Water and Sewer Committee Minutes 5-19-2021

Water and Sewer 5-19-2021

RUTLAND TOWN SELECT BOARD

WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE MEETING

WEDNESDAY MAY 19^th, 2021

The Water and Sewer Committee of the Rutland Town Select Board met at 9:00 AM on Wednesday May 19th at the Rutland Town Municipal Town Hall. Present was Board Chair Mary Ashcroft, Board Clerk Joe Denardo, Board Member Don Chioffi, Town Road Commissioner Byron Hathaway, Town Lister Howard Burgess and Administrative Assistant Bill Sweet. Rob Stubbins joined the meeting as a member of the public. There was a conference call line with a publicly accessible and warned phone number in use.

• The committee discussed extending the municipal water line located along Post Road.
  1. Mr. Stubbins discussed the issues being experienced at his daughter’s house located at 1456 Post Road. There is an elevated level of sodium in the water, the house is currently connected to a well. Mr. Stubbins has had the water tested. The level does not exceed safe levels but, according to the lab, stated it is higher than normal. The level was 150 ppm.
  2. There are at least 2 other property owners in the area who are interested in connecting to the water line. They are to the south of this property.
  3. The current water line on the north side of the road stops at the house just prior to this one. It is not known what the pressure coming into it is currently.
  4. The existing line is 2”. We will need an engineer to evaluate the scope of the project and to see how many additional connections can be made. There is an additional line on the south side of Post Road at the intersection of Blue Ridge that serves only 3 houses now.
  5. If enough capacity is available, base on the engineering review, letters would be sent to neighbors in the area to gauge additional interest.
  6. There is concern about the ability to extend the line up the south side of Post Road due to the amount of ledge and not being able to have the line easily installed below the frost line.
  7. The committee will recommend Otter Creek Engineering be contacted to work on this project.
• Stubbins discussed a separate issue with the committee.
  1. His neighbor, on Post Road Extension, has recently constructed a 6-stall horse barn and is piling the manure from the horses behind the barn.
  2. Mr. Stubbins contacted the state about it and was told it did not meet the qualifications of a small farm based on the size of the parcel.
  3. The committee was not able to take any action on this topic.
• The committee discussed the sewer inventory
  1. There are 2 manholes which need to be raised. A permit from VTrans is still needed.
  2. A contractor has been lined up to do the work.
• Rutland Town / Rutland City Water and Sewer Contract
  1. Discussed the practice of charging ad valorem.
     1. New businesses may be subject to it for up to 10 years
     2. The town has billed, and collected it, in the past.
  2. There is concern about reopening the contract for discussion and the possible effects it could have on the end users.
     1. We will ask town counsel Kevin Brown to join the next Water / Sewer meeting and discuss the concerns with him.

• The committee discussed the sewer allocation for the East Asian Cuisine restaurant
  1. A letter was sent to the restaurant in April of 2020 requesting they apply for an allocation since one did not exist in the records. They forwarded the request to the property owners, Juster Development.
  2. The firm of Facey, Goss and McPhee responded on their behalf with a substantial response.
  3. According to the information sent
     1. The original buildings on the property had on site water and sewer. This system failed.
     2. Juster Development went through the process to connect to municipal water and sewer.

• A blanket allocation was given to them. There are 3 different total numbers referenced (24,000 GPD, 31,900 GPD, and 17,000 GPD). It is not known which is correct.

1. There was a 1980 subdivision request which separated the restaurant from the rest of the property. The sewer allocation information was not included in this request.
2. A letter from Joe Zingale dated 11/3/1999 confirms allocations for 3 buildings.
   • Lot 1 was given 7062 GPD.
   • Lot 2 was given 3498 GPD.
   • Lot 3 was given 5440 GPD. This is the restaurant.
3. There is a letter from the City of Rutland confirming this.

• A letter confirming the existence of an allocation will be sent to the parties involved.

1. Discussed where the discharge pipe exits the property. It is not known at this time.
2. An additional letter will be sent to Facey, Goss and McPhee requesting how their client distributed the allocation to the individual buildings.

• Discussed extending the Randbury Road water line to connect to Farrell Road.
  1. The primary purpose was to connect 2 dead end lines together and create a looped water main.
  2. Some building owners are in the process of connecting to the new water line.
  3. No further action needs to be taken.
• The committee reviewed applicable ordinances.
  1. Water
     1. There are several sections which need to be updated.
     2. There is no mention of a hook up fee, or application process. No application exists.

• Ms. Ashcroft will look at the Town of West Rutland for process and fees.

1. Sewer
   1. Mr. Sweet will look at the Town of West Rutland and compare the process.
   2. Discussed sections which specify standards and materials. This will be compared to the Town of West Rutland. The committee will review at the next meeting.

• Rutland City Water and Sewer billing
  1. There was an issue with the Alpine Pipeline. Their usage was overstated. The corrected number has not been provided yet, but it is expected to be well under the allocation.
  2. There has been no further communication from the city on past due balances or billing.
• Discussed the sewer maintenance agreement for the Ground Round.
  1. Town Counsel Kevin Brown was going to work on a Memorandum of Understanding to be filed in the land records. Mr. Sweet will reach out to discuss the status of this with him.
  2. A second request to produce the records of service has been sent to the owners of the Ground Round.
• Discussed users who are exceeding their allocation.
  1. PETCO was sent a request to which they did not respond. A second request has been sent.
  2. Alderman’s Toyota was sent a request. Phil Alderman followed up saying he felt there was an error with the readings. He was going to contact the City of Rutland and follow up with us. He has not as of yet. Mr. Sweet will reach out to him.
  3. Portland Glass and the Chamber of Economic Development of the Rutland Region both sent a letter in regard to a request to increase their sewer discharge allocation based on usage for 2020. Both requested to delay the requirement to increase their allocation due to the fact there was a plumbing maintenance issue experienced and that the increase was due to this issue.
     1. The committee discussed the request and is recommending approving a waiver for the increase. The actual usage for 2021 will be reviewed next year. If they are below their allocation, no further action will be taken. If they are over a request will be sent and no waiver will be granted.

• Discussed a storm water discharge issue from 155 Seward Road, The Graphic Edge
  1. They have a truck loading dock which has a drain to collect storm water. This water is being pumped directly into our sanitary sewer system, in violation of our ordinance. The property manager stated they have written permission to do so. Mr. Sweet has reached out to the Agency of Natural Resources and the Act 250 Commission. There are no records on file with this permission granted at either.
  2. A letter will be sent to them with documents supporting the practice not being allowed and requesting the proof be provided.
• Discussed the State of Vermont complex on State Place, off McKinley Avenue.
  1. They are on their own well and not on municipal water.
  2. Discussed the possibility of adding a municipal water line up McKinley Avenue to the fire station. The closest water main terminates near Paul’s Cleaners on North Main Street in Rutland City.
  3. There would likely be a large cost to extend the line.
  4. An engineer would have to be involved to develop this project.
  5. No further action to be taken at this time.

The meeting adjourned at 10:55 AM

Respectfully submitted, Bill Sweet