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1997-02-10 PH02/10/97 P.H. An adjourned Public Hearing was held by the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger on February 10, 1997 at the Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls, New York on the proposed Local Law amending Local Law #2 of the Year 1985, Local Law #5 of 1988, and Local Law #4 of 1995 with respect to the establishment of water rates in the Fleetwood Water District. SUPERVISOR SMITH called the adjourned Public Hearing to order at 7:30 P.M. Present: Constance Smith, Supervisor Joseph Ruggiero, Councilman Robert Valdati, Councilman Vincent Bettina, Councilman June Visconti, Councilwoman Elaine H. Snowden, Town Clerk Others Present: Albert Roberts, Attorney to the Town Jay Paggi, Engineer to the Town Graham Foster, Highway Superintendent SUPERVISOR SMITH recognized Maryanne Cuccia, Barbara Lane, wished to know how the Town came up with $10K for the trucking of water to Fleetwood. Mike Tremper of Cama Pollution explained how they reached that figure. Joe Almena, Fleetwood Drive, asked why the Highway truck could not be put into use to truck the water to Fleetwood in order to save money. SUPERVISOR SMITH explained the truck must be clean and certified, and only used to transport water. It would then have to lay idle, and Highway does not have a truck to leave idle. There are stringent rules and regulations by the Health Department regarding the trucking of water. Mr. Schuder asked the Board what they were going to do about this situation. SUPERVISOR SMITH responded, that tonight is leave the minimum to 14,143 gallons, at $35 and raise it $2.50 for anything over that. We just had an analysis done at the Atlas Water that we purchased in 1990, and we are looking at three or four options, one being hooking into Fishkill, piping water from Atlas down. Engineer to the Town, Jay Paggi will give us a report on Wednesday. We are looking at numbers; as far as a definite solution tonight, we don't have a definite solution, we are looking into that. There will be public information meetings, once we come up with something, then it still must go to Audit and Control. Mr. Shweitz of Kretch Circle reminded Mrs. Smith, that at the last meeting she said she was going to write to the Governor regarding Fund Money. SUPERVISOR SMITH explained, we did apply to be a participant in the Bond Act, as well as the State Revolving Fund which offers a low rate of interest. We have not heard anything. We have looked several places for Grants. COUNCILMAN 1 02/10/97 P.H. BETTINA addressed the problem of water discoloration, and concurred with the residents, he would not wish to drink it. He did talk to the Engineer to the Town, Jay Paggi, and was informed that the water is certified with the Health Department. At this time COUNCILMAN BETTINA asked Mr. Paggi to address this subject. At the last Public Hearing, Mr. Tavares brought in a sample of his water, that was discolored, and said it was due to the lining of the storage tank, sitting and then chlorinated, and then the tank rusted out. As Mr. Paggi explained, the fact of the matter is, these minerals are in the water in the ground. There is iron, manganese, sulfur, and a number of positively charged ions and metals down there. When you chlorinate it, which must be done, it oxidizes these metals. It brings them to be visually seen, and smells. When they are oxidized, the manganese forms a black oily precipitant that you see on your plumbing fixtures, tubs, sinks, etc. The iron is a more orange precipitant that you will see on Tee shirts. The sulfur, you will smell. It has nothing to do with the lining of the atmospheric storage facility, it has to do with the minerals that are in the water that are in the ground. If we did not have to chlorinate, this problem would not be as evident, but those minerals would still be there. Fifteen years ago we were able to apply for a waiver of chlorination. They stopped that twelve years ago. It is a state law that we must chlorinate and carry a residual. By putting in the 62K gallon tank we gave the operator the ability to monitor the chlorination. The source for the new water exhibits a certain amount of the same problems we have in Fleetwood, however the report that you will be getting on Wednesday recognizes that and although the limits for iron and manganese are well under the state maximum contaminate level they are not under the practically detectable level. It is Mr. Paggi's recommendation that the new water source be filtered for both iron and manganese and hardness removal. That water will hopefully flow down to Fleetwood and other water districts in the Town. For a while, because of the coatings that has lined these pipes in these water districts, they may experience the problem. With the ability to provide an abundance of water to that district, CAMO will be able to aggressively flush the district, therefore removing this lining of the pipe. Right now we don't have water to drink, therefore we don't have water to flush the district, so they have stopped flushing. Mr. Paggi also went on to explain how the inside of the pipe was cleaned. Mr. Paggi also explained where the water would come from and how it would be done. His report indicated that he Town could pump, in a drought condition, 2.26 million gallons per day out of the Atlas Well field. We will take soil samplings, and from that, we will chose our best five sites and they will be our five production wells. We also anticipate KJ 02/10/97 P.H. the development of the Rockingham source. We have developed one new well recently, and we hope to replace the two antiquated existing wells with one new well. When we sum these all up, we anticipate about 2400 gallons per minute, safe yield from these sites. Residents asked Mr. Paggi, what kind of a time frame would all this take place. Mr. Paggi said that they would prioritize fazes with the greatest needs, if, and when the district was authorized by the State Controllers office, and that does not happen over night. Once the district is authorized, and the Bond Resolution is passed, he would anticipate eighteen months. At this time, COUNCILMAN VALDATI asked, would leaving the flat rate at $35 and increasing the fee for overage, guarantee that there would be enough revenues generated by overage users, to fund this district properly. Mr. Paggi replied, if the base rate was maintained at $35, and the base budget was $35K you would need to raise approximately $10K in overage charges. Right now we generate approximately $4K in overage charges, so the rate would go from $1 to $2.50. If through reduction in usage by families, the overage amount was reduced, then the moneys realized from the overage charges would similarly be reduced and the $35K would not be realized. $35 per quarter generates approximately $25.8K. You would then need to generate $10K in overage charges. Historically, based on the last four year analysis you would do it. If all of a sudden through conservation, decreased by 25%, then that amount would be similarly decreased. The residents also wished to know the numbers of trucks loads that delivered water to Fleetwood, and Mr. Tremper of CAMO informed them 35 truck loads between June 1996 and September 1996. The year before, we had over 78 truck loads. On the subject of Grants, SUPERVISOR SMITH explained when you read in the paper that other municipalities receive CD or other funds, we don't get as much because we are told that Wappinger is to effluent. Mrs. Smith also explained to the residents that all money is strictly regulated, we could not take Highway funds except for Highway expenses. Pat Glinn of Fleetwood Condos wished to know how the Condos were billed for water. Engineer to the Town Jay Paggi went on to explain how they were billed. Residents also wished to know if the Town could get other quotes to truck in the water. Mr. Tremper answered, yes, he could. Residents also vented their frustration of filtering water, paying for filters, paying for the taxes afterward, and then receive a letter raising their rates. Mr. Incoronato suggested, in the quarterly billings, give the residents a thumbnail sketch update of what's going on in the district and what's going on with the rates, followed by a semi-annual informational hearing. SUPERVISOR SMITH wished to thank everyone for attending the meeting, and informed the residents that we are going to try 3 02/10/97 P.H. to keep the $35 minimum for 14,143 gallons. We are going to raise the rates from $1 per 1000 gallons to $2.50. Residents said if you raise the water, their sewer price would also be raised, and nothing has been accomplished at this meeting. Comptroller, Ann Buckley went on to explain to the residents, sewer rates would not be affected at this time. SUPERVISOR SMITH informed the residents that we could not do anything until we had another Public Hearing. She would have to make it a month from now because she would need that much time to pull peoples bills and figure things out. We are not voting on anything tonight. Mr. Kampfer of Kretch Circle wished to know when the residents could expect a solution to this problem. COUNCILMAN VALDATI replied, Engineer to the Town, Jay Paggi said, once we get approval from the State Controllers office, he feels that eighteen months should be a reasonable time frame. Residents suggested forming a water district right now to spread the cost with developing this additional water supply to that water district. Engineer to the Town, Jay Paggi went on to explained why it could not be done. Attorney to the Town Al Roberts, informed Supervisor Smith, the only thing she could now, was have a Public Informational Meeting to determine what the residents wished to do. Existing rates are in place and they can be billed based on the earlier Local Law for the first quarter. Then whatever increase may be needed can be adjusted for the second, third, and fourth quarter. SUPERVISOR SMITH announced that there would be a Public Information Meeting on February 24th at 7:00 P.M. There were no other questions or comments. COUNCILMAN BETTINA moved to close the Public Hearing, seconded by Mrs. Visconti, and Unanimously Carried. The Public Hearing closed at 8:45 P.M. Elaine H. Snowden Town Clerk 9