WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL ACTING AS
SEWER COMMISSION
MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 @ 7:00 P.M.
Members present:
Council President Gosselin
Council Vice President Williamson
Councilman Messier
Councilman Licciardi
Councilman Bourget
Participating communities:
Town of Coventry
Town of Scituate
City of Cranston
City of Warwick
Town of West Greenwich
RESOLVED, that the minutes of the August 17, 2021 Town Council meeting, acting as the Sewer Commission, is hereby accepted.
Resolution SC2021-21 was moved by Council Vice President Williamson and seconded by Councilman Licciardi. All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
The following is taken from the Plant Manager’s report data from August 2021.
· Average daily flow was 4.5 mgd with a maximum of 8.5 mgd and a minimum of 2.2 mgd.
· CBOD removal was 98.4%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· TSS removal was 98.2%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· Total Nitrogen was 5.9 mg/l. DEM requirement is 7.62 mg/l.
· Total Phosphorus was 0.08 mg/l. DEM requirement is 0.1 mg/l.
· Sludge to Synagro was 383 wet tons. Sludge to Landfill was 128 wet tons. Total sludge was 511 wet tons.
· There were no public line block ups.
· There were 3 private line block ups:
1. Richard Street
2. Wakefield Street
3. Phenix Avenue
· There were 4 odor complaints:
1. 3 from Providence Street
2. Fernwood Drive
· There were no facility violations.
· The Superintendent’s position is still available. Interviews were held last week. There is also a Mechanic’s position available.
· There was a break in the sewer line on Acorn Road. There was a construction company present doing other work so we had them do an emergency repair of the sewer line which they completed the same day. No impact was made on any households.
· Councilman Licciardi asked if it is the same residence on Providence Street making the odor complaints. Mr. Chapdelaine replied yes.
· Councilman Licciardi asked what their complaint is. Mr. Chapdelaine replied they call all hours of the day, first, second and third shifts, complaining of loud noises or banging or just saying it stinks.
· Councilman Licciardi asked how we reply to their complaints. Mr. Chapdelaine replied we make sure all the sprayers are on but sometimes we may have some equipment down which can cause odors.
· Councilman Licciardi asked how we are handling these complaints, are we justifying the odors or justifying the complaints. Mr. Chapdelaine said he’s talked to them. Sometimes they apologize for calling but sometimes we have equipment down and we do our best to fix it in a timely manner.
· Mr. Geremia commended the WWTF staff for their work on the sewer break at Greenbush and Acorn.
Significant Industrial Users
· We received all the Significant Industrial self-monitoring reports and all were in compliance.
Private Wastewater Treatment Facilities
· During the cleaning of the line at Marketplace Center, we found the line had collapsed. We’re working with the property manager to get the line fixed and bring them back into compliance.
· Showcase Cinemas is continuing the line cleaning they started last Fall and we are working with them to schedule an inspection of the force main.
Food Service Inspections
· Cowesett Pizza was issued a new permit due to a change of ownership.
New Connections
· A new connection was made and approved at JP Morgan Chase in Warwick.
· A new connection was made and approved at Tiogue School in Coventry.
Plan Reviews
· Plans were reviewed for Dunkin Donuts on West Warwick Avenue and a permit was issued.
· Plans were reviewed for 1180 Tiogue Avenue in Coventry. There is no tenant at this time but when there is, if pretreatment is needed, the necessary modifications will be made.
Other
· Aprin Van Lines is subdividing their property and we are working with them to create two service laterals for the building.
· During inspection at House of Liquors at 549 Quaker Lane we found that 555 Quaker Lane was tied into their lateral. We are working with both owners to resolve this issue.
· We are reviewing two plans for R.I. Vinyl and Detailed Granite Surfacing located at Centreville Mill, 3 Bridal Avenue. R.I. Vinyl was approved and we are still waiting for a completed application from Detailed Granite Surfacing.
· Year-to-Date Operating and Debt Expenses for Fiscal Year 2022 as of August 31st totaled $2,183,147 which is 23% of the annual budget.
· Fiscal Year 2022 Sewer Usage collections through August 31st totaled $2,370,824 which is 36% of the total billed. Of the total collected, $9,541 represents interest.
· Fiscal Year 2022 Sewer Assessment collections through August 31st totaled $133,133 which is 57% of the total billed. Of the total collected, $295 represents interest.
· Cash and investments through August 31st totaled $3,238,564.
· Councilman Licciardi asked where we stand with the budget. Ms. Suvajian stated we are overbudget. Councilman Licciardi asked by how much. Ms. Suvajian replied approximately $187,000 though we still have a transfer to the+3 Capital budget for the generator and some other work that was approved by resolution.
· Councilman Licciardi asked if the plant is fully staffed. Ms. Suvajian replied yes, minus one.
· Councilman Licciardi stated he has asked about this for two budgets and three months. The sewer department pays $348,000 for Admin. Fees to the Town. He has been asking for a description of what we’re being billed for. He disputes paying this bill.
· Town Manager Knott stated he intends to come up with a logical, transparent fee structure.
· Finance Director Benoit stated she sent out an email to all the departments asking them to detail what they do. She has gathered all this information and is working on the percentages.
· Council Vice President Williamson stated they do have a spreadsheet with a breakdown of the percentages but they are looking for backup as to specific hours spent working for the sewer department.
· Councilman Licciardi stated the previous Superintendent at a Subcommittee meeting requested to use Fusion Odor Control at the plant. We questioned how it would be paid for as the cost was $45,000-$50,000 per year. Nothing was ever finalized.
· Councilman Licciardi said he found out last month that the company has been down at the plant since last September and we’ve been paying them monthly. This never went before the Sewer Commission.
· Councilman Licciardi stated we are overbudget, we’re paying this company and we don’t even know if it’s cost effective or not.
· Councilman Licciardi said the way this was done was absolutely wrong. This was discussed with the company at the last Subcommittee meeting. He said he doesn’t think the Town should do business with a company like this. He also said we’ve had the most odor complaints this year than we’ve had since he’s been on the Subcommittee. He recommends ending the service with this company and saving the money since we’re already overbudget.
· Council Vice President Williamson stated she also didn’t know that Fusion was in place at the WWTF. The staff has requested we leave Fusion for now until the research is done to see where the money would come from and if it’s a worthwhile endeavor which is what was originally discussed and agreed upon at previous Subcommittee meetings.
· Councilman Licciardi stated he asked three other Superintendents about this and they all said we have scrubbers at the plant which would work fine.
· Mr. Chapdelaine stated we stopped using one system so there is a cost savings there. There are other factors involved and he will be doing more research before the next Subcommittee meeting to figure out what can be saved by using this product. Council Vice President Williamson she understands you have to offset removing what you’re currently doing.
· Councilman Licciardi asked if we are going to be weaning off this product. Mr. Geremia stated Fusion’s technology reduces the hydrogen sulfate level so the scrubber doesn’t work as hard but we have to add chemicals to make that happen which has a cost. This cost analysis should’ve been done by the previous Superintendent but it wasn’t. Fusion was put into this year’s budget and the other odor control system was taken out.
· Councilman Licciardi said he doesn’t like the way this was handled and he feels like we’ve been duped because the salesmen for Fusion were at the Subcommittee meetings.
· Council Vice President Williamson said she agrees the process was incorrect but the issue is, does Fusion work and is it cost effective and that’s the work that needs to be done.
· Steve Buckley of Fusion stated he is not a salesman he is a licensed wastewater operator and previously a licensed engineer. He is now 70 years old and retired. He has run and managed treatment plants all over the world. He said you were not duped. We followed the guidance of your previous Superintendent. We gave a 33-day trial for free and continued to supply product for 4 to 5 months for free. They paid us a couple of payments for equipment but we typically sell solutions and services not equipment. All servicing of Fusion’s equipment and products is routinely done by us not by plant personal.
· Mr. Buckley stated Fusion 220 is an odor control product that was customized by Eli Hannon for the wastewater industry and it’s been around a long time in the agricultural industry. It is applied at the waste tank and the headworks. This product makes sure that hydrogen sulfate doesn’t develop which saves about $30,000 in chemicals, eliminates a scrubber and decreases the truckloads to Synagro. He assured the Commission when the analysis is done, they will see a minimum of $50,000 savings on sludge dewatering.
· Council President Gosselin thanked Mr. Buckley and said he doesn’t think his company was at fault just that this matter should have come before the Council.
· Councilman Licciardi told Mr. Buckley it wasn’t his intention to insult him but he is looking at a budget that is $187,000 in the red and he wants to know what we are saving.
· Mr. Buckley stated he knows there’s been a savings of at least $30,000 already. Councilman Licciardi replied he needs to see the analysis.
· Eli Hannon of Fusion stated they did do a study of the financials and savings. They also did a separate
· two- week study when Fusion began applying their products which showed an immediate drop in the hydrogen sulfate levels. Both studies were given to the previous Superintendent, Mr. Songolo. He thought Mr. Songolo presented them to the Council at the February 4th meeting. He said he also remembers discussions from that meeting about staffing savings in that fiscal year and the phasing out of the current odor control company and phasing in the Fusion 220.
· Councilman Licciardi asked how long it would take to do a cost analysis. Mr. Chapdelaine replied by the next Subcommittee meeting.
· Councilman Licciardi asked for a final date when this will be done. Mr. Chapdelaine replied we have identified and sent out to 22 of the 35 pump stations and we are still working on the rest. Mr. Geremia said we are having problems getting the contact information and maps for the smaller pump stations such as condominium complexes.
· Council President Gosselin asked if this includes single family homes with an E-1 pump. Mr. Geremia replied no, it’s strictly pump stations.
RESOLVED, per recommendation of the Acting Superintendent of Sewers, to purchase a new AWD Four-Door SUV Vehicle from Liberty Chevrolet of Wakefield, Massachusetts (Rhode Island State MPA) in the amount not to exceed Twenty-Eight Thousand, Ninety-Six and 95/100 Dollars ($28,096.95).
Resolution moved by Council Vice President Williamson and seconded by Councilman Messier.
· Mr. Chapdelaine stated we budgeted $35,000 in the Capital budget for a new SUV for the Operations Department. We found one through a MPA for just over $28,000 that is currently available.
· Councilman Licciardi asked if it is a necessity. Mr. Chapdelaine replied yes, we’re down to two vehicles right now. We’re on the road at the pump stations, landscaping and doing other jobs and sometimes we are short on vehicles.
· Councilman Bourget said being $187,000 in the hole, do we need a brand new one or can you buy something used. Mr. Chapdelaine replied the 2021 model was only $1500 less. Councilman Bourget said when you’re in the hole you don’t spend more money. He asked if there are any other Town vehicles that can be moved to the Sewer Department.
· Councilman Licciardi said we have money now because we’re only 2 months into the budget but what happens come May. I’m not confident we will have the money then. He recommends waiting.
· Councilman Bourget said he thinks the next item is more of a have to than this.
· Council Vice President Williamson said it comes down to cash flow and Councilman Licciardi said it’s the overall management of money.
· Council President Gosselin stated he is concerned about people taking their own vehicles. He understands the $187,000 over budget but why is it over budget? Is it mismanagement or is it Covid related? The work schedules during that time created a lot of overtime. Ms. Suvajian said there were also emergency projects that had to be done so we were transferring money from Unrestricted Funds which would balance off the debts. I can look into it more closely but I’ll be more comfortable once the audited numbers come out.
· Council Vice President Williamson asked when will the numbers come out. The Finance Director replied the auditors are coming on October 4th. She commented further but she did not go up to the microphone so her comments were illegible.
· Councilman Bourget asked about the Capital budget. Ms. Suvajian replied the vehicle is approved in this year’s budget.
· Council Vice President Williamson said $35,000 was put in the budget but do we need it now and will it be available.
· Councilman Bourget asked if any other Town vehicles that can be moved over to the Sewer Department. Mr. Knott replied he thinks there’s still a shortage. He is going to see if he can get three Town vehicles using American Rescue funds. Councilman Bourget asked if a vehicle can be moved to the Sewer once that is done. Mr. Knott replied it depends on what we’re replacing.
· Council Vice President Williamson stated some of the rescue money is for sewer infrastructure. Mr. Knott said that is a big permissive portion of that money, it’s not designed to replace your budget money.
Council Vice President Williamson made a motion to table Resolution SC2021-22 until the next Sewer Commission meeting and it was seconded by Councilman Messier. All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
RESOLVED, per recommendation of the Acting Superintendent of Sewers, for the purchase and replacement of a boiler located at the West Warwick Wastewater Treatment Facility located at 1 Pontiac Avenue, West Warwick, Rhode Island to Automatic Temperature Controls, Inc. d/b/a C.H.A.C. of Cranston, Rhode Island (Rhode Island State MPA) in the amount of Forty-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred, Ninety-Five and No/100 Dollars ($43,995.00).
Resolution moved by Councilman Messier and seconded by Council Vice President Williamson.
· Mr. Chapdelaine stated this is the only boiler that was not replaced in the 2010 flood. It’s old and deteriorating and it’s costing a lot of money.
· Council Vice President Williamson asked if it’s in the budget. Mr. Chapdelaine replied yes, it’s in the Capital budget to replace this boiler and repair another one.
All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
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 Williamson and seconded by Councilman Messier. All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
None
A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Messier and seconded by Council Vice President Williamson. All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept.
To view this meeting go to:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6a5AKkU_XWQPoV26Xmc0qA