Northport Village Corporation

Utilities Department

December 17, 2005

Minutes

Present: Chairman David Crofoot, Jane Strauss, Superintendent Dick McElhaney; Judy Metcalf and Dick Brockway by phone, Karen Hoedtke, Secretary.

Metcalf moved and Strauss seconded that the minutes of the last meeting be accepted. Voted.

Metcalf reported that the department budget was not passed at the recent Overseers meeting but that interim financing until their next meeting was voted and approved.

Superintendent’s Report

Sewer Department:

                October Monitoring Data

There was one license exception for flow in October due to heavy rains and I&I, with one exception for the same reason in November. Flow during October averaged just over 116,000 gpd vs. our permit allowance of 63,000 gpd. The high day was October 9^th at 502,660 gallons when 5.03” of rain fell. Total rainfall for the month measured at the Belfast Water District was 16.19” and was a record for October precipitation.

All other monitoring parameters were well within the permit allowances.

            Manhole Inspections for Infiltration and Inflow

The department has been pulling manhole covers to further define the areas of the most egregious I&I with Merithew Square, North Street area, Clinton Street and Cobe Road as the most obvious. The department needs to discuss, with Dirigo, whether camera inspections might be more efficacious and cost effective than flow monitoring.

            Replacement of Pump at Shore Road Main Pump Station

Delivery of the replacement pump was expected by mid-November with installation by the end of the month but as of December 12^th it still had not arrived. The pump will be installed as soon as possible but the installation of the new slide-aways and rail guides will have to be postponed until warmer weather.

            Winterization of Dedicated Pump Stations and Treatment Plant Buildings

Insulated covers for all three dedicated pump stations have been installed to, hopefully, prevent future freeze-ups.

            Bill Paige reports that the new thermostat was installed in the heater in the water meter storage building and appears to be working well. Mike Alley, an electrician has checked the thermostat in the heater in the lab to determine if it should be upgraded or replaced. Electricity usage for these two buildings will be monitored closely this year.

            Interim Funding Report

To comply with NVC’s consent agreement, a report was submitted to the DEP regarding NVC’s efforts to secure funding to upgrade the wastewater treatment system; John Glowa of the DEP reacted favorably to the report.

Water Department

            October Operating Data

Water consumption was normal during October and averaged 19,855 gpd compared to 25,738 in September and 22,024 year-to-date. October 9^th was the high day at 25,959 gpd. Chlorine residuals averaged .07 ppm with a high of .09; the allowable range is trace to .20.

            Replacement of Gate Valves

4 or 5 leaking gate valves at individual homes were replaced in November with the new style gates by Bill Paige.

            Belfast Water Purchase Agreement

Chris Goodwin, Esq. of Eaton Peabody has prepared an amendment to our interlocal agreement with the Belfast Water District. The amendment increases NVC’s maximum daily amount from 50,000 to 60,000 gpd, adds conditions under which the maximum amount can be exceeded, provides language to mutually amend the agreement at any time (i.e. if a commercial enterprise needed hook-up we would then require more than our maximum daily amount), and to require NVC to have the interconnect water meter at the Belfast water vault calibrated every two years. The interlocal agreement is to be reviewed every five years. Belfast intends to file for a rate increase with the MPUC in the fall of 2006. A typo was noted by Strauss in the proposed amendment. Crofoot moved and Metcalf seconded to present the amendment to the Overseers with the typo corrected to be voted and agreed upon at the next Overseers meeting. Voted.

Currently, the NVC is operating with a 4” water meter at the water vault and an 8” water line which limits the usefulness of the fire hydrant.

Correspondence from the Town

Jo Huntoon received an e-mail from Denise Lindahl concerning a valve cover on Shore Road which was sticking up in the right-of-way. She stated that in the Thanksgiving storm a snowplow was damaged when it struck the cover. Paige has corrected the problem.

Billing update

Hoedtke reported that the utility bills for the period September through December 2005 will be sent out the first week in January with the approved increase in the water rate effective as of October 1^st.  Crofoot recommended that an explanation of the final figure for the base rate be included. Meter reading should go quite quickly as Paige has already recorded the readings from all meters which have been pulled.

Review of Budget

The Overseers noted some inconsistencies in the budget; McElhaney to review for the next meeting. Final acceptance of the utility budgets will occur at the January Overseers’ meeting.

Metcalf moved, Strauss seconded to adjourn at 4:35. Voted.

Respectfully submitted,

Karen L. Hoedtke