WEST WARWICK SEWER COMMISSION

SEWER SUBCOMMITTEE

 

MEETING MINUTES

 

MEETING MINUTES

 

DATE & TIME:  THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 @ 3:00 P.M.

 

 

A.     MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 3:03 P.M. BY COUNCILMAN LICCIARDI

 

B.     ROLL CALL

               

MEMBERS PRESENT

Councilman Licciardi

Councilwoman Williamson

Town Manager Mark Knott

Assistant Superintendent Jeff Chapdelaine

Director of Administration Christine Suvajian

James Geremia, James Geremia and Associates

 

C.     QUORUM ON RECORD DECLARED

    

D.     MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

     

·        The January 7, 2021 minutes were tabled at the February 4, 2021 Sewer Subcommittee meeting pending investigation. 

·        Mr. Chapdelaine stated an odor complaint from December 21, 2020 was found.  The complaint was not documented so an investigation was done.

·        Councilwoman Williamson recommended documenting the complaint, reporting it to DEM and amending the minutes from the January 7, 2021 meeting.

·        A motion was made to approve the January 7, 2021 minutes, as amended, by Councilman Licciardi and seconded by Councilwoman Williamson.  All in favor none opposed.

·        A motion was made to approve the May 6, 2021 minutes by Councilwoman Williamson and seconded by Councilman Licciardi.  All in favor none opposed.

 

E.      REPORTS

                 

1.     Plant Manager’s Report

The following is taken from the Plant Manager’s report data through May 16-17, 2021.

 

·        Average daily flow was 5.4 mgd with a maximum of 9.4 mgd and a minimum of 2.8 mgd.

·        CBOD removal was 98.3%.  DEM requirement is 85%.

·        TSS removal was 95.6%.  DEM requirement is 85%.

·        Total Nitrogen was 6.3 mg/l.  DEM requirement is 7.62 mg/l.

·        Total Phosphorus was 0.08 mg/l.  DEM requirement is 1.0 mg/l. 

·        Sludge to Synagro was 365 wet tons.  Sludge to Landfill was 182. Total amount of sludge was 547 tons.  We had to go to the Landfill on and off this month because Synagro had a pump down.

 

·        There were 2 public line block ups.

1.     Tampa Street

2.     Laramee Street

 

·        There were 3 private line block ups:

1.     Wakefield Street

2.     Garfield Terrace

3.     Providence Street

 

·        There was 4 odor complaint.

1.     Providence Street (2)

2.     Blossom Street

3.     Duke Street

 

·        There were no facility violations.

 

2.     Director of Administration Report

 

·        FY21 Year-to-date operating and debt expenses as of May 31^st totaled $8,131,176 which is 87% of the annual budget. 

·        FY21 Sewer Use and Sewer Assessment Revenue collected as of May 31^st totaled $7,728,459 of which $151,273 represents interest.          

·        Cash and Investment balance as of May 31, 2021 will be reported at the next Sewer Commission meeting.

·        Ms. Suvajian asked if we will be canceling the July and August Sewer Subcommittee and Commission Meetings.  Councilwoman Williamson replied the Town Council will be discussing the summer meeting schedule on Tuesday.

·        Councilman Licciardi stated he agrees with canceling the July Subcommittee meeting but he thinks we should wait on the August meeting.  He said the Town Council will decide on the Commission meetings.

 

3.     Industrial Pretreatment Program for the month of May 2021

 

Significant Industrial Users

    

·        Noramco and Amtrol submitted their self-monitoring reports.  Amtrol had a violation for zinc again so they will need to retest.  A Notice of Violation was issued along with a penalty of $100.  The Program met with Amtrol’s new consultant regarding the problem with their zinc.  We were told their two new conveyors are plated with zinc and they’ve been leaching zinc so they are replacing the plates with stainless steel which should resolve the issue.

·        The Program conducted the annual inspection of Noramco Technologies, formally Rhodes.  There have been a number of personal changes at Noramco but they are continuing meet the levels.  They were issued a new permit.

·        New England Testing filed their baseline monitoring report which showed they exceeded in one of their parameters.  They will be retesting.

 

Food Service Inspections

 

·        Denny’s on Quaker Lane in Warwick - Records were not available at the facility during inspection but were provided later.

·        Treehouse Tavern in Warwick - submitted their cleaning and grease trap interceptor reports.

 

E-Permitting System

 

·        A building permit was issued for 971 Main Street in West Warwick. The building has three residential apartments and three commercial spaces. They are looking to change to five residential apartments and three commercial spaces. One of the commercial spaces is Zeng’s Kitchen which requires a separate application. The Program is working with the Building Department and the applicant.  A Certificate of Occupancy won’t be be issued until Zeng’s Kitchen provide us with all the necessary information.

 

Plan Reviews

 

·        Plans were reviewed for Fuel Your Fire Nutrition on Cowesett Avenue in West Warwick.  The application was incomplete so a letter was issued.

 

New Connections

 

·        Construction was completed at 294 Cowesett Avenue in West Warwick.

·        JP Morgan Chase began construction this month.

·        Xtra Mart in Coventry began construction this month.

·        Fact Custom in Coventry completed construction this month.

 

F.      CAPITAL PROJECTS SUMMARY

 

1.     Centrifuge

 

·        Mr. Geremia stated the Centrifuge has been completed.  There are two Change Orders for Hart Engineering totaling $13,745.25.

·        The first Change Order is for the furnishing and installing of pressure regulating valves on the Plant water because the Plant water was operating too high, at 90 psi.  The recommended operating pressure is 50 psi.

·        The second Change Order is for an electrical conduit that had to be relocated.

·        The total project cost is now $777,745.  The Change Orders will be brought before the Sewer Commission for approval.

·        Mr. Geremia said at the last Subcommittee meeting he had asked about a Change Order for the Screw Conveyors.  He was directed to send a letter outlining the Change Order to the Town Manager and Finance Director for approval.  It was approved so he will negotiate a price with the contractor and present it to the Subcommittee at the August meeting.  He said this project is in the FY22 budget.

 

2.     BAF Inflow Pumps 1 & 2

 

·        Mr. Chapdelaine stated Pump #1 is back on line and functioning so we can remove it from the agenda. 

·        Mr. Chapdelaine stated Pump #2 is in the process of being repaired.  Aqua Solutions, the vendor repairing the pump, informed him there will be some additional costs to the repair because there was more damage to the motor than they anticipated.

·        The original cost of the repair was $78,000 and the additional costs will be $2,500.  The total project cost will be $80,343.

·        Councilwoman Williamson asked when this project will be completed.  Mr. Chapdelaine replied it probably won’t be back completed until next fiscal year.

 

3.     Drain in Sludge Collection Area

 

·        Mr. Geremia stated no work will be done on this until the new screw conveyors are installed.  Once installed and operational he feels the sludge problem will be eliminated.

·        Mr. Geremia said the conveyors probably won’t be installed until the beginning of next year. 

·        A decision was made to remove this item from the agenda for now.

 

4.     Phenix Avenue Sewer Repair

    

·        Mr. Geremia stated so far there has been no other utility work being done in that area.  He is putting together a construction package to have a local contractor do the work.  

 

G.     OLD BUSINESS

 

1.     Sewer Department’s Response Protocols Regarding Private Pump Stations

 

·        Mr. Geremia stated his staff and the WWTF staff have put together a summary binder which contains all of the private pump stations and their fact sheets. 

·        Now, if a call comes in we will now be able to identify if it is a private pump station and we will have the contact information on-hand to notify the owner(s).

·        Councilwoman Williamson asked for a history of what has been paid by the private pump stations.  Mr. Geremia replied they’ve paid nothing.  Ms. Suvajian concurred.

·        Mr. Geremia stated the fees associated with private pump stations have not been assessed.  The Town was going to implement that this year.  However, the residences attached to these pump stations do pay for sewer use. 

·        Councilwoman Williamson asked for a total of what has been paid over the last five years by the residences attached to private pump stations.  Ms. Suvajian said it can be done but it’s going to take some time. 

·        Mr. Geremia replied there might be some difficulty with this because we don’t have accurate maps for all of the private (residential) pump stations.  We do have the maps for the commercial pump stations. 

·        Ms. Suvajian stated most of the private pump stations are commercial anyway.  Mr. Geremia concurred.

·        Councilwoman Williamson asked if the individuals connected to the private pump stations pay or if the owners of the pump station pay.  Ms. Suvajian replied it depends, some of the pump stations have just one meter.

 

H.     NEW BUSINESS

               

1.     Change Order # 1 – Solids Handling Facility Upgrades (Contract No. 2020-04)

This item was discussed under Capital Projects Summary: Centrifuge.

·        Acting Town Manager Colonel Knott asked Mr. Geremia to send him all the information and he will review it with the Finance Director.

·        Mr. Geremia stated this won’t be completed until next fiscal year.

 

I.       PUBLIC COMMENT

None

 

J.      ADJOURN

 

A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Councilman Licciardi and seconded by Councilwoman Williamson.  All in favor, none opposed.

 

 

 

 

 

To view this meeting go to:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjneuvKTpZA