2004-06-29_Minutes--Procès-verbal
2004-74
Public Committee of the Whole
June 29, 2004
Public Committee of the Whole meeting of Common Council, held at the City Hall in The
City of Saint John, on Tuesday, June 29,2004, at 5:00 o'clock p.m.
Present:
Mayor McFarlane,
Deputy Mayor Hooton and Councillors Chase, Court, Farren,
Ferguson, McGuire, Tait
- and -
1. Totten, City Manager; B. Cullinan, Solicitor; P. Groody,
Commissioner of Municipal Operations; G. Yeomans,
Comptroller; P. Woods, Common Clerk and Deputy City Manager
and E. Gormley, Assistant Common Clerk
1. MeetinQ Called To Order
The Mayor called the meeting to order.
1. Water Service Disruption
The City Manager introduced the topic of the water disruption that occurred in April,
2004, and P. Groody who proceeded to present his report on that issue.
Mr. Groody acknowledged Dr. Scott Giffen, Chief Medical Officer for the City, Doug
O'Leary, Employee, Local 18 Water and Sewerage Department and other members of
staff present. Referring to his submitted report, he updated Council on the history of the
City's public water system, the oldest in Canada, emphasizing the need to modernize
the system.
Conditions set out in certificates of "Approval to Operate" issued by the Minister of Local
Government and Environment were explained by Mr. Groody. He stated that the City
had those conditions since April 2003, but that in his opinion, City staff was not
adequately converscent with the conditions to operate according to the standards set.
Mr. Groody advised Council that the water service disruption was the result of human
error, in that the proper procedure for reporting malfunctions in the system was not
followed; mechanical failure, and that the system is outdated. He noted the excellent
cooperation and working relationship between Dr. Giffen and the Department of Health
and Wellness and City staff, and the quick response time from Dr. Giffen when the issue
was brought to his attention.
A listing and explanation of the sequence of events beginning with the discovery of a
chlorinator malfunction at the Latimer Lake Plant on April 16, 2004 was reviewed by Mr.
Groody using his submitted report as reference. He acknowledged that the Department
of Health and Wellness should have been notified immediately upon becoming aware of
the problem.
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Public Committee of the Whole
June 29, 2004
Mr. Groody continued his presentation by advising Council of the action steps taken
since the April service disruption which included a comprehensive investigation into the
events surrounding the disruption, as well as his recommendations to ensure that a
repeat of the problem does not occur. A review of these items is contained in the
submitted report. He updated Council further on a major capital project scheduled over
2004 ($200,000.) and 2005 ($1,300,000.) for the development and installation of an
entirely new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) which will update and
improve the water and wastewater automated monitoring system. Mr. Groody also
referred Council to the report, Water and Wastewater Strategy- Saint John in the 21st
Century and asked for its commitment to that strategy.
The City Manager concluded by stating that there were misjudgments made in the
handling of the malfunction at the Latimer Lake Plant and that the recommendations put
forth in the report presented by Mr. Groody allows for steps to be taken to ensure staff is
properly briefed on guidelines and standards in place for the operation of water systems,
and that our water scheme progresses toward a much needed renewal of the City's
water and wastewater system.
Discussion followed with several Councillors posing questions relating to the redundancy
system with pumps and regular inspections and the possibility of design flaw since 1980;
testing and maintenance of the equipment; process for considering comprehensive
review of new legislation; extent of notification of water treatment failure beyond a small
circle of staff; shifts schedules and adequate coverage; and potential involvement of
EMO.
Mr. Groody assured Council that the issues raised are covered in the report or will be
considered with the implementation of the water and wastewater strategy.
On motion of Councillor Tait
Seconded by Councillor Ferguson
RESOLVED that as recommended by the City Manager, Common
Council:
1. Endorse the actions outlined in the submitted report, Water Service
Disruption & Boil Order, April 2004.
2. Reiterate the commitment to Water and Wastewater- Saint John in the
21st Century and the recommendations therein, including securing $83.55
million in funding from others for this 9-year, $230 million water and
wastewater strategy for Saint John.
3. Approve a public presentation to Common Council, to be made on July
19th, 2004 on a comprehensive communications and public information
program for water and wastewater, in accordance with the recommendation
adopted earlier this year to engage an experienced, industry-recognized
communications firm or professional to assist The City of Saint John.
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Public Committee of the Whole
June 29, 2004
4. Give special early capital budget approval for the planned allocation in
2005 of $1.3 million for completion of the project for a new SCADA
monitoring system for water and wastewater scheduled for completion in
2005.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
On motion of Councillor Tait
Seconded by Councillor Chase
RESOLVED that the City Manager submit a report, in a
reasonable time, recommending a process for quality assurance for all areas in the City
organization that offer critical services, and the City Solicitor investigate the possibility of
third party liability regarding the failure of the alarm system and control panel
components.
Question being taken, the motion was carried.
(Deputy Mayor Hooton withdrew from the meeting during the above discussions at 6:00
p.m., and Councillor McGuire withdrew at 6:25 p.m.)
On motion of Councillor Tait
Seconded by Councillor Ferguson
RESOLVED that the public be excluded from the meeting for the
duration of the discussion on the following matters: Legal Session - Possible Legal
Proceedings 10.2(4)(f).
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 o'clock p.m.
Common Clerk