Welcome of Newly Appointed Trustee

            On behalf of the Trustees, Chair Priest welcomed newly appointed Trustee David N. Barbour to the Board. Trustee Barbour was appointed by Town Council to fill the balance of the currently vacant position. He noted that his oath of office has been administered by the Town Clerk following appointment.

Election of Board Officers

             It was consensus of the Trustees that election of Board officers be tabled pending Town Council action on an application for re-appointment of Trustee Boochever.

Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

            The Trustees reviewed minutes of the 15 June 2009 regular Board meeting.

            IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT TO ACCEPT AS PRESENTED MINUTES OF THE 15 JUNE 2009 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

Public Comment: None noted

Treasurer’s Report

           Disbursements:  The Trustees reviewed weekly reports on disbursements for the preceding month. Payroll and payables disbursements were noted to have been issued on consecutively numbered checks, and all vendors receiving payment were identified. Disbursements unusual in amount or purpose were discussed. Weekly warrants for general disbursements have been signed by the General Manager.

Water Street Boathouse

            Douglas Richmond, representing the Merrymeeting Rowing Club, joined the meeting. Chair Priest excused himself from this portion of the meeting due to a possible conflict of interest by association, relinquished control of the meeting to the Vice Chair, and left the premises. Mr. Richmond then offered a brief description of the history and activities of the Rowing Club, a not-for-profit corporation organized to promote the sport of rowing in Brunswick area schools. He noted that, until 2004, the Club had a boathouse situated on leased Town property along Water Street for storage of sport equipment. The location allowed access to waters of the Androscoggin River, which are particularly well-suited to the sport and novice rowers. Membership in the Club, open to anyone interested, at that time totaled approximately twenty-five.
            Since 2004, the Club has not been able to arrange for the use of land on which to place a similar facility. After exhausting other possibilities in the area, the Club is approaching the District to determine if use of a portion of the District’s Water Street Pump Station property may be possible. The Trustees viewed a sketch plan of the property and possible location of a 25 by-60-sf structure. District operations personnel have viewed the suggested layout and determined that, given certain construction provisions, neither routine nor emergency Pump Station operations would be affected.
            At this time, the Club is seeking only to determine if location is possible, following which additional investigation into details of a facility and its and its and its and its siting could be made. Following discussion, it was consensus of the Board that placement of such a facility on District property is possible. The General Manager agreed to research the property boundaries and to provide copies of similar leases the District has written.
            Mr. Richmond thanked the Trustees for their time and departed the meeting at 7:48 p.m.

            Acting Chair Boochever declared the meeting in recess from 7:48 p.m. to 7:58 p.m.

Investment Policy Review         

            Chair Priest resumed control of the meeting. The Trustees returned to their consideration of revisions to the District’s Investment Policy dated 15 June 2009 and proposed by staff. The revisions were described as relatively minor in nature, consisting principally of a change in the name of the State Retirement System and several clarifications to current language. Following brief discussion, and on the recommendation of staff,

Lien-Acquired Property Policy: Proposed Revisions on Use of Proceeds

            IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BARBOUR, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT, IN THE FIRST OF TWO VOTES TO BE TAKEN, TO ADOPT PROPOSED CHANGES DATED 17 MAY 2009 TO THE DISTRICT LIEN-ACQUIRED PROPERTY POLICY.

            Proposed revisions will be presented for a second and final vote to adopt at the August Board meeting.

Liens in Place: 163 McKeen Street

            The Trustees heard a brief report by the General Manager on a delinquent account for service to a residence located at 163 McKeen Street. Upon the death of the former property owner, title to the property was willed to her husband, who died shortly thereafter, apparently without a will. Current ownership of the property is unknown. Numerous requests for payment and notice of a lien on the property have been posted at the residence and apparently received by someone there but otherwise ignored. No contact by anyone with an interest in the property has been made with the District.
            The District lien was registered in March 2008 and is scheduled to perfect in September 2009. There are no mortgage holders of record, and, in the opinion of the General Manager, it is likely that the lien will perfect without payment of the amount owed. District staff intends to publish several notices of impending foreclosure as the lien perfection date approaches.

Accounts Receivable: Winner's Sports Grill
           
             The Trustees heard a brief report by the General Manager on a delinquent account for service to the former site of Winner’s Sports Grill at the Atrium along Gurnet Road. The business, operated as a tenancy, was forced to relocate to a new site along Farley Road as a result of a bankruptcy filing by the owner of the Atrium property, sale of the site to a new owner, and subsequent demolition of the Atrium.
            The balance remains past due despite several notices to the tenant. By Charter the District does have access to the new owner and contact has been made, advising of the amount owed. District staff is preparing to take the steps necessary to place a lien on the property for payment of the amount owed.

            The Trustees viewed the Annual Financial & Related Reports for 2008, prepared by the Finance Manager. Several of these reports will be highlighted during the year as opportunity permits.

Monthly Report of Operations

            Total flow to the Treatment Plant for June 2009 was 99.604 mg, up approximately 6% from the previous month. Flows of 14.3 and 8.6 mg for the month originated with Topsham and the Navy Base, respectively. Average daily flow for the period was 3.32 mgd, 86% of that allowed by permit. Maximum daily flow processed was 6.90 mg, which occurred on 20 June 2009. Rainfall for the month totaled 8.4 inches, with a daily maximum of 3.9 inches on 19 June 2009.
            Septage receiving for the period totaled 219,050 gallons, up 13% from the previous month. Removal rates for BOD and TSS for the period were 92.9% and 90.3%, respectively, in compliance with the minimum 85% required for each parameter by permit. A total of 224 cy of sludge was produced and trucked for future land application. There were no bypasses or spills, all flow to the plant received full treatment, and all permit requirements were met.

General Manager's Report

            The Assistant General Manager reported on progress of work to replace sanitary sewers along School and Franklin Streets. Installation and testing of sewers is now complete, with final inspection of the work scheduled to take place this week. Construction was accomplished at a cost of approximately $115,000, about $13,000 below bid amount, and significantly below budget.

            The Assistant General Manager reported on the planned schedule of possibly five sludge-spreading events taking place from the end of July to the middle of October. Spreading is weather dependent, and conditions are currently the worst in memory. If weather conditions do not improve, the sludge will have to be commercially composted.

            The District today received renewal of its permit under the Maine Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. The permit which allows discharge of treated wastewater to the Androscoggin River carries a term of five years. Conditions of the permit are essentially unchanged from the previous permit. Renewal comes as a result of application and negotiation by the Assistant General Manager.

Schedule of Upcoming Meetings, Events, etc.