DRAFT

BOARD OF LICENSURE OF WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATORS

January 25, 2007 Meeting

 

Members Present:                                                                         Others Present:

Trevor Hunt, Chairman                                                                     Tera Para

Christopher Crovo                                                                            Rebecca Reynolds

David Bartlett                                                                         Carol Champagne

Alan Frasier                                                                                      

Lowell Martin                                                                                    

Teresa Trott                                                                                      

                                                                                   

 

Called to Order: 

 

The meeting was called to order at 9:05 A.M.

 

General Administration:

 

Trevor introduced Tera Pare, who is the Compliance & Enforcement Coordinator for the Drinking Water Program, to speak to the Board on the process of rule change. 

 

Tera explained why the process takes so long.  Even though the Board is an independent Board it is still subject to the Governor’s rules.  A date has been set for the public hearing and it will be held March 15, 2007 at the Key Bank building, in Augusta at 10:00 am.

 

Trevor said the Board is committed to the issues of fee increase for exams and renewals, relevancy, and the point system.  Changes are proposed with TCH’s relevancy descriptions. The Board continues to have request for TCH’s on topics that may be marginally relevant.   The Board is in the comment period for the rules There are over 1200 water operators with the minority being class 3 and 4. 

 

Tera recommended that all the comments be received in writing and all comments from the Board should  be addressed after the public hearing.

 

The Rules will be in the newspapers by February 19, 2007 and on the DWP web site.  www.medwp.com

 

Approval of Minutes:  Alan Frasier made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections and Lowell Martin 2^nd the motion.  Accepted by the Board.

 

Election of Officers:    Lowell Martin made a motion to accept the current officers as being reappointed for a new term, Alan Frasier 2^nd the motion.  Accepted by the Board. 

 

 

Operator Updates: 

 

a)     System Compliance - Currently there are 32 systems that are not in compliance as of 1/25/2007.  Two Administrative Consent, Two have received NON, and 6 or 7 of these systems are new owners or proposed systems.  Twenty where the operator left, or new owners or upgrades. 

 

b)     Operator Compliance – 597 renewals were sent out in October.  We have received 418 or about 70% back.  Approximately 12 are working on getting their last TCH’s.

 

David Bartlett mentioned to the Board that the owner’s of the system don’t fully understand the importance of Public Health.   The cost appears to be what is important to owners of public water systems. .  David suggested an outline be sent to the VSWS to explain the importance of Public Health. 

 

Exams April 10th:

 

a)     Terry asked Chris if there may possible be a room available at the PWD, if Portland had a lot of operators taking exams.  That way the Augusta location may be able to rent a smaller room reducing the cost.

 

Old Business: 

 

            New licensing program:

 

The program is ready to be tested in Maine.  We are not ready because of a back up server location.  We are further ahead then we were at last report.

 

Certificates: 

 

The issuance of certificates has been reestablished. In the future a clear seal will be sent to the operator after license renewal  to place over the gold seal with the expiration date.

 

 

 

 

Board member:

 

 Richard Moffitt will remain on the Board until he resigns or his appointed time is reached.

 

New Business:

 

Code of Ethics: 

 

Lowell Martin made a motion to accept the Governors Board Code of Ethics as written with Board specific edits.   Alan Frasier 2^nd the motion.  Approved by the Board. 

 

ABC’s Annual Conference: 

 

Trevor Hunt went to the ABC’s Conference this year in Savannah GA.  Trevor was impressed with the amount of people from all over the country and out of the country being there.  The topic list was:  Relevancy enhances professionalism,   ERG spending.  Trevor said that Maine is right in there among the top in the nation with its licensing rules.

 

Point System Review: 

 

Terry now classifies the water system based on advice of the DWP. 

 

Terry will propose at the DWP meeting to place the Point System in the DWP Rules.  The Board will continue to classify the systems. 

 

Correspondence: 

 

            February 1, 2007 the EPA report on the ERG is due.  November 1, 2008 all monies must be spent.  The Board reviewed a tutoring policy for funded tutoring.  The candidates should take the refresher class. 

 

TCH Approval Request:

 

                        A request was made for approval of a highway safety class that did not apply to water system operation.  Not approved initially but it was determined to allow the submitter to show how this class is relevant to operations and then if shown approval would be granted.     

 

                        Storm water management and storm water pollution plan was partially approved after discussion. 

 

David Bartlett made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Lowell Martin 2^nd the motion.  Passed.  

 

Calendar: 

 

                                    Board Meetings

 

            January 18, 2007                  Changed to Augusta

           

March 15, 2007                    Augusta – Key Bank Building

           

June 14, 2007                       Brunswick – Topsham Water District

           

September 19, 2007            Wednesday Newry (Sunday River)

           

November 15, 2007              Brunswick – Topsham Water District

 

Deadlines, Exam Dates & Locations

 

    February 24, 2007 App. Due     Exam April 10, 2007               Augusta       

    February 24, 2007 App. Due     Exam April 12, 2007          Presque Isle

 

    May 19, 2007 App. Due               Exam June 26, 2006              Augusta

 

    September 8, 2007 App. Due    Exam October 23, 2007     Augusta

    September 8, 2007 App. Due    Exam October 25, 2007     Presque Isle

 

 

The Board adjourned the meeting 11:50 pm