Catskill Watershed Corporation Septic Committee Meeting June 7, 2011 Minutes Attendance: Committee Members: Donald Brandow (Director), Michael Flaherty (Director), Thomas Hynes (Director), Georgianna Lepke (Director), Wayne Marshfield (Director), Tina Mole (Director), Ben Pierson (NYSDOH by phone), Alan Rosa (CWC), Tom Snow (NYSDEC), Leonard Utter (Director). Others: Tim Cox (CWC), Todd Henderson (CWC), Larry Kelly (CWC), Leo LaBuda (CWC), Berndt Leifeld (Director), Tom Stalter (NYCEP), Rob Stanley (Town of Shandaken) I. The meeting was called to order at 10:03 AM by Wayne Marshfield. II. Minutes from last meeting were reviewed and approved as written. III. Septic Program A. James Cecchi appeal: Mr. Cecchi appeals staff s denial of reimbursement of certain design costs as excessive and denial of reimbursement for wetland mapping costs. Total claimed design cost for this system is $15,888.59. The property is located in the Town of Hunter. The engineer first began a design of a septic system on a separate lot that the homeowner owns. The NYCDEP required that an easement be in place on the lot for the septic system or a lot line adjustment to include the septic system. The homeowner refused to do either and the second design location was undertaken. The second proposed design was a pressure distribution system designed by the engineer and not previously approved in the NYC watershed; the second proposed design did not receive NYCDEP. In addition, the design engineer also employed an expert to map any federal wetlands on the site. The engineer originally claimed this was done to ensure a proper setback. Under both State law and NYCDEP Watershed Regulations, the only wetlands that matter for setback are NYSDEC mapped wetlands of 12.4 acres
or greater. The homeowner s appeal now claims that the reason for the wetlands expert was so that the new field was not placed in a federal wetland. Mr. Ewald Schwarzenegger, PE (Kaaterskill Associates) addressed the Committee to explain the why added costs were necessary to design Mr. Cecchi s septic system. The Board asked Mr. several questions regarding the design of the project. The Committee discussed the appeal, and deemed that since Mr. Cecchi was not willing to do an easement nor was he willing to do a lot line adjustment that Mr. Cecchi was not eligible for the extra design costs. The Committee recommended to the Board that Mr. Cecchi be reimbursed for 60% of the design and construction costs based upon the Schedule of Values, provided he submits an application and proof of payment for reimbursement. B. Lee Marie Burns over $20,000: This property is located in the Town of Bovina. The dwelling has 5 bedrooms. The major components include, 1500 gallon septic tank, siphon chamber, 175 l.f. of 4 gravity piping, 300 c.y. of absorption fill material, 400 l.f. of absorption trench, 170 l.f. of curtain drain, and extensive restoration. We received a quote for $29,310.00. The quote is within 10% of our estimated cost of construction based on the Schedule of Values. The Committee recommended that a resolution be brought before the Board to reimburse Ms. Burns in the amount not to exceed $29,310.00 to build her septic system. C. Phyllis Paperno over $20,000: This property is located in the Town of Hurley. The dwelling has 3 bedrooms. The major components include, siphon chamber, 50 l.f. of gravity piping, one distribution box, and 360 c.y. of absorption fill material, 250 l.f. of absorption trench, willow tree removal, 165 l.f. drainage swale, and a large area of restoration. We received three quotes the lowest quote is within 10% of our estimated cost of construction. The low quote is $23,600.00. The Committee recommended that a resolution be brought before the Board to reimburse Ms. Paperno in the amount not to exceed $23,600.00. D. George Nicholas a.k.a. Cynthia Drum additional cost: This project is located in the Town of Prattsville. The project was approved for $19,500.00. A diversion swale was utilized to control the surface waters. However, a problem developed around the pump station allowing water to pond in this vicinity. The engineer developed a plan to alleviate this condition. We received a quote from the contractor for the additional work for the amount of $2000.00. The quote is slightly below our estimated cost of construction. The additional costs bring the project cost above the threshold of $20,000.00. The total project cost will be
$21,500.00. The Committee recommended that a resolution be brought before the Board to reimburse Mr. Nicholas in the amount not to exceed $2000.00. E. Erik Holmlin over $20,000: This project is located in the Town of Woodstock. The dwelling has 2 bedrooms. The major components include, One 1000 gallon septic tank, a siphon chamber, 170 l.f. of 4 gravity piping, one distribution box, 200 c.y. of random fill material, 114 c.y. of absorption fill material, 200 l.f. of absorption trench, 130 l.f. of curtain drain, remove two culverts, install 20 l.f. of steel sleeve and extensive restoration on a difficult site. We received two quotes one for $32,500.00 and one for $25,500. The low quote is within 10% of our estimated cost of construction bases on the Schedule of Values. The Committee recommended that a resolution be brought before the Board to reimburse Mr. Holmlin in the amount not to exceed $25,500.00. F. Walter Kuhnle over $20,000: This project is located in the Town of Bovina. The dwelling has 4 bedrooms. The major components include, 1250 gallon septic tank, pump chamber, 675 l.f. of forcemain, distribution box, 370 c.y. of absorption fill material, 300 l.f. of absorption trench, 165 l.f. of swale, tree removal, cleanout, over 500 l.f. of temporary access road. We received a quote for $29,912.10. The quote is below our estimated cost of construction based on the Schedule of Values. The Committee recommended that a resolution be brought before the Board to reimburse Mr. Kuhnle in the amount not to exceed $29,912.10. G. Ricki Abramson additional cost: This project is located in the Town of Woodstock. The project was approved for $21,252.00. During construction, rock was encountered. The design engineer determined the least costly solution in this case would be to use a low profile tanks to minimize the depth of the excavation. The design engineer requested that select material be utilized for backfill material. We determined a reasonable cost to be $1,522.00 based upon the Schedule of Values. The Committee recommended that a resolution be brought before the Board to reimburse Mr. Abramson in the amount not to exceed $1,522.00. H. Rule Change: In July 2009 CWC Board of Directors amended the Septic Program Rules to provide that construction observation by an engineer was not an eligible expense if the engineer is also the contractor, or employed by the contractor. Recently, a contractor participated in the program for his own residence. The contractor/homeowner hired a local engineer to complete the design. Based upon this rule, CWC denied the $600.00 construction inspection
fees. The Committee recommends that this Program Rule change be sent to the Board for their approval amended as set forth below to provide an exception for a contractor/homeowner. 2:01:03 Eligible Costs 3. The inspection, design, repair, or replacement of a the system must be in accordance with the following: a. Inspection shall include no more than one pump-out of each treatment unit. b. Design costs are eligible, limited only to work needed to complete an approved design, including needed investigation. c. CWC may deem ineligible costs incurred for oversized systems or work that CWC determines to be outside the requirements of 75A and Chapter 18-38 of the Watershed Regulations, not otherwise required as a condition of NYCDEP approval and superfluous to the achievement of adequate sewerage treatment. Administrative work done by the engineer or construction observation by the engineer, if the engineer, or an entity owned, controlled by or employing the engineer, is also constructing the repair or replacement, shall also be ineligible, unless the contractor constructing the repair or replacement is also the participating homeowner seeking reimbursement. Both design and construction of any rehabilitation or replacement must have approval by NYCDEP. The Septic Committee recommended that the rule change be brought before the Board for their approval. I. Septic Maintenance: Larry Kelly reviewed activity in this program with the Committee. 9 homeowners were reimbursed for pump outs in the past month for a total of 24 reimbursements for the year. Larry sent out 427 letters last month to remind homeowners that they are eligible for the Septic Maintenance program. J. Septic Update: Leo reviewed activity in the Septic Program for the Committee. 51 systems have been constructed so far this year. Weather may have played a part in holding up construction through the end of May.
K. Other: IV. Schedule next meeting: 10:00 a.m. on July 5, 2011 V. Adjournment