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WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL
ACTING AS SEWER COMMISSION
AMENDED MEETING MINUTES
DATE: TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2020 TIME: 5:30 P.M.
A. Meeting called to order at 5:37 p.m. by Town Council President Gosselin 
B. Roll Call
Members present:
Council President Gosselin
Council Vice President D’Amico
Councilman Messier
Councilman Licciardi
Councilwoman Williamson
Participating communities:
Town of Coventry
Town of Scituate
City of Cranston
City of Warwick
Town of West Greenwich
C. Commission Clerk determined a quorum on record.
D. Executive Session
Under Section 42-46-4 and 42-46-5(a)(1) of Rhode Island General Laws, the Sewer Commission will convene into Executive Session/Closed Meeting to discuss the topics below. All individuals have been notified in writing.
D-1: Compensation pay For Bernard Bishop, former Chief Operating Officer of the West Warwick treatment plant.
D-2: Plant salary increase for current Assistant Superintendent, Michael Bedard due to aquiring the DEM required Grade 4 special license needed for his position.
D-3: Question regarding job scope, time and a half pay and compensation time accrual for West Warwick treatment plant Electrician/Instrumentation Specialist, Vincent Russo.
Moved to Executive Session by Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Councilwoman Williamson. All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
Sewer Commission meeting reconvenes into Open Session at 8:03 p.m.
D-4: Decision on Executive Session Items
· D-1: Action taken and unanimously voted to accept.
· D-2: Action taken and unanimously voted to accept.
· D-3: Further research needed. No votes taken.
Motion to adjourn Executive Session made at the Town Council meeting.
E. Minutes of previous meeting
SC2020-18: (Erroneously numbered SC2021-01 on 8/18/20 Sewer Commission Agenda).
RESOLVED, that the minutes of the June 16, 2020 Town Council meeting, acting as the Sewer Commission, is hereby accepted.
Resolution moved by Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Councilman Licciardi.
All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
F. Reports
F-1: Plant Manager
The following is taken from the Plant Manager’s report data from June and July 2020.
June 2020
· Average daily flow was 4.4 mgd with a maximum of 10. mgd.
· CBOD removal was 99%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· TSS removal was 98%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· Total Nitrogen was 5.4 mg/l. DEM requirement is 7.6 mg/l.
· Total Phosphorus was 0.10 mg/l. DEM requirement is 1.0 mg/l.
· Sludge removal was 514 wet tons which is approximately 128 dry tons.
· There were 4 private line blockups:
1. Prospect Hill Avenue
2. Main Street
3. Alexander Drive
4. Alden Drive
· There were no public line blockups:
· We conducted a Heat Stress Training.
· There were two odor complaints from the WWTF and one odor complaint from the Maisie Quinn pump station.
· There were no facility violations.
July 2020
· Average daily flow was 3.8 mgd with a maximum of 7.3 mgd.
· CBOD removal was 98%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· TSS removal was 99%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· Total Nitrogen was 7.0 mg/l. DEM requirement is 7.6 mg/l.
· Total Phosphorus was 0.06 mg/l. DEM requirement is 1.0 mg/l.
· Sludge removal was 546 wet tons which is approximately 128 dry tons.
· There were 2 private line blockups:
1. July 7th on Revere Avenue
2. July 26th on Gough Avenue
· There were 2 public line blockups:
1. July 1st on Richard Street due to rags in the sewer line.
2. July 23rd on Nottingham Drive due to grease in the sewer lines.
· We conducted a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Training.
· There were five odor complaints from the WWTF due to one of the control boards in the air handling unit failing. It is a specialized item and we had to wait for the part(s) to come in, in order to repair it.
· There was one facility violation for CBOD caused by dewatering the final clarifier for the annual cleaning and inspection. The DEM requirement is 15.0 mg/l. We came in at 18.5 mg/l.
· The River Farms pump station did not have any means of bypassing the facility so we installed a bypass system.
· We had a problem with the outside conveyer for the sludge. One of our new mechanics was able to design and manufacture the part in house in lieu of purchasing it which saved us quite a bit of money.
· Councilwoman Williamson asked how many times we had to pay for the sludge to go to RI Resource Recovery. Mr. Songolo replied we only took 40 tons of wet sludge to the landfill.
F-2: Industrial Pretreatment Program – June and July 2020
Significant Industrial Users
· All the significant Industrial Users submitted their self-monitoring reports. With the exception of Rhodes Technologies, all were in compliance.
· Rhodes Technologies exceeded the federal limit for Acetone. They were issued a Notice of Violation and will be resubmitting new test results to see if the issue has been resolved.
· Rhodes Technologies has installed a pretreatment system for Acetone which they have been unable to use because it needs to be started up by the manufacturer. Because the manufacturer is located in Canada they are unable to come here to start it due to the current Covid-19 restrictions.
Private WWTF
· Cowesett Corners completed the cleaning of their lines. Roots were found in one section of the lines and they were cleaned out.
· The O&M manual submitted for the Wasserman line did not meet the program requirements and a report was issued.
· Bald Hill Realty has completed their as-built and the O&M manual has been approved.
· East Greenwich Square is working with the owners of the 1149 Restaurant which is now in bankruptcy to ensure their line is cleaned in accordance with the agreement with the Town.
· Marketplace Center completed their line cleaning and all was found to be in reasonable condition.
· Starbucks has resolved the issues they had related to construction.
· National Amusements has submitted a final O&M manual for the Showcase private system and it was approved.
Food Service Inspections
· Pizza Hut at 10 Quaker Lane in Warwick was found to be permanently closed.
· Miss Cranston Grill at 45 Quaker Lane in West Warwick had no records of grease trap cleanings and the permit for the facility was expired. A Notice of Violation was issued.
· All the restaurants at Cowesett Corners were inspected. All were in compliance except for Moe’s Southwest Grill. Moe’s Southwest Grill had no records of grease trap cleanings and their permit had expired. A Notice of Violation was issued.
Plan Reviews
· DAI at Centre of New England submitted plans which were approved.
· TBonz Grill LLC in Coventry submitted plans which were approved.
· Plans were reviewed for the auto parts store and the Dollar Tree store going in at 272 Cowesett Avenue.
· Med Recycling at 1600 Division Street has provided some additional information for their pretreatment application however they refuse to complete the rest of the required information. We issued a letter requesting they do so.
F-3: Financial Update
· Year-to-Date Operating and Debt Expenses for Fiscal Year 2021 as of July 31st totaled $604,128 which is 6% of the annual budget.
· Fiscal Year 2021 Sewer Usage collections through July 31st totaled $2,111,091 which is 31% of the total billed. Of the total collected, $12,807 represents interest.
· Fiscal Year 2021 Sewer Assessment collections through July 31st totaled $168,310 which is 60% of the total billed. Of the total collected, $216 represents interest.
· Cash and Investments through July 31st totaled $3,230,618.
G. Old Business
G-1: DEM Consent Agreement
A motion was made to table this item by Councilwoman Williamson and seconded by Councilman Licciardi. All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
H. New Business
H-1: KCWA Fee Reduction for Records
· Ms. Suvajian stated she submitted a letter to the Finance Director at KCWA and their Board requesting the fee for records be reduced from $1.00 per record to .50 cents per record. My request was granted so we will see a savings of approximately $4,000 per year.
H-2: 103 Providence Street
· Council President Gosselin stated he asked for this to be put on the agenda. He said the homeowner has been working with the Town for over two years regarding this problem.
· Council President Gosselin said he’s been informed that there is a private line that runs behind the Church across from Prata Funeral Home down to 107-109 Providence Street. Said line has a few manholes in between that say Brayton Foundry on them.
· Council President Gosselin said the homeowner has obtained documentation from the Town, the Sewer Department and the local surveyor’s office which state her sewer line comes out the front of her house and into the street which doesn’t seem possible.
· Council President Gosselin stated he understands it is the homeowner’s responsibility for the lateral from the basement to the main. He asked if that homeowner is also responsible for the private line as well since there are 30-36 units on Providence Street that are also tied into that line.
· Mr. Songolo stated he hasn’t seen this documentation. He said he was informed the line in question was a private line belonging to the Foundry.
· Mr. Songolo said he was also told that the residents in that area were asked to connect onto Providence Street since no one was servicing the private line in back that they were connected to and most of the residents have done so.
· Mr. Songolo stated 103 Providence Street has not connected even though there is a lateral available.
· Council President Gosselin asked how deep the line on Providence Street is. Mr. Geremia responded about 10+ feet deep. He also said that 103 Providence Street would need a pump or an ejector because of where the house lies, it tails off to the back side.
· Council President Gosselin asked if we can confirm which of the houses are still connected to the private line. Mr. Geremia replied we would need to get permission from each of the properties to do a dye test to determine whether they’re coming out from the front or the rear of their property.
· Mr. Songolo stated almost everyone else on Providence Street is connected to the front except for 103 Providence Street. He said he has DVDs for confirmation.
· Council President Gosselin stated the homeowner has stopped the Town from cleaning the private line because she’s concerned the vibration when cleaning it has damaged the clay pipe. He asked what she needs to do to tie into the line on Providence Street.
· Mr. Songolo responded she can’t just tie into the lateral because her house sits at the lowest point. She would need to install an E1-Pump.
· Council President Gosselin asked where the flow from her house into the rear line ends up. Mr. Songolo stated the real problem at this location is there are roots in her lateral. He said at one time we did help her out with that by snaking the line and cutting the roots.
· Council President Gosselin said is 103 Providence Street is the only house left connected to the private line why can’t she just connect directly to the closest manhole in the rear of the house? Mr. Songolo replied, she can but she will also need to install a backflow preventer because this line does not have one.
· Council President Gosselin asked Mr. Geremia if there was previously a claim submitted by the homeowner to the Town’s insurance company due to a sewerage backup into her home from the private line. Mr. Geremia replied, yes.
· Council President Gosselin asked why this claim was paid by the Town’s insurance company if the Town is not responsible for said line. Mr. Geremia stated it is standard procedure that claims for sewer backups into residences be paid one time only by the insurance company. After that a backflow preventer must be installed by the homeowner.
· Mr. Songolo stated that backup occurred due to the cleaning of the main line conducted by our staff, which blew back into her house. That is the reason that claim was paid. After that incident I sent the homeowner a letter informing her that she must install a backflow preventer and no other claims can be submitted or paid out until one is installed. This was in 2016 and to date, no action has been taken by the homeowner to install one.
· Council President Gosselin stated he would like to get this issue resolved. Mr. Geremia said the Ordinance states the homeowner is responsible from the house to the main in the road.
· Council President Gosselin asked how we can confirm if the line in the rear of the house that she is connected to is actually a private line. He said there must be an easement on everyone’s deed. Mr. Geremia said not necessarily as they were once all privately owned mill houses and considered one unit.
· Mr. Geremia stated when the sewer improvement projects began the main sewer lines were put into the roads not through back yards so he is unaware of any easements. Mr. Songolo stated he hasn’t found any easements.
· Ms. Nersesyan, the owner of 103 Providence Street stated there is an easement on her property and the property next door which is also connected to the line in the rear.
· Council President Gosselin asked Mr. Songolo to follow up on these easements and find out if this is truly a private line or not and who is still tied into it. He also asked Mr. Songolo to verify with the Tax Assessor how many units are in each house.
· Council President Gosselin stated Ms. Nersesyan has documents from her closing which state her sewer line is up-to-date and it shows the line coming out of the front of her house.
I. Resolutions
SC2020-19: (Erroneously numbered SC2021-02 on 8/18/20 Sewer Commission Agenda).
RESOLVED, per recommendation of Sewer Subcommittee Chair, Councilman Jason Licciardi, that the Town Council President be authorized to approve the proposal from O&M SOLUTIONS, LLC. Services are to provide a follow-up review of a report presented to the Sewer Commission on April 24, 2018 regarding an organizational review and business practice evaluation at the West Warwick Sewer Treatment Plant. Services will begin in the Fall of 2020 for a fee of $135 per hour not to exceed 100 hours. The scope of this review would contain but is not limited to: staff utilization, inventory management, data collection, etc. Funding will be allocated from the Study Cost Account.
Resolution moved by Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Council President Gosselin. All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
J. Consent Agenda
SC2020-20: (Erroneously numbered SC2021-03 on 8/18/20 Sewer Commission Agenda).
RESOLVED that the consent agenda, having been posted, all matters having been referred to proper departments and being disposed of or awaiting recommendations the same is hereby approved.
Resolution moved by Councilwoman Williamson and seconded by Council Vice President D’Amico. All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
K. Public Comment
None
L. Adjourn
A motion to adjourn was made by Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Councilman Licciardi. All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
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