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1995-01-17 Minutes January 17, 1995 THE MATTABASSETT DISTRICT The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of The Mattabassett District was held Tuesday, January 17, 1995 at the Administration Building in Cromwell, Connecticut. Present from the Town of Cromwell were Directors Curtis Anderson and Mary Konopka. Present from the Town of Berlin were Directors Robert Argazzi and Livio Dottor. Present from the City of New Britain were Directors Dominic Badolato, Sebastian Cannamela, C.T. Faticoni, Frank Harvey, and Silvio Silverio. Also present were William Weber - District Counsel, John Batorski - Operations Manager, and Christian Bratina - Executive Director. Absent: S. Pac, G. Rothstein, and H. Van Dorn. The meeting was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Frank Harvey. A roll call was taken, a quorum was present. Minutes December 19. 1994 Mr. Dottor moved, seconded by Mr. Faticoni, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the minutes of the December 19, 1994 meeting be accepted as presented. Treasurer's Report Mr. Bratina reviewed the treasurer's report. Mr. Dottor moved, seconded by Mr. Faticoni, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Treasurer's Report dated December 14, 1994 to January 11, 1995 be accepted and placed on file for audit. Budget Statement Mr. Bratina reviewed the overages on the Budget Statement. Account 145 is over budget because we have removed 6,000 cy of ash from the ash lagoons as opposed to the 4,400 cy budgeted. So far the unit price is 10% less than budgeted. Account 147 is over budget due to the unexpected assessments of $10,000 in DEP permit fees. Mr. Faticoni moved, seconded by Mr. Cannamela, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Budget Statement ending December 31, 1994 be accepted as presented. 1 Minutes January 17, 1995 Bills to be Authorized for Payment The bills for payment were reviewed. Mrs. Konopka moved, seconded by Mr. Faticoni, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Gadsby & Hannah bill for November 1994 legal services be held until clarification is made. Mr. Argazzi moved, seconded by Mrs. Konopka, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Operating Fund bills in the amount of $179,861.65 be approved; That Construction Fund bills in the amount of $4,931.00 be approved; That Capital Non-Recurring bills in the amount of $1,736.58 be approved; and that Payroll in the amount of $89,868.34 for the period December 17, 1994 through January 7, 1995 be approved. Staff Reports Mr. Bratina provided depositions for Federal Insurance and Aetna, and met with Gadsby & Hannah and Metcalf & Eddy in regards to our lawsuit. The most recent DEP Construction Project payment request was revised, including all expenses through December 1994, and resubmitted. CBIA/Aetna is extending the current medical insurance rates for an additional three months at the same rate based on the overall low claims rate. The plant effluent quality was excellent in December. There was one odor complaint in December. The polymer consumption of $12.80 per dry ton was excellent, the second lowest recorded. However the FBI fuel consumption of $12.60 per dry ton is still too high due to the low filter cake solids. A newer polymer/sludge mixer is on loan from Arus Andritz for testing to determine whether it can improve the cake solids. A more effective Belt Filter Press is also being evaluated. The plant OSHA accident rate was very good in 1994. There were five lost days due to accidents, the third lowest on record. The Severity rate was 96 lost days per million hours, which is far below the national average of 896 for waste water treatment plants. EIMCO replaced the shaft couplings, installing adjustment plate jack-screws, and added additional bearings to the scum collection system. Associated replaced a failed blower check valve and is expected to complete their work in February. 2 Minutes January 17, 1995 Inspection and testing of the biofilters revealed that the Geotex filter fabric, installed between the stone base and the compost media, is blinding and disrupting the air flow. All of the biofilter media will need to be removed and the fabric replaced. Odor testing to determine the optimal chemical concentrations in the Wet Packed Tower Scrubber indicate an optimal pH between 9.5 and 10.5 and an optimal chlorine residual between 1,500 and 2,500 mg/1. Odor Science is revising the draft Odor Survey report. We are reviewing the cost to duct the Belt Filter Press air to either a wet packed tower scrubber or a biofilter to reduce corrosion in the incinerator and to increase the air flow treated. The annual repairs to the FBI were completed slightly ahead of schedule. Mr. Faticoni moved, seconded by Mr. Argazzi, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Staff Report be approved as reported. Finance Committee Mr. Argazzi reported that the Finance Committee met and extensively reviewed the Annual Audit and that it was presented to the Board at the December meeting. Mr. Argazzi moved, seconded by Mrs. Konopka, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Audit Report for Fiscal Year 1993-1994 be approved as presented. Mr. Argazzi reported that at the Finance Committee meeting of December 14th, Chris Wolf from the District's accounting firm of Scully & Wolf, recommended transferring $1,000,000 from the Operating Fund to the Capital Nonrecurring and Construction Funds. The Finance Committee recommends temporarily transferring $500,000 to the Construction Fund and $500,000 to the Capital Nonrecurring Fund. Mr. Argazzi moved, seconded by Mr. Faticoni, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Executive Director be hereby authorized to process interfund transfers of $500,000 from the Operating Fund to the Construction Fund and $500,000 from the Operating Fund to the Capital Nonrecurring Fund. Mr. Badolato moved, seconded by Mr. Argazzi, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the resolution regarding the Charter Revision be taken from the table. 3 Minutes January 17, 1995 Mr. Badolato moved, seconded by Mr. Cannamela, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Board of Directors of the Mattabassett District resolves to revise and amend Section 4-1 of the Mattabassett District Charter by deleting the first two sentences of Section 4-1 The district board shall appoint a finance committee of three members, representing- each of the constituent municipalitie:, The finance committee shall include the treasurer of the district and-zwe members of the district board who shall hold office each for the term of one year from his appointment. and inserting in their place the following: The district board shall appoint a finance committee of six members, two from each of the constituent municipalities. The finance committee shall include the treasurer of the district and one other representative from his constituent municipality. The members of the finance committee shall hold office for the term of one year from the date of their appointment. Mr. Badolato moved, seconded by Mr. Dotter, and the following was unanimously adopted: AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Board of Directors of the Mattabassett District resolves to revise and amend Section 1-4 of the Mattabassett District Charter by adding a new Section 1-4 L. as follows: The masculine gender shall include the feminine gender and vice versa. Engineering Committee - No Report Personnel Committee - No Report Insurance Committee - No Report Publicity Committee - No Report Real Estate Committee - No Report 4 Minutes January 17, 1995 Safety and Energy Conservation Mr. Batorski reported that there was one accident last month. A maintenance employee sustained a muscle spasm in his back while bending over to put on his work shoes. A few emergency lights are scheduled for repair, and a replacement grinder for sludge storage may be eligible for a grant as it is only 3 HP. The original unit is 15 HP. Mr. Harvey inquired as to whether the Workers' Compensation premium was affected by our safety record. Mr. Bratina reported that the premium has been decreasing due to our low accident rate. Mr. Faticoni recommended that the employees be recognized for their accomplishment with a letter in their files and a pizza luncheon. Mr. Badolato moved, seconded by Mr. Argazzi, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Safety and Energy Conservation report be accepted as presented. _ Mr. Batorski narrated a video of the inside of the Fluidized Bed Incinerator made during the annual shutdown procedure. Director L. Dotter left at 9:00 pm. . Counsel's Report Mr. Argazzi moved, seconded by Mr. Badolato, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the Board enter into Executive Session to discuss plant litigation matters. Mr. Faticoni moved, seconded by Mr. Anderson, and the following was unanimously adopted: RESOLVED, That the meeting reconvene to regular session. Other Pertinent Business Mr. Harvey appointed Livio Dotter to replace Peter Denuzze as chairman of the Real Estate Committee. Adjournment I Mr. Badolato moved, seconded by Mr. Silverio, and the following was unanimously adopted: 5 Minutes January 17, 1995 RESOLVED, That the meeting adjourn. The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. The next meeting of the Board of Directors will be Tuesday, February 21, 1995 at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building, Cromwell, Connecticut. 73 .7- IN) r n 773 fl 6