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WEST WARWICK SEWER COMMISSION
SEWER SUBCOMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
DATE & TIME: THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021 @ 3:00 P.M.
A. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 3:05 P.M. BY COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMSON
B. ROLL CALL
MEMBERS PRESENT
Councilman Licciardi (Absent)
Councilwoman Williamson
Acting Town Manager Colonel 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 and they will remain tabled.
· A motion was made to approve the April 1, 2021 minutes by James Geremia and seconded by Councilwoman Williamson. All in favor none opposed.
E. REPORTS
1. Plant Manager’s Report
The following is taken from the Plant Manager’s report data through April 22, 2021.
· Average daily flow was 6.2 mgd with a maximum of 11.2 mgd and a minimum of 3.6 mgd.
· CBOD removal was 98.2%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· TSS removal was 96%. DEM requirement is 85%.
· Total Nitrogen is out of season so we are monitor only.
· Total Phosphorus was 0.05 mg/l. DEM requirement is 1.0 mg/l.
· Sludge to Synagro was 671 wet tons. There was no sludge sent to the Landfill.
· There were 3 public line block ups.
1. Flynn Terrace
2. Tiogue Avenue
3. Main Street
· There were 3 private line block ups:
1. Crossland Street
2. Main Street
3. Pond Street
· There was 1 odor complaint.
1. Pontiac Street
· There were no facility violations.
· Councilwoman Williamson asked about the odor complaint. Mr. Chapdelaine replied he did not smell any odors around the plant but to be safe he had all the sprayers turned on.
2. Director of Administration Report
· FY21 Sewer Use and Sewer Assessment Revenue collected as of April 30th totaled $7,427,129 of which $140,484 represents interest.
· The second Public Hearing for the FY22 budget will be heard on May 11, 2021 and will go before the Town Council for approval on May 18, 2021.
· Councilwoman Williamson asked how we look budget-wise. Ms. Suvajian replied we’ve spent more than expected this year due to necessary projects.
3. Industrial Pretreatment Program for the month of April 2021
Significant Industrial Users
· Noramco, Amtrol, Bradford Soap, Warwick Ice Cream and Immunex all submitted their self-monitoring reports and all ther parameters with the exception of Amtrol, who had a violation for their zinc were in compliance. Amtrol was issued a Notice of Violation and the company was directed to retest over the next three months. Amtrol has had problems in the past with zinc and they are in the process of hiring a new consultant to assist them with this problem.
· The Program conducted the annual inspection of Noramco, formally Rhodes Technology. There have been a number of personal changes at Noramco and they continue to struggle with their limits on acetone though they are currently within the permit limits.
Food Service Inspections
· La Casita on Providence Street was inspected this month. The inspection showed the grease recovery device was not operating properly and this was corrected during the inspection.
· Nacho Marni's Taco Shop in West Warwick was found to be in compliance.
· Walmart in Coventry) submitted their pumping slips for their grease recovery device.
E-Permitting System
· 3 Bridal Avenue, formerly the Centerville Mill has subdivided into Allstars Action Sports. A Consent Agreement has been issued and we are awaiting the owner’s signature. We will continue to work with the ownership at the Mill to identify the ten tenants are in compliance with the regulations.
Plan Reviews
· JP Morgan Chase submitted new plans that were in compliance and a letter was issued.
· Plans were submitted for the repair at 350 Providence Street. The plans were found to be acceptable and a letter was issued.
· Xtra Mart in Coventry submitted revised plans which were found to be in general compliance and a letter was issued.
· Envision Nutrition will be taking over the Vegan Bakery in Warwick that was never fully developed.
Other
· The facility at 113 Tiogue Avenue in Coventry is being subdivided into 8 commercial units and 1 residential unit. The owner has hired an engineer to evaluate the existing and proposed connection. Initial evaluation indicated some of the building is connected to an old cesspool. The engineer will be submitting plans.
· Lil Rhody Ice Cream on Quaker Lane in West Warwick completed the repairs to their lateral.
· Med Recycler in West Warwick did submit the information we requested and a letter is being prepared. They are still missing some of the information we require.
F. CAPITAL PROJECTS SUMMARY
1. Centrifuge
· Mr. Geremia stated the Centrifuge was started up a week ago and is running fine. It is still under warranty. He will be forwarding his report to the Subcommittee.
· Mr. Geremia stated the change order for the electrical modifications has not been submitted yet. Once he receives it he will bring it before the Subcommittee.
· Councilwoman Williamson asked if this will happen in this fiscal year. Mr. Geremia replied yes, the two issues are the pressure reducing valve and the electrical.
2. BAF Inflow Pumps 1 & 2
· Mr. Chapdelaine stated to the purchase a new pump and the repair of the old pump was approved at the last meeting and the process for both has been started.
· Councilwoman Williamson asked if the money has been allocated but won’t be spent until next fiscal year. Mr. Chapdelaine replied yes because the units won’t be in until next fiscal year anyway.
3. Drain in Sludge Collection Area
· Mr. Geremia said no work will be done on this until the new conveyors are installed.
4. Phenix Avenue Sewer Repair
· Mr. Geremia said there will be no action on this project this year.
· Councilwoman Williamson pointed out that we should be coordinating with any road work that is being done in Town.
G. OLD BUSINESS
1. DEM Consent Agreement RIA 432
· Mr. Geremia stated we are under the Consent Agreement. The WWTF staff are taking interim samples to access how much Alum we’re putting into the system and R.I. Analytical Lab has begun the sampling instream which will continue over an 18-month period.
· Mr. Geremia said there will be quarterly reports due to DEM which he will also present to the Subcommittee.
2. Sewer Department’s Response Protocols Regarding Private Pump Stations
· Acting Town Manager Colonel Knott stated we need to review our internal procedures to make sure we are following the O&M Manual.
· Mr. Chapdelaine stated he will be working with Mr. Geremia to come up with the proper procedures to follow going forward.
· Councilwoman Williamson said now that we know there are 22 private lines in Town we should document that. Mr. Geremia replied this is documented and he has sent the manual to Mr. Chapdelaine.
· Mr. Geremia stated we need to make sure these private lines are being billed this year per the fees on the rate structure. Ms. Suvajian replied once we identify which ones are private pump stations we will send out invoices.
3. Industrial Lane Private Sewer Line
· Ms. Suvajian stated she and the Sewer Billing Clerk did research this and this private line is being billed.
· Ms. Suvajian stated they confirmed with KCWA that there are two structures on the property with one water line going in and one meter so they are being billed for whatever they are utilizing.
· Councilwoman Williamson stated that DEM was notified of the raw sewage leak at this address.
H. NEW BUSINESS
1. Sewer Plant Staffing
· Mr. Chapdelaine stated we are fully staffed except for the Superintendent’s position.
2. Re-Bid for Analytical Lab Work
· Mr. Geremia stated this bid was put out a couple of months ago and we received two bids. During the bidding process, one of the bidders asked a question regarding the local limits which we answered. However, this information was not passed on the other bidder therefore there was a significant discrepancy in the pricing of the bids.
· Mr. Geremia stated we have two options, we can do a complete re-bid for the Analytical Lab Work or we can accept their pricing and send out an addendum clarifying the additional sampling required.
· Mr. Geremia said unfortunately the bidders now know each other’s pricing but the $10,000 discrepancy in the prices was only for one particular line item because the other bidder didn’t have that additional information. He suggested it would be cleaner to do a re-bid.
· Councilwoman Williamson asked about the timeline for the bid. The reply was by June 30th.
· Mr. Geremia stated we will have to give them time to do it so it probably won’t get awarded until July. We will have to extend the current Analytical another month.
· There was a brief discussion regarding the two options and everyone agreed there should be a complete re-bid.
3. Purchase of Screw Conveyors
· Mr. Geremia stated replacing the screw conveyors is in the new budget. The amount is approximately $160,000.
· Mr. Geremia recommended doing a change order to have the current vendor who is completing the work on the Centrifuge install the Screw Conveyors to avoid the costs associated with putting it out to bid. He said it is also unlikely we will get another bidder to do this job.
· Councilwoman Williamson said we need to make sure they are the sole bidder/provider so we are not in violation.
· 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.
4. Centreville Mill, 3 Bridal Avenue
· No action taken as this an ongoing legal matter.
I. NEW CONNECTIONS
· Ms. Suvajian recommended removing this category from the agendas going forward as Mr. Geremia already reports on all new commercial and large residential connections at every meeting.
· There was a brief discussion about all the communities having plenty of capacity.
· It was decided to remove this agenda item and have Mr. Chapdelaine or Ms. Suvajian add any new single residential connections to their monthly reports.
J. PUBLIC COMMENT
· Ben Marchant, the new Coventry Town Manager was in attendance and introduced himself.
· There was some discussion regarding the Wastewater Treatment Facility and its functions.
K. ADJOURN
A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Councilman Licciardi and seconded by Councilwoman Williamson. All in favor, none opposed.
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