COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1997

2 P.M.

PRESENT: Co-Chair: Wishnie. Members: Darcy, Carsky, Latimer; Legislator Stewart-Cousins, District 16. Staff: John Egner-DPW; Emilia Vita, Secretary.

ALSO PRESENT: Anthony Trelewicz, Commissioner-DEF; Bob Matarazzo, Dan Donahue, Adam Zabinsky, Deputy Commissioners-DEF; George Hosey, Chair-CBAC; Linda Cooper, Supervisor of Yorktown; Representatives from the Town of Ossining for Gerry Fiaella and the Town of North Castle for Supervisor Lombardi.

The meeting was called to order at 2:10 p.m. by Legislator Wishnie.

Mr. Wishnie noted that money was put into the Budget in order to fund a study for a Consolidated Sewer District, that will reach a better understanding of the fiscal impact on all communities involved.

Commissioner Trelewicz updated the members of the progress and scope of work involving the proposal of consolidation of 13 County sewer districts. The scope consists of three components; 1) Engineering; 2) Legal; and 3) Financial Analysis. Biltmore Financial has been hired to do all the financial analysis on the districts and are presently collecting data. Greg Meehan is presently reviewing the study for legal ramifications, should outside counsel be used later on. The engineering support will be Dolph Rotfeld.

The Commissioner explained, with the money allocated, he will provide a solid financial analysis, spending approximately $125 to $150 thousand and that should include legal time and leaving a portion remaining for future use when needed. Once the Board reviews the outcome and it seems to be in the best interest to proceed, he suggests at that time, someone should be hired to smooth out all the final details. Data collection, the new budget and capital projects all have to be tied into the study. They want to look at it from all sides - should it be one big district or should it be a Sound side and a Hudson River side. The financial and engineering people have to go out and talk to those at the plants and see how it operates and get their input. Existing regulations (DEC, County, Federal) and what has to be met; legal problems from one plant to the other or how you pay off old debts all have to be looked into. The financial company will analyze the three areas and report the costs of those areas if consolidations is applicable.

Legislator Darcy asked about future growth and how that stage will be handled.

The Commissioner said data from the Planning Department will be factored into the study. Upgrading facilities resulting from new regulations have been explored into as many configurations as possible. Outside suggestions from the communities and municipal leaders are an ongoing project. The scope will be amended to also review the suggestion of a Sewer Authority. The Commissioner assured that he will look at all alternatives.

Supervisor Cooper, speaking for the Municipal Officials Association, said they would like to involved throughout and be integrated in the study. Legislator Wishnie said being this is a Board issue, they will continue to alert the Association and will communicate on a continual basis and accommodate to their needs.

Supervisor Cooper said the Association’s committee, as soon as they have definitive solutions, will share with the Committee members.

North Castle has money in the budget for three years to solve their problem and awaiting word as to consolidation or not. They feel they should not be rewarding failure, basically when they have paid for systems that have be allowed to fail, districts should be penalized. Assistance can be helped as much as possible and there should be an incentive to keep systems up, especially water and sewer.

Legislator Latimer said this is a not a function merely of lack of upkeep, but the changing regulations over the years and lack of funding at State and Local levels that no longer exist. Mr. Wishnie said the Commissioner and his staff, acting as the County’s agent, have sent letters to all municipalities indicating there are problems and they have to be resolved. What the County is looking at, at the end of this process, is there a way for everyone to enjoy a sewer consolidation.

The Committee moved to the discussion of the Yonkers Sewer Treatment Plant, the capping project and some questions from the local citizens group regarding their concerns with smoke stack and noise emissions.

Commissioner Trelewicz will forward his written response to the questions. He reported the odors from stacks will be extremely low from DEC limits, i.e. benzene at .29, the DEC regulations asked for .32.

Mr. Wishnie asked if there is any chemical that comes close to the area. the Commissioner said no and will forward a report to the Chair.

The noise level expected from the blowers is 65 measures from 3 feet from the enclosure, the background is 63, the community will not hear anything.

The Commissioner will include examples of the noise levels to the Chair according to the measured specifications. Mr. Matarazzo gave an example of the Airport, where noise level is about 90 to 100 to giving the members an estimated idea.

Commissioner Trelewicz addressed the questions relating to filling the tanks with additional trucks, noting they are separate issues. Additional hoppers are weekend storage, they are looking for potential emergencies, trucks can be only loaded so much as it is, two tanks will give another 12 to 14 hours over what is basically needed. Basically, centrifuges need to constantly run, the more they run, the better they are. The concern is good engineering practice to have the storage capacity, not to take more sludge, it’s only back up capacity and will not change the trucking.

If the trucking schedule is changed to include weekend pick up, could the plant be run and eliminate extra storage. Commissioner Trelewicz explained that trucking is not done on Sundays because area residents are usually outside in their yards.

Legislator Stewart-Cousins suggests changing the schedule so the department is not under pressure. The Commissioner asked if the Board will be supportive of trucking on Sundays, Ms. Stewart-Cousins said the Board will be supportive of what the community supports. It was understood that the community does not wanting the extra hoppers and are willing to give up their calm Sundays.

Commissioner Trelewicz said there will be no extra or premiums costs to changes the schedule and will look into Sunday trucking. He will forward a formal response to these questions to the Chair and he in turn will have something to offer to the Community.

Mr. Wishnie said this Committee came a long way to find a solution to help the area with a trucking change and small expansion to give some comfort to the Department to close the doors at the plant and enable processing and work on a Sunday.

Legislator Latimer asked if any dates have bee set for Household Hazardous days, the Commissioner said yes, two dates are being discussed to date - one at Playland and another up County. He does have concerns with a safe, County-owned site up North because of potential accidents and liability.

Legislator Stewart-Cousins asked about Yonkers response to this day, the Commissioner said the Yonkers Haz Mat Unit picks up from those who cannot make it to the Household Days i.e. elderly, seniors. Yonkers needs permission from the State to pick up on these days, but they can not pick up and store for a year.

Legislator Wishnie asked about those going into the sewer system and those coming out and asked if the Commissioner could explain the policy that is in place.

Deputy Commissioner Donahue gave a brief background when the Town of Cortlandt was in a sewer district , but not being served by local sewers. Since the 70’s, Cortlandt and several other municipalities are paying County sewer taxes. With the expansion of the Peekskill Sewer District, the town of Cortlandt petitioned several properties to come out of the districts, the County Attorney office was involved and those who had the trunk lines stayed in and those without lines, came out. The Department receives a petition from the Town, sends it to the Health Department for review, once they OK the process, DEF does a financial analysis.

When asked about the caps for the Yonkers tanks, Commissioner Trelewicz said they were under review by engineers in California at the manufacturer.

Mr. Wishnie thanked Commissioner Trelewicz and his staff for a very informative session and appreciates their time and efforts.

The Committee will discuss the proposed legislation (Item A) adding certain lands to the Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District in the Town of Somers on Monday, February 10th.

Also on the agenda for Monday, February 10th, will be Item E, correspondence from Legislator Carsky regarding the non paid internships for skilled works of Work-Link.

With no other business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 3 p.m. on the motion of Legislator Wishnie, seconded by Legislator Latimer.