VILLAGE BOARD MEETING MINUTES - NOVEMBER 20, 2006

Joint meeting with Town of Pembroke began at 7:00 pm.

Members present: Village: Mayor Skeet, Trustees Peterson, Russ and Sobczak. Town: Ed Beideck, Councilmen Gary Dewind, James Mallory, Pete Sformo, Clerk Andrea Davis. Also present: Carol O’Connell of J. O’Connell Grant writers, Rick Henry and Tom Carpenter from Clark Patterson Engineers, Al Graham and Ken Scherrieble of VRI, Paul Chatfield of Chatfield Engineers.

• Discussion was held regarding various alternatives for Pembroke to establish Sewer including connecting to the Village plant. Clark Patterson agreed they feel this would be the best alternative. There are businesses interested in property in the area of Route 5 and 77. At present the Village plant is large enough to support the 58-60,000 gals per day estimated for the Brickhouse area during school (existing customers only).
• Al Graham presented a letter regarding discharge limit per contact with Craig Jackson of the DEC.
• Discussion centered on possible plans to expand the plant to double capacity to 270,000 gallons. VRI said the plant could possibly be increased up to 50,000 gallons more with clarification/aeration improvements. Also to be handled right now would be infiltration and inflow, checking for illegal hookups etc, which would stabilize flow.
• Possible support from Truck stops was mentioned, as TA has a lift station that could possibly be upgraded and utilized as an example.
• Upgrades would need to be done at the Allegheny Lift stations, especially the Cemetery lift station. Mr. Beideck questioned whether it would be feasible to bypass the lift stations and go directly to the plant through the Town property that backs up to the Sewer Plant. It was determined by the Engineers that this would not be a viable alternative.
• Sewer use law was discussed and would have to be updated to take care of both Village and Town.
• Various avenues of ownership and cost sharing were discussed, such as setting up a Town Sewer District, Village owned and maintained with a formula for cost sharing, etc. The value to the general public was also discussed as to what benefit residents would see from such a venture. One potential benefit mentioned was increased job market from incoming businesses.
• Carol O’Connell was questioned regarding grant possibilities for such a venture. She said if we had businesses that were committed it would make a major difference in grant potential. Some different grants were mentioned such as NYSERTA, Shared Services, Economic Development grants, Small Cities, Member Item grants etc.
• It was suggested that the Village draft a letter of intent to the Town of Pembroke that we have enough existing capacity to accept the initial flow and are willing to work with them in establishing a joint use of the Village Wastewater facilities. Paul Chatfield said he would draft a letter for the Village for approval at the next Village Board meeting.
  
• Clark Patterson representatives gave an estimated figure of $6,000,000 for Phase one of the sewer project, which would encompass the Route 77 corridor from the Thruway to Village, and Route 5 from the Thruway to just beyond the Town Building.
• Issues of Usage charges, ownership, staffing etc were briefly discussed, as well as the potential increases in cost of doing business for the Village with such a project. Also time frame was discussed. Clark Patterson ventured to say approximately 24 months from knowledge of a fundable investor for completion.
• Meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.

Sandra Thomas
Clerk Treasurer