MAINE
PUBLIC DRINKING WATER COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING #98
June 13, 2007
The Maine Public Drinking
Water Commission (DWC) held its 98th meeting on June 13, 2007, at
the Pine Tree Camp in Rome,
Maine.
Present were:
- Members: Judith Kelley – Chair,
Vaughn Smith – Vice Chair, Richard
Berry, Harvey Chesley, Jr., Bob MacKinnon, Allen York, and Nancy Beardsley
Time: Judy Kelley called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m.
A.
Approval
of Minutes:
Vaughn made a motion to accept the minutes of the
prior meeting (#97). Allen seconded the
motion, which carried unanimously.
B.
Recurring
Business:
1.
Security / Operator Licensure:
v
Security: Nancy reported that water
system security remains a priority for EPA, which is requiring that states help
to develop a mutual aid network, in case of emergency. DWP will facilitate meetings, but the
utilities will be the major leaders of the project. Bob shared that about 15 years ago, Maine
Water Utilities Association (MWUA) provided a listing of mutual aid resources. At that time, utilities demonstrated
reluctance to sign formal agreements.
Dick suggested that Maine
obtain copies of other states’ materials on how they implemented their mutual
aid networks. Bob wonders how this
requirement differs from the one a few years ago, which required utilities to
create and submit emergency response plans.
v
Operator Licensure: Nancy said that she will invite Terry Trott
to come to the next Commission meeting to talk about the low operator exam pass
rates. Vaughn noted that this issue
extends to more than water operator exams and gave an example of custodians
needing to get licensed to maintain a boiler.
Prep classes alone do not seem to be enough to pass exams.
2.
Legislation: Bills and Bond Issues:
v Bond: The bond passed!!!
The DWP now has their DWSRF state match in place for 2007 and 2008.
v Bills: Nancy
will draft a legislative summary for DWP staff and the Drinking Water
Commission. Andy Tolman’s
source water protection bill went through as “ought to pass”. Vaughn said that drinking water supplies
should get more credit for providing a food-grade product 100% of the
time. Judy responded that a lot of
progress has been made in increasing the visibility of drinking water.
3. Staffing
Update:
Nancy reported that Amilyn Stillings, the DWP’s Compliance Officer and lead and copper expert, moved
to the Information Coordinator position for the DWP. Also, Carlton Gardner, Amilyn Stillings, and
Roger Crouse conducted interviews to hire a person to fill the vacancy created
by Ami. Kate Tufts was recently hired as the new Field Inspector for Transients
and Non-Transient, Non-Community Systems in Southern Maine. She is a licensed operator who brings a lot
of treatment knowledge to the job. And
finally, Clough Toppan is retiring on July 13, 2007, after 35 years of working
in the Division of Environmental Health.
Nancy
will be Acting Division Director until the position is filled. Bob proposed that the DWC write a letter of
gratitude to Clough for his support over the years. Dick seconded, and the motion was passed
unanimously.
4. Reappointments:
Nancy contacted the Governor’s Appointment person, who
assured Nancy
that there’s no hurry with submitting requests for reappointment. Commission
members are welcome to submit them early, but the Governor’s Office won’t act
on them until the terms have expired.
Ken, Bob, and Vaughn’s terms expire on August 31, 2007. Ken Sonagere, representing community water
systems serving a population of 1,000 people or less, is not seeking
reappointment. Commission members discussed
the Manufactured Housing Board possibly recommending a replacement. Bob suggested that DWP generate a list of
Community Public Water Systems serving 1,000 or less people. Nancy
agreed to follow up and email that list to the Commission. [The list has been
emailed since the meeting].
5. AFM Fee and Collection Status: Another
list of public water systems owing overdue
AFM fees was distributed to the Drinking Water Commission. Nancy and Tera also distributed Roger’s
proposed scenarios for increasing AFM fees.
(The Commission voted at the earlier meeting to accept “Scenario #2”,
which imposed a uniform increase to all public water systems).
C.
New Business
1. Assignments for Drinking Water Commission Members: Judy will send a draft of the
Annual Report to the Commission, due August 1, 2007. Vaughn will lead the Staff Merit Award
Committee to select a DWP staff member for the Merit Award. The winner will be announced at the DWP’s Annual Retreat.
(Dick voted to authorize the Committee to select a candidate). Nancy
will follow-up on sending invitations to the Drinking Water Commission to
attend the DWP’s Retreat. The Commission also asked Nancy to invite Clough to the Retreat.
2.
Proposed Rulemaking and Statute Changes: Commission members reviewed and commented on the
proposed DWP rule and statute changes regarding fee formulas. Judy talked to Ron Miller about Portland
Water District’s possible AFM fee increase.
Commission members agreed that it would be wise to remove caps to
drinking water AFM fees altogether. Bob
suggested that an insert be included in the AFM fees that explain how the DWP
hasn’t raised fees for five years. Nancy will draft the
insert for Drinking Water Commission members to review. [This insert was completed with the review
and approval of Commission members.]
3.
Set
Location, Date and Agenda Items for Next Meeting:
October
10, 2007, 9:00 to 11:00 am at the Drinking Water Program,
286
Key Bank Plaza in Augusta.
4. Proposed Agenda Items: Nancy’s Legislative Summary, Operator Licensure Issues
D. Motion to Adjourn: Dick made a motion to adjourn the meeting,
and Harvey seconded. The Commission voted unanimously to adjourn
the meeting at 10:35 a.m.
Thank
you, Harvey,
for hosting this DWC Meeting and providing a very uplifting and informative
tour of Pine Tree Camp. Your camp’s
supporters have expanded.
Respectfully submitted,
Tera R. Pare, Drinking Water
Program
