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BRUNSWICK SEWER DISTRICTBoard of Trustees Regular Monthly MeetingApproved Minutes 16 March 2009Click here to return to the Board of Trustees page. Click here to return to the main page.
Call to Order The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Brunswick Sewer District was called to order by Chair Priest at 6:34 p.m. on Monday, 16 March 2009, in the conference room at District offices. Notice of the meeting was advertised in the 13 March 2009 edition of the Times Record. A prepared agenda was noted and the meeting was recorded. Members present: Chair Priest, Trustees Boochever, Green and Schwindt. Others present: General Manager McVey; Assistant General Manager Blanchette; Finance Manager Nuttelman; camera operator Hedy Blauvelt. Minutes of Previous Meeting(s) The Trustees reviewed minutes of the 16 February 2009 regular Board meeting. IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE SCHWINDT, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT, WITH TRUSTEES BOOCHEVER ABSTAINING, TO ACCEPT AS PRESENTED MINUTES OF THE 16 FEBRUARY 2009 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. Public Comment: There was none noted, and no members of the public were present. Treasurer’s Report
Financial: Board
Treasurer Green reported that he has examined unaudited financial statements at
28 February 2009, prepared by District staff. A copy of the
Variance Analysis is
included in these minutes and adopted by reference. The Finance Manager
explained the accounting means by which developer-constructed facilities are
accepted by the District. The Trustees reviewed revenues and expenditures and
discussed interest earned on investments in certificates of deposit and trust
accounts. The Trustees also discussed aged receivables. Collection efforts were
reported to be current. 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 SCHWINDT, SECONDED BY
TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, AND VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT, WITH THE TREASURER
ABSTAINING, TO COMMIT TO THE TREASURER FOR COLLECTION RATES FOR THE PERIOD 01
APRIL 2009 THROUGH 30 JUNE 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. General Manager's Report Annual reports to MeDEP and USEPA on sludge utilization by the District in 2008 have been submitted. The reports were prepared by the Assistant General Manager and are available to anyone interested. At the General Manager’s request, attorneys for the District have provided recommendations for changes to the District Lien Acquired Property Policy. The Policy was last reviewed in 2007. Copies of the Attorney’s recommendations and the proposed policy changes were provided. Proposed changes will be presented for Board consideration at the April meeting. The Town of Brunswick has announced plans to construct improvements to storm drains serving Maine Street between Bath Road and Richards Drive. The work will require relocation of some District sewer pipe, and Town officials have advised, based on the advice of counsel, that the District will be responsible for the cost of this re-location. District costs are not expected to exceed $5,000. The Brunswick Topsham Water District has given notice of a new potable water rate filing before the Public Utilities Commission. The new rate, if approved, is expected to provide that District with an average of 13% in new revenues across six customer categories. Petition for Relief from Sewer Use Billing: White, 4 Oakland Street The Trustees considered the petition of Jeanne White for relief from sewer use billing at 4 Oakland Street. Details of the petition were provided in a letter dated 02 March 2009. Water use that has averaged 600 – 900 cf per quarter was reported as 17,200 cf for the billing quarter ending 03 February 2009. The unusually high consumption was caused by a heating furnace failure that led to a burst water pipe. The petition states that none of the water use resulting from the burst pipe was returned to the sewer. Following discussion, IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT TO ADJUST SEWER USE BILLING FOR PROPERTY AT 4 OAKLAND STREET TO THE MINIMUM CHARGE OF $33.60 FOR THE BILLING QUARTER ENDING 05 FEBRUARY 2009, IN KEEPING WITH PROVISIONS OF THE DISTRICT ADJUSTMENT POLICY AND THE HISTORICAL RECORD OF CONSUMPTION FOR THE PROPERTY. Petition for Relief from Sewer Use Billing: Dow, 6 Pepperberry Path The Trustees considered the petition of Irene Dow for relief from sewer use billing at 6 Pepperberry Path. Details of the petition were provided in a letter dated 03 March 2009. Water use that has averaged 500 – 700 cf per quarter was reported as 7,700 cf for the billing quarter ending 12 February 2009. The unusually high consumption was the result of a malfunction in a toilet valve while the home was unoccupied for the winter. In discussing the merits of the petition, it was noted that, due to the nature of the failure, all of the water used was returned to the sewer and treated by the District.IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER AND SECONDED BY TRUSTEE PRIEST TO ADJUST SEWER USE BILLING FOR PROPERTY AT 6 PEPPERBERRY PATH TO ONE-HALF OF THAT FOR WATER ACTUALLY CONSUMED. TRUSTEES BOOCHEVER AND PRIEST VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION; TRUSTEES GREEN AND SCHWINDT VOTED AGAINST. ON A TWO IN FAVOR AND TWO AGAINST VOTE, THE MOTION TO ADJUST SEWER USE BILLING FAILED. No further action was offered.. Monthly Report of Operations
Total flow to the Treatment Plant for February 2009 was 61.049 mg, down
approximately 19% from the previous month. Flows of 8.4 and 6.7 mg for the
month originated with Topsham and the Navy Base, respectively. Average
daily flow for the period was 2.18 mgd, 57% of that allowed by permit.
Maximum daily flow processed was 2.77 mg, which occurred on 28 February
2009. Rainfall for the month totaled 2.7 inches, with a daily maximum of
0.72 inches on 19 February 2009.
Septage receiving for the period totaled just 23,500 gallons, down
13% from the previous month, but not unusual for this time of year. Removal
rates for BOD and TSS for the period were 93.5% and 89.6%, respectively, in
compliance with the minimum 85% required for each parameter by permit. A total
of 164 cy of sludge was produced and trucked for later application to
agricultural fields. There were no bypasses or spills of plant flow. All flow
received at the plant received full treatment, and all permit requirements were
met.
Report on Audited Financial Values The Trustees reviewed a report tabulating audited values for a number of financial parameters stated over the period 2000 through 2007. The report allows evaluation of changes in reported values over time. Federal Economic Stimulus Funding The Trustees heard a report by the General Manager on progress toward a project to take advantage of federal economic stimulus funds. Project components have progressed to date as planned. Word was received late on Friday, 13 March 2009, however, that the District’s project was not among those selected for funding. With approximately $340 million of wastewater improvement projects applying, a total of $30 million of federal economic stimulus funds was made available. Projects were selected for stimulus funding on the basis of their potential for water quality improvement. Given the degree to which wastewater control has evolved to date in Brunswick, the District was not able to offer any such projects in a way that would be competitive with communities statewide that have been less progressive in their pursuit. Of 18 items included in the District’s project, five will be done without stimulus funding using budgeted resources, two will likely be recommended as appropriate for funding by use of District financial reserves, two will be planned for future construction, and nine will be deferred to a time when resources are available. Deferment of project items poses no unusual risks to the District’s ability to meet its mission. The value of work on project items developed to date will not diminish as a result of their being g g deferred.d.d. The project was to have been underwritten by proceeds of a new bond issue. The General Manager will recommend that the bond authorization process be completed, on the chance that stimulus or other funding support is made available in the future.Resolution Authorizing Sewer Bonds
The Trustees considered a resolution authorizing issue of new sewer bonds. The
resolution was prepared by Bond Counsel as a means to underwrite construction or
acquisition of items included in the District economic stimulus program. The
resolution is being considered toward the possibility that subsidized funding
for the District stimulus project may in the future become available. The issue
of new debt contemplated in the resolution is in all respects in keeping with
District Charter and other statutory requirements. IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT TO ADOPT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RESOLUTION DATED 16 MARCH 2009 AUTHORIZING SEWER BONDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,250,000. Stimulus Project Authorized Representative At the request of the General Manager, toward the possibility that subsidized funding for the District stimulus project may in the future become available, IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE SCHWINDT, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT, TO DESIGNATE THE GENERAL MANAGER AS AUTHORIZED DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE IN COORDINATING DEVELOPMENT OF A LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE MAINE MUNICIPAL BOND BANK, IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $ 2.25 MILLION, PROCEEDS OF WHICH MAY BE USED IN SUPPORT OF THE PLANNED DISTRICT 2009 ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROJECT, TO BE AMORTIZED OVER THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE PERIOD; AND AUTHORIZING ALL OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ACT EACH IN THEIR ELECTED CAPACITY AS DESCRIBED IN THE DISTRICT CHARTER AND BY-LAWS, WITH REGARD TO THE ISSUE OF DISTRICT BONDS AS COLLATERAL FOR THE LOAN AND THE EXECUTION OF THE LOAN AGREEMENT.District Goals The Trustees reviewed organization goals set for 2008 and considered goals for the current year. After discussion of the possible goals for 2009, it was consensus of the Trustees that issues targeted for attention during 2008 continue to be of interest. The General Manager was directed to present a compilation of possible goals for Board review at the next meeting.
Remarks from the Chair:
Chair Priest thanked the Trustees for their assistance. There being no further business before the Board, IT WAS MOVED BY TRUSTEE GREEN, SECONDED BY TRUSTEE BOOCHEVER, AND UNANIMOUSLY VOTED BY THE TRUSTEES PRESENT TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 9:32 P.M. Attest, Peter F. Schwindt Click here to return to top of document. Click here to return to the Board of Trustees page. Click here to return to the main page.
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