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Sewer Commission 05/08/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
Take a fascinating journey underground as we explore the critical infrastructure keeping our community functioning smoothly! The May 8th Sewer Commission meeting reveals the remarkable behind-the-scenes work that ensures reliable wastewater service throughout our town.
The spotlight shines on exciting technological innovations, particularly the installation of a new pump featuring a redesigned air release system. This cutting-edge improvement addresses a persistent challenge with the previous system, which was prone to clogging and could trigger costly repairs. Our town has been selected as one of several "test mules" for this promising advancement, demonstrating our commitment to infrastructure excellence. Early results already suggest this innovation will enhance reliability while reducing maintenance expenses.
Beyond new technology, the meeting highlights the department's impressive maintenance accomplishments: servicing 68 pumps and 27 generators, scheduling wetwell cleaning, and replacing odor control media. These essential tasks may go unnoticed by residents, but they're critical to maintaining seamless operations. The superintendent also provided comprehensive updates on multiple construction projects affecting our community, including gas main relocations, water main replacements, and road improvement projects that require coordination with the sewer department.
Financial responsibility remains a priority, with the board approving a carefully managed budget with just a 1.87% increase from last year. Several town warrant articles relate to the sewer department, ensuring transparency in how your tax dollars support this vital infrastructure. Whether you're curious about municipal operations, interested in infrastructure technology, or simply want to understand where your money goes, this episode offers valuable insights into the systems we all rely upon daily.
Subscribe to stay informed about the essential services keeping our community flowing smoothly! Share your thoughts and questions about municipal infrastructure in the comments section below.
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Good evening. I call a monthly meeting of the Board of Super Commissioners to order at 6 pm. On this lovely day of the 8th of May I would like to do the first call is usually for minutes and we can do that and then we can get into reorganization. All right, I want to let the people out there that Mr Joseph Pickle, our vice chair of our committee, is on the telephone. He's in.
Speaker 1:Denver, colorado. He's at the end of our sewer pipe. He wants to see if it's making its way across country. This is real official sewer business. All right, joseph. Official sewer business, very good, very good. All right, joseph. What do you got right there? Anybody have a comment about the minutes? I looked them over. They look good to me. The minutes also look good to me. Would you like that in the form of a motion?
Speaker 2:Well, we usually do a motion.
Speaker 1:Mr Bickle, you just motioned to accept the minutes.
Speaker 1:Mr Kelleher, I will say he was second. All those in favor aye, aye. Three over. Okay, now the housekeeping, which is reorganization, which I believe is. It's never written in the bylaw as such, but it is. Every time we have an election there is always a possibility of a new member or they want to reorganize the board. So I opened the meeting because I'm the senior member. That's the qualification for this, senior member, that's the qualification for this, and I will entertain nominations for chairman. I'll nominate Joseph Bettencourt for chairman. I agree with that. I'll second it. Oh, motion made and seconded. He made it, he seconded it and thank you for your trust. And yes, and I will accept it. Thank you for being retired. The town couldn't afford to pay me the hour to wait. All those in favor Aye, aye, aye. It's a 3-0 vote that Mr Bettencourt is chairman. Now for vice chair. I'd like to nominate Joe Bickle for vice chair. Mr Joseph, would you accept? I do. I second the motion. All those in favor?
Speaker 1:Aye, aye, you accept all right now we're down to no correspondence. A superintendent's report Rob will get you one so that you can look at it.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 1:As you can hear them and but you can look at it when you get up back. I missed the pictures. Yeah, I got a few for you.
Speaker 2:Superintendent's report from May 8, 2025. Under 2025, under department operations, we have had four connections to the sewer system since our last meeting. Um, the guys have now completed changing all bearing and seal oils and all the gormerow pumps, so 68 in total were serviced. 27 generators have also now been serviced. That that excludes the seven new generators and also excludes the one at Route 44, which, as I had mentioned, we have a craft power service on.
Speaker 2:Wetwall cleaning is scheduled to start the first week of June. That's an annual thing that we do typically this time of year Go around and have a vacuum truck vacuum out all the debris and sludge that ends up in the wetwall. So that will be starting, as I mentioned, first week of June. Replacement charcoal media for the Route 44. Odor control unit arrived yesterday. We will be scheduling a dumpster for disposal and replacement of the old media. Typically we get like a year and a half out of that media. It's right around that time. And what happens when it starts to go bad? It gives like an off smell. Actually We've had calls from the fire department about a cocaine smell, but it's usually that, yeah, correct In that area investigating.
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 2:Both Sean and Chris left for Ohio today. Returning later tomorrow they will be touring the plant where the Glenrock pumps are made. They will also be obtaining some training on diagnosing and repairing of the pumps In Gorma Rupp's testing and training room. They get a pretty elaborate system over there with training and the swaying. They basically build all the pumps in-house and the control panels and everything do it all in-house.
Speaker 2:The new pump from Gummerup has been installed and we received that reported that to you last month that it had been received. I've been told that the pump runs and sounds really nice and the pump. This pump has a newly revised air release system which is designed to reduce clogging and ring prime issues. The old system utilized a one inch pipe and valve which had a potential to clog up with debris, not allowing the pump to purge the air and resulting in a pump failure and, in turn of that, resulting in a carload floor repair. The new system, while it utilizes a one inch pipe for air and wipes water run through, it's designed to keep large, larger degrees contained within the pump. This pump is currently in the testing phase, so we were at the opportunity to actually grab one of these from Gormerup and we're kind of a test mule for them. Multiple towns, I guess in cities, were getting a chance to do that, so luckily we were able to get one.
Speaker 2:You'll see that picture on the bottom right. That's the old pump with the piping disassembled and it's basically just about ready to be taken off of that skid. The pump is in the background on a dolly, so they slid it over, so that went on to the pump skid. Picture on the right shows it being bolted all back together on your second page. So that's a picture on the left. That's the old air release system. So that's still on the other existing pump. That's there. Basically that was a bypass again for the air to be relieved and there's a rubber diaphragm in there and when the water started to come through the pump it would push on that rubber diaphragm and close the valve.
Speaker 2:But as I mentioned, they were very prone to clogging up and on the right is a new pump installed, fully installed, and you'll see, on the top of that pump there's a little different type of mechanism. That is the new style air release. I believe the design of that is that pretty much any debris that tries to get up in there basically drops back into the pump. So far, so good. We haven't had any issues with clogging, so it seems to be something that's going to work well for us. The upper generator project Timeborne has developed a punch list for this project. The contractor will be returning next Monday to start addressing those items on the punch list. They expect to be complete by the end of next week. As mentioned last meeting, the photographer had taken pictures of our eight surplus generators which would be put up for auction on GovDeals. You remember we have seven that were changed out. We also had another one that was sitting out back from an old project that's been sitting out here for probably five years. I have not received any further information on the auction date yet. The highway and cemetery departments both have some items which will be listed as well.
Speaker 2:Route 44 pump control project. The recommendation to award was issued to the low bid contractor, far river electric. This was done after our meeting last month. I have now received the contract project contracts from time gone for signature. They sit on the table in front of you. I had not received a proposal from Tying Born for construction oversight for the project. This is listed on the agenda but will have to be tabled. I did not receive that today. Route 138 construction.
Speaker 2:The gas company still continues with their work with the gas main relocation. Currently the crew located south of Route 495 is working in the Carver Street intersection. I believe they're probably attaching the main from the new main onto Carver Street. They will also be replacing an old steel main across Broadway and down Sylvain Street. I believe they started on some of that a couple days ago with half of the work being done on Broadway where they shut one lane down, and they'll be shutting the other lane down to get through Broadway and then continuing down Sylvain. The second crew continues with their work on the north side of Route 495 with service line connections, today working on the service at the mobile gas station near the intersection of Elm Street and Bridge Street.
Speaker 2:Third page is Britain Street Water Main. The North Rainham Water District is currently replacing the Water Main on Britain Street from King Phillip Street up to and across Broadway. Our department has been involved with mock-outs and assisting the contractor with manual opening. The low-bid contractor is Selco Construction. We're familiar with Selco. They've done multiple phases of sewer construction in town. Phase 3, I believe, is on the phase 6.
Speaker 2:Rainham Highway Department projects the highway department project on Mill Street is getting back on track projects and the highway apartment project on Mill Street is getting back on track. The TMLP has not relocated utility poles and is working on moving wires along with Clump Castle and Verizon. I believe. As of today the TMLP's wires are presently moved and just waiting on Clump Castle and Verizon.
Speaker 2:Now the next step, once the poles are removed the old poles that is they will be cutting the grade down at the crest of the hill in the area of the American Legion, along with roadway widening for sidewalks. The sewer department will be involved with extending two six inch sewer service laterals once the road is cut down. So right now what's going to happen is the stubs don't extend quite far enough onto the property. So once they widen that road or make room for that sidewalk, we're going to be under under the roadway. So we're going to have to extend it probably about 10 feet to get it into the property, and that is for the two houses that are across the street from um the american region. The new ones, the new ones, yeah, the new ones, yeah, that work is scheduled to start on.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry, let's get the sentence here the highway department also has some roadway resurfacing projects in the queue Down the street east will be milled and resurfaced, starting at Route 138 working up to Scott Drive. That work is scheduled to start next week. Howell Street, ian Street and Robinson Street areas will be getting chip sealed. That work is scheduled to start soon although they have some started some leveling on those particular areas on Hall Street, ann Street and Robinson Street. It levels some of the depressions in the road. We will have a couple manholes that we need to reset over there as well. Our involvement in those projects will be with the sewer manhole frame and cover grade adjustments in replacing of any damaged or worn frames and colors, as usual when they do a road carpet. We're also going to be going back out onto Center Street. We have a couple manholes after they did the paving that are a little low. We've had a complaint from one of the residents over on Center about the trucks going over it and really causing some noise and he said it vibrates his house. So I was speaking with Norm over at the highway department and he's got a contractor coming in as part of this, this other work that's being done and we're going to address with them west pine estates, again formerly known as layla. The road work on pine street is scheduled to start next week. A bypass road has been put in for one of the residents at the end to get to and from their home while this work is being done. So there's one house, as you're probably familiar with, down the very end of Bullock property, and so they need to have a bypass road to be able to get to and from their house.
Speaker 2:The next phase of the development will be in front of the Planning Board on Thursday, may 15th, at the next Thursday. This next phase includes the addition of 15 blocks plus 10 lots along Pine Street. This was included in the the review that time, one day for us for these projects on that way, when they did look at the original label so that it was included, that number was included in them. Annual time meeting. The annual time meeting was scheduled for May 19th at the Rainier Middle School. There will be 37 articles on the warrant, three of which submitted by the School Commission, two others relating to this department but submitted by the selectmen, and actually one other on top of that submitted by the finance director. That's all I got for you. Do you know what the articles are that relate to us?
Speaker 1:Yes, I'll talk to them when we get to that on the agenda. Okay, well, thank you, rob. Thank you, as usual, you keep us well informed of what's happening.
Speaker 2:Thank you, rob. You're welcome. New business tie and bond. Like the table lap. I didn't receive it, either that or Dan's doing it for free. I guess I just didn't get a contract on it.
Speaker 1:That's very nice. So thank you. Will they start working with your word that it's okay.
Speaker 2:The work won't start quite yet. Anyways, they basically have to wait for the contract to run all the supplies, but they're doing the submittal reviews and all that.
Speaker 1:Okay, so there's no rush. No Okay, old business.
Speaker 2:Yep, so we have an update to our budget. It's a change to our budget. This is related to contract negotiations between the Sewer Union and the Well, this is the document.
Speaker 2:Yep. So you'll see. I believe I highlighted it on your papers. $3,091,448 is what our budget will be presented as. On article 7 in the water, this is a reduction due to the fact that, when I can't when I originally proposed my budget to you, I was carrying three percent, not knowing what they were going to be getting for a contract reason. So they had to take that back out because the contract was not agreed upon yet and, from what greg bonds tells me, the updated contract needs to be ratified at town meeting.
Speaker 2:So we're going to have two articles related to the budget again. Article seven, on the warrant, will be for three million ninety one thousand four hundred forty eight dollars. Um, article eight is going to be for fourteen thousand nine hundred sixteen dollars. That's the difference in the contract for the sewer unit. So our total budget after that will be three million one hundred and six thousand three hundred and sixty four. It's a one point eight, seven percent increase from last year. It is from our last approved budget where we increased it due to health insurance costs and also retirement costs. We had to increase it because we had gotten the numbers from the town hall Going back the other way. Now we've reduced it $2,662. So we're going from 3-109-026, which is what we voted on last meeting, down to $3,106,364 after the $14,916 is added in Coincidentally.
Speaker 2:this was when I presented my first budget to you, before the adjustments were made by the Tom Hall. For Health in retirement, I was at $3,106,346, which is only an $18 difference from what we are now. So we were pretty close on that. First. Try and do better, Right? When I looked at that number, I was like I'm doing something wrong here. I couldn't believe it at first. So, that's where we stand on the budget. Again, total budget after that $14,916 would be $3,106,364. I'm not sure if you guys would like to vote on that.
Speaker 1:Well, we voted a budget subject to change, because we don't control all of the numbers, and we voted a budget and it's been adjusted and the difference is minuscule.
Speaker 2:but what's the new? Total 3,106,364.
Speaker 1:3,106,364. 364.
Speaker 2:3,106,364. 364. And again, that will be after that's adding the second out of it.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, that's our total budget. Yes, okay, well, I'll entertain a motion to accept the new total budget of 3, one hundred and six thousand three sixty four. Second any further discussion being that, all those in favor, all right, I will make a comment. The difference is make a comment. The difference is you cannot put in an estimated amount for operating on a contract negotiation. You have to wait till the number is finally made. And this is the same thing that's done, except we're not going to go to a special town meeting just to raise $14,000 to pay the bill, like they do with the police, the fire and the highway, when they can't get them contracts done before they create it. Nothing unusual. How many-year contract.
Speaker 2:That is a three-year contract, three-year contract. You won't have that problem next year. You can't forecast it exactly Right, it'll be two, two and two on the contract. One thing I did forget to mention is, as a result of that, decreased the indirect cost from $1,000 again as well. So our indirect cost is now 121 143 well, we voted that in the bottom line. Uh, yes, and the bottom line is included in that. It's in the bottom line, so that's not a problem, okay, uh.
Speaker 1:Route 44 pump control project contract yep so that's in front of you.
Speaker 2:Uh, we can sign that later. You can look at it now. And there's one line.
Speaker 1:Does it require all signatures? No, it just requires one signature.
Speaker 2:It's just a standing contract. I could sign that, or the chairman could sign that, but that's one line item. I then have to go get it signed by Chris Labulapsit stating that the funds are available.
Speaker 1:Okay, it just finds it only needs a signature. Yes, you can sign it as long as we authorize it. Correct, yes, and is yours? Shall we cover that? Not quite Well, I'll maybe tack yours on as well. You'll have to make a donation. Well, if I think that we got to authorize superintendent to enter into the contract for us at the town for that new contract, that motion, joe. Is that motion joe? Yes, sir, seconded motion by mickle, seconded by keller. All those in favor, aye, unanimous vote, 3-0 that the superintendent will sign this contract for the route 44 pump control project emergency business.
Speaker 2:So we have them and I wanted to go over if I 26, weren't you guys? That was actually on the budget as well, if you saw that part two there, that little business, yeah, so this is the town Warren, as you know. This is the town warrant, as you know.
Speaker 1:Just wanted to show you what this is the new town warrant.
Speaker 2:This is the town. Now this is labeled as a draft, but there's only one correction in there related to us.
Speaker 1:Okay, this article seven is our budget Right? Is that going to be marked in there on everybody's warrant?
Speaker 2:Mine is marked it scratched 726 909 that's a typo right there, so this is going to be the new number.
Speaker 1:Okay, but it will be on. It won't be what like it, like this and not going to change it.
Speaker 2:All right, no, no, this is the corrected yes, and the result on the bottom doesn't change that. They just uh yeah, okay, when they printed it, they, they, uh. The result on the bottom doesn't change they, just when they printed it, they typed it in.
Speaker 1:Slippery finger. Article 8 is the increase because of the Yep, and he's taking it from the right place the revenues as compared to retained earnings. Okay, submitted by the Board of Selectmen, yep, all right. Article 11.
Speaker 2:that's for you, that's for my bed rent reserve, fund us. This is pay us or death for the past product or expansion.
Speaker 1:That's coming out of betterment fund, right so?
Speaker 2:it's a portion comes out of bed and then a portion comes out of out of tax agency. Yes, but they always do get to us to. Okay, I will account. Yeah, that's the time account and something to do with. I'm not sure what he's doing there.
Speaker 1:He's doing something and I'm just mentioning because it's related to sewer debt're from bond premiums for payment is that which 24,000 will be available after appropriation? They need another seven. Oh, they're giving it back to us. Sounds like it's being reduced. Yeah, that was my impression. Okay, so they carried a number again that was reduced. That's number three. Article 21 is for.
Speaker 1:Transfer 125, sewer Enterprise Retain Engines for the Truck. And is that the last one? That's that, okay, so this is the budget and the draft. I mean the warrant and draft form. Okay, I know you had a part with that and you did a very good job participating in it. Thank you, okay. No emergency, no, and you did a very good job participating in it. Thank you, okay. Uh, no emergency, no, no commission report. Uh, mr, bed court, go ahead. I just wanted to mention do we want to discuss rescheduling next month's meeting? Well, I had, I had that ready to come, okay, okay, uh, do you know if you're going to be around for June 12th? Because you're 12th works for me, mr. Mr pickle had mentioned to this, to what's lost, that he would be out of town and June 12th is the second thursday. Does it want?
Speaker 2:to go forward? Or what did we do with the game before? Were we not until?
Speaker 1:wednesday. I'm sorry, jim, did you want to change it by a week or by a day? Oh, I thought we would be, yeah. Yeah, I was wide open the day prior, the wednesday night instead of thursday night that should be fine for me. So you were going to have a conflict with that anyway. The 12th, no, no, the 12th was good for me okay, but also the 11th, are we? Looking. Are we looking at anything dramatic?
Speaker 2:coming in in june. I know of nothing right now. I don't know if we might see that Pine Street project in front of us at that point. I haven't heard anything about it. I'm just thinking it doesn't go in front of the planning board, but it may not be. They may be a week later or a month later.
Speaker 1:I'm not sure what their schedule is with this, we could do what we're doing today, joe, or we just let you have your business meeting without any interruption. There's nothing in particular coming up on the agenda, but if you did, would it be difficult to move it to a Wednesday?
Speaker 2:three days should be fine and post on Monday. Yeah, can you post on Monday? Yeah, okay, not a holiday, right.
Speaker 1:I don't no the 18th is the holiday. We're going to do it on Wednesday, the 12th, the 11th. Okay, letting people know via cable show that next month's meeting is going to be on June 11th. It's a Wednesday, that's a day earlier than we normally would do it, but we will be back in July on the Thursdays, so that's a decision we all agree upon.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, before the week it gets rather late in the month.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, all right. For a week it gets rather late in the month. Yeah, yeah, okay. So now we're down to public forum. Nobody here, press time nobody's here. Today was a lovely day. The weather was beautiful. I know we're going to get rain, because we can't have two days in a row like that. Can't have that. That being said, we will see you on June 11th at 6 pm. It's a Wednesday. I will entertain a motion to adjourn for the purpose of doing administrative work only. So moved, second Moved by Mr Bickel, seconded by Mr Kelleher. All those in favor, aye, aye, aye. We are adjourned at 6.28 pm. Thank you so very much.