Northport Village Corporation

Utilities Committee

November 3, 2006

Minutes

Present: Chairman David Crofoot, Judy Rohweder, Jane Strauss, Superintendent Dick McElhaney, Treasurer Julian Sheffield, Residents Blair Einstein, Deborah and Richard MacKinnon, and Cecil Wood, Secretary Karen L. Hoedtke.

Crofoot reviewed the minutes of the last meeting; Strauss moved, Rohweder seconded that they be accepted.

Superintendent’s Report

Sewer Department

September Effluent Monitoring Data: Flow averaged 7,930 gpd vs. 16,071 gpd last month and 25,000 gpd for the same period last year. The high day was on the 3^rd with 25,000 gals and .95” of rainfall. The low day was the 16^th at 0 gals when the tanks were refilling (they had been pumped on the 15^th).

Precipitation totaled 3.05” vs. 2.36” last month, 2.99” last year, and a norm of 3.87” in September.

BOD and TSS averaged 10 lbs/day (138 mg/l) and 3 lbs/day (42 mg/l) respectively. Removal rates for BOD and TSS were 53% and 85%.

Daily settleable solids averaged <0.1 ml/l and pH ranged from a low of 6.7 to a high of 6.9.

The seasonal chlorination/de-chlorination operations to disinfect the discharge of the Village’s effluent ended on September 30^th. For the second year in a row, the Department ended the season without any fecal coliform violations – testimony to the great work Fernie Barton has been doing.

October Effluent Operating Data Snapshot:  No license exceptions are anticipated for October, with an average daily flow between 15,000 and 20,000 gpd with a rainfall of 7”.

Huning/Coughlin Retaining Walls: The Superintendent met with the contractor and expressed concern at the close proximity of the wall to the wet well. The contractor has agreed to carry the wall out beyond the wet well and to spray the latter with 2” of insulation. The effectiveness of the insulation will be watched over the next few winter seasons.

DEP Inspection: Denise Behr and John Glowa, Jr. conducted a follow-up inspection of the treatment plant and plant records on October 20^th. They had a thorough review of the plant and an explanation of the sampling manifold. They discussed quality control of the lab to which we send the samples.

University of Maine Capstone Project :  Three senior engineering students from UMO met with Village officials on October 27^th to discuss their project to find ways to make cost-effective improvements to the existing treatment plant and to determine what the correct dilution factor is for the Village’s discharge. Earlier estimates by the DEP were about 5:1 which seems extremely low given the small amount of discharge into the Bay. Dick Brockway was the organizer for this project.

Pending Sewer Permit Applications:

22 Broadway has been completed. Approximately 40’ of 8” VC pipe which ran beneath the house was replaced with new PVC pipe. New PVC building drains and a 6” building sewer were also replaced. See below photo. As there will be no additional discharge to the system, only the costs for inspections will be charged, the balance of the application fee will be returned.

760 Shore Road has been completed at no cost to the Village other than for inspections. The balance of the application fee will be returned. See Below.

Cobe Road . At the last meeting the Utilities Committee reviewed the MacKinnon’s application and the criteria for approving/not approving an application. As a result, it was recommended that the Overseers not approve the application. MacKinnon attended the Overseers’ meeting with additional information but the Overseers acted on the recommendation and denied the application and suggested that MacKinnon return to the Committee and present the additional information at that time. Documents were presented to show that Cecil Wood, the original owner of the property, filed an application in October 2003 to connect to both water and sewer. The application was granted and, on John Fancy’s recommendation, paid one-half the fee. The 1987 ordinance which was in force at that time did not have a time limit for hookup.  The Ordinance limiting a permit to one year did not come into effect until August 2004.

Based on this reading of the Ordinances, Crofoot felt that the sewer service connection permit was valid, Crofoot moved, Strauss seconded, to recommend that the Board of Overseers grant permission for MacKinnon to connect. Voted: 3-0.

Water Department

September Operating Data: September water consumption averaged 24,568 gpd compared to 43,794 gpd last year and 25,738 gpd for the same period last year. The high day was the 3^rd with 37,724 gallons; the low day was the 27^th with 16,524 gallons.

Distribution chlorine residuals averaged .03 ppm compared to .09 ppm last month against a recommended level of less than .20 ppm. The Belfast Water District controls the chlorine levels.

Instantaneous daily peak flows averaged 60 gpm compared with 86 gpm last month. The one monthly test result for total coliform was negative.

Review of Financials

The financials of both entities were reviewed with Sheffield ’s explanations.

Hertel/Fielden Follow-Up

Hertel is the owner of record of the property.  Hoedtke will contact Hertel by phone, if possible, to clear up the many misunderstandings expressed by Mr. Fielden in response to our billing for work done to repair our sewer lines caused by Fielden’s contractor during the construction of his foundation.

Budgets

The proposed budgets for 2007 were reviewed and discussed.  Mr. McElhaney will incorporate revisions, e-mail them to Utility Board members and Overseers so that it can be presented and approved at the November Overseers’ meeting.

The next meeting will be on Friday, December 1.