DRAFT

BOARD OF LICENSURE OF WATER SYSTEM OPERATORS

February 21, 2008

 

Members Present:                                                               Others Present:

Trevor Hunt, Chairman                                                       Rebecca Reynolds

Christopher Crovo                                                               Carol Champagne

Gregory Kidd                                                                        

Kerry Smart                                                                          

Alan Frasier

David Beaulieu

Teresa Trott

 

Called to Order:

 

            The meeting was called to order at 9:10 A.M.

 

General Administration:

 

            Dan Lavesseur has applied for the vacant position on the Board.

 

Approval of the January 24, 2008 minutes, Terry motioned to approve the minutes Kerry Smart 2^nd the motion.  After 2 corrections the minutes were accepted.  Passed

 

1. Financial Report:  The Board will continue to pay quarterly the funds to the Well Drillers Commission.

 

2. Operator Updates: 

a) Renewal status, 584 renewals sent out, 461 renewed so far, 15 pending and 8-12 will renew.  That leaves 98-100 that may not renew.

                       

b) System Compliance; 19 under non compliance

                                                                   8 systems not in compliance

                                                                   6 proposed

                                                                   2 Operators left

                                                                   2 after the fact

                                                                   1 upgrade

c) Operator compliance:  73 or 74 licenses will expire February 29, 2008.

 

Terry has received 2 verbal complaints from the DWP staff concerning water operators.  She has nothing in writing from the inspectors yet.

 

3) TCH review:  Trevor and Terry have received consent from EPA

on relevancy.  Terry will add the EPA’s response to the news letter.  Training sessions must be relevant to the operator’s license.

 

Classes approved:  Chris Crove explained the Portland Water District training technology and how anyone that uses “SCADA System” will learn from the training.

 

The operator must remember “if” anything goes wrong they will be held accountable. 

 

The training needs to keep the operators interest and kept to a higher standard of professionalism.  Maine has a good opportunity for proper training. 

 

Some operators wait until the end of the renewal cycle and are missing out on good training offered through out the cycle. 

 

There are new trainings on line that are put out by Montana that are very helpful.           

 

4. Exams March 25^th and 27^th:

 

            March 25^th Augusta – Amory

            March 27^th Bangor – Bangor Motor Inn

 

Old Business:

 

5. SWOCS The program is getting closer.

6. Board member status.  Only 2 are in the process of reappointment.

7. Owner Operator Responsibilities SOP –The form has been approved and will be on the DWP web site for the operators and owners to review.

8. Operator Recruitment – It’s getting more difficult to attract new people to the profession because the higher wage is not available.  Most of the systems cannot afford higher wages.

 

New Business:

 

            Initial review of Policies – The Board has decided to work on 2 of the policies at each meeting. 

 

            TCH’s  - if you take and pass an exam, you receive 3 TCHs within that licensing period.

 

           

 

Board Meetings for 2008:

 

            February 21, 2008 – Brunswick/Topsham

 

            May 22, 2008 – Augusta

 

            September 24, 2008 – Sunday River, Bethel

 

            November 20, 2008 – Augusta

 

Exam dates and Deadlines for 2008:

 

            March 25^th in Augusta – March 27 in Bangor

            Application postmarked by February 2, 2008

 

            June 24^th in Augusta – June 26^th  in Portland

            Application Postmarked by May 3, 2008

 

            October 21^st in Augusta – October 23^rd in Aroostook County

            Application postmarked by September 6, 2008.

 

 

Kerry Smart made a motion to adjourn, Alan Frasier 2^nd the motion.  Passed.  Meeting adjourned at 12:00 P.M.