WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL ACTING AS

SEWER COMMISSION

 

MEETING MINUTES

 

DATE:  TUESDAY,  SEPTEMBER 17, 2024    TIME:  6:00 P.M.

 

LOCATION:  TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1170 MAIN STREET

WEST WARWICK, RI  02893

 

 

A.         Meeting called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Town Council President Gosselin.

 

B.         Prayer led by Councilman Messier.

 

C.         Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Dennison.

 

D.         Roll Call

 

Members present:

Council President Gosselin

Council Vice President Williamson

Councilman Messier  

Councilman Licciardi   (arrived at 6:09 p.m.)

Councilman Dennison

 

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

SC2024-18

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the June 18, 2024, Town Council acting as the Sewer Commission, is hereby accepted.

 

Resolution SC2024-18 was moved by Council Vice President Williamson and seconded by Councilman Messier.  All in favor, none opposed (4 – 0) voted to accept.

 

               

 

G.         Reports

 

G-1:  Superintendent’s Report – August 2024

 

·        Average daily flow was 4.3 mgd with a maximum of 7.7 mgd and a minimum of 2.2 mgd.

·        CBOD removal was 99% at 2.1 mg/l. 

·        TSS removal was 98% at 2.8 mg/l.

·        Total Phosphorus was 0.09 mg/l.

·        Sludge to Synagro was 0 tons. Sludge to Landfill was 503 tons. Total Sludge 503 tons.

 

·        Mr. Chapdelaine explained that we currently do not have any dumpsters with impervious covers, and without                those covers we cannot send our sludge to Synagro we have to go to the Landfill.  Mr. Chapdelaine said he is   currently trying to find alternative options besides Synago, but at this point in time we will be using the Landfill.

·        Council Vice President Williamson asked if it was a Woonsocket Ordinance to have covers.

·        Mr. Chapdelaine responded yes.

 

·        There was zero (0) public line block ups.

 

·        There was one (1) private line block up.

 James P Murphy Hwy

 

·        There was two (2) Odor complaints.

·        Anderson Ave & Fernwood Drive

·        Mr. Chapdelaine discussed with the council about the uptick in odor complaint calls this past week. DEM had also came down to the plant and did a walk around and found no noticeable odor coming from inside the facility.

 

·        Council Vice President Williamson asked if the lack of rain could play any role in the increase

·        of odor complaints. Mr. Chapdelaine did say we do have a barge next to us, but there is no

·        study to show that is the cause. He said he will continue to meet DEM.       

 

·        There was zero (0) Facility Violations.

 

G-2:     Industrial Pretreatment Program – August  2024

                                               

Significant Industrial Users

 

This month, Pharmaron (498 Washington St., Coventry) submitted their quarterly Self-Monitoring Report.

The results were within the permit limits.

 

Quality Beef submitted their Self-Monitoring Report. The results were within the permit limits.

 

Pharmaron (498 Washington St., Coventry), sent an Industrial Waste Questionnaire associated with a new product.

 

 

Private Wastewater Treatment Facilities

 

East Greenwich Square completed the cleaning of the entire private wastewater system this month. The system was found to be generally in good condition. A new property owner has taken over the Plaza. They will revise the O&M and resubmit it.

 

Showcase (1200 Quaker Lane, Warwick) continues to truck their waste off-site while they repair the force main. As of the end of the month the project was not completed.

 

275 W Natick Road, LLC (formerly known as Extended Stay), 4N Properties, Eagles Nest and Briarwood submitted their required O&M’s for their private wastewater facilities. They are currently under review.

 

Bald Hill Realty submitted plans to modify the private wastewater system. The plans were found to be generally consistent with the requirements and a letter was issued

 

 

Food Service Inspections

           

Millonzi Bar and Grill M & M Food Service, LLC - 11 Curson St., West Warwick

Aquilantes Bistro and Tavern - 701-703-705 Quaker Ln., West Warwick

Condesa II Mexican Restaurant - 717-719 Quaker Ln., West Warwick

Masala, LLC (d/b/a Masala Indian Cuisine) - 35 Quaker Ln., Unit 1, West Warwick

YE Express (d/b/a Ye Express) - 1117 Main St., West Warwick

Bills Place Inc. - 707 Main St., West Warwick

Miilas Taqueria, LLC (d/b/a Caliente Mexican Grill) - 289 Cowesett Ave., #7 & 8 , West Warwick

Hong Kong Restaurant - 77 Washington St., West Warwick

 Famous Pizza, Inc. (d/b/a Famous Pizza), 1738 Main St., West Warwick

 

These facilities were found to be in general compliance except of the following:

 

Famous Pizza’s grease recovery device was not working and there were no records of cleaning.

 

Hong Kong Restaurant did not have cleaning records. An assessment of the grease recovery device was found to be in poor condition.

 

Notices of Violation were sent to these two facilities

           

 

Plan Review

 

Baja's Fresh Grill V, LLC (866 Tiogue Ave., Coventry) submitted plans and applications this month. The plans were generally consistent with the requirements and a letter was issued.

 

Urban Air submitted plans for a facility at 300 Quaker Lane, Warwick the plans are under review.

 

Red House Connecticut, LLC (d/b/a Honey Baked Ham) submitted applications and plans for a new facility at 300 Quaker Lane, Warwick. The plans were generally consistent with the requirements and a letter was issued.

 

Plans were submitted for Cava Restaurant (1009 Centerville Rd., Warwick). The facility proposes to connect into a private wastewater facility’s (Woloohojian) line. Since this property was not part of the original agreement, Cava will need to evaluate the system regarding its capacity and provide a letter of acceptance from the owner prior to the start of our review.

           

 

Other -  Connections

 

13 Pleasant St., West Warwick completed construction this month

 

Flash Car Wash - 795 Centre of New England Blvd., West Greenwich continued construction this month at the former Denny’s site.

 

282 Pulaski St., Coventry continued construction this month.

 

G-3:     Financial Report

 

·        Year-to-Date Operating and Debt Expenses for Fiscal Year 2025 through the end of August totaled $1,320,531 which is 14% of the annual budget.

·        Overtime for the month of August was $13,214 which is 8% of the annual  budget. Year-to- Date overtime totaled $25,622 which is 16% of the annual budget and we have a savings of  $9,036 in the General Wages line item due to a vacant Lead Operator position.

·        Sludge Removal costs through the end of August totaled $158,555 which is 21% of the annual budget.

·        Mr. Corrente explained that our contractual CPI adjustment with Synagro has kicked in, it was 3.5% which is retroactive to July 1^st. That will put the rate when we off load to Synagro at $107.00 per ton.

·        Fiscal Year 2025 Sewer Usage and Industrial collections through the end of August totaled $2,683,804 which is 34% of the total billed.

·        Prior year Sewer Usage collections through the end of August totaled $126,101 of which $13,193 is penalty interest.

·        Fiscal Year 2025 Sewer Assessment collections through the end of August totaled $155,125 which is 69% of the total billed.

·        Cash and Investments through the end of August totaled $3,850,145

 

H.         Old Business

 

Private Pump Station

·        Mr. Geremia stated that the four (4) Private Pump Stations that were outstanding for O&M                     Manuals have now submitted them.

 

·        Councilman Licciardi asked a question regarding a new development in Coventry, and how it could affect us in any way. Mr. Geremia responded by explaining that the community does have the capacity.

 

I.            Public Comment

 

Resident Paul Villa from 15 Janet Drive asked if we have received any violations from the DEM due to odor. Mr. Chapdelaine explained back in July DEM came by the plant and issued a letter of non-compliance, it’s not actually a violation.

 

Council Vice President Williamson said there is no doubt that the last couple of weeks have been especially bad.

 

Mr. Villa mentioned the new housing legislation, and that we should be keeping an eye on that.

 

Council President Gosselin said this is something that can be monitored and we will be keeping a close eye on what’s going on in West Warwick.

 

Resident Vincent Marzulo from  28 Crosswood Road mentioned  he has been dealing with the odor for over 30 years. He is surprised we haven’t contributed that the lack of water flow is not part to the odor issues.  Mr. Marzulo also asked if we are storing the sludge in an open building, and how long are we holding it for.

 

Mr. Chapdelaine explained that sludge dumpster are not left at the plant for long, they are removed the next morning after they are filled. They are stored in an open area with a roof, and we are putting actual lime on top of the dumpsters to help with the odor.

 

J.          Adjourn

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Council Messier and seconded by Council Vice President Williamson.  All in favor, none opposed (5 - 0) voted to accept. Adjourned at 6:31 p.m.

 

 

To view this meeting go to:

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