Water Department

Notice:
On 7/4/2023 the town performed our monthly 8 hour composite samples as required by our discharge permit. We typically composite the samples and submit them to the lab on the same day, but because of the holiday the samples were not submitted until Wednesday 7/5/2023.

The required monthly E-coli sample is usually not taken until just before going to the lab to ensure the shortest possible hold time. 

The latest test resulted in a high ecoli count. The permitted amount is 77 colonies / 100 milligrams per liter, our result was 800 colonies / 100 milligrams per liter. Wednesdays are the normal wasting days at the facility (wasting is the process of collecting solids in the bottom of the primary clarifier to be pumped to a sludge holding tank. The sludge is then hauled to final disposal by a permitted hauler at a later time. Typically about 2000 gallons of sludge is removed.) This process of wasting creates a drop and corresponding spike in flow when discharge returns. The ecoli sample was taken during this spike in flow. The sample was taken at 10:45 am and the flow returned to normal conditions about 11:45 am. The average flow during this period was about 23 gallons per minute, so an estimated 1380 gallons left the facility during this period.

The elevated ecoli numbers were reported to the state and were advised to provide notice to residents. The State requires a 48 hour notice to those pursuing recreation activities in the river. This 48 hour period has passed and there is no standing advisory to the public to avoid the river at this time.
 
If you have any questions please contact our wastewater operator, Mike Whipple (WSChiefoperator@chelseavt.us) or the Health Officer, Geoff Clayton (gwc05038@gmail.com).

Chelsea Water Department Board Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at the Chelsea Town Hall
Selectboard Members present: Levar Cole, Mark Whitney, Merrill Whitney, Bruce Hook
Other Town Employees present: Marianne McCann (Administrative Assistant)(Herald), Gayle Durkee
(Treasurer)
Members of the public present: Trudy Amber-Dowlin

1. Call Meeting to Order
   Meeting called to order by Levar Cole at 7:09 pm.
2. Conflict of Interest Disclosure
   None.
3. Changes to the Agenda
   None.
4. Bill consolidation request – Trudy Amber Dowlin
   Levar Cole moved to approve the water billing consolidation request for Trudy Amber-Dowlin. Merrill
   Whitney seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
   Trudy Amber Dowlin stated the building is set up as one house. Dowlin requested that the bill
   consolidation be retroactive, since she has already paid two times.
   The Selectboard and the Treasurer agreed to make it retroactive for this last quarter, but not beyond
   the last quarter.
   Dowlin pointed out there was no way of knowing from the bill that she was paying for two units. Only
   when she asked, when they looked in the records, would you know the amount was for two units.
   Dowlin suggests changing the bill format to reflect the status of how many units, how many gallons.
   Cole stated future billing has been an agenda item in the past. We can look at that going forward.
   Durkee stated Nemric sets up the bill and formatted it for us. Durkee can check to see if the formatting
   can be changed.
   Durkee stated two water accounts are overdue and have not responded or paid. We can turn off the
   water now. These bills are quite high. I think the services are going to stop soon anyway.
   Cole asked the Treasurer to keep the board informed. We may have to call a Special Water Department
   Board meeting.
5. Public Comments
   None.
6. Adjourn
   Meeting adjourned at 7:31 pm.
   The next regularly scheduled Water Dept. Board Meeting will be December 20, 2022.

Chelsea Water Department Board Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, 20 September 2022
7:00PM Chelsea Town Hall
1. Call meeting to order
2. Conflict of interest disclosure
3. Changes to the agenda
4. Bill consolidation request-Trudy-Amber Dowlin
5. Public Comments
6. Adjourn

Chelsea Water Department Board Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 7pm in Chelsea Town Hall
Selectboard Members present: Levar Cole, Geoff Clayton (Mark Whitney and Merrill Whitney arrived at 7:22 pm.)
Other Town Officials/Employees present: Marianne McCann (Administrative Assistant)(Herald), Gayle
Durkee (Treasurer)
Members of the Public present: None.

1. Call Meeting to Order
   Meeting convened at 7:08 pm. No quorum until 7:22 pm, when four Selectboard members were
   present.
2. Conflict of Interest Disclosure
   None.
3. Changes to the Agenda
   None.
4. Approve Water Dept. Board minutes of April 5, 2022
   Skip this item until quorum is reached.
5. Department/Liaison Updates – Merrill
   Skip this item until quorum is reached.
6. Town Treasurer
   Re: Water Department Budget Status: Gayle Durkee stated the delinquent report has been printed.
   There is about $17,000. In delinquent water bills. A few of these are expected to be paid with tax sales. 4
   accounts are extremely late. Durkee presented a copy of a letter informing people that they can apply
   for a program or consider making payments.
   Geoff Clayton stated we need to move to a salaried position. We need another full-time person for the
   sewer plant. We need a qualified person to organize everything so that anyone can go in and know how
   to run the plant. We might have a chaotic transition if we don’t get a full-time person.
   Cole stated we can advertise again. What would be the maximum amount of pay we could offer? Durkee
   can find that number. Can we furlough the part time road person? We still need the safety person.
   Durkee stated the COO cannot walk that far to read the meters. The safety employee cannot read the
   meters at 5 am.
   Clayton stated we can make accommodations in order to get the meters read. There is no need to walk
   the whole thing. There is a riding lawnmower. There is a vehicle. We can make it work.
   Cole stated if we are paying the safety employee and he does not do the work, he should be let go. We
   need to tell the COO the meters need to be read. If the safety employee cannot, then he is not able to
   do the job.
   Action: Merrill will talk with COO about the meter reading situation.
   Action: Put this (human resources) on the agenda for the next Selectboard meeting.
   Action: Merrill will tell COO his presence is requested at the next Selectboard meeting, July 5, 2022 at
   7:30 pm.
7. Rate Payer requests
   A written request from Tim Courts and Carrie Caouette-De Lallo was received 5-9-22 asking that two
   water bills for their one house be changed to reflect the current status as one dwelling unit.
   Geoff Clayton moved to retroactively change the billing at the Tim Courts and Carrie Caouette-De Lallo
   property to only be considered one unit in relation to the water and sewer bill. Levar Cole seconded
   the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
8. Administrative Assistant
   Re: Amended Water Department Ordinance: Action: Add this ordinance paperwork item to the next
   Water Department Board meeting, Sept. 20, 2022.
   Re: Grant Application Updates: “New and Improved Pump Station for the Chelsea WWTF” was
   approved for congressional funding by the office of Peter Welch. There are many more steps in the
   process of passing the congressional budget. Date and amount of award/match unknown at this time.
   Re: Meter options: No new information on meters at this time. No action taken.
9. Public Comments
   None.
10. Executive Session for Human Resources
    None.
11. Adjourn
    Geoff Clayton moved to approve the Water Department Board Meeting minutes of April 5, 2022.
    Merrill Whitney seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
    Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm.
    The next regularly scheduled Water Department Board Meeting will be September 20, 2022.