Leafing through the Water Board's meeting minutes the other day, I found that it agreed in October to stop maintaining 145 private hydrants located around town. The department said it had a hard enough time keeping up with needs of its own hydrants.
Spurring the change, according to the minutes, was "a recent fire on Davis Drive where it was found that all of their private hydrants were inoperable."
Imagine that.
All of the hydrants at the Cambridge Park housing project, where there are scores of old public housing units, weren't working.
It's damn lucky that there wasn't a catastrophe.
I don't know if they've been fixed.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Showing posts with label Water Board. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Water Board. Show all posts
January 14, 2008
October 15, 2007
Johnson upset, in part, with Ward
At the end of last week's City Council session, the mayor nominated Sean Dunn to take the vacant Water Board seat that Republican mayoral candidate Ken Johnson had held, and still hoped to regain.
City Councilor Craig Minor, a Democrat, said he understood Johnson wanted another term on the volunteer panel and said he would continue to back the Republican for the position. Another Democratic city councilor, Kevin McCauley, agreed.
But the rest of the council went along with Stortz to install Dunn on the panel on a 5-2 vote.
Johnson said he was most upset to see Ward back the mayor’s choice.
He said that Ward, who had been his strongest supporter for another appointment to the Water Board for almost a year, suddenly “flips and gives Bill what he wants?”
“I’ve come to expect it from Bill,” Johnson said, “but I didn’t expect it from Art.”
“He’s a friend. We’ve had a cordial relationship. What did I do to deserve that?” Johnson asked.
“How is it that after repeated attempts” by Stortz for many months “that he finally got the vote?” asked Johnson.
Ward said that he initially supported Johnson’s reappointment, but with a new water superintendent on board, he thought it was more important now to make sure that “a full complement” of water commissioners would be available to help with a major transition for the department.
“There needs to be some stability” on the board, he said.
Besides, Ward said, there’s only a month left before the municipal election and he assumed that Johnson’s focus would be on trying to win the race, not water issues.
Johnson said Friday that he tried to phone Ward the following morning to get an explanation, but Ward never returned the call. Ward said Monday he's tried once, unsuccessfully, to phone Johnson back.
Bruce Lydem, a Democratic City Council contender, called the whole flap “an unfortunate incident” that can happen in the “pressure cooker” of a campaign.
“We are down to the wire in the election season and many of us our tired and sometimes passions boil over,” Lydem said.
Though Lydem said he can understand the feelings that can lead to outbursts, they shouldn’t happen.
“We must make sure that we treat each other with respect and dignity, know and listen to our own minds and bodies and understand when the pressures of politics and serving require us to take a deep breath and step back,” Lydem said.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
City Councilor Craig Minor, a Democrat, said he understood Johnson wanted another term on the volunteer panel and said he would continue to back the Republican for the position. Another Democratic city councilor, Kevin McCauley, agreed.
But the rest of the council went along with Stortz to install Dunn on the panel on a 5-2 vote.
Johnson said he was most upset to see Ward back the mayor’s choice.
He said that Ward, who had been his strongest supporter for another appointment to the Water Board for almost a year, suddenly “flips and gives Bill what he wants?”
“I’ve come to expect it from Bill,” Johnson said, “but I didn’t expect it from Art.”
“He’s a friend. We’ve had a cordial relationship. What did I do to deserve that?” Johnson asked.
“How is it that after repeated attempts” by Stortz for many months “that he finally got the vote?” asked Johnson.
Ward said that he initially supported Johnson’s reappointment, but with a new water superintendent on board, he thought it was more important now to make sure that “a full complement” of water commissioners would be available to help with a major transition for the department.
“There needs to be some stability” on the board, he said.
Besides, Ward said, there’s only a month left before the municipal election and he assumed that Johnson’s focus would be on trying to win the race, not water issues.
Johnson said Friday that he tried to phone Ward the following morning to get an explanation, but Ward never returned the call. Ward said Monday he's tried once, unsuccessfully, to phone Johnson back.
Bruce Lydem, a Democratic City Council contender, called the whole flap “an unfortunate incident” that can happen in the “pressure cooker” of a campaign.
“We are down to the wire in the election season and many of us our tired and sometimes passions boil over,” Lydem said.
Though Lydem said he can understand the feelings that can lead to outbursts, they shouldn’t happen.
“We must make sure that we treat each other with respect and dignity, know and listen to our own minds and bodies and understand when the pressures of politics and serving require us to take a deep breath and step back,” Lydem said.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
How Johnson lost his Water Board seat
Last winter, Republican mayoral candidate Ken Johnson got what he calls “a nastygram” from the city clerk informing him that he was no longer on the Water Board because he had missed too many monthly meetings to remain on the panel.
Johnson said that City Clerk Therese Pac counted wrong, that he didn’t actually miss more than 60 percent of the panel’s monthly meetings in the previous year, but he didn’t contest the decision.
He said he missed five of the 12 sessions – missing seven would put him over the legal limit – for “some very personal, legitimate family issues” that he told Mayor William Stortz about but doesn’t want to air in public.
Johnson said Stortz told Pac to oust him from the five-person panel, but the mayor said that’s not true.
He said Pac does what the law requires. He said it’s possible he called the attendance problems to her attention. “If I did, that’s my prerogative,” Stortz said.
When Stortz tried to name a successor to Johnson, the City Council rebelled, with the Democratic majority telling the mayor they wanted to put Johnson back on the panel. They said they thought his reasons were legitimate.
A stalemate ensued for the rest of the year until Stortz convinced a majority last week to go along with naming Sean Dunn to take the empty Water Board slot.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Johnson said that City Clerk Therese Pac counted wrong, that he didn’t actually miss more than 60 percent of the panel’s monthly meetings in the previous year, but he didn’t contest the decision.
He said he missed five of the 12 sessions – missing seven would put him over the legal limit – for “some very personal, legitimate family issues” that he told Mayor William Stortz about but doesn’t want to air in public.
Johnson said Stortz told Pac to oust him from the five-person panel, but the mayor said that’s not true.
He said Pac does what the law requires. He said it’s possible he called the attendance problems to her attention. “If I did, that’s my prerogative,” Stortz said.
When Stortz tried to name a successor to Johnson, the City Council rebelled, with the Democratic majority telling the mayor they wanted to put Johnson back on the panel. They said they thought his reasons were legitimate.
A stalemate ensued for the rest of the year until Stortz convinced a majority last week to go along with naming Sean Dunn to take the empty Water Board slot.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 9, 2007
Ken Johnson storms out
It's quite something here tonight.
The mayor just nominated Sean Dunn to replace Ken Johnson, the GOP's mayoral candidate, on the Water Board.
City Councilor Craig Minor said he understood Johnson wanted another term on the volunteer panel. He said he would back Johnson.
City Councilor Kevin McCauley agreed.
But the council voted to appoint Dunn with only Minor and McCauley, both Democrats, backing Johnson.
Johnson suddenly leaped to his feet.
"I'm outta here," he exclaimed loudly, then shoved the council chamber door open with a resounding bang.
And he was gone.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The mayor just nominated Sean Dunn to replace Ken Johnson, the GOP's mayoral candidate, on the Water Board.
City Councilor Craig Minor said he understood Johnson wanted another term on the volunteer panel. He said he would back Johnson.
City Councilor Kevin McCauley agreed.
But the council voted to appoint Dunn with only Minor and McCauley, both Democrats, backing Johnson.
Johnson suddenly leaped to his feet.
"I'm outta here," he exclaimed loudly, then shoved the council chamber door open with a resounding bang.
And he was gone.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
September 27, 2007
Water restrictions sought
New press release from Mayor William Stortz:
Voluntary Water Restrictions
Bristol, CT, September 28, 2007
– Mayor William T. Stortz announced today that the Bristol Water Department, as a Department of the City of Bristol, is notifying customers that the Cities reservoirs have declined to 70 percent capacity from the lack of rain and that the Water Department has issued Voluntary Water Restrictions effective immediately.
"A lack of rain and unseasonably warm weather over the past few weeks has lowered our reservoirs along the aquifers that our well fields draw water from to levels that require the Bristol Water Department to request conservation from our customers," said Robert Longo, Acting Superintendent of the Bristol Water Department. Mr. Longo added, "That the Bristol Water Department has reached out to large outside irrigation users including the Cities Parks Department, Public Works, Board of Education, Pequabuck and Chippanee Golf Courses and asked for their cooperation in reducing usage at their facilities, all of which offered their immediate assistance."
Although the reservoirs are at 70 percent capacity, no rain in the immediate forecast will cause the levels to continue to drop. The Bristol Water Department in coordination with the Mayor’s office is requesting that customers limit the amount of outside water use and to adhere to the Departments policy on Odd / Even watering. Odd / Even watering allows for properties with an even street number to water on even days of the month and the same for properties with odd street number to water on odd days of the month. The Odd / Even watering system also applies to washing cars, watering flowers and any other outside uses.
"During the past month the Bristol Water Department personnel have worked diligently identifying ways to increase supply to the system along with ways to conserve water in an effort to avoid any restrictions, yet the lack of rain and dropping levels have forced us to ask for the cooperation from our customers," stated Mr. Longo. The Bristol Water Department has suspended the Annual Hydrant Flushing program, increased its supply from a seasonal well on Barlow Street along with increasing its supply from a connection with the City of New Britain on Stafford Avenue.
The last time the Bristol Water Department enforced restrictions was in 2002 when reservoirs dropped to nearly 50 percent capacity forcing the Department to issue Mandatory Restrictions.
Mayor Stortz stated, "That the water levels at the reservoirs and wells will continue to be monitored regularly to assure that the levels are stabilizing before mandatory restrictions would be required." "Currently the City is in a Drought Advisory and we expect that the change in seasons along with the cooperation from customers should aid us to bring the water levels back to normal prior to Spring," the Mayor added.
Any one with questions on the restrictions or the City’s water supply can contact the Bristol Water Department at 860-582-7431. Information on the Voluntary Restrictions along with other ways to conserve water can also be found on the Bristol Water Department website at
www.bristolwaterdept.org.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Voluntary Water Restrictions
Bristol, CT, September 28, 2007
– Mayor William T. Stortz announced today that the Bristol Water Department, as a Department of the City of Bristol, is notifying customers that the Cities reservoirs have declined to 70 percent capacity from the lack of rain and that the Water Department has issued Voluntary Water Restrictions effective immediately.
"A lack of rain and unseasonably warm weather over the past few weeks has lowered our reservoirs along the aquifers that our well fields draw water from to levels that require the Bristol Water Department to request conservation from our customers," said Robert Longo, Acting Superintendent of the Bristol Water Department. Mr. Longo added, "That the Bristol Water Department has reached out to large outside irrigation users including the Cities Parks Department, Public Works, Board of Education, Pequabuck and Chippanee Golf Courses and asked for their cooperation in reducing usage at their facilities, all of which offered their immediate assistance."
Although the reservoirs are at 70 percent capacity, no rain in the immediate forecast will cause the levels to continue to drop. The Bristol Water Department in coordination with the Mayor’s office is requesting that customers limit the amount of outside water use and to adhere to the Departments policy on Odd / Even watering. Odd / Even watering allows for properties with an even street number to water on even days of the month and the same for properties with odd street number to water on odd days of the month. The Odd / Even watering system also applies to washing cars, watering flowers and any other outside uses.
"During the past month the Bristol Water Department personnel have worked diligently identifying ways to increase supply to the system along with ways to conserve water in an effort to avoid any restrictions, yet the lack of rain and dropping levels have forced us to ask for the cooperation from our customers," stated Mr. Longo. The Bristol Water Department has suspended the Annual Hydrant Flushing program, increased its supply from a seasonal well on Barlow Street along with increasing its supply from a connection with the City of New Britain on Stafford Avenue.
The last time the Bristol Water Department enforced restrictions was in 2002 when reservoirs dropped to nearly 50 percent capacity forcing the Department to issue Mandatory Restrictions.
Mayor Stortz stated, "That the water levels at the reservoirs and wells will continue to be monitored regularly to assure that the levels are stabilizing before mandatory restrictions would be required." "Currently the City is in a Drought Advisory and we expect that the change in seasons along with the cooperation from customers should aid us to bring the water levels back to normal prior to Spring," the Mayor added.
Any one with questions on the restrictions or the City’s water supply can contact the Bristol Water Department at 860-582-7431. Information on the Voluntary Restrictions along with other ways to conserve water can also be found on the Bristol Water Department website at
www.bristolwaterdept.org.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 28, 2007
Leonard Valentino retires
Mayor William Stortz told me this evening that longtime Water Superintendent Leonard Valentino turned in his retirement papers today after nearly four decades working for the water department.
Valentino was ready to retire a year ago, but stayed on because he felt like he was under fire from Stortz and some councilors -- and because he wanted to help the department deal with a state consent order.
He earns about $102,000 annually in his job -- good money by anyone's standard -- but his longevity is such that even in retirement he will earn almost the same amount.
Last winter, when I checked with the comptroller's office, Valentino was due to get about $100K a year as a retiree. So he wasn't working for the money!
I always thought that Valentino was a good man doing his best for his community. I know he was always fair with me.
His department's record over the years, despite some recent glitches, has been exemplary.
I'll be writing more about him in the coming days, no doubt.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Valentino was ready to retire a year ago, but stayed on because he felt like he was under fire from Stortz and some councilors -- and because he wanted to help the department deal with a state consent order.
He earns about $102,000 annually in his job -- good money by anyone's standard -- but his longevity is such that even in retirement he will earn almost the same amount.
Last winter, when I checked with the comptroller's office, Valentino was due to get about $100K a year as a retiree. So he wasn't working for the money!
I always thought that Valentino was a good man doing his best for his community. I know he was always fair with me.
His department's record over the years, despite some recent glitches, has been exemplary.
I'll be writing more about him in the coming days, no doubt.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
May 9, 2007
An unexpected twist
Whoever made it happen knew what he was doing.
City councilors Tuesday approved the latest "Dave Lepore Volunteer of the Year" nominee, honoring a resident whose unpaid service on a municipal board or commission was exemplary.
This time around, they picked Joel Wulff, the former chairman of the city's Water Board, a man that Mayor William Stortz dumped from the panel after decades of service.
Until Stortz entered the picture after the 2005 race, city leaders had long hailed Wulff's leadership of the Water Board as exactly what they wanted. He knew the issues. He knew the players. Wulff, they all said, was the epitomy of a solid volunteer, willing to devote his time and energy to help the city.
Stortz, obviously, disagreed. And since mayors tend to win most of the fights they pick, Wulff was forced out.
But he got some recognition for his service, which is nice, and he got it because someone wanted to stick it to the mayor.
That happens, too.
At the same meeting that Wulff got the nod for the annual award, councilors also approved a new four-year term as water superintendent for Leonard Valentino, another guy that Stortz would rather see gone.
Valentino had planned to retire this year -- he's more or less working for free now because his pension would almost match his $100,000+ yearly salary -- but stayed on because he did not want Stortz to pick his successor. Look for him to retire if Stortz loses in November.
City councilors Tuesday approved the latest "Dave Lepore Volunteer of the Year" nominee, honoring a resident whose unpaid service on a municipal board or commission was exemplary.
This time around, they picked Joel Wulff, the former chairman of the city's Water Board, a man that Mayor William Stortz dumped from the panel after decades of service.
Until Stortz entered the picture after the 2005 race, city leaders had long hailed Wulff's leadership of the Water Board as exactly what they wanted. He knew the issues. He knew the players. Wulff, they all said, was the epitomy of a solid volunteer, willing to devote his time and energy to help the city.
Stortz, obviously, disagreed. And since mayors tend to win most of the fights they pick, Wulff was forced out.
But he got some recognition for his service, which is nice, and he got it because someone wanted to stick it to the mayor.
That happens, too.
At the same meeting that Wulff got the nod for the annual award, councilors also approved a new four-year term as water superintendent for Leonard Valentino, another guy that Stortz would rather see gone.
Valentino had planned to retire this year -- he's more or less working for free now because his pension would almost match his $100,000+ yearly salary -- but stayed on because he did not want Stortz to pick his successor. Look for him to retire if Stortz loses in November.
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