Video index
1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Roll Call
Roll call (10 Present, 0 Absent, 0 Excused)
3. Public Participation [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of the majority of the Town Council.]
Mtg. began 7:04 p.m Yagaloff absent
Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - Would like to know from this Council what authority this Council has over the WPCA. If the Town Council has no authority this concerns me. Would like this clarified. While discussing budget overhead slides should be used. Would like slides when discussing the budget. we have never had a review of the budget. several years ago I was told that they did not know and never had been attended. Reserve for Capital Projects. Would have been helpful to have the slides to know what the numbers are. Would like to know the numbers. Regarding the operation budget and salaries are increasing 6% per year. Fringe benefit - would like information regarding fringe benefits. how much for health and how much for pensions. Hope these subjects come up and get some answers.
4. Communications
Prague - June 11th electronic recycle -where taking place? Pelkey - Town Hall
5. Town Manager's Report [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed ten (10) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of the majority of the Council.]
6. Items for Discussion
A. Water Pollution Control Authority Budget
Matt - reason put this on because seems to be an issue. Did get opinion regarding the Town Council's responsibilities. Always thought the WPCA was responsible for the operation of the plant, user fees, budget, etc.
Pelkey - my understanding is once the WPCA was created, the Council at that time turned over the authority to run the sewer area and pretty much by the ruling that we received from your firm is that true, they have sole authority to set fees?
Dwith - that is true - there are limitation but they do have the right to set the fees and there are nothing in the ordinances - WPCA has the authority to set their budget, sewer fees. The council does have the authority to approve their budget, but since WPCA has authority for the budget, the Council's authority does not have much strength.
Pelkey - the Town Councl has tried to work with WPCA regarding the sewer fees. The council has the authority to dispan the WPCA and then the Coucnil would become WPCA
Dwight - there are towns tht have had councils serve. there probably is a mechaism that the town council could do that.
Pelkey - if council chose to go to that point that could be reviewed legally. The Town Council should try to work out differences with WPCA. In the process takes place there will be a public hearing regarding their fees.
Fred - June 7, 2011 there will be a public hearing regarding the fees at 6:30 p.m.
Bazzano - we are going to approve a budget tonight, but then it is going to go to public hearing and after that WPCA will approve after the public hearing. WPCA has the rights to set their fee but the Council has a limited right to set the budget. With the budget set it kind of sets the fee so I am wondering what we have the right to do and not to do. With that how does the public hearing
Dwight - also confused that there is a public hearing
Fred Shaw - there was a public hearing for the budget that had followed a review with the Town Counicl. So having gone through that process and understanding what the budget would be then the fee is set and a public hearing is discussed.
Bazzano - what is the next step after the public hearing -
Fred - after public hearing there is a regular meeting and the rate is approved.
Bazzano - so the Council has no right to set the rate only the budget?
Matt - usually all of the budgets are approved the same night and then WPCA goes and sets the rate on the budget.
Bazzano -
Dwight - WPCA sets their rate and thereby determining - they have the ability t- What is the Councils authority - WPCA has the right to set the rate. Clearly if they are going to raise the bonding authority of the town then the Council has the authority to disapprove or approve.
Delnicki - are there any dates that are mandated that the WPCA budget has to be approved by?
Dwight - best practice would be to do everything by the charter.
Delnicki - what are the ramifications if no budget is passed tonight?
Dwight - if you go into fiscal year July 1 has to determine within 90 days how much to spend. if after the 90 days then the town is required to go back to last years spending. Argument could be made that the WPCA is stuck with last eyas budget. WPCA has the authority to set fees
Delnicki - so in theory we could make the number less but they do not have to tie the fee schedule to that number.
Dwight - that is our best guess.
Pelkey - you are raising the fee structure from 288.00 to 340.00. To run WPCA and maintain is 288.00. The 340.00 would give the WPCA authority to build up funds?
Fred - 1/20th payment, also putting aside money for future debt service. Assuming tht the Town pays for the upgrade, we still need money for the pump station upgrades. 340.000 represents fee in a report done by engineering firm was an average throughout the sate. We have goals and objectives and would like to stabilize the fee so we are providing for that. We are anticipating future budgets. Goals is to stabilize debt.
Pelkey - generate 1/2 million
Fred - would like to evaluate sewer system. our next order of business is to understand the under ground pipes and get study to evaluate them. would like future schedule of thes pipes.
Pelkey - cost of study?
Fred - just outlining course of action adn preliminary float monitor looking at 900,000 for the study.
Pelkey - what is the study involve?
Fred - 130 miles of piping. they need to be cleaned and then evaluation. It will take approximately 1 year to do the study.
Pelkey - shocked by the number. wondering if 900,000 of study, should replace pipe instead of doing study
Fred - need someone to take a look at certain areas. Establish future budget for course of action
Pelkey - just concrete 5.1 miles of concrete, looking at Clark Street pump station, analyze force main also if had to going by force main. 84 miles of area to look at so we ahve a lot of flow monitoring, - just to identify problem.
Pelkey - before pipe broke - there was no intention of doing this study?
Fred - correct
Pelkey - but since something broke you felt it should be looked at
Fred - costs a lot for a break, 340,000
Pelkey - if well planned out what is your guess for concrete pipe?
Fred - again have to have area cost for 1 miles
Pelkey - having ability to bid out and not having an emergency shoudl cost less
Fred - the pipe has to be replaced. working around the clock - big job. do not want to do that if not necessary and that is why the study needs to be done. do not know what that price would be depending on the depth, and other elements.
Pelkey - 900,000 built into the budget?
Fred - going to try to do the work within the next 12 months.
Pelkey - payment split over 2 years?
Fred - a lot of this work can be done in the next 12 months.
Pelkey - with new fee will be getting more funds - $550,000 which will be used for future bond money and 1/20th payment. to do study would have to use some of that money. and then next eyar there will be a raise in the fee.
Fred - there e diffeent parts of this.
Pelkey - will any of the 900,000 be paid this year
Fred - have money in reserve which would be used. money set aside for equipment will have to be used for part of the study.
Pelkey - reserves, funds coming in and funds in next year.
Fred - some will need to be done this year and some can be dife until future
Fred - these pipes do not have manholes and there is no way to look inside so you need cameras that can be used to view these pipes. Want to understand if anything is happening down there and see if there are any problems.
McCann - thank you for keeping the system working. fees that are planned, you have focused on the resident fee increasing to 340.00 from 288.00. is there a raise in rates for commercial?
Fred - rates are the same, only differ when there is industrial waste.
McCann - there are two components to sewer fee, there are commercial waste and then ther eis residencial which are not metered. that residentail feeis increase from 288 to 340. is there also a component of increase for commercial and industrial?
Fred - yes they will be faced wit teh same increase rate.
McCann - 15%? Fred - yes except if waste costs more to treat.
MCcann -360,000 cost for Chapel Road, is that a firm number?
Fred - that is why a reserve is created.
McCann - 15% increase - one of the purposes is to stabilze the fees. do you antiipate that we will be able to stablize the fee?
Fred - yes
McCann - would not see the amount of increase that we are seeing this yea?
Fred - there may be years that there is no increase.
McCann - this 15% increase brings us back to where wer were two years ago?
Fred - yes
McCann - Buckland Mall does not pay any taxes to the town. recoupe some costs.
Fred - out of town users pay a user fee.
Anwar -
Anwar - WPCA and Council will have to work together to keep status in tact. We may have to make difficult choices. will have to trust the work of the WPCA.
Bazzano - why was Chapel Road pipe damaged?
Fred - it should have lasted longer. nature of that pipe did not meet current standards for pipes that type. also there is evaluations for scouring. corrosion seems to be top of list. old pump station. could have been a number of different reasons.
Delnicki - like to know in writing what the taxpayers are getting for teh 900,000. would like a break out. What kind of financial plan do you have to support something like this.
Fred - the consultant has not been selected yet. 900,000 is one of the cost proposals. Have not even interviewed the engineers yet. the actual scope will be defined after consultant is chosen.
Delnicki - would like this all in writing. at some point have to have financial plan where you are going dollar wise. Clark Street was upgraded about 10 years ago? fred - yes Delnicki - did the consultant to evaluation?
Fred - they did put in means supply -
8. Adjournment
7. Executive Session
8. Adjournment
Prague, Havens 8:03 p.m.
Jun 06, 2011 Town Council Work Session
Full agenda
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Video Index
Full agenda
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1. Call Meeting to Order
2. Roll Call
Roll call (10 Present, 0 Absent, 0 Excused)
3. Public Participation [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of the majority of the Town Council.]
Mtg. began 7:04 p.m Yagaloff absent
Don Gonsalves, 40 Bayberry Trail - Would like to know from this Council what authority this Council has over the WPCA. If the Town Council has no authority this concerns me. Would like this clarified. While discussing budget overhead slides should be used. Would like slides when discussing the budget. we have never had a review of the budget. several years ago I was told that they did not know and never had been attended. Reserve for Capital Projects. Would have been helpful to have the slides to know what the numbers are. Would like to know the numbers. Regarding the operation budget and salaries are increasing 6% per year. Fringe benefit - would like information regarding fringe benefits. how much for health and how much for pensions. Hope these subjects come up and get some answers.
4. Communications
Prague - June 11th electronic recycle -where taking place? Pelkey - Town Hall
5. Town Manager's Report [Per Town Council Rules, this segment of the meeting shall not exceed ten (10) minutes unless extended by the Mayor, with the consent of the majority of the Council.]
6. Items for Discussion
A. Water Pollution Control Authority Budget
Matt - reason put this on because seems to be an issue. Did get opinion regarding the Town Council's responsibilities. Always thought the WPCA was responsible for the operation of the plant, user fees, budget, etc.
Pelkey - my understanding is once the WPCA was created, the Council at that time turned over the authority to run the sewer area and pretty much by the ruling that we received from your firm is that true, they have sole authority to set fees?
Dwith - that is true - there are limitation but they do have the right to set the fees and there are nothing in the ordinances - WPCA has the authority to set their budget, sewer fees. The council does have the authority to approve their budget, but since WPCA has authority for the budget, the Council's authority does not have much strength.
Pelkey - the Town Councl has tried to work with WPCA regarding the sewer fees. The council has the authority to dispan the WPCA and then the Coucnil would become WPCA
Dwight - there are towns tht have had councils serve. there probably is a mechaism that the town council could do that.
Pelkey - if council chose to go to that point that could be reviewed legally. The Town Council should try to work out differences with WPCA. In the process takes place there will be a public hearing regarding their fees.
Fred - June 7, 2011 there will be a public hearing regarding the fees at 6:30 p.m.
Bazzano - we are going to approve a budget tonight, but then it is going to go to public hearing and after that WPCA will approve after the public hearing. WPCA has the rights to set their fee but the Council has a limited right to set the budget. With the budget set it kind of sets the fee so I am wondering what we have the right to do and not to do. With that how does the public hearing
Dwight - also confused that there is a public hearing
Fred Shaw - there was a public hearing for the budget that had followed a review with the Town Counicl. So having gone through that process and understanding what the budget would be then the fee is set and a public hearing is discussed.
Bazzano - what is the next step after the public hearing -
Fred - after public hearing there is a regular meeting and the rate is approved.
Bazzano - so the Council has no right to set the rate only the budget?
Matt - usually all of the budgets are approved the same night and then WPCA goes and sets the rate on the budget.
Bazzano -
Dwight - WPCA sets their rate and thereby determining - they have the ability t- What is the Councils authority - WPCA has the right to set the rate. Clearly if they are going to raise the bonding authority of the town then the Council has the authority to disapprove or approve.
Delnicki - are there any dates that are mandated that the WPCA budget has to be approved by?
Dwight - best practice would be to do everything by the charter.
Delnicki - what are the ramifications if no budget is passed tonight?
Dwight - if you go into fiscal year July 1 has to determine within 90 days how much to spend. if after the 90 days then the town is required to go back to last years spending. Argument could be made that the WPCA is stuck with last eyas budget. WPCA has the authority to set fees
Delnicki - so in theory we could make the number less but they do not have to tie the fee schedule to that number.
Dwight - that is our best guess.
Pelkey - you are raising the fee structure from 288.00 to 340.00. To run WPCA and maintain is 288.00. The 340.00 would give the WPCA authority to build up funds?
Fred - 1/20th payment, also putting aside money for future debt service. Assuming tht the Town pays for the upgrade, we still need money for the pump station upgrades. 340.000 represents fee in a report done by engineering firm was an average throughout the sate. We have goals and objectives and would like to stabilize the fee so we are providing for that. We are anticipating future budgets. Goals is to stabilize debt.
Pelkey - generate 1/2 million
Fred - would like to evaluate sewer system. our next order of business is to understand the under ground pipes and get study to evaluate them. would like future schedule of thes pipes.
Pelkey - cost of study?
Fred - just outlining course of action adn preliminary float monitor looking at 900,000 for the study.
Pelkey - what is the study involve?
Fred - 130 miles of piping. they need to be cleaned and then evaluation. It will take approximately 1 year to do the study.
Pelkey - shocked by the number. wondering if 900,000 of study, should replace pipe instead of doing study
Fred - need someone to take a look at certain areas. Establish future budget for course of action
Pelkey - just concrete 5.1 miles of concrete, looking at Clark Street pump station, analyze force main also if had to going by force main. 84 miles of area to look at so we ahve a lot of flow monitoring, - just to identify problem.
Pelkey - before pipe broke - there was no intention of doing this study?
Fred - correct
Pelkey - but since something broke you felt it should be looked at
Fred - costs a lot for a break, 340,000
Pelkey - if well planned out what is your guess for concrete pipe?
Fred - again have to have area cost for 1 miles
Pelkey - having ability to bid out and not having an emergency shoudl cost less
Fred - the pipe has to be replaced. working around the clock - big job. do not want to do that if not necessary and that is why the study needs to be done. do not know what that price would be depending on the depth, and other elements.
Pelkey - 900,000 built into the budget?
Fred - going to try to do the work within the next 12 months.
Pelkey - payment split over 2 years?
Fred - a lot of this work can be done in the next 12 months.
Pelkey - with new fee will be getting more funds - $550,000 which will be used for future bond money and 1/20th payment. to do study would have to use some of that money. and then next eyar there will be a raise in the fee.
Fred - there e diffeent parts of this.
Pelkey - will any of the 900,000 be paid this year
Fred - have money in reserve which would be used. money set aside for equipment will have to be used for part of the study.
Pelkey - reserves, funds coming in and funds in next year.
Fred - some will need to be done this year and some can be dife until future
Fred - these pipes do not have manholes and there is no way to look inside so you need cameras that can be used to view these pipes. Want to understand if anything is happening down there and see if there are any problems.
McCann - thank you for keeping the system working. fees that are planned, you have focused on the resident fee increasing to 340.00 from 288.00. is there a raise in rates for commercial?
Fred - rates are the same, only differ when there is industrial waste.
McCann - there are two components to sewer fee, there are commercial waste and then ther eis residencial which are not metered. that residentail feeis increase from 288 to 340. is there also a component of increase for commercial and industrial?
Fred - yes they will be faced wit teh same increase rate.
McCann - 15%? Fred - yes except if waste costs more to treat.
MCcann -360,000 cost for Chapel Road, is that a firm number?
Fred - that is why a reserve is created.
McCann - 15% increase - one of the purposes is to stabilze the fees. do you antiipate that we will be able to stablize the fee?
Fred - yes
McCann - would not see the amount of increase that we are seeing this yea?
Fred - there may be years that there is no increase.
McCann - this 15% increase brings us back to where wer were two years ago?
Fred - yes
McCann - Buckland Mall does not pay any taxes to the town. recoupe some costs.
Fred - out of town users pay a user fee.
Anwar -
Anwar - WPCA and Council will have to work together to keep status in tact. We may have to make difficult choices. will have to trust the work of the WPCA.
Bazzano - why was Chapel Road pipe damaged?
Fred - it should have lasted longer. nature of that pipe did not meet current standards for pipes that type. also there is evaluations for scouring. corrosion seems to be top of list. old pump station. could have been a number of different reasons.
Delnicki - like to know in writing what the taxpayers are getting for teh 900,000. would like a break out. What kind of financial plan do you have to support something like this.
Fred - the consultant has not been selected yet. 900,000 is one of the cost proposals. Have not even interviewed the engineers yet. the actual scope will be defined after consultant is chosen.
Delnicki - would like this all in writing. at some point have to have financial plan where you are going dollar wise. Clark Street was upgraded about 10 years ago? fred - yes Delnicki - did the consultant to evaluation?
Fred - they did put in means supply -
8. Adjournment
7. Executive Session
8. Adjournment
Prague, Havens 8:03 p.m.
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