PORT EWEN WATER & SEWER BOARD MEETING

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

 

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Port Ewen Water & Sewer Board was held on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, with the following members in attendance:

 

          Donald Kiernan, Port Ewen Water & Sewer Superintendent

          Peter Koelli, Port Ewen Water & Sewer Foreman

          Ronald Phillips

          Kevin Rentfrow

          Michael Tronolone

          Larry VanVliet

 

Absent was Board chairman Douglas DeKoskie.  Absent was Donna McAuley, Liaison from the Esopus Town Board, who was attending a Town Board Workshop meeting.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:31 PM by acting chairman Ronald Phillips.

 

  1. MOTION TO ACCEPT MINUTES OF AUGUST 9, 2011

 

A MOTION WAS MADE BY LARRY VAN VLIET AND SECONDED BY KEVIN RENTFROW TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 9, 2011 MEETING.  ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.  MOTION CARRIED.

 

  1. FEMA/SEMO  -  FINAL PAYMENTS NOT UNTIL SPRING 2012

 

Superintendent Kiernan reported to the Board that it may be spring, 2012 before the Town receives final reimbursement from FEMA/SEMO.  He received an e-mail from Frank Ferro regarding this.

 

  1. VIOLATION LETTERS OUT 7/27/11  -  90 DAYS

 

Three homeowners have responded and complied with the violation letter sent out in July.  Foreman Koelli has inspected two of the three properties.  Six homeowners have not yet replied to the violation letter; they have until October 27, 2011 to do so.  Superintendent Kiernan advised the Board that two Avon Park homeowners need warning letters sent to them, which he will mail.

 

 

  1. FOREMAN REPORTS

 

Foreman Koelli’s weekly reports are included with this month’s agenda for the Board’s review.

 

  1. BIRCHES  -  EASEMENTS  -  NO WORD

 

Superintendent Kiernan reported to the Board that there is no word on the easements as yet.

 

  1. BUDGETS 2012

 

Superintendent Kiernan notified the Board that there is no bond payment due next year, so the water and sewer budgets will go down.  In April, 2012 there is a $12,000.00 interest payment on the bond.

 

  1. SEWER OVERFLOWS/PROBLEMS TROPICAL STORM IRENE

 

In ten days we received fourteen inches of rain—7.1 inches in one day from tropical storm Irene, reported Superintendent Kiernan.  The plant was flooded and water surrounded the plant.  There was a mudslide north of the water treatment plant; the road collapsed at 150 River Road.  No boil water notices were issued.  Turbidity levels were at +1,000.  We may be one or two readings above.  Our overflows were reported to the Department of Conservation and the paperwork has been submitted.  During this time our contract with the City of Kingston was not violated.  There were some problems with generators, and a pump was lost at the Sleightsburg pump station.  The Canal Street pump station had power.  There were pump station problems at Doris Street; that generator needs to be replaced with a natural gas generator (which will be smaller and quieter).  There were also problems at the Rondout Harbor and Connelly pump stations.

 

  1. PAYMENT OF VOUCHERS

 

A MOTION WAS MADE BY KEVIN RENTFROW AND SECONDED BY LARRY VAN VLIET TO APPROVE THE MONTHLY VOUCHERS FOR PAYMENT.  ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.  MOTION CARRIED. 

 

  1. PROPANE BIDS 1.5435 TO 1.9733

 

Superintendent Kiernan advised the Board that the price of propane is increasing by forty-three cents per gallon.  The Town Board will be approving this on September 15th.  It is advantageous for our department to bid this out ourselves, since we use about 16,000 gallons of propane.  Commissioner Larry VanVliet asked when the new price goes into effect; Superintendent Kiernan replied, October 1st.

 

  1. MISCELLANEOUS 
  1. Commissioner Larry VanVliet inquired about reconciling petty cash.  Superintendent Kiernan replied that receipts are kept and attached.
  2. Commissioner Kevin Rentfrow asked about the status of solar.  Superintendent Kiernan has spoken with Mr. Randolph.
  3. Commissioner Ronald Phillips questioned if Central Hudson has returned to address the fifty-foot lights at the water plant.  Superintendent Kiernan replied, no.  The gutters have been completed, however, and the superintendent has the invoice.
  4. Commissioner Larry VanVliet inquired about the electrician checking out a surge pump at the water treatment plant; Superintendent Kiernan replied that the prevailing wage is $95.00 per hour.
  5. Commissioner Michael Tronolone asked about the shelf life of off-road diesel fuel; Foreman Koelli replied that once a year the tank is filled; however, during the days of the storms, KOSCO came every day to top off the tank. 
  1. ADJOURNMENT

 

A MOTION WAS MADE BY MICHAEL TRONOLONE AND SECONDED BY RONALD PHILLIPS TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.  ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.  MOTION CARRIED.  THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:00 PM.

 

                                                              Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                              Gloria Meschi, Secretary

                                                              Port Ewen Water & Sewer Board