Minutes

NVC Utilities Committee Meeting

October 1, 2004

Meeting convened in the Community Hall at 2:30 p.m.

Present: David Crofoot (chmn), Bill Cressey, by conference call: Judy Metcalf, Jim Coughlin, Peter Spollett.  Also Beverly Crofoot

Minutes of the September 10, 2004 meeting were approved.

1.      Superintendent Search:

Proposals by Aqua Maine and by Woodard and Curran to provide contract services for management of water and wastewater utilities were reviewed.  The Aqua Maine proposal did not give adequate coverage of wastewater.  The proposal from W&C did not discuss coverage of the water utility.  Richard McElhaney was proposed by W&C either as a contract operator in their employ or as an independent contractor.

Mr. McElhaney had visited our facilities earlier in the day and was interviewed by Crofoot and Cressey.  He was felt to be personable, competent in wastewater treatment and experienced in water problems although not currently a licensed operator.

After discussion, it was decided that, pending good reference confirmation, we would offer a contract to Mr. McElhaney.  Crofoot will contact Mr. McElhaney.

2.      Discussion of Budget

Total debt service for 2005 for water ($83,283) and wastewater ($463,377) cut deep into the operating budgets we must develop for 2005.  A budget subcommittee meeting will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2004 at 8 a.m.  Subcommittee members: Crofoot, Spollett, Cressey, Julian Sheffield.

3.      Phase II

Sargent & Sargent will be in town to do work related to the punch list including problems with Sea Street drainage, Bluff Road, Shore Road and Maple Street.  A review of the punch list from Dirigo was reviewed.

4.      A letter from Lew Sirois and Scott Emery at Rural Development was reviewed detailing their reading of our Phase II Facilities report.  A copy will be faxed to committee members.  They recognize our problems as well as lack of funding to remedy them.  They invite a continuing dialogue.

5.      A letter from Denise Behr at DEP including her inspection of our plant, concern regarding the long time our flow recorder was non-functional due to lightning strike, and concern regarding our need for a licensed operator was reviewed.  The flow meter and transducer have been replaced by Dirigo and are now functioning.

6.      The August wastewater report was reviewed along with a memo from John Fancy detailing violations (lack of flow meter, failure to perform six required tests, and one fecal coliform test) were reviewed.  Corrective action has been taken on all issues.

7.      Citizen complaints

Gilbert Anderson in Birchcrest felt that having paid for the pipe, they should not have to pay their $380 per year base rate.  They are water customers and must pay the PUC approved water rate.  Crofoot will draft a letter.

Amos VanBibber felt that the $1,135 billed to him for installation of his meter pit was excessive.  The contract price for meter pits was $1,035.  NVC paid Lynch $1,035 for this installation.  The committee is unwilling to rebate any portion of this to Mr. VanBibber but suggests that if he details his complaints to the NVC in writing, we will forward his complaint to Lynch construction and rebate to him any amount which is returned.

8.      Judy Metcalf will provide a memo on the Sewer Lien Process for our next meeting.

9.      Cressey inquired about water leakage into lower Bayview Park .  This was addressed at the last Overseer’s meeting.  Bill Paige has been asked to get estimates for the cost of channeling drainage away which has tracked down in the gravel bed in which the sewer pipe travels as it descends the park.  This is not felt, at this time, to be a problem of the Utilities Committee.   Cressey will follow up with Bill Paige.

10.  Meeting adjourned at 4 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

David D. Crofoot