WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL ACTING AS

SEWER COMMISSION

 

MEETING MINUTES

 

 

DATE:  TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2023    TIME:  6:00 P.M.

 

LOCATION:  TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1170 MAIN STREET

WEST WARWICK, RI  02893

 

 

 

A.    Meeting called to order at 6:06 p.m. by Town Council President Gosselin

 

B.    Prayer led by Councilman Messier

 

C.    Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Bourget

 

D.    Roll Call

Members present:

Council President Gosselin

Council Vice President Williamson

Councilman Messier

Councilman Licciardi (Absent)

Councilman Bourget 

 

Participating communities:

Town of Coventry (not present)

Town of Scituate  (not present)

City of Cranston   (not present)

City of Warwick    (not present)

Town of West Greenwich (not present)

 

E.     Quorum on record declared

 

F.     Minutes of previous meeting

SC2023-06: 

 

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the February 28, 2023 Town Council meeting, acting as the Sewer Commission, is hereby accepted.

 

Resolution SC2023-06 was moved by Council Vice President Williamson and seconded by Councilman Bourget.  All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept. (Councilman Messier was not in the room at the time of vote)

 

 

G.    Reports

 

G-1:  Superintendent’s Report – February 2023

 

•     Average daily flow was 6.3 mgd with a maximum of 10.5 mgd and a minimum of 3.5 mgd.

•     CBOD removal was 99% at 2.0 mg/l. 

•     TSS removal was 98% at 2.5 mg/l.

•     Total Phosphorus was 0.82 mg/l. 

 

•     Sludge to Synagro was 176 tons. Sludge to the Landfill was 320 tons. Total Sludge 496 tons.

 

•     Superintendent Chapdelaine informed the Commission that Synagro had fixed their issue, but as of this week another issue arose. They will be back to the landfill for at least this week maybe longer. He will have an update later on this week.

 

•     There were there (3) public line block ups on:

1.   Morningside Drive

2.   Sycamore Drive

3.   Church Street

                                   

 

•     There were five (5) private line block ups on:

1.   Sycamore Drive

2.   Meadow Drive

3.   (2) Coit Avenue

4.   Providence Street

 

•     Council President Gosselin asked Superintendent Chapdelaine about the effect that Woonsocket and  Synago will have on us. Superintendent Chapdelaine states Synago has return lines that go to Woonsocket and that can lead to overloading Woonsocket. They have to work together so both facility can work at their best capacity. When that doesn’t happen, we get denied and they cannot take our slug. That is when we have to go to the landfill.

 

G-2      Industrial Pretreatment Program – February 2023

 

Significant Industrial Users 

 

•        This month Pharmaron (498 Washington St.) and Amtrol submitted the monthly self-monitoring reports.

•        Pharmaron (498 Washington St.) reported no production for the quarter and therefore did not conduct sampling.

•        Amtrol re-tested in January due to a violation. The results were within the permit limits and the company returned to compliance.

•        A revised permit was issued to Pharmaron (500 Washington St.) to reflect changes in the operation including adding a Kilo laboratory for development, relocation of the quality control laboratory from 498 Washington, and occupying the space previously occupied by Rhodes Pharmaceuticals. Other changes involved the contact information and changes in management.

 

Food Service

 

•        Rufino's Pizzeria II, LLC 1013 Main St. completed the interior construction this month. A permit will be issued next month.

 

Private Wastewater Treatment Facilities   

 

•        The Program met with the managers of 1600 Division St. (Wasserman private wastewater system) to discuss the progress the facility has made to correct the deficiencies. The roof drains were disconnected from the sewer, the floor drains in the tenant areas were capped. During the visit, two floor drains were found that were not disclosed and hazardous materials were stored in close proximity. These were later capped. The property managers are requesting waiver for the Superintendent to consider.

 

•        Walmart (650 Centre of New England Blvd, Coventry) submitted the monthly report for the private wastewater facility.

 

Other - New Connections

 

•        Neon Market (1149 Division St., Warwick) continued construction this month.

 

Plan Reviews

 

•        40 Keyes Way, West Warwick submitted plans and applications this month for a proposed Quality Beef Company. The submission was generally consistent with the requirements and a letter was issued.

 

•        Proposed Commercial Development at Centre of New England Blvd., West Greenwich re-submitted plans for a three-unit commercial building. The plans were generally consistent with the standards and a letter was issued. The development has other administrative requirements that need to be resolved prior to issuance of a permit.

 

•        577 Tiogue, Coventry re-submitted plans this month. The plans do not meet the standard requirements and a letter was issued. In addition, the applicant has requested a number of waivers. (Superintendent is considering some of the waivers.)

 

•        Soap Car Wash (1119 Division St., Warwick) submitted plans this month. The plans were not complete and did not conform to standards and a letter was issued. The project is part of a private wastewater system (East Greenwich Square) and will be a satellite system for the Neon Market when complete. The Program continues to work with Soap Car Wash for approval.

 

•        Plans and application were submitted for Scrub-a-Dub Car Wash (2305 New London, Coventry). The plans did not conform to the standards and a letter was issued. The Program has conversed with the project engineers and expect the revision to be completed next month.

 

•        Summit Medical Compassion Center, Inc. (d/b/a RISE) 444 Quaker Lane, Warwick submitted plans and application for a production facility for cannabis products. The submission generally met the requirements and a letter was issued.

 

•        Quaker Lane Optometry, LLC (d/b/a Hazel Eye Center) 325 Quaker Lane, Unit 2, West Warwick submitted plans and application for an optometry center. The submission was generally consistent with the standards and a letter was issued.

 

•        Kent County Water Authority Operations Facility (35 Technology Way, West Greenwich) re-submitted plans for a new Kent County Water facility. The plans were consistent with the standards and a letter was issued.

 

G-3:  Financial Report

 

•        Year-to-Date Operating and Debt Expenses for Fiscal Year 2023 through February 28th totaled $6,313,770 which is 67% of the annual budget.

 

•        Overtime for the month of February was $15,690 which is 11% of the annual budget. FY2023 Year-to-Date overtime is $107,410 which is 75% of the annual budget. Year-to-date savings in “Sewer Department Salaries’ line item is $35,454 which is helping to offset the Facility’s overtime expenses. In comparison with the same time last Fiscal Year, we have spent $16,819 less on overtime this year versus last year.

 

•        Year-to-Date Sludge Removal costs through February 28th totaled $551,555 which is 83% of the annual budget. Year-to-Date increased expense of $99,728 versus what the Facility would have spent if we had not been required to offload sludge at Resource Recovery this Fiscal Year.

 

•        Fiscal Year 2023 Sewer Usage and Industrial collections through February 28th totaled $6,092,664 which is 82% of the total billed.

•        Fiscal Year 2023 Sewer Assessment collections through the end of February totaled $249,217 which is 100% of the total billed.

•        Inter-Municipal Bond invoices were mailed to participating communities for our March bond payment. All communities have remitted payment.

 

•        Cash and Investments through the end of February totaled $3,290,060

 

•        Councilman Messier asked Mr. Corrente about the long-term situation as far as not bringing sludge removal to Synago, and is this something we should be looking at to set the rates next year looking forward. Mr. Corrente states as far as next year we don’t anticipate asking for an rate increase. The increase off loads at RIRRC  will be reflected in the sludge removal line item that will be presented at the budget hearing. Vice President Williamson agrees with Councilman Messier as far as long term. Councilman Messier asked if there is any place similar to Synago that we can bring it to. Superintendent Chapdelaine explains that he has looked into this and the next closest one 2 hours each way.

 

•        Councilman Bourget asked Mr. Corrente if he could explain what the Inter-Municipal  Bond payments are. Mr. Corrente explains they are bond payments we have for the upgrades that Dem required over the years, and we had to take out bonds for. Other City and Towns that flow into us also pay a portion of bond payments to us every year. Mr. Geremia explains that the amounts are based on compacity and payments are based on flow.

 

H.    Public Comment.

 

No public comment

 

I.       Adjourn

 

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. Adjourned at 6:21 p.m.

 

 

 

To view this meeting go to:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6a5AKkU_XWQPoV26Xmc0qA