Link to Meeting Minutes –> OLS WPCA MAY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
OLD LYME SHORES WPCA QUARTERLY BOARD MEETING – UNAPPROVED
MAY 26, 2022 7:30PM VIA ZOOM
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:35pm by WPCA Chairman, Al Roy. In attendance:
Tom Annuilli, John Cunningham, Dede DeRosa, Al Roy, Matt Merritt (ex-officio). Absent: Sue Mahoney, Bob Palazzo.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Al Roy asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the WPCA Board Meeting held on February 16, 2022. Tom Annuilli made the motion, Dede DeRosa seconded. Minutes approved.
TREASURER’S REPORT – Tom Annuilli
Tom Annuilli provided the board with the end-April financial statements which are attached to these minutes. Tom pointed out that accrued interest for the state loan and the OLS portion of the shared infrastructure has been trued up. The accrued amount for ineligible expenses (approximately $64,000) has also been accrued. Originally this amount was to be accrued and paid once the project was underway and we secured private borrowing to cover the ineligible expenses in total. Since the project has now been significantly delayed, we need to pay these engineering expenses sooner rather than later.
The current accumulated project expense per household stands at $4,613.
Al Roy thanked Tom for keeping such complete records since project inception.
Matt Merritt reminded the board that a line item number for the WPCA will be needed for the overall OLS budget for the next fiscal year.
SEWER PROJECT STATUS – Al Roy
As previously reported the project is currently on hold and no new expenses will be incurred until we reach a clear direction on the project.
All work since obtaining a one year extension in January on loan repayment from the State of CT has been primarily focused on pursuing additional funding:
We are actively working with our 3 partners and for purposes of applying for grants are applying under the banner of “Old Lyme Shared Municipal Sewer Project” as most grants require a full functioning, fully staffed municipality.
We have applied for a Community Project Grant aka STAG (State and Tribal Assistance Grant) for the entirety of the shared infrastructure portion of the project, $14M. Should get an update next week on the status.
The Town of Old Lyme has received $2.1M from the American Rescue Plan which can be applied to COVID related delays. We have submitted a request for $280k from this program and should get an update in two weeks.
We have petitioned DEEP to increase our cost sharing grant amount from our current 25% grant/75% loan to 50% grant. DEEP administers their program on behalf of the EPA and were told that the grant amount could be increased if sufficient hardship is demonstrated.
Finally, there is a meeting scheduled on May 31st with Mark Boughton who has been appointed Senior Advisor for CT Infrastructure and could assist with American Rescue Plan funding and could also provide assistance on working with DEEP. Also seeking a meeting with the DEEP Commissioner.
OVERVIEW OF OLS RESIDENT SURVEY AND WPCA HISTORY – John Cunningham
John reviewed a presentation of significant results from the survey that was conducted among OLS residents in April and also provided a historical context of the WPCA led project, timeline and milestones to date. The presentation can be viewed by clicking the link below:
May WPCA Meeting Survey & Historical Overview
In addition, the following links to more extensive data were made available to all residents:
Summary Data Presentation
Collected Responses by Question
Summary Conclusions from Survey Results
Recap of WPCA History and Decision to Adopt Sewers
UPCOMING MILESTONES – Al Roy
Spring Meeting, June 18th – Additional Updates will be provided
Late Summer – Expect to have funding decisions in hand
Fall Meeting, September – Hope to present project decision alternatives for review and possible vote by OLSBA membership. This will be dependent on available of concrete funding decisions and more concrete financial projects.
CORRESPONDENCE
None received since last WPCA Board Meeting
RESIDENT COMMENTS
None
NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED WPCA BOARD MEETING AUGUST 18TH AT 7:30PM
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:18PM
Link to Financial Statements –>WPCA April 2022 Financial Statements copy
Link to WPCA “Walk away” Liability through 5/1/2022 –> OLSBA WPCA Liabilities as of 5-1-2022