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