Utility Commission - Minutes - 05/14/2024

WATERFORD UTILITY COMMISSION 
 
 
DATE:  
 
May 14, 2024 
 
PLACE:  
 
1000 Hartford Turnpike  
 
PRESIDING: 
 
Chairman Ken Kirkman 
 
MEMBERS PRESENT: 
 Tom Dembek, Rodney Pinkham and Ray Valentini 
 
ALSO PRESENT:  
 Town Attorney Nick Kepple 
 
 
 
Staff:  James A. Bartelli, Director of Utilities  
 
           Jill Stevens, Assistant Director of Utilities 
  
MEMBERS ABSENT: 
 Steve Negri  
 
Chairman Ken Kirkman called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 
 
TREASURER’S PRESENTATION 
 
 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Dembek to move the Treasurer’s presentation up on the agenda,  
seconded by Mr. Valentini. 
 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 
Mr. Abbas Danesh, the Town Treasurer, gave a presentation on how he invests the money from the 
Wastewater Enterprise Fund and Sewer Development and Maintenance Fund.  He provided information 
on the history of investments made through the STIF investment account.  The Utility Commission funds 
have made around $270,000 in interest as of the end of the third quarter and are anticipated to make 
about $345,000 by the end of the fiscal year dependent upon market conditions.  Mr. Danesh informed 
the Commission members that they can access the reports through the Town Website for monthly 
updated reports.   
 
CITIZEN SESSION-             
 
None 
 
SECRETARY’S REPORT 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Dembek to approve the Minutes of the April 9th meeting, Mr. 
Valentini seconded. 

Waterford Utility Commission 
May 14, 2024 
 
 
 
2 | P a g e  
 
 
VOTE 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 
BILLING ADJUSTMENTS 
 
The Commission reviewed the April adjustments. The adjustment report will be kept in the 
office for review.  
 
 
EXPENDITURES 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Pinkham to approve the April 2024 bill list, Mr. Dembek seconded. 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 
OLD BUSINESS 
 
• 
Director’s Report 
 
Mr. Bartelli reviewed his report that provides updated information on all Utility 
 
Commission Capital projects that are currently funded and the status of each project. 
 
A copy of the Director’s Report will be attached to the minutes when posted. 
 
 
• 
Collection’s Report 
The report was reviewed by the Commission.   
 
• 
Ad-Hoc Water Committee 
 
Chairman Valentini had nothing new to report. 
 
• 
Connecticut College Municipal Sewer Connection 
Mr. Bartelli reported that they are still working on calculating the sewer connection fee. 
Ms. Stevens explained that she has sent a request to the college for additional 
information regarding number of beds per room but hasn’t gotten a response yet. 
 
• 
Utility Commission Policies 3005, 3011 & 3014 Drafts 
Ms. Stevens explained that there was some terminology changes made to policies to 
better align with policy changes made in 2023 and recent legislation resulting in 
regulation changes for Accessory Dwelling Units. Staff is also proposing the removal of 
the $22 fee for private well water meter customers who do not submit a well card on 
time. These customers are currently charged a flat rate based on the average use for 
private well-metered customers if they do not report their usage, which is typically 
higher than what they would pay if their usage was reported in addition to the $22 non-
reporting fee. Ms. Stevens informed the Commission that the revisions to Policy 3011 
were not included in this month’s meeting package but will be in the following months 
meeting materials. The changes to Policy 3011 add a requirement for private water 
meters to be replaced every 15 years. 

Waterford Utility Commission 
May 14, 2024 
 
 
 
3 | P a g e  
 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Pinkham to approve and adopt the revise version  
 
 
 
of Policy #3005 and 3014, seconded by Mr. Valentini. 
 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
NEW BUSINESS 
• 
2025 Wastewater Enterprise Operating Fund & Fleet Plan 
Mr. Bartelli and Ms. Stevens presented two versions of the FY25 Operating Fund to the 
members of the Commission.  One version of the budget has a 7.9% increase and using 
the Sewer Development and Maintenance Fund to kick start our Fleet Plan.  The other 
version has a 15.50% and does not use funds from the Sewer Development and 
Maintenance fund.  The Commission will vote on the FY25 Operating Fund and Fleet 
Plan at the next meeting in June. 
 
• 
Asset Management Software 
Ms. Stevens reviewed the benefits of Beehive Software and gave updates on prep work 
that has been done before getting the software.  She reported that the 1st year for cost 
of software and implantation is $25,682 and the reoccurring cost for each year 
afterwards would be $17,904. 
 
 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Valentini to approve the purchase of the software and  
 
 
 
implementation for $25,682 and approve a bid waiver for this purchase, 
 
 
 
seconded by Mr. Dembek. 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 
• 
AMTRAK License 
Ms. Stevens reported that the department found out while researching permit 
requirements for the Contract 1 clearing easement project that there were two 
AMTRAK licenses that needed to be renewed within the Town.  This license 
agreement is to allow our infrastructure to be on AMTRAK property. 
 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Dembek to approve the license for AMTRAK for the  
 
 
 
Pleasure Beach area for a total of $2,605.00 to be paid on an annual  
 
 
 
basis, seconded by Mr. Valentini. 
 
 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 
 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Dembek to approve the license for AMTRAK for the  
 
 
 
Millstone Nuclear Access Road for a total of $3,170.00 to be paid on an  
 
 
 
annual  basis, seconded by Mr. Valentini. 
 
 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 

Waterford Utility Commission 
May 14, 2024 
 
 
 
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• 
Chemical Odor Control Bid Opening 
Mr. Bartelli reported that there was only one company that bid for this Request for 
Proposals which was Evoqua Water Technologies LLC.  Their price for services for the 
year is  $163,230.00 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Dembek to accept and award the bid to Evoqua Water  
 
 
 
Technologies LLC in the amount of $163,230.00, seconded by Mr. Valentini. 
 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 
 
WATER  
 
City of New London/Veolia Report. 
The report was reviewed by the Commission. 
 
Chairman Kirkman directed Mr. Bartelli to write a letter to the City of New London requesting a tour of 
the wastewater treatment plant.  The Waterford Utility Commission would like to see the repairs that 
Waterford capital funds were invested in.  Chairman Kirkman went on to say that the Commission 
should have been provided notice of the repairs before the work was done per the Tri-Town Agreement. 
 
Town Attorney Kepple also advised that the City of New London be given two options: 
1.  The funds that Waterford provides for Capital improvements be invested better and earn more 
than the small amount of interest it has earned in comparison to similar amounts of money that 
Waterford’s Treasurer manages. Or 
2. Waterford manages the funds provided to New London for wastewater Capital Improvements 
and let our treasurer invest the money to be insured of a better return on the money. 
 
 
PLANS REVIEW –  
None 
 
PERSONNEL 
 
• 
Mr. Bartelli explained the need to reorganize the maintenance division. He proposed a 
new organizational chart that would allow the department to restructure the 
Maintenance Division by increasing the number of Maintenance Operators from 2 to 4 
and realigning the number of Sewer Technicians 1 & 2 accordingly. 
 
 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Pinkham to accept the new organization chart for the  
 
 
 
maintenance division as presented, seconded by Mr. Dembek. 
 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 

Waterford Utility Commission 
May 14, 2024 
 
 
 
5 | P a g e  
 
• 
The Compliance Enforcement Technician Job, which replaces the Assistant Construction 
Inspector position is still posted. There have been 9 applicants but only two were 
interviewed.  No decision has been made yet.  
OTHER 
The Commission and the staff would like to recognize the Public Work mechanical staff for their talent 
and hard work on doing the conversion work on the camera truck.  Thank you! 
 
ADJOURNMENT 
 
With no further business before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. 
 
 
 
 
MOTION 
Made by Mr. Valentini to adjourn, Mr. Dembek seconded. 
 
 
 
VOTE 
 
The motion passed unanimously. 
 
 
 
 
Respectfully submitted, 
 
 
 
 
Amy Windle 
Recording Secretary