Minutes, News and Notes from the June 18th, 2009 Town Board Wastewater Committee Meeting:
you may also get full, approved copies of the minutes by visiting the Town Hall
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Meeting was called to order at 7:10 PM.
Supervisor Jackson led us in the Pledge to the Flag.
Board Members present were Councilwoman LaPine, Councilman LaForest, Supervisor
Jackson, Councilman Wrisley and Councilman Sayward. Also present was Audrey
Hoskins, Town Clerk.
Visitors present were Sharon Boisen and Tom Duca.
Supervisor Jackson updated the Board on the fuel tanks at the Highway Garage. We received our carthodic protection pass. The tank is nine years old and is guaranteed for twenty years under ground. Two tanks have been ordered for the oil for the furnace in the garage. There will be a sign where waste oil can dropped off. The old waste oil will be properly disposed of. We have been inspected by the EPA and the DEC. Both are satisfied with where we are now with the tanks.
Supervisor Jackson stated we will need to pay the electrical contractor working at the Grange Hall. We now have the bill. We also need to pay an insurance bill for our crime bond which is due July 1, 2009.
Bills
General Fund
Grange Hall Account 1225.00
Selective Ins. 313.00
The bills were discussed and a motion to pay bills was made by Councilwoman LaPine. Seconded by Councilman Wrisley. Roll call Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes, Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley-yes and Councilman
Sayward-yes.
Councilwoman LaPine asked that the Board discuss the mooring policy at Whallons Bay. Councilwoman LaPine had a copy of the current policy and was concerned that there was no specific information for residency and was concerned that it was thought
these permits were permanent. In the information Councilwoman LaPine has it states the permits will expire on October 31st in the year issued. Councilwoman LaPine stated that with two marinas in Essex, non residents should not be able to have a mooring at Whallons Bay. A motion was made by Councilwoman LaPine that any remaining moorings rights at Whallons Bay are to be reserved for residents and property owners in the Town of Essex at $50 per permit which may be renewed yearly.
A letter will be sent explaining the updating of our policy and this will be discussed with the Harbor Master Stan Tuller. Supervisor Jackson stated that the moorings that were there before the Harbor Law were grandfathered in.
The motion was seconded by Councilman Sayward. Roll call Councilwoman LaPine-yes, Councilman LaForest-yes, Supervisor Jackson-yes, Councilman Wrisley and Councilman Sayward-yes.
Councilman Sayward asked what specifically should the Zoning Law Committee be addressing that was a concern a concern of the Board. Supervisor Jackson stated the Portion of the Sign Ordinance was stricken out; there is a list from James Van Hoven, a list from Diane Lansing and what ever else the Committee feels needs to reviewed.
As there was no further business the Special Town Board meeting was closed at 7:33 PM.
The Wastewater Committee Meeting was called to order at 7:34 PM.
Board Members present were Councilwoman LaPine, Councilman LaForest, Supervisor Jackson, Councilman Wrisley and Councilman Sayward. Also present was Audrey Hoskins, Town Clerk.
Committee members present were Sharon Boisen and Tom Ducca.
Supervisor Jackson stated the Town needs a sewer use law and to get easements signed from the property owners in the sewer district. Supervisor received a copy of an easement from Wayne Ryan and forwarded it to Reggie Bedell to review. Supervisor Jackson stated that Lou Comeau had written one for the water district which was very good and he would get a copy of it. Wayne Ryan, AES Northeast will provide a drawing showing where the projected line will be on each property.
The sewer use law will be the bigger project. Supervisor Jackson stated he had received the NYS model one and it is 240 pages long. He stated this could be used as a reference. Supervisor Jackson received copies from several Towns of their sewer law. The shortest and in some ways a very good one came from Willsboro it is ten pages. The Willsboro Law
does not have a reference stating the sewer law supercedes any other conflicting ordinance language. Westport and Ti have this in their Law. The two things that absolutely have to be in there for Rural Development is everyone in the sewer district have to hookup and everyone has to pay the same rate for residential use.
Supervisor Jackson asked Tom Ducca work with him on getting the easements done.
Supervisor Jackson stated he would like to have a committee of three to work on the bylaws. Councilwoman LaPine, Sharon Boisen and Councilman LaForest agreed to be the Committee. Supervisor Jackson told the Committee that they could request help from anyone they needed to. Sharon Boisen asked when this project needs to be completed and Supervisor Jackson
stated by spring.
Tom Ducca asked if there was any more news on funding. Supervisor Jackson stated we are waiting to hear from Rural Development. We have the first draw down from the Pataki million. There will be two more draw downs on the Pataki million. The next one will finish the design part. Mr. Ducca asked if getting this money would affect the rest of the grants and Supervisor Jackson said no. Supervisor Jackson stated that since EFC and Rural Development are co-funding these projects and EFC has given us grant money that they would not have done so unless Rural Development was also funding the project. Everyone
is meeting with EFC on Monday at the County and if anyone wants to go they are welcome. Matt Malay will be there and he is acting chair and he is also a Pataki man who knows where the North Country is.
Dave Miller is head of Rural Development and has mentioned several times to Wayne Ryan that Essex is one of his pet projects which is encouraging. Rural Development was to announce half of their grants on June 17th which was yesterday. They have not made an announcement.
Rural Development traditionally makes you use all other monies before you can use their grants.
Supervisor Jackson stated that the easement paper work would be sent to sewer district residents with a letter. If we have not heard from them in a month then we would need to call them and ask if they have question and remind them they need to sign the easement and return it to the Town. All resident must sign and if they refuse then we will have to use eminent domain because one person can not stop this project. Ms. Boisen asked if we have to use eminent domain can we charge the legal fees back to the person who refused to sign the easement? Supervisor Jackson said he would check into this. Going door to door with the easement notices was discussed.
A field trip to a plant that AES Northeast has designed was discussed. Supervisor Jackson stated that people would have to understand that Port Henry’s plant is 10 times the size of Essex’s, the other is they did everything on the cheap and they did not enclose the tanks.
At the site of the plant it was found that the ledge is very deep and they will need to dig down and place a mat the size if the building down. Instead of the cement building it will now be a stick built because weight is very important. Supervisor Jackson still wants the building insulated even though Wayne Ryan says it is not necessary.
We have a few meters to install and Supervisor Jackson will contact Gilbert Belzile to see if he will do the job. If he is not available we will need to hire another plumber to do the work. If any meters were pulled then the homeowner is responsible to have the meters replumbed. Supervisor Jackson stated the meters have been read several times. He also stated that the meters will be checked and the resident will be given the information as to how much water they are using monthly. This information will be used to determine the sewer charges per month based on water usage. Councilman Sayward stated that we should review the rates before we start billing for the sewer. The Town will send notices to sewer resident to let them know what their charges will be based on their water usage before the first bill requiring payment is sent out to the sewer residents.
Meeting was closed at 8:15 PM.
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