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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-SJC-040925 SJCSJC MEETING April 9, 2025 SJC Board members A Robert Cantelmo, City of Ithaca P Rod Howe, Town of Ithaca A Clyde Lederman, City of Ithaca P Rob Rosen, Town of Ithaca E Scott Reynolds, City of Ithaca A Ray Burger, Town of Dryden P Dave Warden, City of Ithaca P Jason Leifer, Town of Dryden P Rich DePaolo, Town of Ithaca P = Present, PZ = Present via zoom, E = Excused Staff A Wendy Cole, City of Ithaca P Peter Wernsdorfer, Camden Group P Scott Gibson, City of Ithaca A Joe Slater, Town of Ithaca A Mike Thorne, City of Ithaca P David O’Shea, Town of Ithaca P Ken Scherrieble, Camden Group PZ Kelly VanRiper, City of Ithaca P = Present, PZ = Present via zoom, PP = Present via phone, A= Absent Meeting called to order 1:04pm. 1) Agenda Review and Approval of Minutes: • Agenda review – No updates • Approved - February 12, 2025, and March 12, 2025, minutes, moved by Rich and second by Jason. All in favor. • Unapproved minutes - January 8, 2025, were not approved and will be sent May Meeting for approval. 2) Financial Report - Wendy Cole • See attached for the Financial Report as of 03/31Superindentent /2025. Discussion: o Wendy wasn’t present; however, she shared financial reports with Rich for the meeting. o Some of the payments have been received. o Wendy bills once a year for the payment from the City of Ithaca, Town of Ithaca, and Town of Dryden. 3) Operation and Engineering Report – Peter Wernsdorfer • Operations o Regulatory Compliance – Effluent quality is very good. The solids are in low digits. o Personnel – We have screened 4 candidates for the Operator Trainee position(s)an interview. We are calling them back for interviews. Scott Gibson has information on applicants for Chief operator. o Blowers – We have a greater range of control over the blowers after our contractor’s repair. Attorney Brock is making primary contact with prospective counsel with appropriate experience to pursue Howden in warranty claims o Digesters – Awaiting final repair on the mixer system. There is good settling in the tank. o Micro Turbines – Operating normally. Gas quality remains very high. RSP remote call ins. o ActiFlo (Tertiary Treatment) – The polymer feed system pump is defunct. It is being replaced and reprogrammed prior to returning the system to operation. There have been alarm situations. Working on regular cleaning. o Clarifiers – status quo per weather and personnel. We expect to make repairs before the end of May. o Boiler Replacement – This project is complete. Once the contractor is demobilized, this will be dropped off the list. The job is functioning well. o Facility Improvements – Lab HVAC is operable, but completion is stalled due to supply chain issues. We are waiting on Springtime weather to move forward. o Asset Management – OpWorks is in daily use for data recording, rounds checklists, laboratory results, MOR functions, and maintenance. We have opened 103 Work Orders since going operational. Of those, 83 are complete. Additionally, monthly, we track 7 recurring PM orders. We are in process on inventory and integration of SOPs. o Staff Management – Weekly check-ins continue, and Safety Toolbox Talks resumed this month. • Reporting o Regulatory reports were sent as scheduled - Preparing and sending out more reports. o • Business, Long-Term Development o Capital Planning – Semi-monthly meetings continue. Asst Superintendent will report on the process and recent information o Energy Management – attended monthly coaching call. Workshop 5 rescheduled to 5 June. o Operations Data – The MOR and Gas Data Tables were forwarded to the Chair. 4) Discussion of Potential Permit Modification – Peter and Scott Gibson Discussion: o Potential Modification and what we plan to do. o The progress meeting with the MBR included Monica Moss from DEC. o DEC is using this as an opportunity to reopen our permit and add more limits and a potential compliance order for best management practices. o We are heading into this with a proactive prevention agenda thought in mind for Capital improvements. This is something that the plant hasn’t done in the past. We have been stuck after the fact when things break. o If the DEC comes in and requires us to compliance o This is driven by TMDVL and we agree that we cannot fight this. o This will give us an opportunity to do accost effective analysis ahead. This would end the CIP project. o Rich didn’t agree and thought maybe make noise about the changes and draw NEXAS into it. Could we be out of compliance? o Ken WTIP money from grants has been allocated to possibilities of helping. o Can a system be designed for all original to crunch numbers? o Need to work together with the DEC to open a permit/ extend the timeline. See if we can get more time from DEC to complete the needs. o New Speedie Permit 14p to 3 paras note monitor nitrates and treatment process for Nitrates. o DEC is reopening compliance with limit orders. o This will consist of the possibilities of millions of dollars. o Assessments on the lake will be brought in on this and source issues. o Upgrades have started now, and costs could be $37,500 a day. In relation to the DEC under micro could cost $80 million. o There will be Operational and Energy savings down the road. o The Ontario dump will be closing and looking for new site to take waste to. Maybe we could us Seneca Meadows in Seneca County. o Being aware of what is coming down the pike and prepare: o Having or getting necessary permits o Securing funding to be able to keep up with new regulations and changes. o Being aware of compliance needs and maintaining compliance. o Preparation and ability to flex o This is a hiccup in our current study. o Work on trying to find a way so that we do not need to completely start over. o This discussion is to make SJC aware and prepare them for the possibility of future voting. 5) Misc. Updates: • Staffing - Scott Gibson • Scott let everyone know that we received an application for an Assistant Chief Operator, and they did not respond when we reached out to them. • Weh have had several Operator Trainee Applications and Peter touched on this. We will be calling 4 in for formal interviews. • The plans are to bring on 2 trainees. • Kelly shared Salary of the Job postings, and the salaries are in a 4 tier step program for raises over a 4- year period. • Tests can be very difficult. • The hope is to build a city staff and then discuss where we stand with Camden. • We will be meeting again 6-8 weeks to discuss employment. • Cecil Malone Drive emergency interceptor repair - Scott Gibson o It took a couple weeks to complete. o We were able to pull together and work around the broken pipe. o The unknown the actual fees is the Railroad fees somewhere around $28,000. o We are waiting for City fees are going to be around $120,000.00 • Flow Meter status update - Scott o Scott Gibson stated that Neptune is working on it. o City is working on the upgrades and repairs. o Working on over and under fees. o Elm and Hudson were installed. o There are 4 that need updates and we are waiting for parts to arrive. 6) Adjournment at 2:07 pm Upcoming Meeting Date: May 7, 2025