PORT EWEN WATER & SEWER BOARD MEETING
APRIL 13, 2010

The regular monthly meeting of the Port Ewen Water & Sewer Board was held on Tuesday, April 13, 2010, with the following members present:

          Donald Kiernan, Port Ewen Water & Sewer Superintendent
          Peter Koelli, Port Ewen Water & Sewer Foreman
          Douglas DeKoskie, Chairman
          Ronald Phillips
          Kevin Rentfrow
          Michael Tronolone
          Larry VanVliet

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Douglas DeKoskie at 7:30 PM.

  1. MOTION TO ACCEPT MINUTES OF MARCH 9, 2010

A MOTION WAS MADE BY KEVIN RENTFROW AND SECONDED BY RONALD PHILLIPS TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 9, 2010 MEETING.  ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.  MOTION CARRIED.

  1. BIRCHES – BLOCK HEATER INSTALLED/LEGAL

As of this date, Superintendent Kiernan has not seen the block heater.  Town attorney Paul Kellar is working on the legal aspects of the easements.  Superintendent Kiernan will request that the Esopus Town Board instruct Mr. Aaron to pay attorney Kellar once the easements are written.  Chairman Douglas DeKoskie suggested Mr. Kellar bill Mr. Aaron’s escrow account.  Superintendent Kiernan believes there is nothing left in the escrow account, but will call the Town Planning Board chair about this.  If there are no funds remaining, work on the easement should stop.  Commissioner Larry VanVliet would like it to be made clear where the power is coming from, since there is quite a distance from the pump station to the roadway.

  1. LEACHATE LETTER

Superintendent Kiernan has asked the Esopus Town Board to look over his draft letter to the City of Kingston regarding leachate.  At their meeting tonight, the Town Board has also been asked to approve the invoice from the City of Kingston for the period 07/01/09-12/31/09.  Within the next several days, Superintendent Kiernan’s letter should be sent to Kingston’s mayor.

  1. SIDEWALK REPAIRS

Superintendent Kiernan reported that there are three spots needing sidewalk repairs and a curbing and crosswalk repair on the corner of East Main Street and Broadway.

  1. FRED COOK – PHONE TAG

Superintendent Kiernan notified the board that Brian Cook will be here on April 19th to televise the lines on Clay Road, Lindorf Street and Rogers Street.  This should take a day or so to complete.

  1. EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT

Superintendent Kiernan advised the board that, effective April 30, 2010, the employee who was suspended in February will retire.  The Town Board is beginning to interview candidates, of which there are six applicants.  The prospective employee must take the Water Treatment Operator course at Ulster County Community College and pass the class.  Douglas DeKoskie asked the superintendent if he has a recommendation for this position.  Superintendent Kiernan would look for a person who is young, smart and trainable.  Commissioner Michael Tronolone inquired how long it could take the Town Board to act on this.

  1. DORIS ST P/S LETTER

Foreman Peter Koelli located the problem, which originated between 222 and 211 Doris Street.  A letter was sent to residents within these addresses; in the past two weeks there has been no problem.  Commissioner Larry VanVliet commended the foreman for a job well done.  Mr. VanVliet also asked that a letter be sent to thank those residents for their cooperation.

  1. PAYMENT OF VOUCHERS

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

  1. MISCELLANEOUS
    1. Superintendent Kiernan notified the board of a call to the corner of Marys Avenue and James Street in Connelly of sewage backing up into a washing machine.  Roots were found in the manhole and were cleaned out.
    2. Commissioner Larry VanVliet asked Superintendent Kiernan about alarms at the water treatment plant.  The superintendent has spoken with SAFECO:  There is a device that reads the water level under the plant.  He will also inquire about a panic alarm.  To Mr. VanVliet’s questions, Superintendent Kiernan replied that, yes, there are motion detectors and smoke detectors at the water treatment plant.  Mr. VanVliet asked if the high level alarms are tested regularly—once or twice a year—to which Superintendent answered that the alarms go off all the time.
    3. Commissioner Michael Tronolone inquired about the re-built pump.  Superintendent Kiernan responded that it is back on line.
    4. Superintendent Kiernan brought to the board’s attention that there were no City of Kingston contract violations during the month of March.
    5. Dyno Nobel is set to close at the end of July.  Superintendent Kiernan notified the board that the amount owed by the company for the first and second quarters of 2010 now involves late charges.
    6. Commissioner Michael Tronolone asked about the pipeline across the bridge.  Superintendent Kiernan replied that yes, the pipeline will be taken out and stored at the water garage.
    7. Commissioner Kevin Rentfrow inquired whether or not a letter to residents has been sent regarding sump pumps.  Superintendent Kiernan has not yet sent a letter, but he will do this.
    8. Superintendent Kiernan reported that bids will be going out within two weeks for well work at the water treatment plant and for the clarifier.  He responded yes to Chairman Douglas DeKoskie’s asking if this includes all ten pumps.
    9. Regarding clear wells or sewer pump stations, Commissioner Larry VanVliet asked if there are oxygen censors and explosive substance censors in place.  Superintendent Kiernan replied yes, that all safety equipment is available; clear wells and sewer pump stations are not confined spaces.
  1. ADJOURNMENT

 

A MOTION WAS MADE BY RONALD PHILLIPS AND SECONDED BY LARRY VANVLIET TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.  ALL BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION.  MOTION CARRIED.  THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:25 PM.

                                                              Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                               Gloria Meschi, Secretary, Port Ewen Water/Sewer Board