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2008-08-28 SP MTG.#38 1049 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 08-28-2008 MTG. #38 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MTG. #38 August 28, 2008 RES. 405 TOWN BOARD MEMBERS SUPERVISOR DANIEL STEC COUNCILMAN ANTHONY METIVIER COUNCILMAN RONALD MONTESI-ABSENT COUNCILMAN JOHN STROUGH COUNCILMAN TIM BREWER-ABSENT WASTEWATER DIRECTOR MIKE SHAW LAKE GEORGE WATER SHED CONFERNECE DAVE DECKER TOWN ENGINEER DAN RYAN SOIL AND WATER JIM LEIBRUM 1.DISCUSSION ITEM NORTH QUEENSBURY SEPTIC ISSUES Councilman Strough-Mr. Bill Mason opened our eyes to storm water drainage situations. That has to be managed first if we want to consider expanding the system, going to a community system which might be possible. Reviewed the overall concept. Takundewide has thirty two cottages they are going to private ownership and the land is commonly owned by the association. They want to put in a small community septic system in for some units toward the lake. Some neighbors spoke at a Planning Board Meeting regarding this, their concern being storm water. Noted that the water table is about two feet under the surface, and Dan Ryan will verify that we have a strong suspicion that at least one system on Hillman is failing and getting into the storm water flow. What if we could develop a community system and work as one. At first the neighbors were focused on the storm water issues, at another meeting the residents noted that if Takundewide was going with this we could see this as being a good thing ourselves as well. If there was grant funding for engineer services and buying of easements, some re-imbursement for the association, and in the future the maintenance and liability would be done by the district itself. This could be a good PILOT program for others around the lake. RE: Storm water Dave Decker has suggested that the storm water be redirected into the town owned wetland, there might be a need for a retention basin. Mr Mason-Described the storm water runoff using a map of the area. Need to divert storm water flow before doing the septic. Unknown-In terms of treatment of water if we are cutting off at Cleverdale Road and upgrading it, as strictly forest there is no pollutant source there, so I guess we are going to accomplish this and pre-treat storm water runoff from the mountain runoff would certainly negligible benefit in terms of pollutants. There are pollutants along the road areas, there is a benefit from that perspective. I am not sure where we are headed with the regional wastewater system. Unknown-Takundewide has an approved system and in fact if the Town was interested in consolidating other off site properties and establishing either a district not unlike what we are in the process of doing in Rockhurst, or establish some other …entity and either contract for or own the facilities, that is where this is headed. If the town was to embark upon that program it makes sense and step back and not just deal with septic but are there problems that might impact the sustainable long term operations of such a system. The answer is yes, with the storm water issue diverted lets step back and take a look at the whole piece of property down there how we should progress. Councilman Strough-If it is a community system it would have to double in size to accommodate the other units. 1050 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 08-28-2008 MTG. #38 Director Shaw-Recommended that after the storm water issue is taken care of this parcel should be researched after the fact to make sure what you think you did, you actually did. Unknown-The Conference has got some funding earmarked for 1. yet to be named storm water projects in the Town of Queensbury 2. additional funding for the establishment of another on site waste management district. The thought was to have the Town Board authorize a feasibility study with funding we have in place, this would be soft engineering take a look at the hydrology, examine what is out there and do flow analysis and get better numbers on what septic systems we are really talking about in terms of flow, doing a better count on the houses that are there, to make better informed decisions as to how to proceed. Director Shaw-On the Town side there is a major hurdle that has to be taken care of quite often we have homeowners associations coming to us to take over stuff and because it is not town designed doesn’t lead to benefit other areas we don’t. If the Town moves forward with this it is almost in my eyes a sure bet and this is something the town has got to wrestle with how that can be separated. Unknown-To go in and own and operate a system that is really to the next level, it is progression it is something that the town wants to ask itself do we want to get into the business of operating a system? Establishing a septic maintenance district and providing for a contract and inspection once a year and a pump out of existing septic system is one level of involvement. Here you are talking about the next level and taking on ownership and maintaining and operating a system. The septic systems are still owned by the homeowner it is his ultimate responsibility, all we are providing a formation to be able to inspect them. Director Shaw-Why aren’t these places on holding tanks? Unknown-The maintenance of this and the economics of this are significantly less than going with a series or population of holding tanks. Director Shaw-Noted that the town will want a system built to town specs. if the town is going to own it. Could the grant monies be used to off set cost of holding tanks? Unknown-Not on private land. We have a hundred thousand dollar grant for example is designated septic management districts in Queensbury and we have a hundred thousand dollars grant specific to Queensbury that can go for advancement and operation of a district or districts of the town. An ongoing subsidy to a holding tank system would eat the money up real quick. Director Shaw-Questioned if there are any funds available from the old sewer district. Unknown-I think a lot of that has been allocate elsewhere. Unknown-The other party that comes in here is the State Health Dept. and DEC they look at the use of holding tanks is really to be used as a last resort not for new systems. Spoke on the Rockhurst District, talked about central holding tank where all the systems flow to, that may be something down the road. This would be the first one that I am aware of, they have not yet established true septic maintenance districts where the town actually gets involved. I will put together a scope of what the feasibility analysis would look like…and come up with how much it will cost… Councilman Strough-The storm water should be solved regardless. Unknown-There are certain areas along the lake once we start mapping all the outfalls that we can state looking at associated sediment loading from the town roads and target areas in order of preference. Unknown-This may be a much bigger project than our current capital funds to spend so maybe we want to prioritize. 1051 SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING 08-28-2008 MTG. #38 Councilman Strough-Requested that the Town Engineer can you survey what ..are there, look at the geographic situation there, and start concepts on potential remediation plan and Dave Decker will establish an outline of what we eventually want to do. Those will have to be put those together along with a funding program. Unknown-How do we get a survey done? Unknown-First the Attorney will identify the property owners involved once that is done and identify the towns highways and right of ways from that point we can have him survey that specific information and those particular properties and see how that affects us and what ends up where in terms of where the roads are paved where the existing structures are. Councilman Strough-Looking at the bigger picture might that plan be altered? Unknown-Absolutely. The size of this system is determined from all the contributing watershed, if we divert a substantial amount it reduces the capacity of the system by quite a bit which means it costs less. Councilman Strough-Questioned if something could be put together in the next … Unknown-Right now we are wrapping up Michaels, Quaker, water project, three or four projects will be out the door this next week or two … Councilman Strough-Would like another meeting at the end of September. RESOLUTION ADJOURNING TOWN BOARD MEETING RESOLUTION NO. 405, 2008 INTRODUCED BY: Mr. Ronald Montesi WHO MOVED FOR ITS ADOPTION SECONDED BY: Mr. John Strough RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Queensbury hereby adjourns its Town Board Meeting. th Duly adopted this 28 day of August, 2008 by the following vote: AYES: Mr. Montesi, Mr. Strough, Mr. Stec NOES: None ABSENT: Mr. Metivier, Mr. Brewer Respectfully submitted, Miss Darleen M. Dougher Town Clerk-Queensbury