UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
AUGUST 7, 2017
Mayor Cerino called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Council members Liz Gross, Linda C. Kuiper, Samuel T. Shoge and Mauritz Stetson, Bob Sipes (Utilities Manager), W. S. Ingersoll (Town Manager), Jennifer Mulligan (Town Clerk), and guests.
Mayor Cerino asked if there were any additions or corrections to the Utilities Commission meeting minutes of July 10, 2017. Mr. Stetson moved to approve the minutes as presented, was seconded by Ms. Gross and carried unanimously.
Mayor Cerino stated that operating funds on hand is $1,160,151.48 and an additional $623,400.00 was set aside in capital funds for a total of $1,783,551.48.
Mayor Cerino asked for a motion to pay the bills. Ms. Gross moved to pay the bills as submitted, was seconded by Mr. Stetson and carried unanimously.
Mr. Sipes stated that there was a truckload of lime delivered to the water plant which shows as a larger expense in the bills.
Mr. Sipes stated that he purchased two (2) small generators and two (2) light kits for road work at night.
Mr. Sipes stated that Phase I of the Toxicity & Bio-Monitoring testing was finished and came back with a 100% survival rate. He said that discharge was taken from the water plant and small aquatic life was added to see if there was any die-off. Mr. Sipes stated that this shows that there is nothing toxic from Chestertown’s Waste Water Treatment Plant going into the river. University of Maryland Wye Mills performed the testing.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that approximately 14 months ago, MDE asked the Town for consent to access Town owned property at the Fire House and on Horsey Lane. The purpose was to conduct a PCE investigation. Mr. Ingersoll stated that since that time he has been working to have MDE indemnify the Town if, in fact, MDE found the PCE plume that began at Park Cleaners. He said that he met with MDE to express the Town’s concerns, noting that the Park Cleaners investigation was closed in 2007. He said that he did not know why MDE wanted to reopen the Park investigation on Town properties instead of closer to the original spill. Mr. Ingersoll stated that MDE now has indemnified the Town in the proposed agreement (Item 14) MDE also agreed to restore any damages resulting from their work and provided liability and accident insurance.
Mr. Ingersoll stated that 4 monitoring wells at Bennett’s II (now 7-Eleven), were permitted to be removed by MDE. Mr. Ingersoll stated that this proposal called for 3 groups of 3 monitoring wells that would be drilled 6’ apart and drilled at varying depths at the Fire House. Horsey Lane was no longer in the study. Mr. Sipes stated that he was not as concerned with this plume as he was the Hospital plume. He said that PCE is heavier than water and would sink to the bottom of the aquifer and tend to remain there.
Ms. Gross moved to authorize Mayor Cerino to sign the agreement with MDE for access to Town property in relation to monitoring of PCE from the former Park Dry Cleaners property, was seconded by Mr. Shoge and carried unanimously.
There being no further business, Mr. Shoge moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:43 p.m. was seconded by Mr. Stetson and carried unanimously.
Submitted by: Approved by:
Jennifer Mulligan Chris Cerino
Town Clerk Mayor