DRAFT
Informational Sewer Meeting
7/14/11
The meeting was called to order at 6 PM.
Board Members present were Councilwoman LaPine, Councilman MacDougal,
Supervisor Boisen. Councilman LaForest and Councilman Wrisley arrived at 6:15 PM. Also present was Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk.
Attendees at the meeting were Jim Dougan, AES Northeast, Sally Johnson, Wayne Bailey, Rich Scheinin, Kevin Delaughter, John Ferry and Jon Hochschartner.
Jim Dougan passed around recent photos of the sewer plant. The sewer main
Contractor is doing restoration and getting the laterals as close the homes as possible. He will get as much restoration done as he can in the next two weeks.
He will return once the plant is operational to make the lateral connections.
The old septic tanks will be pumped out and collapsed and filled in.
The general contractor at the plant is very close to being done with the shell of the building. The work being done is the process piping and electrical. There will be testing of the individual systems before they are tied together. We are on schedule to start up the plant on August 31st. and connecting sewer laterals.
There have been no major change orders. We are generally within budget with all the contracts.
Tina Gardner has been training with Chip in Port Henry. She will be taking classes this fall for her certification. She has met with Todd Hodgen of AES Northeast.
John Ferry feels there is an issue with communication on the project. He feels that there is not enough notification as to when things will happen on resident’s property. Another question was what is the schedule for full restoration and what type of restoration will be done to each property. The man hole on Mr. Ferry’s property was discussed.
Jim Dougan said that property owners questions and concerns about work on their property should be brought to the Town for discussion and resolution. Jim also said that he or Tim Barber of AES are willing to meet with property owners to discuss and resolve any concerns they have.
Mr. Ferry said his driveway apron and sidewalk have been crushed by the heavy equipment and this a concern for him. Jim said this issue will be looked into.
Jim apologize and said he will try to work on better scheduling and informing property owners when work will be done on their property. Due to the number of changes on a daily basis it is not always possible to give advance notice to the property owners.
Maintenance of the manholes in the Town was discussed.
Wayne Bailey said he had tree concerns. The sewer will be operational before we leave on October 10th, so do we have to anything special for the winter months other than what I do now. Jim said no. Wayne is concerned about his tomato patch and should he stake out that area. He also lost 15 feet of stonewall.
Jim said he will meet with Wayne and go over these problems. Jim said there are photos of the yards and will check these. Wayne said the contractors are doing a great job.
Sally Johnson concerned about her plants and the hedge. The hedge was discussed and how they will get under it without disturbing the hedge when the laterals are installed if this is not feasible then we will address it at that time.
Jim Dougan will meet with Sally Johnson and Kevin DeLaughter to go over issues at their adjoining property.
Rich Scheinin asked what the procedure for tying the homes into the sewer is.
Jim said if a good portion of your land has been restored then the contractor believes he will only need small equipment to finish the hookup. The septic tank will be pumped and collapsed and filled when the lateral is hooked up. The area will be restored as soon as possible. How lateral hookups will be done was discussed. Mr. Scheinin had questions about the hydro seed. Supervisor Boisen was told if the home owner waters the seed it will grow. Jim said that at the end of Orchard Street trees will be planted. A barrier will be put in; we hope to use rocks for this. The sewer equipment there will be covered by landscaping.
Councilman LaForest said he was concerned about the swail that has been put in and the difference between where it stops and the road begins. Councilman LaForest said he would like to meet with Jim Dougan to go over the contract on this. Tony LaVigne, Essex Co. Highway Superintendent, has told Supervisor
Boisen that this must come up to the edge of the road. Jim Dougan said that is not the way it was before. The County did not have it there before. If the Town wants it done then we will tell the contractor he needs to do this. If it is the County’s request then they will need to be responsible for the cost since it was not there to begin with. This area has not been maintained by the County for years. Supervisor Boisen said that Mr. LaVigne admitted that fact.
The shimming of the road by Sally Johnson’s was discussed.
Amendment # 13 was discussed. This is for the sewer plant operations and maintance manual. Jim Dougan, ASE Northeast said he would get more information on the manual and bring it to the next sewer meeting.
Jim Dougan said he would bring a budget update for the Board in August.
As no further business was brought to the Board the meeting was adjourned at 7:04 PM.
Respectfully submitted Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk