Water Pollution Control Authority - Regular Meeting

7:30. Okay. Calling the meeting to order at 7:30. I'm Barry Dailyaly for those of you who don't know me. For our guests, um online we have our new member, Bill Reynolds. Welcome, Bill, to the WPCA. Hi, thank you for having me. I don't know if you can hear me. We can hear you. Y Okay. My camera's not working. And Sally, who is also a member Sally W. She can't say your last name, but Sally was also a member of the WPCA and I guess um Bendazo Bandazzo. You have others on now.

You have Elizabeth Reagan on for Limeline. You know, Charlotte Harvey is on for CT Examiner and you have uh somebody Michael is on and that's all I know. So, Michael, who can you identify yourself with a last name, please?

Michael. Well, it's an unverified member. Muted. He's muted, but All right. So, let's get started. Um in attendance board members that are here John Randy Dmitri Susan we Dennis Muso here I know myself Mary Gay in the room with us is select Martha Shoemaker

John Flet John and Charl health district. So welcome and you are our guest speakers tonight. Everyone online has to remember to please keep their microphones muted unless it's public comment and you're talking. Thank you, Martha. Okay. Um Okay.

Our third item is election of treasurer. This very important post for us, very necessary. Um, we didn't have a treasurer going forward so far and I've been trying to do it myself which has been coming since I'm not an accountant. Um, great great great help from Anita. I can't thank her enough. She's helped us straighten out the budget and we are in good shape right now even though we've received some unexpected bills for legal for the bond council and then for other legal u amendments. So these are past um charges that just coming to the table now, but we're still in good shape. We should be fine for the rest of this fiscal year and the budget going forward for the next fiscal year seems to be in great shape as well. So good things. So election of treasurer, I have a nomination on the floor for election of treasure.

I second. Wait, I didn't do it yet. I like that you did it. Okay. Someone else has to nominate. Not you. Someone else. I I nominate Laura Parent as a president. Any discussion? All in favor? I

pass unanimously. Laura, you want to tell us a little bit about your background? Um, I started in business with my husband when I was about 32 and we discovered that we got in deeper than we thought and that there was all kinds of things involved like taxes and stuff. So I started getting involved and then I started working um for a business as just an accounts payable clerk and he decided that he saw something in me. So he sent me to school to get my degree when I was older and I became the controller of the company. Um, and I was there for 27 years and I retired and I still do a lot of um, accounting for different things. Awesome. So, welcome. Congratulations on your post. I am so thankful to have you on board. And after this, we'll go through or the next day tomorrow, we'll go through a few things. Okay. Okay. You want to add anything? Okay. Uh, our guest speaker is Le from Leight. Um, what we're here is we'd like to understand better the services that you offer to us as a town so that our committee can ask you any questions that you have as well going forward.

Great. Well, thank you so much for having us. Again, my name is Jen Maja. and the director of health with Lite Health District. My colleague Cheryl is part of our environmental health team. Um we have a pretty big environmental health team. So Cheryl um does a lot of the land use activities in the town of Old Line, but she also does uh other activities and activities outside of Old Line and other people also do some activities in the town of Old Line. So you have a big team of uh public health professionals at your uh service um being part of the health district. As you might be aware we are uh a unit of government independent unit of government formed under state statute. So we serve as the local health department for the town of old line but also east line ledger line and north stington stington and water serve about 153,000 people and across those nine. So a lot of what we do is environmental health and that's has to do with enforcing um state statutes, the public health code and our local regulations related to um land use, food service, cosmetology, all of the things you see listed here under environmental health. We also have a robust community health um and outreach team. Um so they run various um health promotion, health education programs. Um we have a big focus. We're working a lot of collaboration around the overdose epidemic and we've actually done a number of trainings here in the town hall uh related to overdose prevention. We work with line services bureau um ambulance excuse me line ambulance. There's also the community health team. Those are

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Uh folks who connect with individuals in the community and help them connect with uh services and resources. We have programs around youth substance use prevention, asthma, vaccinations, all sorts of different things. Um and we design those programs based on what we identify as the processing public health concerns based on the data. Um and then we have our public health preparedness activities which are around obviously preparing for some sort of uh public health emergency whether that is a extended emergency like CO was or whether that's a kind of sudden uh thing like the aftermath of a hurricane where we might have a lot of activity all at once and then a couple weeks later. So, um, you can, uh, learn more about all of those things on our website or Facebook. We're happy to dive into any of them at any time, but tonight we wanted to talk a little bit more about our role related to uh, sewage disposal, right?

And especially how our work um, is moving forward in light of all of the projects that are being discussed and being advanced in your town and move on sewers. So, at the back of this one pager, um, we're going to leave some of these, uh, for you to share with community members, maybe have with accounts. We really hope to help people understand the distinction between, um, and the and the line where our role ends. Um, obviously, um, we consider public sewers to be a public health advancement, right? Um and so we're happy to um outside of um our our official duties, we've been happy to engage in conversations and and discussions and questions and things like that, but I think it's become a little bit of blurring the lines. And so we really want to make clear that um our responsibilities are around enforcing the public code related to subsurface sewage disposals on-site subsurface disposals or subject systems right um Cheryl especially has a wealth of knowledge related to uh new sewer projects but we don't have any um involvement in those. We don't have any jurisdiction over those. we don't get involved in the approval process or um anything like that.

Um so there's been some questions asked of us um that are that are outside of our bucket of responsibility. So we wanted to kind of clarify some of that tonight. And then the other thing is a lot that's come up is you know um there have been a number of subject system failures in town and when we have uh been working with the property owners on those um and discussing necessary repairs that would be required under the public health code. A lot of time the conversation becomes well the sewers are coming. Do I have to do that? Do I have to do that? And so we want outlined in this paper here. You know, we have to enforce the Connecticut public health code um and the applicable te technical standards. And those um provide us with um some kind of guard rails around where we can make um limited exceptions when sewer projects are coming online and when we can't. And so um it's really clear from the technical standards that when uh it's a situation where a property sewer connection will definitely happen within 12 months, we have some authority to approve um or consider at least a temporary or partial repair. But if it's going to be outside of 12 months, even if contracts are signed, even if we know these things are going forward, if it's going to be more than 12 months before that property actually is live with a sewer connection, we have to hold the repair standard to the public health full code. Um, so we want to clarify that for for all of you in case you get questions about that, but also help kind of spread the spread the word so that there's a consistent answer there. You and I have exchanged emails in the

past uh on particular properties but in general and on test results too as well I believe. Yep. Yes. Thank you for that great information you provided me. Um I do have a question when you say within 12 months how do you I mean we we talked to Patty earlier today but how do you know when a septic system is failing? Is it just that somebody comes and tells you oh my system's failing? Yeah.

So, there are multiple ways. We may get a complaint from a neighbor that maybe they're smelling sewage. Very often, we may actually see the sewage breaking out. Um, by definition in our code, a failure is something that is breaking out to the surface and or backing up into the house. Um, what the extent of that failure could be is maybe it's a compon component failure, maybe it's just a sewer line, maybe it's a cracked tank, maybe it's actually the the life inspectancy of that leeching field has met its max. Um, so there are different reasons for why a system may fail. Um, but essentially it's breaking out to the ground or it's backing up into the house or an actual component is broken like a cracked tank or something like that.

But how would you know that and how would they know that it's the tank is very often you nobody wants sewage in their house

and most people don't want sewage in their backyard. So those are very evident. Sometimes it is the activity of the homeowner of that property that is taking that next step to be proactive. Um or it's the neighbor who's going to call in the complaint. And then if that complaint comes into our office, it is our duty and our responsibility to go out and investigate that complaint. Um so sometimes that might be walking the property, walking the neighborhood to see what we find, knocking on the doors, asking questions. So it's we're we're investigators in the middle.

Um great. Um so and a lot of it is also turnover, right? When properties sell. So very often um if a property is for sale, they're going to have a homeowner's inspection. Those become a little bit tricky. Um because uh inspection report for a septic system may say it is marginally functioning. it is that it is expected life use or maybe the tank is undersized. Again, we don't get into the negotiation points between a buyer and seller. Um, very often people, especially because we're bordering to Massachusetts and states like that where they have very defined roles and rules about what happens with the septic system. Connecticut does not have that. We are solely based on failure. Is the system failing? If the system is undersized, if it is less than if it's a undersized septic tank, those are not our con, it's not that it's not our concern, but it's not our role to have those individuals upgrade their subject system.

So, if a let's say a cess pool, it seems to be more of a concern lately than a a traditional subject. So, we know we have some susp.

I had one in New London this week that was 10 ft. Is that acceptable? Yes, it is. It is. Cess pools are acceptable. You as a WPCA may address those things in an ordinance, but we under the public health code do not have that authority to make somebody operate. That said, there are additions and renovations that may happen on a house that could require the system to be brought to code. But just the average, I have a cesspool in my backyard. I'm selling my house. We have no jurisdiction over making somebody bring that to code. That would solely lie at the discretion of the WPCA and your ordinance.

Inaccessible fails. there's a crack and it's noticed and reported to you. Yep.

Is it okay for the homeowner just to fix that crack or at that point do they have to do an upgrade? It honestly depends. So probably on a cesspool, no assess poolool if it is breaking out and failing, we wouldn't repair. We don't generally repair components of a system. They are replaced. So whether that is a sewer line, the tank, the sewer line coming out of the tank, um sometimes a tree truck might go over something and break a portion of the septic system. So sometimes we're only replacing a portion and not necessarily the whole thing. It honestly there is no parcel A, parcel B, parcel C fits the equation. It is honestly what is happening with that property at that time. Is that considered a repair?

So, everything is considered a repair. The only time something is considered new. So, even though you might get a whole brand new system at your house, it's considered a repair. The only time something is new if it's a completely vacant lot. Um, so even if your system failed tomorrow and you got a new tank, you like everything was brand new, that is still a repair. Um, And so those are you might get a whole new repair but it is a repair to the original system that yes but I'm not sure what that means in in the real world

from what okay so I met you before um we had our septic tank was past it its age. It was 55 years old and the concrete was dissolving, crumbling. Okay. So, we have a brand new septic tank, brand new fields, the whole thing. Everything is golden. We love the people who did it. That was a repair.

That's a repair only because definition by new means vacant lot. I don't want to get into too much and confuse people, but when you are doing something that is new, we are creating reserve areas. We are making sure there's a plan B if something goes wrong. When it's a repair, we have the ability to um give exceptions to certain rules. So even though your property may not have an exception to it and it might be 100% of what you needed, other repairs may not necessarily have met every single requirement of the code. We don't ever kick somebody out of their house because they have a failing septic system. We under our regulations have the ability to do the best repair possible and that is what we strive for. So that gives us the ability, the director of health, the ability to say, I will give you an exception to the property line. Instead of being 10 ft from the property line, maybe we're 8 ft. Um, those are the kinds of things we do. We work with each individual property and the limitations that might be set by that property. So you may end up with a fully 100% code compliant system and five houses down maybe they only got 50% of the system.

So do you have a direct interface with deep or it depends just a parallel.

So there are sort of if you want to look at it there are sort of three three tiers to theftic system. We have our local health which is us. So, those are systems that are under 2,000 gallons per day. Um, after 2,000 gallons, that jurisdiction moves to Connecticut DPH. Um, it's sort of, if you want to think of it as a second set of eyes. Um, then you get into D. D obviously are going to be your sewers. um systems that are larger than 10,000 gallons per day that are discharging or systems that are considered community meaning very probably the best definition of a community system would be a condo building facility where we have eight buildings on a property and they all share one system that is considered a community system that is under the jurisdiction of DP regardless of the number of gallons per day. So there are very defined definitions um as anything as we as local health work with our local community partners as do any of the state agencies. We have direct liaison for who our uh individuals might be that cover our towns. And so if they are in our town doing soil testing or something, we are generally there as well as a courtesy to make sure that we are aware of what's going on within our district so that we can answer those questions to people. Um so generally the response for those requests on larger systems that are outside of our jurisdiction initially start at our start from our desk and move forward for them. Any else questions? I have a couple. When you work with a homeowner and you know

there's a problem and you say you have to fix this. You guide them as to what they need to do and what is the time limit to fix it. Just so 30 days, 60 days.

So we don't necessarily have a time limit. Obviously our ultimate goal is not to have sewage on the ground. If that means that home that homeowner needs to pump that system once a week, every day, every other week, we do not want sewage on the ground. We do not want it going into any public lands or private streets. That is our ultimate goal. How we achieve that with each property owner really depends what's going on with that that septic system. Um, you know, if it is in failure mode, yes, we want to move as quickly as possible, but there are a lot of moving parts that come along with that. We have to get soil testing on the property. We have to give that owner the ability and the op the ability to go out and get their own quotes on that. We're not advising them as to what they can or can't put in. That is the responsibility to the engineer or the licensed septic installer. They're generally on site. They're going to investigate that property along with us and submit a plan for review. We approve that plan based on what's allowed in our code.

So, it's such a good segue into soil testing. Yeah. Because as you know, or perhaps you do, I'm not sure. We are planning to retest the wells in some view. We're going to retest for groundwater. We are planning to open up five of the wells and have them pumped out first so we can get a clean sinko going forward. Is that something that your department would be involved?

So I think the intent of what you're trying to determine from those wells is better understood for what you're you're testing that for a purpose, right? What is that? What is that purpose of testing those? and is that generally those kinds of things are done in this particular case are done under the jurisdiction of the DP with assistance from either your staff person for a WPCA, your consultant, your engineer of who that may be. We at local health do not do that type of testing. That is normally done by a lab. It is done by that when I think people get confused between groundwater monitoring and water sampling. What you are talking about is a very specific sample that you are testing your nitrates, your ammonia, things like that that the D is looking for. Again, that is not in our jurisdiction. That is in D's jurisdiction. So if that is something the WPCA is considering that is a better question addressed with D and what they are looking for. I don't know those guidelines. I don't know those parameters. I that is not in my regulation little wheelhouse if you will.

Thank you. Um another question. So in our ordinance right now we have a seven-year about and defined in our ordinance and we're looking considering changing that ordinance to go five years as recommended by deep not as mandated but recommended and as many hollers and online experts have as I've read that's the recommendation do you agree with that five years that is the recommendation and not code um if you are looking to revise and amend your ordinance. We do for any of our towns, whether there are zoning regulations or anything like that, we are always willing to take that cursory review to look at it to make recommendations and or suggestions. Um, if you are looking to revise your WPCA ordinance, which I I'm not saying I I shouldn't say I know or don't know, but I think 97.

Yeah, it's pretty old. Yeah, it's pretty old. Um, you know, I can't speak for what the requirements were in 1997, but today ordinances are actually submitted to the state health department for review so that they can say whether or not you are conflicting, right? Because the idea of an ordinance is that you are not lessening the law, but you are improving it and making stricter and or better requirements. Um, so can I could can I ask you to send me the contact information of the person that you

So you would just Yeah. Um, Matt Pollock is the director of or the section person for environmental health or P O L P A W L K Pollock. Pollock.

Um, Matt has been with that program for a number of years. He recently became the senior supervisor and whatever his new title is um maybe in the last five six years I believe um after the predecessor Robert Scully retired and Bob had been there as well for many many years. So they're a that department has a lot of individuals who have been there for a very long time. And I think they have they have somebody who actually reviews those ordinance. Sometimes they may actually refer them to DPH legal. If there's something that might be a little bit conflicting within public health code versus what the town is looking to do, I'm happy to forward our ordinance to him and CCU and say we're looking to re, you know, bring this up to you.

They will they will provide very welloughtout comments. Um that's that's their job to look at those ordinances. You know, we're willing again, we're willing at the local level. That is part of what we do. We understand the community better. We understand those needs to have those daily conversations. Um so we have comedy here. Are you? Yeah. Dare I say that I was the starter of comedy. So either I'm a good person or a bad person. Um well I think it could be a good tool.

I think so a little bit of history on a soft brick program that was very well utilized in the state of Florida. The reason why it was utilized in the state of Florida was because um state of Florida had alternative systems that needed tracking. So it truly was a tracking software for components of alternative systems. In Connecticut, alternative systems are not approved. However, I worked very hard with that developer to work on um a database that could trigger pumpout notices and mailings and things like that. Um now I will also preface that that that was probably in 2008. Um, I do not have a lot of interaction with the upgrades or what has happened with that company and how they've interacted. Um, they do cover a lot of the shoreline areas. Um, I don't that would be for you as a WPCA to determine is it doing the task that you want it to do,

right? So, I think I guess like you know if if a um let's say a system fails and they the homeowner gets it repaired, they report back to you that they repaired it. Yep. Who enters that repair information into anyone? So, that is your WPCA requirement. Okay. I didn't know that that's happening. Okay.

And that that and that does come up a lot when you guys send out your pumpout notices. people will often our phones and I go guess the WPCA sent out their little reminders which are great. Um there is we are not administrators of your software system or those tracking services. I didn't know if you updated it. No, absolutely not. We are not administrators at all of your software program. Erica does that. Okay. Erica gets, like I said, the pumpout cards go out. Many times people walk in here with their pumpout card and their latest thing from their hauler and say, "This wasn't recorded."

Yes. And we instruct them that they should make sure that their hauler is recording it. But we usually take a copy of that paper and put it into Erica's box and let her know. Then when she has a chance, she gathers those all up and enters them in if they haven't already been done. So we do ask them to reach out to their caller again and suggests they do it. But if they don't get to it, Erica has paperwork to back it up. I think that's a lot of what is an issue here is that well one you send out these cards, we don't know what happens after the cards go out. Do people respond? Does it get who updates it? the cards come back to us and then they don't say come stay here the week after you'll find out

and then you know how does it get updated and what happens next if the person just goes well hey I'm getting sewers in a year or two I'm just rip this car and throw it in that that probably may very well be again that enforcement action lies within your ordinance and I I don't know that I've I mean I've read your WPCA ordinance I don't know the specifics of that Um, you know, my whole thing was always people like, "Oh, how am I going to remember to pump it out?" Especially when you get smaller WPCAs who may not send those notices out. I say pump them every election year. You know, you pump it. That's it. Is that national election?

Sure. Every four years, you know, you're going to pump it.

Um, Cheryl, I have a question. Our ordinance says that the the pumpouts would be regulated or if you were in a rear you hadn't done it that you could be fined $100 a day for not having bumped once we notify you. Um, and I'm sure there's a little grace period, but it doesn't state that exactly in the ordinance. It says your designated authority director of health or sanitarian andor sanitarian need and it doesn't it's a little legal. I did send it to legal today to say, "You want to tell me what this really means?" Because I'm assuming it has to be somebody who has some type of public health authority and maybe we also have a line in the WPCA budget for a consultant and maybe we could hire someone part-time to just be that person. I don't know. I'm asking you what would your suggest is originally when your ordinance was written you were a standalone health department. So that makes sense. I think Jen can probably add more to that and those duties and responsibilities of what the health district for that.

Yeah. So that is one thing that's important to note is that when a town joins the health district, part of the agreement during the pre-hision is that there's an understanding that anywhere in any of the town ordinances where it says the health department or the director is going to be the enforcer of something that those ordinances are going to be updated to reflect somebody that's within the town structure. We enforce the Connecticut public health code. um and our Leglight Health District regulations consistently across the whole district and we don't enforce any um of the town specific ordinances in any of our towns and it this happens across the district like something will pop up that's nobody's ever you know

rooers roosters right well I mean I think roosters pop up even more frequently than some of some there's random things sometimes that nobody's ever looked at this ordinance for like 20 years and then somebody has says, "Oh, well, can't they be cited in violation of this ordinance

and something totally disconnected from public health?" But for whatever reason, when the town passed the ordinance, maybe there were only three town employees at the time and one of them was the health director. So, all of those ordinances across all of our towns, uh, we don't enforce. I I think like Cheryl said, it probably says the health director because you have a a health director who was within the town infrastructure at that time. I don't think it has to be the health director. I think it could be, you know, anybody within the town um structure that has that authority. That makes sense. But that ordinance as you're updating it, if you're considering updating it for the changing the pumpout schedule, you also want to think about who is reinforcing that.

And can I just add one let you an update on what is the letter that you have um the words induced growth. Um, so I just want you to know that I had four land use attorneys online one day and I asked them the term they've never heard of it before and two I asked um at a deep call I asked them about it and no knowledge. So and these were not these were people.

That's okay. So I think the the response to that lies in um the induced growth often comes in in the clean water fund money um and so it is written differently across the state.

Okay, most likely based on the community needs and what that means. Um we do have it in East Lime. Um there are many lake communities across the state that have these induced growth um requirements. Those are generally set by deep and the clean water money when you sign those contracts. So I don't know what those are. We will not know them. We don't have an input in that. Right. They may ask us but they haven't. Um, and so that is not I obviously I can't speak to the attorneys, but

we need to talk more to the clean water fund department. Then it I don't know specifically who and the makeup of that and how those contracts are written, but generally comes within the clean water money fund and how that money is spent.

Okay. Yes. So, so for those of you who are not sitting here at the table with this paper in front of you, the the conversation we're having here and it's just important for everybody to understand that um you know we spent a lot of time at the beginning of this conversation saying you know there's there's kind of a boundary between our responsibility and um and deep and we're over here with on site service systems and deep is over here with the public sewer projects and we're not getting involved in that, right? Um but because of this idea that deep may have some parameters under the and project uh it's important that everybody just be aware that even after properties are connected to the public sewer. We may still have to enforce the public health code related to the septic systems when somebody is um putting on a building addition or looking to change from seasonal to year round or when there's a development of a vacant lot. We won't know exactly how much of the code um we have to apply there until deep um confirms the parameters. But we are anticipating that there are but based on our conversations with deep and what happened in other towns that there's going to be something.

Okay. Thanks. So again when you say enforce you're saying you're not really responsible but it's really the WPCA would be responsible if somebody didn't pump out for us to notify them and go after them and all that. But in the case where there's a broken septic system you're notified of that. you're overseeing that and that person's has a time limit. Let's say you gave them six months and they still didn't fix it at that point. What do you do? Do you do you say you have to fix it or we're going to close you know condemn your property or what do you do at that point?

Yeah. Most of the time we you know unless they've the next day acted immediately pull a permit and get the repair started. It's not too long before we issue a public health order so that they are officially under order to uh move forward with that repair. And again, as Cheryl said, the timeline is really uh individualized dependent on the circumstances and what's happening with the property and what the repair entails. Um but if we've given them a timeline and there's been no compliance and there's been no movement, we certainly um want to work with people. So there's lots of times where we issue a public health order and there's a deadline and then we're in constant communication with the property owner and we know why the deadline hasn't been met. I may agree to extend that deadline. But if there's eventually there's no compliance with the public health order, then we would pursue the next steps which are um you know pursuing either some sort of um action through the housing prosecutor related to um arrests and or fines and that you know is all dependent on what the circumstances are. It's not like we then we reached the deadline was April 30th. On May 1st, we signed out a bill. If we wanted to pursue those fines, we would have to work through the criminal uh legal system to do that. It's not it's not the same as when um a food service establishment um hasn't renewed their license on time, you can send them a bill for the $100 penalty. This is a whole different bucket of fines.

So this one property is spewing, you know, affecting their neighbors. They continue to do that. So again, I think each one is circumstance. Um if it is an active sewage and it's not breaking, the director of health does have the ability to deem a unit unfit. And so we may remove those individuals. We have the ability to call water companies like remove people. Those are very extreme circumstances. I think they very rarely happen for sewage in my 20 plus years of doing this. I can think of only one one and not within our district. It was another health department that I worked in that that happened. I think the average person does not want to in their backyard. I think they are they want to be proactive which is why we work with them. We extend deadlines as long as we know they are working with us and they're keeping that sewage off the ground if it is an active sewage leak. Those are different circumstances as to how the director would handle that

and Jen and Cheryl are always in contact with town. Yes. I mean we are always any of our towns. It's not really their responsibility to report to WPA. They're reporting to the town. We had talked earlier today when we were talking about this well testing that we keep talk back to and Martha has suggested we needed to do an RFP. I think from what they've said though you're going to have to get some permission from deep I don't necessarily know that it's permission. I think it's an understanding of what you're trying to accomplish by reopening those wells. Um well there are wells they don't belong to deep

no they don't belong deep but ultimately if you are reporting that data back to deep for something I think it's important that they are at the table as part of that conversation so that you are making sure you are meeting those requirements and those guidelines that are set forth within those different standards and those regulations. Again we don't have jurisdiction over those regulations. I wouldn't even know where to start to tell you if you're right or wrong in what you're trying to do. So, you have nothing to do with those. Yeah.

Uh question. Um because you guys are familiar with East Lime and uh and lakes and stuff. Uh naturally, we have probably 95% maybe even higher summer residents April to September. The question I always get asked, I'm not here that often. Why do I have to pump out that often?

My response is, you maintain your furnace, you maintain your air conditioning unit. It is apply. It is an appliance within your household. Whether you see it or it's under the ground, it requires maintenance. It absolutely does. I maintenance, whether it's pumping your tank and those solids. And very often, you know, today we have two compartment tanks. We have filters. We have those kinds of improvements. Very often within that 95% of your summer, the the population increased. Many of those are single compartment tanks. They're getting high volume use. You know, we're looking at that use daily. What is that? What are you putting out to it? Not over your four months that you're living there, but what are you putting in it every day? And obviously, you know, septic a thousand gallon septic tank is only holding so much and then that is discharging out into that leeching prevention. It it may not prolong it for another 30 or 40 years, but maybe it gives you a little bit of time.

So, it is to go along with that. Um we have small lots but we have town roads. Is there any mechanism in your guidelines that forbids us from using town roads as long as the town is so it's kind of it's kind of a yes no question.

Um yes easements are allowed in public right of ways. There are mechanisms that those occur um that does not get approved at the local level. That gets a second set of eyes from DPH. EPA is going to look at those easements. Um again, they're not not options, but again, we're looking at the soil the site investigation. What is that site showing us? Is that is that more feasible? And then there are the different mechanisms of actually holding public hearings and things like that especially when you are in town right ofways.

So but those are considered what we uh in our code is called an offsite easement offsite offsite east. All right very good. Okay they're good questions on this. Well we do already the community center does already have engagement. No they don't. That's that's we asked for an easement and Tim Griswald said no and you will find very often that most towns will but Tim Griswald also signed for sewers. So so it was in that same same time period. So again,

so it's it was there are the different obviously you're going into a town right away that has its own little boxes of checklists. Okay. And the only reason why I say is we're unique than any other place in town because we have alleys. We have three alleys, three distinct alleys, unpaved alleys. It used to be when I was a kid, it used to be where the the garbage man came up the road, the garbage alleys.

Okay. And now they're not. They're just dirt walkways. So, I mean, you know, my pea brain says, you know, if we could get an exemption, you know, for an abuter who might not have enough room on his property. So there have been cases where we have looked at those options in those alleyways that you were referring to. I will say that our first option is always to repair on site. That is always our first option because we have that ability to grant exceptions to the rule. Um and so we're going to look at those kinds of things. You know, there are a lot of old wells. We drive around old line. We see them all the time. We're looking at where those wells are. Um, you know, we're looking at, you know, what is the best repair that we can do on site? If it honestly truly isn't feasible, are we looking at those options that might be offsite? Um, I've yet in all my years to do in eight, seven years know of any that have happened in old lime. I'm not saying that there aren't some out there, whether they are properly documented and went through the proper channels. I don't know that either.

Just when you mentioned wellwater, you know, I'm just surprised that the health department doesn't, especially with old wells, mandate well testing. So again, we our job is to enforce the public health code. any town can make stricter rules. Um the our codes right now require that a water test is done at transfer of property or a new well. That is what we can transfer property or what transfer of title or a brand new well is drilled on a property. Okay.

Those are the only enforcements that we have under our public health code. Um, do I recommend all the time to individuals that especially in old lime where you have dug wells and you probably have a higher risk of contamination just for the way the wells are designed. I tell people all the time it's a water sample. It's you know one I don't even know what the average costs but

for me it's $100. I tell people I would recommend that anywhere from one to three years if you have a dog well that you should be testing that. Absolutely. Again, it's a recommendation. Can't enforce that. And again, when you're making enforcement requirements, understand that that comes with staff people and the ability to make sure you're following up with those kinds of things. And when you have a town that the majority of your population are dug wells, um you just drive around old line and you can see them. I don't have to go searching very hard for them. They're very evident. Um and the reason for that is because you guys have a higher groundwater table. I'm glad I'm driving around with you someday. You've got to show me. I don't have any other questions for um for either of our guests. Does anybody else at the table have questions for them?

Anyone on the phone have questions for them?

I figure Bill has questions. deal the the requirement for seven or five years. Um but that's basically like a health check too, right? Because you're you're pumping it out, but maybe there's something wrong with the well that you septic that you do that you could find.

So in Connecticut there is no standard um inspection form, if you will, for a pumpout. Um, I have been on committees where we have tried to put forth those a one form inspection form that is uniform throughout the state of Connecticut. That has never happened for various reasons. Um, again, the recommendation in our code is that you pump your system every five years. Um there are certain applications that might go to the state house department where they ask for an evaluation of that septic system depending on what that applicant is asking for. Um but that is there is no set standard that says when Joe's pumping pumps that he has to do X Y and Z. But in terms of if it's pumped in 2 years sooner than you 5 years versus 7 years it if a problem is it more apparent when they pump it and they did they find it and identify it let the homeowner know they maybe found a problem two years something.

So technically it is the responsibility of the licensed septic pumper. they do under their license requirements have a duty to report that to the health department because that would be a like, hey, we just pumped this septic system. It's actually backing up and fail. Like there's a and and most of those guys are very good and they do call us for those kinds of things because that is that is their licensing responsibility to say, you know, yes, this was routine. We pumped it for a failure and they do call us on occasion, not all the time, but they do call us.

I mean, you might, but you might find a problem two years sooner if you do it in five years versus seven years. Again, I'm I don't know where the seven years and old line came from. I don't that my guess is time. My guess is that probably nobody at the state health department looked at that. I don't also know that that was necessarily a requirement. Um, I think that that would definitely be a red flag for the sales department to say seven years. I think they they like obviously their own code recommends five years. So I think that's what they would like to see for enforcement. We are going to try to go we are going to try to

y most of our haulers are saying five years too. And I will say I think even without your own notices because it's their good business model and it brings obviously them the customers that they also send out their own notices very often. Yeah. Yes. I get them. And they're usually recommending four years in my Yes. experience. Four years. And especially for a an older system like a cess pit, cess pool, they like to do it, you know. No later than 40. What is your feeling about that? How often do you feel that suspicion

pools aren't the greatest thing? We like everything to go through a tank. Um those are things you can look at in your ordinance. Um there are many area shoreline towns that have made various um recommendations about ces pools, about steals tanks. Um those are still out there. Um they varying from at the transfer of title of property um andor 10 years from the enactment of an ordinance to repair those things. But those kinds of ordinances are only good if you have staff person and you understand your inventory of all your properties. It's you don't understand your inventory of what you're trying to enforce. It's you're at the will of the information that you're being provided.

Well, yes. Goes without saying we are not going to dig up everyone's backyard. No, no, no. I'm say no. That's not that was not sorry the your inventory is what is the data that is available to you that is your property files the information that is available and readily public information that is on file for each property within or within your account

um we haven't talked about advanced systems and I know you said that the state doesn't doesn't frowns upon them. But when adjoining states have been using them for years

and and have seen a lot less pollution than than prior to what would be your suggestion as to how we can convince somebody that that's something to look at basically. So, um, yes, there are many neighboring states that use ultra what are called alternative technologies. Um, I could probably discuss both sides of that coin, positives and negatives. Um, but at the end of the day, I'm not the person writing writing that legislation, so I guess I don't have to. Um there is current legislation that is before. There is talk about switching some of those smaller systems that are under D jurisdiction down to DPH's level. So they move out of that and that DPH can have um some regulatory or better regulatory authority outside of D's general permit requirements which may make it more feasible um or more of an ability to investigate other options um that I don't know where that legislation is right now. It has been discussed. Um, if it passes, it may have passed. I actually have not actually looked at the bill and where it sits right now. Um, any implementation of that program, my guess is, would be out a little bit because when you have alternative systems, there's a lot of monitoring that comes along with that. And so it's a lot of moving of jurisdiction from DP down to deep and then an understanding of local health of

what those systems of what that inventory is within our entire district for those systems. Um so some people may very often refer to the legislation that was passed um in old saber for the alternative systems. I will also point out to date that not one alternative system has been installed in Old Sabbrook. Now, Old Sabbrook has their own entire battle, but I think the goal is and can be achieved by on-site septic repairs. Um,

could you send me that bill? I'd like to see. So I will it's got a lot of stuff because it's the revision of our entire technical standards. It also has to do with a lot of licensing stuff. I will forward it to you but it if you have any questions just kind of ask me but it's a lot of stuff that is attached to that. I also don't know what other bills are attached to that and so as we know legislation all of them don't pass. Maybe pass, but I don't specifically know where it is right now, but I will I will forward you that. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

Thank you so much for all the information. All right. Take a little stretch break. confused. Oh no. Yeah, please feel free to thank anything. Call with any questions, please. Thank you guys. Thank you. We'll just move on. Marie will be back because she knows most of us anyway. So, information items is next on the agenda. Communications and correspondence. Before we go, minutes. You didn't do minutes. I didn't have Oh, approval of minutes. I'm so sorry.

It's okay. Okay. May I have a motion to approve the minutes for the March meeting? I'll make a motion. Thank you, Demetri. Second. Second. Second, Laura. Thank you. All in favor? I have a second.

Great. Thank you. Okay. Um, information items, communications, and correspondence. Most of the things I've been working on that I think communication problem has to do with the next item, the finances and budget updates. And that has been pretty overwhelming for me and that a lot of things have come onto the table unexpectedly. But we are, as I said before, we're still in good shape with this budget even though we paid a $52,000 bond um attorney uh bill. And there's another outstanding bill for 10,000 which mainly for 3,000 which Geneva is researching. So we are still in very good shape for this year. That's most of the communication that we've been working on. The other communication really comes from um Boris Leman who's here today and private beach association. So, I'm gonna Martha will come back and talk, but um the private beach associations um I sent you all there that that meeting that used to be closed to everyone is now open to the public. And I think that's the work of Old Lunch actually insisting that it be made open to the public, although the town has also been pushing to make that open to the public. So, now it is open to the public and it does have public comment. It is by Doug Whan and it is just a summary or discussion about the now they're in the construction phase. So where they are and what information they have gotten from DE on certain topics like which comes first. Are they going to apply the clean water funds first or the 15 millionable loan first? And that is a huge huge I mean I looked at that too and it's a huge um decision in that

if deep decides that they apply the $15 million first to the infrastructure then you're only getting 25% of the clean water funds after you remove $15 million. It's a reduction overall in the grant by $4.4 million. So that's big and that has not been answered yet.

They are still working on uh a contract for maintenance um out of each slime. They don't have a price for that. That hasn't really been finalized at all. and they did finally get I think they at this last meeting yesterday it was I believe an 8% increase um giving that that there was a in uh inflation index um awarded to Bulasar and Rainer which came out I think to like 1.8 8 million overall. We're still under budget. They're under budget. They are have decided the three there's also this connection fee built into the contracts with East London in London. That connection fee is a couple million dollars for the private beach associations, but the leadership there has decided that they're not going to consider that part of the build. you have to collect dates. Um they are going to consider that as part of maintenance. So that will be pushed back um and not included up front and that allows them not to have to go back out to bond. That's their decision. That's what I gathered from that meeting last night. Um know it's recorded but the minutes are made public and I'll be sure to share them with you if you weren't able to attend that meeting. It's a very important step because that's huge for us that those meetings are now open to the public. Really is. So, okay. Uh, public comments. Anyone on the phone or in the room?

Aren't they muted? Oh, I don't know how to They have to. Huh? Yeah, they can do it. Uh I can't just tell don't see them. We can unmute ourselves. Okay, great. There you go. Good. Thank you. Anyone on the phone who would like to make a public comment at this time? Bill Randazzo? No, I'm good. You guys are doing a good good job. Just hang in there and Thank you. Everything's running smooth. Yeah. Thank you for your support. Anyone else?

I could say something about the meeting last night. I was just really surprised how they threw in about, you know, um starting on 156 this summer. I just that is going to be chaos for the town, right? I am just baffled by that. I was quite surprised too that all three private beach associations are waving their hammer laws. Well, two did. One one is thinking about it. Who? Miami Beach. Uh no. Um Miami said yes. Old um said yes. Old shores said

because I know the contracts have a limited time. I thought it was four 470 days. that all work has to be completed. Um so that no it has to be started. Oh okay. Has to be started not completed. Actually what was happening that Doug Wallen said that in the summer they're going to do on a short road in fall which already after the summer you'll be in the beaches. But how do you how do you get to those beach streets without going on shore road?

Well, but on a shore road then you put lines to every beach. So this is how it will happen. But that's still turning 156 into a one lane road for the the summer like it is. Yes. Like it is now. But we have two lanes going north and south. I think the selectman should have have a voice in this. The selectman should have a voice in that making the determination. Concerned about Queen Woods, right? And but they said she wasn't correct in that pathway.

Wouldn't they mostly try to park their equipment down the side? They would have to park it in the private beach associations unless they have another staging area which they might above 156 where the they could have across Miami Beach Miami Beach association. I don't know. That's a private that's a private lot. So I don't really know. I know right now they have a lot of equipment at the bottom of Portland Avenue where they're supposed to build a pump station. I think they should be reminded that that spot is part of a line, not part of Miami Beach.

That's the reason why I say the the I think the selectment should get involved in this because because um uh as soon as as soon as Memorial Day, the traffic is going to be increased, of course. And and also they don't have enough policemen now to handle what they have, right? Never mind um um u hiring flaggers and stuff like that because that does just doesn't work not on the state road as we found out with the lights. I mean you know the stop lights on 156.

So that's pretty much all the communication I have. You have public comment for businesses. I just got one question. Is is deep is is it mostly concerned with runoff to the ocean or local contamination waterways?

That's what they said first and we said, "Oh, we have like 10 years of your report saying that we're not polluting the sound." 10 years of data from the health department saying you're not we're not polluting the sound. So now what they said, "Oh, well now uh we think you have ground water. He said, "Okay, well then we need to retest. Make sure we do." And then they said, "Well, you know, we got to find the density of things." Like, I don't think you get clean water just based on density. So, the the target keeps moving. The primaries keep moving. A lot of things from deep keep moving like it used to be on a portability, but far surpass that

and they said then they said, "How there is now?" Well, you told us in writing it was so it's very difficult to work with the because they keep changing, you know, the requirements and it's an ever moving target. Have they come back to the town like they were supposed to back in February? I can let Michael talk to you about that. I I can't really speak to that. Okay. I think it's a work in progress. I think there are meetings set up uh for the end of April and there'll be more discussions going on. Um but I think Mark has to speak to that too.

Okay. So, so I listened to the entire thing last night and Doug Wheelen I believe was very nice and some other gentleman was very nice too and and they wish to um inform got up that they really want old line to be a part of this and and she didn't commit to anything. She just kind of flushed it aside. So, what is the chance that they'll make this go through and they they'll forget about us doing texting?

I can't answer that question. I I that is not so far over my favorite break. That is um a question really for deep and I think again like the town you know a part of it the town spoke very loudly at the referendum as a result of the referendum and so in terms of Martha I think no all for all of us the town said no they said no so now it's between the town and de to say listen will you talk with us and you know what else could we possibly do at this And I can't speak for Martha and what's going on in that in that arena. Um, but there are discussions going on and there'll be more discussions going on the end of April and hopefully sometime in May we'll have a a better direction.

Okay. One other thing that I keep hearing about, the other beaches say that the clown signed a consent agreement and can't unsign what you consented. Is that is being ree that's being evaluated by the town that is Martha's working on that and she decided again last night they're still working on that. She has the answers. Sure, but she doesn't have any answers right now on that question. So, is it would legal she's discussing it? Not with Dean or again like when she has an answer she'll share it but right now she doesn't have an answer she gives you.

There is one more thing to answer your question. All three have a consent order from the DAP. Town does not. Right. Right. I know that but they they insist or people insist that the town itself did sign a consent agreement with those beaches not not that was imposed upon this was a partial of payment they signed okay

they in worst scenario it could be the town paid us money something but it's for for area where common area, not private beaches. Those are good questions. They're just not there's just not an answer to provide to you today. But they I will tell you that the town's working on having those answers and know you have to trust them. I I trust them and I think they work very hard to get those answers for for the town and for the private beach associations as well.

I mean, if everybody looks at what what Mary and myself and and people in sound view look at is there's no plan, there's no money, there's no extra money. So if we could convince Deep, actually as far as I'm concerned, Deep is an entity that causes more pollution than anybody. Okay. Uh if we could convince Deep and DPH that we'll look at on site, there's only there's only 200 houses that we're looking at and the pavilion and the and um the carousel,

but there's only 200 houses. So if we could if we can get to those people and if they have a cesspool you and and everybody has been been harping about cesspools. Cesps are legal. They're acceptable. People, you know, to dig a hole in the ground and just have it go in there is one thing, but if you have if you have a a vessel you're sending it to, that's a different story. And that's what people are afraid of. There was some concerns voiced before about ces pools

and having wells tested. So yes, I'm in Hawk Nest. I'm not in Sound View. We've done a lot of home water testing and and I have a particular neighbor who I know because I went on and I looked and I found out where the cess poolools were and there's some um and and I I asked him I said okay so you have a cesspool that's that's icky that's a problem right and he said no I've been here 10 years he said him and his wife his grandchildren visit blah blah blah blah blah. He has his ces pool pumped every two years because that's what he believes in and there is no problem. He has it tested too. I mean it's no problem. It's a fine efficient system. He has a small lot. And I said, "Well, okay. How about did you have your water tested?" And he said, "Yes, I do." He said, "I have that tested, too, and my water is fine." So a cesspool doesn't mean it's bad and icky. It can be a good system. And I I have one thing I want to say in my defense when I was talking to Cheryl.

Yes, we have a brand new septic tank, but we there was never any pollution. We were having to have it pumped out like every four months or something. And it was simply because the concrete

was decaying. it was it was decaying and that was the prudent thing to do. Um but there was no pollution and we had the best soil sand in the world for septic systems. I mean it's dilution is the solution to pollution. Okay. And with our stand and stuff I'm sorry.

That's okay. It's it's it's been going on for years and you know we hope there'll be an end to whatever you know but I don't feel sewers in in uh in the shoreline is the answer. Okay let's move I I have one other quick question if you don't mind. Have the retesting has there been a setup for a time anything with that for the testing? Yeah. The groundwater or the Yeah, groundwater. Is that going to happen?

Steps. Well, I'll tell you what we've done so far. We've researched a couple companies, but we're going to take a step back and do an RFP. Do it the legal way. Now, we find out we have to go through deep. So, there's few more steps. We're hoping to get this done. The first test in April might not happen so that we have a baseline before all the shoreline community came back to fruition. Um, so we're hoping to do April, maybe July, August,

maybe October, and then one more test so that we and then everyone I've talked to so far who's in this business says, "How comes why haven't you been testing a lot?" which is a great question. But so there's some work we have to do on the wells themselves to get them ready and not you know we just have to prime them and clean them and get them ready so they can accept new groundwater. And now we have to work with deep and get talk with them and write an RFP and then we'll be back at the table and we will still try to get this done as quickly as we can. So, we have I just and I'm sure you know I I would just be afraid that Deep would say, "Okay, let's do it on Fourth of July weekend, you know, or it's got to be I'm glad they're doing

I don't think it's going to be up to Deep when we actually open." No, I just think it should be broken up like you're doing over the year, you know, of Right. said even DE has said, "Well, one test isn't going to do it." And we said, "Yes, we know that we plan to do more than one test one at one time." Oh, super. in hawk hawk nest when they tested hawk nest it was it was staggered for um uh being spring uh I think it was early summers the end of summer and then the fall because there was four tests that they did so that's what we're that's what we're mirroring is what was done in hopes great

um so that kind of already leads into test wells like you said we've been gathering information, getting an education on these, finding out more tonight. We will follow up on what we need to do to get the tests ready and to get the test done. Town records, that's the next thing. Harmony some of the town. So, I have to say that Sally did a great job. Sat town hall, went through the records, found our assess, went through records, had a lot of questions. when it says some things like one holler will say this is successful the next one will say it's a subject system I don't know how you ever get that straightened out I don't know that you can but I think it is up to us from going forward from here on is to make sure that all of our haulers do upgrade harmony and if they don't then but we need to remove them from our list we need to send a letter as suggested earlier to our callers saying must comply You must update the records. It's not an option. You must or we won't be able to do business with you.

We need the up to date. We need all of our records up to speed. You can't tell people who and who not to hire. You can't put your approved dollars online saying that they comply with our ordinance. But your first start is you've got to get your ordinance up running, right? And it's got to be you can use what you have now. And I'm not sure is in your ordinance. Not no was after that was u that was brought in way after the ordinance.

So you you need to do some updating your ordinance and it takes 15 days after a town meeting once the town ordinance is voted on for it to become effective. We're hoping to have an a meeting for ordinance changes hopefully in June, early July because um most people are here and we want everyone to be able to be involved if they choose to do so. Um we already have a couple of other commissions that have made some changes to some of their ordinances. We just hope to do them all at once. Um but I'm happy to send out to that person tomorrow yours and say if they were to upgrade James or what changes would you let him do the run through?

Oh, let him suggest there areas of uh to look at we're to look at because I don't want to send it to a lawyer where you're going to get an hourly fee. It's he he's free. Let's start there. We already pay him. You already pay him. There were suggestions to do like five years for subjects and then three years for uh ces pools and what do you all feel about that? I think that's a good idea. Separate ces pits and ces pools from regular um septic systems because

they think you need to talk to the department of health and see what they suggest. They know this area very well and they'll they'll go through it. um you know, we can send them questions, but let him do a quick run through of the original and then you'll mark it up

and see what they say. Um but Jen just said to me that really I can be your designated authority if you needed to send out letters where people were find and finding. So you could designate the first. It has to just be someone who's paid it as the town employee that you could start that process now. It's already in your ordinance that if people are not in compliance, you could start to find them. They just didn't do it. And especially with sewers around the corner, I think a lot of people do. Well, I have to take my own subject system out in another three. You're not knowing when. Why would I pump out now when I have to know I'm gonna have to do it soon in order to comply to remove?

But but when you look at the the timetable for sewers, it's a four-year project. So So if you pump out today, you might have to pump out in four years if just if nothing else to demolish your system.

Their timeline is 17 months. That's what they're saying. 17 months. I'm just saying from the construction meeting last night. They are asking for a timeline from their so-called vendors or contractors. They haven't and they haven't received that yet. But I do know that they would like to start what they said at the meeting and I think some people were online. Um they would like to start 156 this summer and then they would like to start the side streets after Labor Day. But they are reducing the two of those private beach associations are taking their hammer laws down for the summer. So I suppose if one of their contractors came in and said we want to start your streets, they'd let them. Um, I know that uh Gary Fox said Miami Beach had not voted yet if they were going to allow them to do the uh reduce the take the hammer away.

Would that be an association referendum?

It would have to be done at a association meeting for whoever attended. I would assume shouldn't just be the board of directors. started to assume that everybody should get a say. I agree with you. Um, so we have hammer laws and that's through zone. I'm not there's hammer laws. DOT is different. Say 1056. If DOT okay it don't have anything there's you have to allow. they say yes go then they can do it and it'll be a little tight and you won't want to take that scenic garage you'll find some peppers so you know how we have a hammer lot for Portland Avenue in particular we're talking about with horse but last night no one mentioned that the um pump station even though it's on a private private property it is in sound view so

I think if you look at the map. It is not. It is. It is. It is. It is because there's an alley behind it and that's alley 3 and it's and 73 Portland is the pump house and that's on Portland Avenue. The next lot is Keith's lot and that's on Miami Beach. Well, they would have to ask for special permission to do it, but I they didn't talk about doing anything down there yesterday. Last night, it was all 156.

I just think that maybe they assume that the pump house is in part of Miami Beach. It's not. Had nothing in the I said nothing in the beach communities for the summer. Yeah. Oh, okay. That's what he said last night.

But I thought it did mention something about Portland Avenue. I know they said one step, but I thought they mentioned something about Portland Avenue. And I didn't I didn't I I was writing notes. I can go back, Laura, and look at my nose, but I do not um I think it would have triggered a bell in my head because I know where that it is and I buy it three times a day, every day in the summer, so I would be aware. Um,

is there any plan on moving their equipment out of there? I do not know. So, well, I mean, there's got to be a staging area for Baltasar and not not there. It's not our land. I believe they rented a spot above uh the north side of 156 halfway to like by Cherry Stones. Oh, you mean um Frank's area or I believe I believe so. Chris's area road. Yeah, I think it's Franks. Yeah,

you know, that would make sense because that little tiny lot where the pump stations can't handle too much. They already have two big machines there. Pretty cool. They had four one day. Yeah. Yeah. They just they moved that the um excavator out,

you know. Where it went to, I don't know. But there's there's somebody some activity on Portland Avenue today uh where an excavator, a trench box, and something else was there at um uh just past Trish's house on Portland. Um oh um Trailla's house, which is next door, and it's there. Now whether or not it's for water or I don't I looked to see if there was a name on

there was a trench box down at White Sands Beach yesterday as well which was in the parking lot and they had done some somebody had done some work for someone privately down in beach. Whether that they were the ones that did it I don't know but I know there was a trench box down at White Sands Beaches yesterday morning and I'm not sure if it's still there or not. So I can check tomorrow. Yeah, it's it was on um I'd say it was probably 69 Portland guessing somewhere around there. Okay. What was a Connecticut water truck that drove down the street? Water truck. Yeah.

Right around the town right after you left. Oh, okay. Maybe they maybe maybe uh Trail is putting it. I thought they had a well. I mean, I thought they had city water to begin with. So maybe that's you slow down right where the There we go. Okay.

So, we have a lot of follow-up issues to handle between now and the next meeting. Um, talking to deep and getting the the testing the RFP and the testing requirements set up is, I think, very important, at least to me. getting the financials straightened out with you Laura would be very important as well. Um making sure that information how comey works and how else we can exploit comedy. Is there further any further information we could input or get out of that we're not getting today reports etc. Um, and then Eric and so can Katie.

And then also the sewer ordinance. I'm getting that ready so it can be presented. And I think for now we we did review there is a second ordinance that includes a lot of language about sewers. Um, that includes a lot of what Jim was very concerned about. I'm not sure we need that right now. Just the five years or five and three years. We can do that and keep that for this and your basic and your basic thing of what happens if they don't comply with compound that has to go forward so they have something to move forward to.

Excuse me. They used to deal with that. The WPCA did when I used to go to meetings in 2010. Sometimes they would discuss they had sent letters out and people would send correspondents back and say, "Well, there's nobody who's lived in a house for such and such and such and they'd be looking for a dispensation not to pump it." But they in turn did enforce it because I remember hearing that. So they did do some enforcing and they were looking at me. Yeah. Well, I mean, yes.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I remember that. I went myself in couple places and checked the receptive things and they were right. There was no need to pump and I reported to health department the time. Some people just don't use houses for five years. Yeah.

But they did try a sort of enforcement. They did try That time I was a chairman and I was I was listening what they were saying. So I didn't even charge them for checking their subject. Okay. So many people are now come starting to come back to the beach community. I think in May we'll have more. They talked about maybe changing our time and our day to Mondays 700 p.m.

If you you're going to be lucky to get a room, honey. I I kind of looked at the calendars and two things. If that if you change that, now you have all your meetings become special meetings. They are no longer your norm, which is fine, but it is. And there are nights that Monday nights are very tight here, especially the first two weeks of the month. First two weeks of the month are the worst week to have meeting.

Can I make a suggestion? And I don't know how it how we the the commission meets at the community center on the last Monday of the month. can as as a um mortgage holder of the community center, um Mondays are usually non-existent. I mean, there's nothing going on. Tuesdays we have jazz and stuff like that, but um I don't know how how it would work technology-wise. I don't know what what Frank and and Michaela and and those guys do.

I know they're using Teams, but I would strongly suggest for this commission, I think the board of selective would tell you that we really want you online. Okay. This is too important. Um I agree. Yeah.

So, Rogers Lake Authority does not use a room here, but they are taped. So, what happens is Katie starts them. They do not have the best Wi-Fi down at the Rogers Lake Community Center. Um, but what they do is Katie starts their meetings for them here or on her computer and then Mark Hastings joins in and whoever else is their person. Um, their clerk joins in as well. I think it's actually Erica. I think she does clerks for them as well. But, um, they join on and on. You have to have at least person one person signed in to the team's link and once you have one person on it starts recording. So um once Katie knows that arms on and Eric is on or someone else is on then she let she let go. The recording is then sent to Katie because she sets up the meeting and she started it. So the recording comes to Katie the next morning and then we can post it. But if you don't have a camera or you don't have a phone or computer, no one sees you. It's just phones. And you'd have to have some type of a speaker system or something

where you all close enough to it so that they can hear you. Um because there are some people whose voices are very soft spoken and it doesn't pick up on a computer or a phone if you're at the other end of the table. Is is Wednesday better here? Would Wednesday be better? I'm just saying that um well, Monday was our was our go-to because one some of us still commute back and forth and so we're here definitely for weekends just as another and usually a a Monday down the beach is is like a Sunday. So, you know, people don't go back home sometimes until Tuesday, you know. So, that's what we were looking at. It's okay.

So, no, Mary, you can ask. You can just I would just do a little bit more research on whether it's whatever and talk to Katie Michelle what's available where and when. Okay. The other reason why well that's the best reason I can give you right now but there is another reason we we conflict with another WPCA meeting calendar and we that other WPCA we have been invited to attend them as well and They're very knowledgeable and have helped a great deal. So, we're losing that communication and open

and that's the difference. They're the only the only private beach association that invited us. Thank you. And and that was that was it because we weren't getting the information and you know Mr. Whan isn't going to divulge it unless it's absolutely, you know, uh fingernail pulling time, you know. So, it was it's just one of those things. Okay. So, I'll send it I'll look into it a little bit further as long as there's no objections. If we can find the time and the space, I think we prefer Mondays 7 o'

But Monday is going to be Tuesdays. Yes. Well, I mean, were were you were you planning on making the switch next month? Only if only if she can do that as chair. Let's try. Are you okay if I walk out? Yes, because I've been ahead moving since 6:22. So, you know that you just touch that red button right here when your meeting's over and it'll turn off. Okay. Okay. And then if you turn I won't get yelled at. No, you will not. Somewhere there's a TV remote right there. Just turn the TV off when you're done. Okay. After that.

Okay. Okay. Thank you for today. Yeah. Okay. Yes. Make a motion. Make a motion to

motion. Second. John Dennis. All All in favor? I can just push the red button, please. I think the plaque.