WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL
ACTING AS SEWER COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
DATE & TIME: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2020 - 7:00 P.M.
PLACE: TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1170 MAIN STREET, WEST WARWICK, RI
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
SC2020-04:
RESOLVED, that the minutes of the January 21, 2020 Town Council meeting, acting as the Sewer Commission, is hereby accepted.
Resolution moved by Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Councilman Messier.
All in favor none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
• Average daily flow was 6.4 mgd with a minimum of 4.6 mgd.
• CBOD removal was 98%. DEM requirement is 85%.
• TSS removal was 98%. DEM requirement is 85%.
• Total Nitrogen is out of season so we are monitor only.
• Phosphorus removal was 0.68 mg/l.
• Sludge removal was 525.7 wet tons which is 131.4 dry tons.
• There were 4 private line blockups:
1. Robin Lane
2. Terra Mar Drive
3. Prospect Hill Avenue
4. Hoxie Court (Coventry)
• There were 2 public line blockups:
1. Lockwood Street
2. West Street
• On Lockwood Street, a blockage was caused by grease in the line. This caused flooding in the resident’s basement because the lateral had no backflow preventer installed. DEM was notified of the overflow.
• On West Street, KCWA reported a sewer overflow. Our maintenance staff unblocked the line. This blockage was caused by grease as well.
• We conducted an in-house training on Spills, Trips and Falls.
• There were no odor complaint and no facility violations.
• Mr. Songolo said he is working with the Clerk’s office, Building Department, Fire Marshall and Town Planner to coordinate an easier process for business applicants. There have been a few problems with businesses who were unclear of the requirements and found them out after the fact. He said he’d like to have a list of all the requirements available to applicants in one place when they come into apply.
• Councilman Licciardi asked how many meetings they’ve had so far. Mr. Songolo responded one so far but there will be several meetings to come. He said right now they are getting documentation together which will eventually be put onto a database that all departments and business applicants will have access to.
• Councilwoman Williamson said this was discussed in the Sewer Subcommittee meeting and she thinks it’s a great idea to better coordinate this process.
• Councilman Licciardi asked what the timeframe will be for this. Mr. Songolo said hopefully 2 or 3 months.
Significant Industrial Users
• All of the Significant Industrial Users submitted their pretreatment reports and all were in compliance.
• Amtrol resubmitted their Industrial Questionnaire to renew their permit. We will be issuing them a new one in February.
• Rhodes Technologies has informed us that they’ll be filing Chapter 11. They will continue to produce but will be under the Chapter 11 protection.
• Immunex/Amgen notified us of their next generation of production. The Program will be working with them as they discharge various waste streams.
Private WWTF
• Marketplace Center at 1500 Bald Hill Road has conducted the cleaning of their lines.
• The Program had a conference call with the property managers of 1600 Division Street (the former Met Life building). We are requesting they submit an O&M Manual. The building is approximately half a million square feet which they are renting out as individual commercial space.
Food Service
The following food service facilities were inspected this month for compliance with the grease removal standards.
• Pat’s Italian Restaurant in Coventry installed a grease trap and they are now operational.
• Black Oak in Coventry forwarded us their cleanout slips and they are now in compliance.
• Walmart in Coventry was in compliance.
Laundry
• A new laundromat moved into 71 Tiogue Avenue in West Warwick. During our inspection we found there was no lint trap which is a requirement. He said they are operating however the Program is putting them under a compliance schedule to install a lint trap in accordance to regulations.
• Mr. Geremia said this directly relates to the earlier discussion regarding the need to better inform business applicants of all of the requirements prior to them opening.
• Council President inquired about Pat’s Italian Restaurant not having a grease trap as it was formally a restaurant. Mr. Geremia stated the existing grease trap was not operational but the new owners fixed it.
Plan Reviews
• Plans were reviewed for Dunkin Donuts at 275 Cowesett Avenue.
New Connections
The following new connections are ongoing.
1. Mid-Town Square in Coventry
2. 1200 Quaker Lane development at Showcase Cinema
3. Coventry Plaza LLC on Tiogue Avenue
Maintenance and Repair (M&R)
• Walmart submitted their maintenance plan for the month of December.
• Virginia Transportation submitted the video of their sewer lines.
Miscellaneous
• The Program conducted a reinspection of Green Development which is one of the tenants in the former Met Life facility. Green Development has completed the commercial application however the property owner is refusing to signoff on it which is required. This is a difficult situation because there are several floor drains throughout this facility and there are chemicals being stored there.
• There was a similar situation with Peach Budz, LLC d/b/a Lil Rhody Storage located at 100 Pulaski Street. During our inspection we found hazardous waste material there. We gave them a couple of options to bring them into compliance which they implemented and we were able to approve their license right away.
• Year-to-Date Operating and Debt Expenses for Fiscal Year 2020 as of January 31st totaled $5,295,995 which is 58% of the annual budget.
• Fiscal Year 2020 Sewer Usage collections through January 31st totaled $4,505,701 which is 64.6% of the total billed. Of the total collected, $57,068 represents interest.
• Fiscal Year 2020 Sewer Assessment collections through January 31st totaled $267,132 which is 72% of the total billed. Of the total collected, $2,404 represents interest.
• Cash and Investments through January 31st totaled $3,221,471.
SC2020-05:
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 Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Councilman Messier. All in favor none opposed.
None
A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Messier and seconded by Councilwoman Williamson. All in favor none opposed.
Please refer to audio recording for detailed information.