February 20, 2007
A regular meeting of the Board of Water Commissioners was called to order at 12:00 noon by acting Chairperson Lucien Langlois. Commissioners present were Robert Delisle and Paul Poulin. Chairperson Richard Fournier and Ex-officio member Mayor Danderson were not present. Also in present for this meeting were Superintendent Viens and Lynne C. Lessard.
Under Public Comments, Mr. Mel Liston, Project Manager for Clean Power Development, LLC from Concord, NH addressed the Board for approximately one (1) hour regarding a proposal to purchase/lease the land at our Androscoggin Treatment Plant in an effort to build a wood chip power plant. This project would provide electricity and create jobs for economic development. The Board’s main concern is the protection of the well. Mr. Liston would like to obtain ownership rights as soon as possible, as he made reference to Senate Bill #140.
It was moved by Commissioner Delisle, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor, to accept the Minutes of January 17, 2007.
Under the Berlin Water Works Monthly Status Report dated February 16, 2007, Superintendent Viens reviewed the following with the Board:
1. BWW Staff will be working on 2008 Budget Draft for review at next months Board meeting using “trailing 8 months”.
2. Another fire destroyed two properties on Rockingham and Mason Streets. Adequate water pressure was supplied to suppress the fire.
3. Superintendent Viens and staff are working on this summer’s construction plan and sorting and deciding on priorities. We are ready to order $180k worth of materials. We will not be reimbursed for these materials until actual usage. We have a locked bid in until March and the forecast is if we do not order now, it would likely be much higher, i.e. $250k as prices have increased. The Board authorized the Superintendent to purchase the materials.
4. Superintendent discussed with the Board costs from Piper’s final bid for footage vs. some of the streets BWW did. He informed the Board that the comparative cost for these streets was approximately the same as Piper’s estimate vs, BWW actual.
5. A Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for thawing was re-written because we wanted to be sure that everyone involved is informed. The goal is to compile data to correct the problems and remove customers from the running water list.
6. The Chemical usage for Ammo plant has gone down slightly and are we working on various ways to continue the trend.
7. The new BWW Logo is now being used on our letterhead and has been decaled onto the utility trailer.
8. We are focusing on propane usage to lower energy cost.
9. Our “Rules & Regulations” rate structure now includes City Sewer Metering Fees.
10. BWW received a draft of the Berlin Wildlife Mitigation Plan from the North Country Council for review.
11. February 7th, 2007 EJ Prescott conducted a seminar on leak detection. Granite State Rural Water Association is also scheduled to provide training.
It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Mr. Delisle, with all in favor, to accept the Berlin Water Works Monthly Status Report dated February 16, 2007.
The Superintendent and the Board briefly discussed the Cashier’s Report. It was noted that the cash assets have dropped as January is a non-income month. Included with the expenditures are repairs to the 51 Willow St. Garage, purchases of a new compressor from the Federal Surplus Store and replacement meter expenses. It was moved by Commissioner Delisle, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor, to accept and place on file, the Cashier’s Report for the month of January, 2007.
Old Business:
a. Lead and Copper Compliance Testing Status: Berlin Water Works has passed for a second time in a row. A letter dated February 01, 2007 from Rebecca Presby, Monitoring & Enforcement Section, WSEB states that your next round of samples are in Quarter #3 of 2007 and the number of samples will be reduced by ½ instead of 60 test sites.
b. Federal Bureau of Prisons – Water Status Study: The “Final Report for Hydraulic Model Update & Recommendations for Servicing the Proposed Federal Prison”, dated January, 2007 as prepared by Tracy L. Wood, P.E. of CLD Engineering was completed and submitted to “FBoP” January 31, 2007. We are waiting for their response.
c. Fraser property sale water billing Status – Paid in Full: February 2nd 2006 BWW received $27,059.49 from Fraser for the property sale and current quarter.
d. T-Buck Contract– suit update: Trial date has been rescheduled for March 28th, 2007.
e. Jericho Lake/State RV Park & Godfrey Raw Water Transmission Line Status: No activity to report.
f. Berlin Water Works Contract Services (Fecteau & Arsenault): John Arsenault has accepted a job driving trucks for Munce’s Oil Company; however John and BWW Marc Bergeron relocated the polymer supply line and installed six (6) light timer shut-off switches, and chemical line replacement is taking place for improved flushing. Corey Fecteau reassembled the Church Street Pump, Repairs to our front end Loader and air compressor with students from the NHCTC as part of their training curriculum.
g. Replacement pump for Church Street Pump Station: Previously reported with Line Item “F”.
h. Review Manning – Temporary Employees Status: Rene Duchene & Claude Frenette, continue to work.
i. 55 Willow Street – Proposed Improvement Project – Entry/Stairs – Status: No activity to report.
j. Other: There was no other old business at this time.
Under New Business:
a. Application for FY 2008 Payment of State Filtration Grant for the Surface Water Treatment Rule for $234,531.37: January 23, 2007 a letter was submitted in to Richard Skarinka, NHDES, to confirm the amount of payment that will be made to BWW for FY08 as we will be preparing for the FY08 Budget. Note: The letter submitted has been past practice and the formal application from the State for authorization is normally in June. It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Delisle, with all in favor, to authorize the Superintendent to file the application.
b. Approve acceptance for $4,500.00 NHDES Water Security Grant – Fencing – Ammonoosuc Storage Tank: It was moved by Commissioner Delisle, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor, to authorize Superintendent Viens to sign the Grant form from John McKenna, Drinking Water Source Protection Program.
c. 177 Jericho Road Property – Outstanding Tax and Water Issue: A letter was sent to the City of Berlin, Tax Collector, BWW and NHDHHS Estate Recoveries Unit on January 23, 2007 from Robert Lavoie, Executor for the Estate of Rose Alba Fortin. Currently due at this property is $3,466.03. The letter states that Gallus & Green Realtors have received a written cash offer of $15,000.00 and requests that all agree to equal percentage of reduction of liens against this property. The City of Berlin has refused this offer. It was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Delisle, with all in favor,
to deny this request and have Superintendent Viens send a letter conveying the Board’s decision.
d. Sewer/Water Billing Review: January 22, 2007, City Manager McQueen sent documentation, but not to charge us, that BWW is far exceeding the limits of its 60,000 gpd discharge permit for discharge to the sanitary sewer system. Superintendent Viens drafted a letter dated February 21, 2007 in response that we are working on improving our situation and operational reasons why we exceeded the limit. It was suggested by the Board to have Superintendent Viens and Chair Richard Fournier to sign and send the letter.
e. Employee Annual Reviews for April: Superintendent Viens informed the Board that he and Debbie Page are up for review and will have information for next months closed session.
f. Berlin Water Works Lab – Accredited Status (Bacteria): After discussion and concern, it was moved by Commissioner Poulin, seconded by Commissioner Delisle, with all in favor, not to renew our Accreditation License. Mr. Bill Hall of NHDES will notified of this decision.
g. Other: It was moved by Commissioner Delisle, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor, to authorize Superintendent Viens to attend the 2007 Spring Joint Regional Conference & Exhibition sponsored by New England Water Works Association to be held on March 28-29, 2007 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
h. Communications: Superintendent Viens informed the Board that we have received equipment proposals for a Skid Steer and a “Thumb” for the large excavator and a Trench Roller. Superintendent Viens will have further information to provide the Board at next months meeting.
The Board agreed to hold their next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, March 21, 2007 @ 6:30PM at their 55 Willow Street Conference Room.
Under Public/Board Comments, Acting Chair Langlois asked the Board and the Superintendent their thoughts to Mr. Liston’s verbal proposal. Superintendent Viens does not think it is the right site. BWW does not have the time and money for review; however; Superintendent Viens will dig up previous files on wells and call Andy Sharpe at Provan & Lorber to get a budget number for a proposal. Commissioner Poulin likes the idea but all agreed that the well need protection is first priority and to have an option to find another site for a new well.
There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, it was moved by Commissioner Delisle, seconded by Commissioner Poulin, with all in favor, to adjourn this meeting.
The meeting did so adjourn at 1:45 PM.
A True Record: Attest:_____________________________
Robert Delisle, Clerk of the Board
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