OLD LYME SHORES BEACH ASSOCIATION
WPCA
MINUTES OF MEETING
When: December 14, 2019
Where: 14 Saltaire Dr. Old Lyme, CT
Members Present: Joe Halloran, Dede DeRosa, John Cunningham, Tom Annulli, Jack Reynolds, Bob Palazzo (9:26 arrival) and Matt Merritt, ex officio
Joe Halloran called the meeting to order at 9:07 am.
- Approval of Minutes of November 23, 2019.
Tom Annulli moved approval, seconded by Dede DeRosa. Unanimous approval
- Joe Halloran opened the public hearing at 9:09 am.He introduced the primary issues to be addressed in the hearing. First, we found out that in 2012, the Board of Governors and the Association, at its Spring Meeting, had indicated that “each homeowner would be responsible for their own house’s connections.” We have recognized that the original intent in 2012, as we broadly authorized the management of this project, was that individual property owners would be responsible for hook-ups.
Kathy Costello, 35 Brightwater Road, indicated that it was unclear whether there was a mandate that each residence must hook up.
Joe Halloran closed the Public Hearing and began the regular WPCA meeting.
MOTION #1:Motion by Jack Reynolds: I move that the Old Lyme Shores WPCA shall have the authority to levy a benefit assessment for each lot benefitting from the sewer system which benefit assessment shall be for purposes of covering the cost of the design and the construction of the sewer system and such benefit assessment shall be uniformed for all lot owners in the Old Lyme Shores Beach Association.
Second: Tom Annulli.
Vote: Unanimous
Bob Palazzo joined the meeting at 9:26.
MOTION #2:Motion by Jack Reynolds, with amendments: I move that the Old Lyme Shores WPCA, consistent with the discussions from 2012 by the Board of Governors and the Beach Association and consistent with the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS), require that all home owners in the Old Lyme Beach Association shall connect or tie to the sewer system, within an established window of time, after the system is operational.
Second: Tom Annulli
Discussion indicated that this addressed Kathy Costello’s issue concerning mandatory connection to the sewer system.
Vote: Unanimous
MOTION #3: Motion by Jack Reynolds, with amendments: I move that the cost of connecting to the Old Lyme Shores Sewer System be borne by each individual homeowner, which cost shall include all work that is necessary to connect the individual homes to the bilateral pipes and that that cost include the necessary excavation for the location of such laterals. Should a homeowner fail or be unwilling to connect to and bear the cost of connection from each individual home to the sewer system, the Old Lyme Shores WPCA shall be thereafter authorized to contract with an appropriate contractor to create the lateral connection from the home to the system and to levy and have the authority to lien property for the cost of such connection, consistent with Connecticut General Statutes (CGS).
Second: Tom Annulli
Discussion addressed 1) identification of possible sources of financial assistance for homeowners to pay for those required expenses; 2) identification of qualified contractors; 3) the depth of the curb box if year round status is sought; 4) a water meter inside the house, if winterized; and 5) the approvals and inspections required for year round use.
Vote: Unanimous
Joe Halloran updated the committee on several issues.
Water: The installation of the water system before the sewer system is unusual, but has been so sequenced because the Connecticut Water Company (CWC) will install the system at no charge if done soon, because of their impending sale of the company. Since Fuss and O’Neill (F&O) is designing the water, sewer, and drainage systems, they will make design and construction as economical and as coordinated as possible.
Wells: If a residence has a well, the owners may not have to connect to the water system. There are state requirements governing wells and sewer pipes that include a 25 foot separation between well pipes and sewer pipes as well as a ten foot separation between water pipes and sewer pipes. CWC will provide free installation of pipes to CWC customers and OLSBA will pay for water laterals for non-CWC customers – those with wells. CGS and CWC policies govern most of these issues.
Storm Water Management: F&O is designing the drainage system. This includes drains in the road and curbs in places where water runoff may threaten property. Homeowners with flooding issues may be able to connect directly to drains.
Drainage to Sheffield Brook and to the Sound needs further design and Pat Burns and Bob Palazzo are working with F&O on this. DEEP has strict regulations on this and existing pipes should not be abandoned.
Roads: The Safety Committee of the Board of Governors is working with F&O on reconstruction of the roads. Efforts include reduction of crowns and identification of needed safety improvements, including “speed tables.” Plans will be brought to the 2020 annual Spring Meeting for Association approval.
The committee discussed recent decisions on Town costs to include Sound View in the sewer project, as well as easements that are needed to bring pipes from the association to the pump house. F&O has identified areas where approvals are needed. A meeting of the participating beach associations and the Town’s new administration is scheduled for December 20, 2019.
We have sent to Town a first draft of a proposed Shared Cost Agreement indicating their share of expenses and the present cost to all parties.
A motion to adjournwas made by Tom Annulli and seconded by Dede DeRosa and unanimously approved at 10:34.
Respectfully submitted,
Jack Reynolds