• D.E.P policy through the years...how it changes 
• Westport  (including latest litigation) and in
• Weston.

* = unearthed in this case means "found in the basement of Town Hall"

Location, location, location...not just a real estate buzzword, but something this subcommittee wants to know re:  all existing maps, where the septic tanks and fields are;  and the wells;  any and all soils testing results plus design parameters for the existing systems (fields).  This information was requested of the Town Administrator--presumably so that the basic data available to the consultant the Select Committee hires will be more informative than what appears to have been made available to previous engineers.  (Note:  the sub-committee was successful in locating original drawings--as far away as MIT.)

TOWN ENGINEER'S RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE SUMMARIZED INFORMATION REQUEST:

Submitted to the subcommittee on July 19, 2000 were answers to their
queries:

1. Topographical maps of the septic areas
2. Location of all septic fields
3. Well Locations of Town Water System to municipal buildings
4. Soils test and percolation test (included in The Red Binder)
5. There is no official, written status of septic fields from DEP
6. Design parameters and flow rates for the middle school, administration building and highway garage are available on the alternative plans attached (see below)

Time is needed to inspect old documents in the Town Vault.

The Fuss&O'Neill report of August 1998 regarding tertiary treatment options on and near School Road, in written form summarized below, provides some facts are made available now that had not been examined before. For instance, in Bisceglie Park, there are eleven test pits with soils and permeability values assigned from F&O 1998 work.  According to a verbal report at the July 25 Select Committee meeting, six (6) of the test pits were located in the picnic and walk trail area south of the pond and the other five in areas of muck and wetland soils.  These test pits were averaged together in such a fashion as to create the appearance of poor permeability at Bisceglie, which mandates very large leaching areas to prevent breakouts prior to emptying into the West Branch of the Saugatuck.

• Can data from areas in Bisceglie not under consideration for use as leaching fields now NOT BE INCLUDED in the present assessment?
• And further, is there a technology that can find good soils within a generalized "poor" soil quad?
• If this is possible, could there then be such an analysis done anew on School Road?

Combined Middle and High School Systems are in need of repair.  Not so the functioning elementary school septic system; nothing can meet standards for permeability in the "upper schools" part of School Road.

It is believed (after working all summer) by the Sub-Committee on scientific solutions that soils on School Road CAN BE FOUND even in "muck" areas for modern septic system designs.

The elementary school soils are different and much better.  (Permeability of soils is based upon Fuss&O'Neill's testing plus superficial review of SCS maps.)

What to do...explore the viability of the Heady parcel for a K-2 school.  This work will be done, if the Select Committee has its way, AFTER the consultant investigates the unused Elementary school fields area (by the Town of Weston) and then Bisceglie Park.  Need for second vehicular access if Heady property becomes a school site?

SELECT COMMITTEE PICKED A CONSULTANT...ON TO BOARD OF SELECTMEN SEPTEMBER 28 SPECIAL MEETING (tent.).

The agenda covered a number of topics including testing results on Revson (so far no water table in sight) of significance.  Plan will be to run long galleries to the east/north, parallel to School Road on Revson to hopefully take all but the elementary school flow.  That will be handled by rebuilt septics and pump chamber.  Cost estimated preliminarily as $300,000 for this.  June 7 Board of Selectmen will will begin the School Construction project by satisfying DEP on "consent" agreement--Kindergarten Village.

Included in the request for the funds--perhaps total of $750,000--(through Town Meeting process) to meet the "order" from DEP will be water conservation items necessary to have in place to ascertain for sure that future treatment can be handled at the main School Road site (i.e. reduce usage of water for toilet and hand washing activities--but be able to show actual numbers starting in September 2001).  Funds to continue McDonald-Sharp through the remainder of the design process (until September) will be requested at the next Board of Selectmen's Meeting June 7 (League Observer thinks this is what was said).  Sub-Committees were discontinued as their work has been done...

The meeting was adjourned at @9pm.

Summary (meeting over @7:30pm)

• Report of results of testing at both Bisceglie and Heady given;  the broad testing now complete at the School Road and the above noted two other locations.
• DEP had been in Weston this day and had a positive meeting with Chair. and Engineer Fairbank.
• Sub-contractor selected (?) who will look into architectural retrofitting for recycling water in old schools--DEP interested in this project.
• Board of Education reported on their needs for the next three years for a portable arrangement for kindergarten (10 classrooms plus one for pre-K)--to be placed ideally on the Field Hockey field next to the Board of Education Headquarters Building on School Road.  If possible, the new facility would be connected tothe  North House septic disposal field.
• For the future, the Select Committee needs, ASAP, direction from the Board of Education as to EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO BUILD AND WHERE (location general).
• Quote of the day:  from the DEP..."THERE ARE NO BAD SOILS...WE JUST ASK TOO MUCH OF THEM SOMETIMES." NEXT MEETING:  NOT December 19, 2000 (Tuesday) at 7:30pm, Town Hall...early January because DEP could not come down until after New Year's.

The natives are restless...
It was reported that there is rising unrest in the school community.  The Board of Education needs some assurances that the WWHD will permit more portables for next school year.  It was reported that our State Legislators may be asked to intervene in our behalf--an idea that was not welcomed by those on the Select Committee--who feel that only the professionals from McDonald-Sharpe will be able to make Weston's case (which is not a political problem but rather an engineering one). Also reported to those present was the fact that the leader of the DEP unit that reviews sewage disposal will attend to the Weston project personally.  (Jennifer is on maternity leave.)

SELECT COMMITTEE voted to select McDonald-Sharpe as its engineering firm, after discussion with input from "Scientific Sub-Committee" members.  QUESTION: When will we know if a septic solution can be found?  ANSWER: Soon--but not too soon.
* = voted for Dymar
** = at the Board of Finance when vote was taken
*** = abstained, voted "for neither"

SELECT COMMITTEE met on Tuesday, September 5, 2000 at 7:30pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room.
The intention was to listen to one particular member of the Sub-Committee on Scientific Solutions (who had been away on business) and then approve or modify the contract with DYMAR.  After a vote to not move forward with the decision already made at a previous meeting, a new process was approved to open up the study job possibly to another firm in a second round of responses to this same invitation to work with Weston.  Chair. will be present at Board of Selectmen Special Meeting Wednesday, September 6th to report that progress.
...NEW SCHEDULE: [NOT OFFICIAL] as it was heard at the 9/5 meeting, September 12 at 4:30pm DYMAR and MacDonald-Sharp will have sent "last, best description" of what they can do, with the Select Committee meeting again on Thursday, September 14 to decide.
NOTE:  The Select Committee...was charged to come up with something in 90 days in re: the school septic problem.  This time is "up" on September 15.

This was a brief meeting (1/2 hour) to finalize the RFP--consultant to be interviewed at the next meeting (which will begin 30 minutes earlier to allow for three interviews and discussions after each).  The need to develop a water conservation plan at the schools was discussed (perhaps as part of the consultant's effort).  Also, a report from the "scientific" subcommittee indicated that Weston's water usage at the high school is much, much higher than at Staples or Fairfield...indicating a leak.
Reminder:  next week at 7pm...there will be meetings on Tuesdays in August (all at 7:30pm except for August 8th)!

Lasting two hours, this was a meeting devoid of "outside" speakers.

The meeting reviewed the work to date of the subcommittees.  It is hoped to interview consultants by August 8th (one week later than had been promised).  In particular, some interesting reports came from the "scientific" group and the "conservation" team.  As a result of their findings to date, it is ever more necessary to retain professional advice.

Much volunteer time has gone into searching Town records (to no avail as far as the 90 day term of this Committee is concerned).  However, it has become clear that the septic solution might be workable if the  better soils at the Hurlbutt fields were used to underly engineered septics; also, the Bisceglie picnic spot and "par cours" (southern section), delimited separately from the rest of the Park, could offer opportunity for a smaller septic fields area--especially if the Heady Property were developed for a K-2 school.

It was reported that the School's staff in charge of maintenance has not been able to undertake wide-ranging tests or even draw up plans for a regimen that focusses on metering, reuse or recycling of water.  This is for 2 reasons:  the staff is not trained for this nor is there money in the budget to retain the skilled advice needed to set up an overall plan for water management.  This might be one of the tasks set aside for the Select Committee's consultant (?)--when the "RFP" is finished, all members of the Committee should  have contributed to designing the questions to be explored by a consultant.  Also, each consultant interviewed will have been asked the same questions.

The Building Committee representative took specific note of the pace at which the Select Committee was working--and observed that they would probably over-run the 90 day deadline...and then delay the construction of whatever is planned to be built to meet the reported enrollment crunch.
 

NEXT MEETING:  August 1, 2000

Present:  Chair. Don Gary,  Mike Foster,  Lucy Bowden,  Claudia Hahn,  Alan Dorsey,  Dick Bochinski,  Richard Wolf,  Tom Failla,  Marguerite Terzian;  Superintendent of School Dr. Janet Shaner,; Joe Wolf, Business Manager of the Weston School System.  The Weston FORUM was present.

School Population:
The Committee has the need of accurate numbers for future (expected ) school population;  what the peak population is expected  to be and when it will occur is information the Select Committee requires.  Superintendent Shaner and Joe Wolf offered a document from the State Department of Education (October 28, 1999) which indicated that around YR2008  would be the peak--3098 (just shy of 3100).  The High School is expected to be hitting its peak population at the very end of the ten year cycle (ten years from now).  Other schools will have maxed out a couple of years ahead of Weston High.

 A discussion ensued  about the projection methodology--modified cohort survival. As a small community, Weston is particularly vulnerable to changes caused by companies moving out of the area, as well as the vagaries of the real estate market.  Mr. Wolf noted that his modifications of State estimates and projections allow for just this type of localized effect.  Questions about why the Board of Education was now willing to discuss an off-site Pre-K,K-2 elementary school were asked.

It was explained that the work of the "Steering Committee" during 1999 had proceeded under the orders to not consider the septic issue--that it would be solved.  Had the Board of Education chosen the alternative of "3-4-5 On Revson"  the sewer issue would have clearly come to a head much earlier.  But instead, the Building Committee and the Board of Education voted in favor of option "4A prime" which placed the new school near wetlands on School Road, and left the functioning school septic fields intact on Revson...

Questions were asked by the Committee regarding the amount of effluent produced now as that number relates to figures for a new school, the choice of going to another site off central campus for a building and the status of the O,R&L plan. Answers given were that we expect that DEP will require treatment facilities for 20 gallons per student (15 gallons, if we are lucky);  the Board of Education would go along with almost any site now--the children are here.  Lastly, the O,R&L plan can be modified for Hurlbutt as a 3-4-5.  As far as the rest of O,R&L's plan, we are "in-line" for $70 million plus inflation in Hartford.

SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS:
The technology sub-committee hopes have engineers to be interviewed by the Select Committee in two weeks.  Metering must be continued and the data scrutinized by, perhaps, the engineers, prior to the interview process--along with distributing Fuss&O'Neill's data to the firms (so there can be a meaningfull interview process.)  Considering the short length of time the Select Committee has in which to find a solution,  the selection of  an independent, experienced firm is vital.  A case must be built for alternatives to be chosen.

The minutes were questioned re:  what the Town Engineer had said regarding the condition of the Middle School septic fields.  The Chair. and the Building Committee's member (who had been represented by the Vice-Chair. at the previous meeting) and the Town Engineer will get together before next meeting to determine which statements are accurate about the condition of the WMS septic situation.

NEXT MEETING:  Tuesday, July 25, 2000 at 7:30pm in the Town Hall Meeting Room.

Present:  Don Gary, Marguerite Terzian, Corey Attra (for Tom Failla), Mike Foster, Michael Greenberg (for Richard Wolf), Alan Dorsey, Dick Bochinski, Lucy Bowden; Town Engineer John Conte

The meeting began with a review by Engineer Conte of some of the data not available at the last meeting on school septic systems.  It was noted that per capita water usage at Weston High School is higher than might be expected.

Review of septic systems on School Road revealed that the Elementary School site is actually not "failing" as seriously as the other sites up School Road.  This is because the soils are better there.  There is possibly even more room for septic system on the Elementary School site.  Repairs to the system to bring it up to present code has to be undertaken at some point.

Questions were asked as to why, in other engineering reports, had only  "sole site" approach for treatment been considered (instead of designing different, new systems [each smaller] for the different sections of the school campus).  Discussion was circular, returning to the "failure" of existing designs and the supposed intractability of DEP to consider options.  The purpose of the exercise was challenged by Building Committee and citizen members;  it was requested that members interested be allowed to explore an exercise in showing how a developer would approach the Town of Weston for zone changes, etc. if a sewer were to be installed to service JUST the Schools (and Town Hall Complex).

PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE SCHOOLS HAS CAUSED THE PROBLEM TO SURFACE:
Question:  Can you put any kind of septic systems on School Road?  Ans.  No
Question: Is the water metering at the schools accurate and/or sufficient to get numbers from which to base hard and fast plans?  Ans.  No
Question: What did the Taurus Report actually say?  Ans.  Only commented about testing for the Elementary School--did make unproven, un-scientific statements about the rest of the school septics.
Question:  Is this not a less glum picture than we had been led to believe?  Ans.  Yes…but systems still are "failing" by present standards.

The Chair. then described the five sub-committees (with attendant "task forces") to be named (members names for volunteering to the efforts below):
1. Communications - ? (The minutes are being taken and available to all)
2. Search for Scientific Solutions Yet Unexplored (Lucy Bowden and Claudia Hahn)
3. Consequences of the Recommended Actions  (Marguerite Terzian and Dick Bochinski)
4. DEP Coordination and Exposition  (Don Gary and Tom Failla)
5. Conservation at Existing Facilities  (Mike Foster--with aid of staff and
Joe Padula, School's Engineer, who submitted a one page letter describing what water metering there was at the school complex)

At the same time as sub-committees are working, there will be a continuing building of information about and description of the process on-going--a "BOOK OF FACTS."  Townspeople are urged to volunteer for "task forces" (no mention whether the task force members will be indemnified as are members of the Committee)

Michael Greenberg of the Building Committee reiterated his feeling that the zoning "risk" be described and perhaps debunked.  He will come in with his concept of what "would happen" if the Town of Weston were to construct a sewer to the schools from Norwalk by way of either Wilton or Westport.  It was suggested that this activity was beyond the scope of this Committee.

At the next meeting (July 18, 2000 at 7:30pm in Town Hall) names of soil scientists and engineers who have the skills to assist in the broad charge to this Committee be reviewed and a name (s) suggested to the Board of Selectmen ($25,000 already approved by Selectmen--needs approval of the Board of Finance).  Exploration of Bisceglie Park, the Heady property and School Road for future septic disposal part of the consulting  is required from an independent consultant of high repute

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Some citizens offered help, requested that no condemnation be pledged;  offer of consulting sub-contract volunteer review.

TOWN ENGINEER
The Weston Town Engineer went over each septic system (total of 9) and each planned project in detail.  Many areas where "unknowns" exist (i.e. no data on usage in summertime).  The elementary school campus and fields are built on the best soils and may offer room for new septics;  the high school has the worst septic fields, although they are controlled release from both sides of School Road and may be shut off if there is a problem with one or the other until repair is made.  Middle School/Revson Field and other fields not a problem yet--but all systems "fail" if forced to be measured to current code--retroactively. (NOTE:  wherever there is green grass on Schools Campus, you can bet it is a septic system location!)

All septics do not meet current standards, and it was suggested that any improvements to School Road buildings would or might require septic system upgrades to current standards...is this true?

The Administration Building, the Department of Public Works and Town Hall/Library/Firehouse systems are not presently under orders or threat of orders by the DEP.  Before the next meeting, the Select Committee will walk Bisceglie Park (one of the places that might provide space for new septic fields).  The Committee will divide up into sub-comittees soon (to explore, most expeditiously, the OPTIONS available).  Scenarios for the possible options will be developed.

DISCHARGE is the problem.
In order to discharge into a Class 'A' stream (i.e. either branch of the Saugatuck River) there has to be adequate "travel time"--21 days until "break out" into a Class A stream, for example.  Because the Board of Education is "under the gun" to provide classrooms, etc., that Board's representative said they were willing to abandon the exclusive "Central Campus System" in favor of a K-2 or 3-4-5 school on the Heady property.

NEXT MEETINGS:
Thursday, July 6; July18, 25, August 1,8--TUESDAYS--at 7:30pm; July 6 at 6:30pm the Select Committee will convene in Bisceglie Park for a one-hour walk of potential septic site prior to convening at 7:30pm in Town Hall.

In the interest of (1) solving long standing school septic problems, (2) moving ahead with school planning process, and (3) responding to the public hearing of May 25th, the Board of Selectmen generally approved the charge, mission and members as reported below.

The people of Weston support quality education.  They want the waste water disposal problem solved.  However, many do not want sewers, or  condemnation of private property.  They agreed to slow down the process.

Weston is at a crossroads and the decisions that will be made in the next few months may have a profound affect on the Town's future character.  The Ad Hoc Committee may select a professional paid consulting team including a soil scientist, a geologist, an engineer and an administrator to make their work more time-efficient.  Among other ideas, analysis of 4-5 town owned sites would be prime.  How much effluent can each site safely handle, field life with treated effluent, regeneration prospects for existing septic fields, etc. would be some consdierations.   Engineering and research must be done to investigate and recommend technologies that can solve the problem.

Ad Hoc Committee called the Select Committee on the Impact of Sewage Treatment on the Character of Weston will has the following mission:

The Committee is charged with investigating the septic problems at the Weston schools and municipal facilities, and making recommendations for solutions to the Board of Selectmen.  These will include, but are not limited to, developing a clear problem statement, exploring all options for solution and evaluating associated risks, including consideration of what other communities have experienced solving similar problems, their success rates and costs.

Scope of inquiry
The scope of the Committee’s efforts are broad;  these should include recommendations for conservation measures in the schools to reduce the volume of water consumed and hence the volume of sewage produced.  The Committee should be mindful of the input from the public hearing held on May 25th (i.e. the unpopular idea of sewers and taking of land).  The Board of Selectmen designated the Chair of the Committee and its membership at the June 15, 2000 Board of Selectmen’s meeting.

Schedule
The Committee will work through the summer and will be given 90 days to report their findings and recommendations, including cost, to the Board of Selectman.

Resources Available to the Committee
The Committee will have access to professional and technical services through the Committee Chair, in addition to town employees and residents who are experts.  The Committee is encouraged to develop a budget at its first meeting.

Water Conservation is a must.
Study of water conservation in the broadest sense, including reduced usage, recycling, replumbing, etc. is vital.  How much gpd reduction can be achieved and at what cost is a question to be addressed by this Committee.  The impact on the environment of any and all solutions is of highest importance.