741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Water Pollution Control Authority

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Ed Lynch

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

6:30 PM

Council Chambers - Hybrid

CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting was called to order by Chairman Lynch at 6:30 p.m.

Due to technical difficulties there is only audio for this meeting (no video).

II.

ROLL CALL

Board Member Terry Jones

Present

Board Member Stanley Juber

Board Member Monir Tewfik

Board Member Edmond Lynch

Alternate Member James A. Ball

Board Member Sharon Wadecki

Excused

Alternate Member Jeremy Norris

Alternate Member Tony Capon

Alternate

III.

APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

Jim Ball was appointed as a voting member.

IV.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

RESIDENT AND PROPERTY OWNER COMMENTS

None.

VI.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE the Regular Meeting Minutes from May 27, 2025.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Jones Juber Tewfik Lynch Ball

Wadecki

AYE

EXCUSED

VII. COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE

Operations Report.

Chairman Lynch gave a summary. He said that the Town Finance Department is requiring a bid

waiver for the "emergency repair" of the 10-home water line in the Highlands. The Town

Council has already approved the bid waiver. The Purchase Order has been written, and Steve

Masalin Public Works Director is coordinating the project.

Also, the WPCA needs to complete a new 3-5-year contract with Groton Utilities, currently there

is an existing extension.

Chairman Lynch said that the WCPA will be required to distribute the notice that the TTHMs

have a value of 80.8 which exceeds the MCL of 80 ppb. Although the area where the TTHMs

was exceeded is very specialized in the Village Drive area all of Ledyard Center Water System

Customers will need to be notified which will result in customer inquiries to GU Water

Laboratory.

Service Correspondence.

Fox Run has not yet presented a letter to the Authority for sewer forgiveness.

Aged Reports/Finance.

Nothing unusual.

Year to Date Water/Sewer Report.

There is one more month before the report is zeroed out for the new Fiscal year.

PSR - Steve Banks.

Steve Banks, WPCA Supervisor, did not submit a June report. Chairman Lynch said that Mr.

Banks reported that there are problems getting quote for repairs to the Lakeside pumps. Mr.

Banks even reached out to Weston & Sampson.

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

WPCA Handbook continued.

Mr. Jones had a few questions for Mauricio Duarte, GU General Foreman Water Operations but

he was not present.

Mr. Jones read sections of the handbook for review with the Commissioners.

Paragraph 7.23 e:

e) All construction shall be in accordance with the technical specifications as included in “The

Town of Ledyard, Water Pollution Control Authority, and Specifications for Sewage Grinder

Pump Installation".

Mr. Jones said this paragraph doesn't make sense and he would rather have it read:

"All construction shall be in accordance with the technical specifications, or the grinder pump

approved for the installation".

"Responsibility of Ledyard WPCA - No cost to the Contractor/Property Owner".

b) Determine whether building meets the criteria for eligibility with respect to these Rules and

Regulations.

Mr. Jones said it should be a general statement fitting for the Town.

c) Review and approve owner/contractor application for sewer permit and prepare letter estimate

for costs billed by Ledyard WPCA to owner. Mr. Jones asked who issues sewer permits and

spoke that more information is needed on the process. Mr. Ball added that the Authority should

find out if Ledge Light needs to be involved and if Groton Utilities has a system that could be

cloned.

d) Issue Building Sewer Permit. Mr. Jones said "maybe". More information is needed.

e) Provide easement form to owner, ready to sign. Mr. Jones commented that this is not always

applicable.

f) Determine the correct pump for outside installation. Inside installation is not permitted. Mr.

Jones said that all of the pumps that have been looked at are exterior.

g) Supervise necessary pump tests performed by contractor prior to placing unit in service. No

questions about this.

Responsibility of the Owner/Contractor at the owner's Expense.

a) Make application to Town for building sewer permit, road opening permit. No questions

about this.

b) Make an application to the building inspector for a plumbing permit. No comments.

c) Make payment in advance (deposit) to Ledyard WPCA, who will provide at owner’s expense

an application for building sewer permit, engineering inspection, and connection to main. No

comments.

d) Have easement provided by Town of Ledyard witnessed by two witnesses, signed by property

owner, and notarized. Mr. Jones suggested adding "if needed" or "if required".

Mr. Jones said the following is the responsibility of the owner;

e) Outside Grinder Pump:

o Excavate and prepare hole for sewage grinder pump and flotation ring.

o Backfill around sewage grinder pump after Ledyard WPCA inspects the installation.

o Excavate all sewer and electric pipe trenches.

o Lay all sewer pipes.

o Install all the necessary plumbing.

o Install redundant check valve and motor breather tube.

o Grade, seed, pave, as necessary.

o Erect barriers to prevent sewage grinder pump from being hit by vehicles.

No comments.

Mr. Jones said that the following will need modifications.

Have available (or upgrade to make available) an adequate power supply.

o One 20-amp 240-volt circuit.

o One 15-amp 120-volt circuit.

Mr. Jones said that this doesn't match the grinder pump information that GU sent. He said he

would like to change it to:

"Have available (or upgrade to make available) an adequate power supply, (dedicated 240-volt

and 120-volt as required by the selected pump and alarm panel)."

Mr. Jones said the Commissioners need to check with Steve Banks, WPCA Supervisor and

Steve Masalin, Public Works Director, to make sure the permitting wording is correct.

The last section needing attention is the Residential dual check device addendum. Mr. Jones said

that if this is only contained in the procedure manual it will not be known to the rest of the

Town. He added that you can't legislate from the procedure manual.

"Effective the date of approval by the Town of Ledyard WPCA Commission of this

Cross-Connection and Backflow Prevention Program for Ledyard WPCA, all new residential

buildings will be required to install a residential dual check device immediately downstream of

the water meter.

a) Installation of this residential dual check device on a retrofit basis on existing service lines

will be instituted at a time and at a potential cost to the homeowner as deemed necessary by the

Department.

b) The owner must be aware that installation of a residential dual check valve results in a

potential closed plumbing system within his residence. As such, provisions may have to be

made by the owner to provide for thermal expansion within his closed loop system, i.e. the

installation of thermal expansion devices and/or pressure relief valves."

Mr. Jones said there is also another whole paragraph on Strainers:

"Strainers. The Department strongly recommends that all new retrofit installations of reduced

pressure principle devices and double check valve backflow preventers include the installation of

strainers located immediately upstream of the backflow device. The installation of strainer will

preclude the fouling of backflow devices due to both foreseen and unforeseen circumstances

occurring to the water supply system such as water main repairs, water main breaks, fires,

periodic cleaning and flushing of mains, etc. The occurrences may “stir up” debris within the

water main that will cause fouling of backflow devices installed without the benefit of strainers."

Mr. Jones thinks both paragraphs should be removed. The Commissioners agreed. Mr. Ball

suggested checking with GU to see if these two paragraphs are something that concerns them.

Mr. Jones said he will check with Mr. Duarte.

Swimming Pool Filling:

"In the past, Ledyard Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) customers could apply for and

receive an adjustment for the cost of water used to fill a swimming pool once each year.

Ledyard now purchases 100% of its water from the City of Groton as a result of recent upgrades

to Ledyard’s infrastructure including the Route 12 and Route 117 water mains. All water used by

Ledyard is sourced from Groton as part of a long-term regional interconnection strategy for the

preservation of sustainable water sources.

Since Ledyard pays the cost of treating and pumping all water purchased from Groton, the past

practice of providing discounts for large quantities of water used to fill swimming pools cannot

be continued. Any and all requests for adjustments (rate reductions or credits) for water used to

fill swimming pools will not be accepted. This practice would unfairly shift the cost of

swimming pool water to other WPCA rate payers.

However, any Ledyard WPCA customer that has sewer service can avoid having the sewer fee

applied to the water used for swimming pool filling by obtaining a meter from Groton Utilities

(GU) and measuring the actual volume of water used. The meter is to be promptly returned to

GU in order to have the sewer fee waived for the pool water.

Alternate sources of commercially available water for such purposes include local bulk pool

water supply companies. As always, Ledyard water customers have the option of purchasing

water in bulk from these companies."

Mr. Ball suggested making a change to charge customers the commercial rate when filling pools.

The Commissioners agreed that the best way to edit this section is to remove the history

paragraphs (1-3) and edit paragraph four to read:

"Any Ledyard WPCA customer can apply for and receive a commercial water rate and a waiver

of sewer fees." The Commissioners agreed that it will need to be metered. Mr. Jones said he

would work on the wording for the meter.

Lastly The Authority decided to remove the following paragraph:

"Alternate sources of commercially available water for such purposes include local bulk pool

water supply companies. As always, Ledyard water customers have the option of purchasing

water in bulk from these companies."

Review of Trail/Sewer line progress report. Communicate punch list requirements - continued.

No comments.

SCWA/WPCA Exclusive Service Area Agreement Adjustments.

Discussion and possible vote.

Chairman Lynch shared maps containing lot numbers and said the main thing is that the WPCA

is looking to put a loop on Fairway Drive and Colby Drive. Mr. Ball shared a map of the new

proposed SCWA/WPCA properties. The green colored areas represent the current SCWA

properties, the red colored areas are potential problematic areas. The red color areas include the

Fire Station, Spicer Cemetery and the Aquatic Pool. Mr. Ball will create a new table with all the

properties listed with their coordinating lot numbers. Once the table is completed Chairman

Lynch will re-write the letter of proposal to SCWA making the property swaps more precise.

The table will serve as a supporting document for the letter in attachment form. Mr. Ball will

send the table to Chairman Lynch in both PDF and Excel formats.

Lead Survey Status continued. Discuss Zoom call - Tuesday June 17, 2025.

Chairman Lynch met with Matt Bonin, Finance Director to discuss the RFQ process. Chairman

Lynch explained the process with the Commissioners. The Finance Department is required to

write an RFQ for engineering services. Mr. Bonin was given the application with the portions

needing completion highlighted. The engineering service is picked from the list. The Department

of Health will then approve the engineering service. Lastly the Finance Department will start the

funding request. The grant could only be given if an engineering firm was hired. Chairman

Lynch said the WPCA was advised to ask for $300,000 in the grant. Even if the WPCA only

receives a 25% grant in October there may be money left over (if not enough Towns apply) and

the WPCA could receive more in grants. For this reason, it is important to complete the process

sooner than later, Chairman Lynch stressed the urgency of getting the RFQ competed to Mr.

Bonin. It was suggested to ask the Mayor Fred Allyn III for assistance in making the RFQ a

priority.

Bid Waiver Approval for Meeting House Lane.

No comments.

Any Other Old Business to Come Before the Commission.

None.

IX.

NEW BUSINESS

Motion to APPROVE payment to Groton Utilities Invoice #1173, dated November 30, 2024, in

the amount of $4143.36, for Police overtime on November 24, 2024.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Jones Juber Tewfik Lynch Ball

Wadecki

AYE

EXCUSED

Motion to APPROVE payment of Groton Utilities Invoice #0024119, dated July 30, 2024, in the

amount of $235.00, for diversion permits.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Jones Juber Tewfik Lynch Ball

Wadecki

AYE

EXCUSED

Motion to APPROVE payment to Groton Utilities invoice #0028309, dated May 30, 2025, in the

amount of $701.06, for lead inventory.

Chairman Lynch said that work is still being completed in identifying the unknown materials.

The work should be ending soon.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Jones Juber Tewfik Lynch Ball

Wadecki

AYE

EXCUSED

Groton Utilities Hydraulic Model Calibration, Field Verification and Water Age Analysis -

Review.

Chairman Lynch recommends that an analysis is completed. He added that a way to save money

on the study is to only flush where required as opposed to random flushing, saving millions of

gallons in raw water fees.

Motion to APPROVE not to exceed $9,500 for Wright-Pierce Engineering to do a hydraulic

model calibration, field verification, and water age analysis.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Jones Juber Tewfik Lynch Ball

Wadecki

AYE

EXCUSED

Any Other New Business to Come Before the Commission.

None.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to ADJOURN the Regular Meeting at 7:59 p.m.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Stanley Juber

RESULT:

MOVER:

Edmond Lynch

SECONDER:

Jones Juber Tewfik Lynch Ball

Wadecki

AYE

EXCUSED