Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

        The Trustees reviewed minutes of the 11 May 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 11 MAY 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.

            Commitments:  IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE PRIEST, AND VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT, WITH THE TREASURER ABSTAINING, TO COMMIT TO THE TREASURER FOR COLLECTION RATES FOR THE PERIOD 01 JULY 2009 THROUGH 30 SEPTEMBER 2009, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROVISIONS OF THE DISTRICT CHARTER, BY-LAWS, RULES & REGULATIONS, AND SCHEDULE OF RATES, AS COMPUTED AND SET FORTH IN THE ACCOUNTS ON FILE AT THE OFFICES OF THE BRUNSWICK SEWER DISTRICT.

Petition for Relief from Sewer Use Billing:  Coastal Estates II

            The Trustees considered a request by Shawn Sutton, Property Manager of Coastal Estates II, a planned unit development located off the Gurnet Road, for relief from sewer use billing. The request is based on the discovery in January 2009 of an in-ground leak in potable water piping serving the development. Details of the request were provided by Mr. Sutton in a letter dated 03 May 2009. Although winter conditions made discovery of the leak difficult, repairs were undertaken and completed immediately.
            After reviewing the history of usage for the account, staff has concluded that the problem has affected billing for the first quarter of 2009. The review of account billing history also revealed erroneous use of a meter reading that has resulted in an overbilling that has not been corrected. Following discussion of the request and details of the situation leading to it, and on the recommendation of the General Manager,

            IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT TO AUTHORIZE A ONE-TIME ADJUSTMENT TO BILLING FOR SEWER USE UNDER ACCOUNT NUMBER 57102000000 SERVING COASTAL ESTATES II IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $2,772 AS FULL COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH A POTABLE WATER LEAK REPAIRED IN JANUARY 2009 AND WITH OVERBILLING THAT RESULTED FROM INCORRECT USE OF A METER READING..

            Mr. Sutton thanked the Trustees for their consideration and he departed the meeting at 7:16 p.m.

General Manager's Report

             LD 330, An Act to Change the Classification of Certain Waters of the State, has been signed into law by the Governor. The statute includes provision for additional sampling and testing of the Lower Androscoggin River, into which the District discharges its treated wastewater. The statute also requires that MDEP report to the legislature in February 2010 on the appropriateness of the current river classification and provide recommendations for proposed legislation to upgrade classification of this section of the river, if indicated by testing results.
            Such a change in classification would have a significant effect on District treatment processes required to meet more stringent discharge permit limits. District staff will investigate details of potential changes and their impacts.

            The Assistant General Manager reported on progress of the District’s application for renewal of the MePDES permit to discharge treated wastewater to the Androscoggin River. The permit proposed for issue by MDEP has been reviewed and contains no significant new requirements. The new permit will likely be issued in July and have a term of five years.

            District staff is working with Navy officials toward extension of the U.S. Navy Capehart Housing Facility agreement for wastewater disposal services. The current agreement dates to 1959 and expires this year. Chair Priest suggested that the renewal agreement take into account responsibility for payment following closure of military facilities.

            District staff gathered on 05 June 2009 for a cookout held at the Treatment Plant site to observe the 35th anniversary of employment for Treatment Operations Division Supervisor Gregory H. Thulen.

Petition for Relief from Sewer Use Billing: Austin, 57 McKeen Street

            The Trustees considered a request by Suzanne Austin for relief from sewer use billing. The request is based on a leak in potable water piping serving her residence at 57 McKeen Street. Details of the request were provided in a letter dated 18 May 2009. During a month-long absence, an inside water pipe burst, possibly as a result of a heating system malfunction, and discharged into the house. The letter notes that water discharged by the leak did not return to the sewer.
            The Board members reviewed the history of usage for the account. Following discussion of the request and details of the situation leading to it, and on the recommendation of the General Manager,

            IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT TO AUTHORIZE A ONE-TIME ADJUSTMENT TO BILLING FOR SEWER USE AT 57 McKEEN STREET UNDER ACCOUNT NUMBER 24147000000 IN THE AMOUNT OF $319.20 IN CONNECTION WITH A LEAK DESCRIBED IN THE HOMEOWNER’S PETITION TO THE BOARD DATED 18 MAY 2009.

Petition for Relief from Sewer Use Billing: Caparratto, 5 Stanwood Street

            The Trustees considered a request by Paul Caparratto for relief from sewer use billing. The request is based on a leak in potable water piping serving an apartment building owned by him at 5 Stanwood Street. Details of the request were provided in a letter dated 26 May 2009. Although consumption was noted to be increasing over a period of 12 quarters, the location of the leak was not discovered until recently, despite several attempts to do so. Once located, the leak was promptly repaired.
            After reviewing the history of usage for the account, staff has concluded that billing for the four most recent quarters warrants adjustment. Following discussion of the request and details of the situation leading to it, and on the recommendation of the General Manager,

            IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT TO AUTHORIZE A ONE-TIME ADJUSTMENT TO BILLING FOR SEWER USE AT 5 STANWOOD STREET UNDER ACCOUNT NUMBER 26255000000 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,134 IN CONNECTION WITH A LEAK DESCRIBED IN THE PROPERTY OWNER’S PETITION TO THE BOARD DATED 26 MAY 2009.

Adoption of Audited Financial Statements 1t 31 December 2008

            At the request of the General Manager,

            IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT TO ADOPT AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND RELATED AUDITORS’ REPORTS AT 31 DECEMBER 2008 AS PRESENTED AT THE 11 MAY 2009 BOARD MEETING.

Appointment of Auditors

            The Trustees reviewed a proposal by Runyon Kersteen Ouellette, CPA’s of South Portland, Maine, to provide independent professional audit services to the District. The proposal was submitted in January 2009 at the request of the District following the Board’s expression of its satisfaction with the firm’s work over a numbers of years. Board consideration of the appointment has been deferred pending completion of the 2008 audit. The Finance Manager and the General Manager have reviewed the submittal and confirmed with the proposer that proposed services cover the years 2009 through 2011 and that proposed fees remain valid. The General Manager and the Finance Manager recommended re-appointment of the firm in accordance with terms of the proposal.
            Following Board discussion of the proposal and the firm’s work over the years,

            IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT TO APPOINT THE FIRM OF RUNYON KERSTEEN OUELLETTE OF SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE, AS AUDITORS TO THE DISTRICT FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2009 THROUGH 2011, IN ACCORDANCE WITH TERMS OF THE PROPOSAL DATED 08 JANUARY 2009, PROVIDED THAT THE DISTRICT BOARD IS, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, FREE TO TERMINATE THE SERVICES AT ANY TIME.

Investment Policy Review

            The Trustees considered 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 in 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,

            IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT, IN THE FIRST OF TWO VOTES TO BE TAKEN, TO ADOPT PROPOSED REVISIONS DATED 15 JUNE 2009 TO THE DISTRICT INVESTMENT POLICY.

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

Lien-Acquired Property Policy

Attest,

         Emily L. Boochever
         Vice Chair, Board of Trustees
 

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