741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Ledyard, Connecticut 06339

TOWN OF LEDYARD

Water Pollution Control Authority

Meeting Minutes

Chairman

Ed Lynch

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

7:00 PM

Council Chambers - Hybrid

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Lynch called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

II.

ROLL CALL

Board Member Monir Tewfik

Board Member Terry Jones

Present

Board Member Stanley Juber

Board Member Edmond Lynch

Alternate Member James A. Ball

Board Member Sharon Wadecki

Excused

Alternate Member Tony Capon

Alternate Member Jeremy Norris

Non-voting

Bill Saums, Town Councilor was excused.

Also in attendance:

Mauricio Duarte, GU General Foreman Water Operations.

Steve Masalin, Public Works Director.

III.

APPOINTMENT OF ALTERNATES

James Ball was appointed as a voting member.

IV.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

RESIDENTS & PROPERTY OWNERS COMMENTS

None.

VI.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to APPROVE Regular Meeting Minutes from September 26, 2023, as written.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Tewfik Jones Juber Lynch Ball

Wadecki

AYE

EXCUSED

VII. COMMUNICATIONS AND CORRESPONDENCE

Operations Report.

There was a replacement of fire hydrant # 42 at the intersection of Route 12 and Christy Hill Road.

It was called in by the Fire Department because it wasn't working while they were doing their

training.

The state requires the WPCA to certify that there is no lead pipe in the system and if lead is found a

commitment to replace the system is required. Chairman Lynch explained that the challenge is the

lack of documentation. Specifically lacking is the documentation for Sablewoods, the Highlands,

Barry Drive and Richard Road. Mauricio Duarte, GU General Foreman Water Operations said from

experience it is known that there is no lead pipe but for about 1,100 customers there is no

documentation and the State will not just take GU/WPCA's word on it. Both the Town side and the

Customer side must be inspected. The WPCA is responsible for the chemistry coming out of the tap.

It is the responsibility of the utility to correct any problems.

It may be possible to do an inspection using a camera. DPH does not currently have a policy on how

to do the inspections. There are a variety of ways the inspection can be executed but regardless of

the method there will be a substantial cost to the WPCA. Mauricio Duarte, GU General Foreman

Water Operations explained a couple of options for inspection. One is to dig and inspect 20% of a

neighborhood (20% inspection is acceptable to the DPH). If only one developer constructed a

neighborhood, then the year it was developed could be evaluated to determine if lead pipes were

used in that time frame. Mr. Juber commented that the Highlands was built by just one developer.

Mr. Norris commented that he lives in the Highlands and offered his home to be inspected if need

be. Mr. Duarte said he will keep that in mind. Mr. Ball was asked if GU has records of inspections

already performed. Mr. Daurte answered yes, but it would not be equal to DPH's 20% requirement.

Mr. Ball said that what has already been inspected could be used for a buffer to ensure over 20% of

inspections are completed.

Mr. Duarte read the figures that are in need inspection:

560 in Gales Ferry

45 in Sablewoods

500 in Highlands

There are also some in Aljen Heights, bringing the total to approximately 1,100.

Mr. Duarte will keep the WPCA informed of the inspection options and a decision will be made on

how to proceed.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Service Correspondence.

Chairman Lynch shared the outstanding liens with the Authority. He added that it wasn't very

many. There was a water leak at 113 Meetinghouse Lane when no one was residing at the

location. The usage at 66 Meetinghouse Lane has gone down.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Aged Reports/Finance.

No report this month.

Year to Date Water/Sewer Report.

No reports this month.

PSR - Steve Banks.

Only some additional IT work that needs completing.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

VIII. OLD BUSINESS

Inspection of the Holmberg Tank quote.

Received a new quote and it is the same as what was voted on.

The WPCA received a new quote which was the same as the previous one.

Motion to ACCEPT the Corrtech estimate of $3,336.00 using funds from the Holmberg tank

CNR account.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Terry Jones

SECONDER:

Tewfik Jones Juber Lynch Ball

Wadecki

AYE

EXCUSED

Cost of Service quote review and discussion.

Chairman Lynch spoke with the Finance department and was told that the funds are there if the

WPCA decides to move forward with the study. The exact amount of funds in the "WPCA

undesignated Capital account" is still unclear. This will be discussed further at a later date.

Motion to AWARD a contract to Utility Financial Solutions, LLC for $13,000 for a Cost of

Service review of the water system.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Stanley Juber

SECONDER:

Tewfik Jones Juber Lynch Ball

AYE

Wadecki

EXCUSED

Any Other Old Business to come before the Authority.

Steve Masalin, Public Works Director was present to explain the results of a meeting between

Chairman Lynch, Steve Banks, WCPA Supervisor, Steve Masalin, Public Works Director and

two representatives from Weston and Sampson. The meeting was held to discuss the Weston &

Samson $12,000.00 amendment to the sewer feasibility project. The amendment was signed by

Mayor Fred Allyn III after the September 26, 2023, WPCA vote but the was later rescinded. Mr.

Masalin said from here forward he will shepherd the process and work with Weston and Sampson

to come up with an appropriate agreement. He explained that although there are inspection services

in the Multi Use Pathway agreement there aren't any for the Sewer portion. The WPCA will have to

cover that cost as well as some additional engineering costs.

A mandatory pre-bid was held. Five separate construction firms were present. A bid opening will be

held on Thursday, October 26, 2023. The question is whether ARPA funding will be sufficient.

There is also a question of how expenses for inspection of the pathway and sewer pipe will be

apportioned. There is no action needed by the WPCA at this time.

IX.

NEW BUSINESS

Discussion and possible vote regarding excess funds being put into a capital or other account at

the end of each year.

Waiting for the audit results.

DISCUSSED

RESULT:

Motion to APPROVE change of previously approved meeting date from January 21, 2025, to

January 28, 2025.

Mr. Jones noted that the January date was 23 instead of 21.

Mr. Capon asked if it was ever considered to move the meeting time from 7:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The Commissioners agreed that 6:30 p.m. would be a better meeting time.

Motion to APPROVE 2024 WPCA Meeting dates as corrected with a change of the January

2025 meeting date from January 23 to January 21 and to change the meeting time to 6:30.

APPROVED AND SO DECLARED

Edmond Lynch

RESULT:

MOVER:

Terry Jones

SECONDER:

Tewfik Jones Juber Lynch Ball

Wadecki

AYE

EXCUSED

Any Other New Business to come before the Authority.

None.

ADJOURNMENT