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HomeMy Public PortalAboutTri-Town Groundwater Protection District -- 2011-04-13 Minutes , ORLEANS, BREWSTER, EASTHAM GROUNDWATER PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD OF MANAGERS MEETING APRIL 13, 2011 AGENDA 9:00 A.M. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF BOARD OF MANAGERS MINUTES: • March 9,2011 3. CITIZEN'S FORUM 4. CHIEF OPERATOR UPDATES- JAY BURGESS 5. REVIEW OF DRAFT BUDGET 6. FINANCIAL UPDATE: • Bank Balances 7. APPROVAL OF TREASURY WARRANT NOS. 10 & 11 8. OLD BUSINESS 9. NEW BUSINESS ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY LEGALLY COME BEFORE THE BOARD ORLEANS, BREWSTER, EASTHAM GROUNDWATER PROTECTION DISTRICT BOARD OF MANAGERS MEETING APRIL 13, 2011 Board of Managers Present: John Kelly,Chairman,Orleans; Charles Sumner, Brewster. Others Present: Jay Burgess,Chief Operator; Cyndi Bachman,District Secretary; Beverly Carney,Orleans resident. 1. Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m.. 2. A motion was made by Charles Sumner to approve the Board of Managers Minutes dated March 9,2011. This motion was seconded by John Kelly and unanimously approved and passed. 3. Chief Operator Updates—Jay Burgess: • Process—Nitrogen was 20mg/1 at discharge which is one of our lowest numbers in over a year. Ammonia was less than 1 mg/l. All other parameters are in single digits. • Maintenance—The computer control over the plant process stopped working. After trying to repair it I called a process engineer from Woodard&Curran to repair it. The black box that is used to dial into the plant was corrupting the data to the computer. The data was received but was not being processed properly. The black box was sent out for repair or replacement and temporarily bypassed. • Receiving Scale No 2.—We removed one section of receiving scale No. 2 and filled that area with concrete. We left the remaining three sections of the scale in place,which are in fair to good shape. There are six load cells working on that scale and it is back in use. The tractor trailers are paying the full load price and the normal size trucks are getting weighed in and weighed out. We will not replace the rest of the scale until we see a reason to do so. Both receiving bays are up and running. • Primary Clarifier—The primary clarifier drive has been removed and sent to Mountain Machine Works in Maine to be re-built. • Lawn Tractor—The motor on the lawn tractor has died and we will need to purchase a new lawn tractor. • Cape Light Compact—The District is on the discount rate plan with Cape Light Compact and on the list for an energy audit. • Brush Fire—Two weeks ago when I was leaving the plant, I noticed smoke in the rear section of the plant property and went to investigate it. I saw an abutting resident trying to extinguish a significant brush fire with a garden hose which started coming towards the plant property. I grabbed the plants' hoses and the fire department was called by the resident. The brush fire came up to our fence but it did not do any damage to the plant. • Tour—Mary Hartley,Orleans resident, came to the plant requesting information on Hurley's Bog nitrate numbers, which we test quarterly. I sent one of my operators down there to get samples two weeks ago and there were a group of people asking him what he was doing. They came to the plant requesting the information on the numbers we recorded. I gave Mary Hartley a copy of that information and she asked if they could have a tour of the plant. I gave Mary Hartley and James Goodwich a tour of the plant later that week. The plant has also been accused of being the reason why the shell fishing has been shut down at Namskaket Creek. I got touch with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries, and found out the real reason it has been shut down in Brewster and other areas is because of enforcement issues, as well as serving as a dividing line between Brewster and Orleans. There are also issues on who is going to guard the clams.The shell fish beds were shut down a year before the plant was opened. John Kelly stated on April 20th, Peter Weiskill of U.S.G.S. will be presenting an update of their study, at 6:30 p.m. at the Orleans Board of Selectmens meeting at Orleans Town Hall, due to the misinformation that is circulating. 4. Review of Draft Budget: • Jay stated the Districts costs are going to exceed the budget even without using funds for capital items. He stated he has reduced the capital items down to a minimum. • Charles Sumner asked about the line item for U.S.G.S.. • Jay stated the first invoice was for$16,000, and the next one will be for$26,000 for the two year study which ends in August which has not been paid. I called U.S.G.S. who said they have had an accounting problem with their computers and will invoice us later. • Charles Sumner stated perhaps the three towns could help fund this expense. • John Kelly stated the contract with U.S.G.S. has already been signed for the two year study with the District funding the study. If the study goes past the two year contract and we want to continue the study, it may be something that the three towns can then share in the expense. OW • Jay reviewed the Capital Plan with the Board. He stated in the past the District would transfer monies from fund equity in the amount of$125,000 a year to fund capital expenses. At the current discharge rates,we are not getting the $125,000 for the capital fund. We are currently at an average of 9 cents a gallon for disposal and it is costing 9 cents a gallon to run plant. If we have any problems,we will be at a deficit. Based on 10.4 million gallons, we will get$936,000 in user charges. We are currently on a pace of 10.26 gallons, as we are coming off the slowest three months of the year. I am suggesting a price increase due to no funding to the plant from the three member towns. Currently we are averaging 9 cents a gallon and should be averaging 11 cents a gallon. At that rate, we would not have to transfer from fund equity and could lose a million gallons a year and still meet our numbers. I am suggesting the rates be changed to 10 cents a gallon for in-District and 12 cents a gallon for out-of-District effective May 1S`. Our current rate is 8 cents. We opened the plant at 10 cents a gallon in 1989 and today, in 2011,we are now lower than when we opened the plant because of competition. He stated he has re-prioritized the items on the Capital Plan. The Board deferred further discussion on the budget for the next Board meeting. 5. A motion was made by Charles Sumner to increase the disposal septage discharge rates to 10 cents per gallon for in-District; and 12 cents per gallon for out-of- District,effective May 1,2011.This motion was seconded by John Kelly and unanimously approved and passed. 6. The Board reviewed the Districts' bank balances. 7. A motion was made by Charles Sumner to approve Treasury Warrant Nos. 10& 11 for payment. This motion was seconded by John Kelly and unanimously approved and passed. 8. New Business: • John Kelly stated the Town of Orleans went to the Old Kings Highway District for approval to put a shed by the compost building which will house the equipment for the cameras, and they have given their approval. We signed an agreement with Comcast to start that project. He also asked if the tiller at the compost building can be disposed of. He asked the Board for a motion to declare the compost tiller as surplus and look to dispose of it. If we can recoup any monies that it be returned to the District. J • Jay stated it is not a tiller it is a compost separator. • John Kelly suggested Jay take a photo of the equipment and forward it to the three member towns to see if there is any interest in it before disposing of it. He also asked if there is still a diesel tank in the ground at the compost building and if it was ever pumped dry. He stated the Orleans Fire Department doesn't have any permits on file. • Jay stated the tank was pumped dry and it held 500 gallons. It is a double lined glass concrete bunker tank. It did have a leak detection which has since been vandalized and covered with graffitti. 9. A motion was made by Charles Sumner to declare the compost separator at the compost building as surplus and authorize Jay Burgess to pursue whatever means is necessary to dispose of it.This motion was seconded by John Kelly and unanimously approved and passed. 10. A motion was made by Charles Sumner to adjourn the meeting at 10:00 a.m..'l t s_-_ motion was seconded by John Kelly and unanimously approved and passed. Respectfully submitted, Pat elk._ Cyn i Bachman District Secretary