currently transferring service connections on Benson Avenue and anticipates completion the week of 1/20/25. Central Avenue is scheduled for service transfers the week of 1/27/25. a. JFC has completed service transfers on Central Avenue and Benson Avenue. 3. First Avenue – JFC has completed water main installation. The main has been filled, chlorinated and pressure tested. Bacteriological samples are being obtained on 1/16/25 and 1/17/25. H2M will request activation of the water main from Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) following satisfactory results. a. On January 24, 2025, RCDOH approved the request to activate First Avenue. JFC to begin service transfers pending completion of Doscher, Hobe and Patterson. 4. Francis Avenue – Water main installation has been completed pending final Hydrant Installation. Once hydrants are installed, water main will be filled, chlorinated and pressure tested. H2M will request activation of the water main from Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH) following satisfactory results. a. On February 14, 2025, RCDOH approved the request to activate Francis Avenue. JFC to begin service transfers are pending completion of Doscher, Hobe and Patterson as well as First Avenue. 5. Marion Street – JFC has scheduled 1/21/25 to begin installation of the new water main. a. JFC has completed installation of the new water main on Marion Street. H2M is preparing the request to activate Marion Street for service transfers. iii. Fifth Avenue Water Main Replacement – H2M has been in discussions with Chairperson McDowell and Superintendent Lynch regarding the status/replacement of the Fifth Avenue Water Main Replacement. Village Administrator Stewart was also included in these conversations as it related to costing and/or removal of roadways from contract. 1. During the month of December 2024, multiple water main breaks occurred on Fifth Avenue as JFC have been working to replace water mains on Central and Francis Avenues. a. Fifth Avenue & Central Avenue Breaks –  i. During the repair of the breaks in this area, heavy tuberculation was observed on the inside of the water main as well as general pipe wall thinning. Additionally, corrosion (electrolysis) was observed on the top side of the pipe. b. Fifth Avenue and Francis Avenue Breaks – i. During the repair of the breaks in this area, there was a complete failure of the water main invert position. Similar to Fifth and Central, heavy tuberculation was also observed. c. Other Breaks: i. other water main breaks were observed due to settlement issues, longitudinal cracks, etc. 2. A lot of the breaks experienced was largely due to the water main being at or beyond its useful life expectancy and the need for more regular maintenance (i.e. pipe cleaning). It is important to note that in the areas of the breaks, the structural integrity of the existing main is in poor condition and susceptible to additional breaks in the future. The existing main is also chocked down from its original diameter due to the heavy tuberculation observed. From records, the existing main is original cast iron, with no internal lining and is older than 1960’s. There are no records of replacement. 3. In discussions with Chairperson McDowell and Superintendent Lynch, the decision was made to remove Summit, Park and Bridge from contract and replace with Fifth Avenue as the closest even swap. Those three (3) roadways will be moved to Water Main Improvement Phase C. 4. H2M has been authorized to proceed with designing Fifth Avenue for replacement under emergency authorization from RCDOH. H2M has been in discussions with RCDOH on the process moving forward and will provide them a copy of the design drawing when complete. Everything installed is to be captured by As Built and submitted to RCDOH. 5. H2M has completed design of Fifth Avenue and submitted the design to RCDOH as a courtesy and to JFC for review. Subsequently, RCDOH reached out to H2M on February 20, 2025 for a meeting scheduled for February 21, 2025 to review and discuss Fifth Avenue. Status Pending. B) Operations Related: a. Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Exceedance: i. H2M continues to prepare a comprehensive Corrective Actions Report that details in depth the corrective actions taken to date and what contributed to the decision-making process. This document would be generated to provide to the NYSDOH, RCDOH and EPA during any future correspondence or audits. C) Plant Actions: a. Flocculation Basins: i. Superintendent Lynch has/had ordered the replacement flights for Sedimentation Basin Nos. 1 and 2. To date, the replacement flights have arrived and been installed into Sedimentation basin No. 2. Sedimentation Basin No. 2 has been repaired and place back into active service. Superintendent Lynch is awaiting the balance of required parts to rehabilitate Sedimentation Basin No. b. 6th Avenue Pump Station: i. During the week of February 10th, the 6th Avenue suffered a failure of the South Pump within the 6th Avenue Pump Station. Precision Pump was called in to assess the pump. Upon assessment, it was determined that the pump needed to be removed and brought back to their shop to be rebuilt due to bearing failures. As of February 20, 2025, Precision Pump has indicated to Superintendent Lynch that the pump is able to be rebuilt and will be returned in the coming days. Attention to potential partially closed valves on the suction side of the pumps needs to be investigated. c. South Highland Pump Station: i. Over the last week, the plant has been experiencing intermittent communications issues with the South Highland Pump Station and College Tank. Neal Systems has been troubleshooting the issue and has indicated that a fallen tree branch seems to have damaged the communication antenna at the College Tank. A replacement quote has been provided and pending approval. D) Sludge Lagoon a. H2M continues working to prepare a new SPDES permit for the discharge of the Sludge Lagoon into the Hackensack River. H2M has engaged NYSDEC to obtain clarification on aspects of the permit and on the required sampling of the Sludge Lagoon that is to accompany the permit submission. i. H2M has received some direction from NYSDEC on sampling required for the SPDES permit. Sampling requirements has been sent to Superintendent Lynch but recent plant issues have not allowed this to proceed. E) Plant Upgrade for PFAS Removal: a. H2M received response comments from NYSDOH on January 6, 2025. H2M had reviewed and issued return responses to NYSDOH on January 27, 2025. H2M is now awaiting any additional comments or approvals to proceed toward bid and satisfying additional requirements for the grant. At 5:41 PM, upon motion by Chairman McDowell, second by Commissioner Phillips, and carried, the Board moved into executive session to discuss personnel issues. At 5:47 PM upon motion be Commissioner Bullock, second by Commissioner grey, and carried the Board moved out of executive session. Our next meeting will be Thursday, March 20TH 2025 There being no further business, upon motion by Commissioner Turk, second by Commissioner Phillips, and carried, the meeting was adjourned at 5:51 PM. Respectfully submitted, Latoya Aguillard Assistant Secretary