ACTING AS SEWER COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
DATE: TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020
TIME: Immediately following FY 21 Public Hearing
Members present:
Council President Gosselin
Council Vice President D’Amico
Councilman Messier
Councilman Licciardi
Participating communities:
Town of Coventry
Town of Scituate
City of Cranston
City of Warwick
Town of West Greenwich
SC2020-06:
RESOLVED, that the minutes of the February 25, 2020 Town Council meeting, acting as the Sewer Commission, is hereby accepted.
Resolution moved by Councilwoman Williamson and seconded by Councilman Licciardi.
All in favor none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
· Average daily flow was 5.8 mgd with a maximum of 10.6 mgd and a minimum of 3.8 mgd.
· CBOD removal was 99%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· TSS removal was 97%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· Total Nitrogen is monitor only.
· Phosphorus removal was 0.63 mg/l. DEM requirement is 1.0 mg/l.
· Sludge removal was 453 wet tons which is approximately 6 tons per day.
· There were 3 private line blockups:
1. Main Street
2. River Avenue
3. New London Avenue
· There was 1 public line blockup:
1. Councilman Licciardi reported a manhole overflowing between Church Street and Nestor Street.
· All trainings are postponed due to Covid-19.
· There were no odor complaints or facility violations.
· In regards to Covid-19, all plant staff spend one hour every morning disinfecting high-contact areas and all working spaces.
Plant Manager – April 2020
· Average daily flow was 7.9 mgd with a maximum of 14.5 mgd.
· CBOD removal was 95%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· TSS removal was 89%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· Total Nitrogen is monitor only.
· We did have a violation for Phosphorus removal due to high flows washing out the sand. Sand is vital to Phosphorus removal.
· There were 2 private line blockups:
1. Juniper Drive on April 4th
2. Providence Street on April 16th
· There was 1 public line blockups:
1. Lonsdale Street on April 5th – This was reported by a homeowner. The line was blocked with grease and flushable wipes.
· All trainings are postponed due to Covid-19.
· There were no odor complaints.
· There was 1 facility violation for Phosphorus which was reported to DEM.
· Mr. Songolo announced that Assistant Superintendent Bedard has completed his testing with DEM and he has received his Grade 4 license. Everyone extended congratulations to Mr. Bedard.
· Councilwoman Williamson asked what is happening with the scheduling at the plant and how many people are working at home due to Covid-19. Mr. Songolo responded the plant is currently on a rotating schedule though employees have been called in for emergencies. Ms. Suvajian stated she works from home part of week and at the plant part of week.
· Councilwoman Williamson asked how many hours employees are working. Mr. Songolo said the office staff is working 20 hours per week and the maintenance staff are working one week on and one week off except for emergencies. He stated this will give coverage in case an employee got sick because anyone who came in contact with that person would have to quarantine.
· Councilman Licciardi asked if any of the employees are working 40 hours. Mr. Songolo stated the five operators are.
· Councilman Licciardi asked if the employees working 40 hours are being compensated since the other employees are only working 20 hours. Mr. Songolo responded the operators are considered essential employees who are required to work no matter what (snowstorms, holidays, etc…).
· Mr. Williamson asked if the employees working 20 hours are still being paid for 40 hours. Mr. Songolo stated yes, all the departments in Town are doing it this way. He explained that operators work by themselves so there is no risk of them infecting anyone else.
· Councilman Licciardi said he understands the health and safety concerns but this situation of some employees getting paid for 40 hours and only working 20 hours has been brought up to him.
· Council President Gosselin asked Mr. Zmyslinski if he could give an approximate date when all employees will be back to work full time. He said this issue is not just a Sewer Department issue, they are also having this problem at the Town Hall.
· Mr. Zmyslinski stated once the state goes into Phase 2 we will fall under the state guidelines for reopening, probably within the next few weeks. We still need to have plexiglass or barriers installed to separate the employees from the customers. These have been ordered but only some of them have come in. We are also watching to see what the other communities will be doing to reopen.
· Mr. Zmyslinski also said when we do come back, there will be new protocols in place that must be adhered to.
· Councilman Licciardi asked if there is a plan to compensate the employees that have had to work the full 40 hours. Mr. Zmyslinski said at this time with all of the uncertainty out there, financially and otherwise, there is no plan in place to do that.
· Councilman Licciardi suggested using the $340,000 the Sewer Department pays to the Town Hall for services.
· Council President Gosselin stated they are looking into Hero Pay. He said there are Police and Fire employees and some secretaries that haven’t taken any time off. He said all three Union Presidents have been talked to about this.
Significant Industrial Users
· Rhodes Technologies, Warwick Ice Cream, Amtrol and Immunex all submitted their self-monitoring reports and all were in compliance.
· Rhodes Technologies is installing new acetone removal equipment. Unfortunately, they are still waiting for a representative from the company to come start up the system. The company is located in Canada so they are unable to come to the U.S. due to the Covid-19 restrictions.
· Rhodes Technologies was issued a new permit for their oxidation treatment system.
· Rhodes Technologies reported a spill of their propylene glycol system. The spill was contained and nothing entered the sewers.
· Amtrol installed a new flow meter in April.
· Warwick Ice Cream submitted their Slug plan and they were in compliance.
Private WWTF
· Showcase Cinemas had to reschedule the cleaning of their line due to Covid-19. The line cleaning was completed in May.
· Construction continues at 1200 Quaker Lane. We are waiting for Showcase to submit an O&M Manual.
· 1600 Division Street still has not submitted an O&M manual. They currently have a new tenant who has not submitted any of the required pretreatment applications or plans. The new tenant treats medical waste by thermal destruction. We have contacted the tenant and requested this information.
Food Service
· Stop and Shop in Coventry was inspected and found to be in general compliance.
· Pat’s Italian Restaurant in Coventry submitted applications and a plan and a new permit was issued to them.
· Black Oak in Coventry forwarded us their cleanout slips and they are now in compliance.
· Walmart and Piezonis was inspected and was found to be in compliance.
· Rhode Island Shellfish was originally permitted as a limited food service selling only steamed quahogs and uncooked stuffies. During the last inspection the Program observed the company was selling fried seafood without a permit. The Program will work with the company to ensure they meet the proper requirements.
· Dunkin Donuts in West Warwick was issued a new permit
· Li’l Rhody Ice Cream at 283 Quaker Lane in West Warwick installed a grease recovery system. During installation the contractor found the sewer lines and lateral were deteriorating. The Program has given the company a compliance schedule to give them enough time to replace the sewer lateral.
· A new permit was issued for Benny’s Clam Shack.
· A new permit was issued for Walmart Superstore.
· Year-to-Date Operating and Debt Expenses for Fiscal Year 2020 as of April 30th totaled $6,394,233 which is 70% of the annual budget.
· Fiscal Year 2020 Sewer Usage collections through April 30th totaled $5,916,089 which is 85% of the total billed. Of the total collected, $99,550 represents interest.
· Fiscal Year 2020 Sewer Assessment collections through April 30th totaled $348,869 which is 94% of the total billed. Of the total collected, $4,337 represents interest.
· Cash and Investments through April 30th totaled $3,226,940.
· As you know the first Public Hearing for the FY21 Budget was this evening and the second Public Hearing will be held on June 2nd. It will also go before the Town Council for approval that evening.
· As discussed at the May Sewer Subcommittee meeting, you will see before you this evening the resolutions for contract extensions for chemicals and lab work.
SC2020-07:
RESOLVED, per recommendation of the Superintendent and the Sewer Subcommittee for the West Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility that the Town Council President be authorized to approve a one-year Contract Extension for ANALYTICAL LABORATORY WORK (Contract No. 2015-24) with Microbac Laboratories, Inc. of Dayville, Connecticut.
Resolution moved by Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Councilman Messier. All in favor none opposed.
SC2020-08:
RESOLVED, per recommendation of the Superintendent and the Sewer Subcommittee for the West Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility that the Town Council President be authorized to approve a one-year Contract Extension for Sodium Hypochlorite (Contract 2018-04) with Univar Solutions USA Inc. of Providence, Rhode Island in the amount of $1.186 per gallon.
Resolution moved by Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Councilwoman Williamson. All in favor none opposed.
SC2020-09:
RESOLVED, per recommendation of the Superintendent and the Sewer Subcommittee for the West Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility that the Town Council President be authorized to approve a one-year Contract Extension for METHANOL (Contract No. 2019- 12) to with Univar Solutions USA Inc. (Providence, Rhode Island) in the amount of $1.515 per gallon.
Resolution moved by Councilwoman Williamson and seconded by Councilman Messier. All in favor none opposed.
SC2020-10:
RESOLVED, per recommendation of the Superintendent and the Sewer Subcommittee for the West Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility that the Town Council President be authorized to approve a one-year Contract Extension for Sodium Hydroxide (Contract 2019-06) with Borden & Remington Corporation of Fall River, Massachusetts in the amount of $1.795 per gallon.
Resolution moved by Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Councilman Messier. All in favor none opposed.
SC2020-11:
RESOLVED, per recommendation of the Superintendent and the Sewer Subcommittee for the West Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility that the Town Council President be authorized to approve a one-year Contract Extension for ALUMINUM SULFATE (ALUM) (Contract No. 2019-13) with Holland Company, Inc. (Adams, Massachusetts) for Alum at $1.08 per gallon.
Resolution moved by Council Vice President D’Amico and seconded by Councilwoman Williamson. All in favor none opposed.
SC2020-12:
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.
To view this meeting go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRNXt-Ndv5U