CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY

MINUTES

 

October 17, 2006

 

The 204th meeting of the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority was held on this date in the Chadds Ford Township building.

 

Present: Chairman Vincent Del Rossi, Vice Chairman Paul G. Linsen, Secretary Marc Altman, Treasurer Keith C. Klaver, and Anthony J. Cutrona.

Absent:  None

 

Also in attendance were J. Michael Sheridan, Esquire; Thomas R. Smith, PE; and Mary J. Walter, Asst. Secretary/Treasurer.

 

Chairman Del Rossi called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  1. Mr. DelRossi and Mr. Klaver met with representatives of PennVest and Painters Crossing to discuss possible funding options.
  2. Mr. Klaver noted that there has been some difficulty in dealing with the Delco Housing and Rehabilitation Authority regarding the zero percent interest loans. Mr. Altman suggested that a letter be sent to Andrew Reilly regarding his offer of assistance with dealing with the appropriate office.
  3. Eight property owners affected by the RRE2 extension project have claimed hardship; awaiting formal letters from several.
  4. Seventeen RRE2 homeowners have not paid the tapping fee as of October 13 (including the eight mentioned in item 2 above).

 

MINUTES:

The minutes of the September 20, 2006 meeting of the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority meeting were unanimously approved as presented, on a motion duly made and seconded (Altman/Klaver). 

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Treasurer Klaver distributed copies of the Quickbooks Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2006 for comparison with the condensed balance sheet for this month only in response to a question of the veracity of the condensed balance sheet. In reviewing the Balance Sheet, Mr. Klaver noted:

§         Due to payment of RRE Phase II tapping fees, the operating and investment accounts show increases; there are decreases in accounts receivables. As much of the tapping fees as possible will be deposited to the investment account to take advantage of the favorable interest rate.

§         Revenues are consistent with budget; however, revenues for the reminder of the year may be less than anticipated due to the delay in the billing of the RRE2 user fees.

 

Plant expenses to date were discussed.   Mr. Klaver explained that repair and maintenance expenses for 2006 to date are considerably higher than for the same period last year due to timing and repairs of certain pumps and the deferring of maintenance from prior years. It is anticipated that there will be an expense of approximately $9700.00 for the replacement of pumps at the Eckman Station before the end of the year. It was originally anticipated in the 2006 budget that there would be I and I costs that have not been incurred to date.

 

Operating loss as of September 30, 2006 is $23,000 before depreciation; loss for the year is budgeted to be $15,300.00. 

 

The Board approved the payment of $1872.62 in direct debit payments and $33,057.08 in monthly bills from the provided bill list on a motion from Mr. Cutrona and Mr. Altman. Mr. Klaver reviewed some particular payments.

 

On a motion from Mr. Altman and seconded by Mr. Cutrona, the Board approved the Treasurer’s Report.

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

Mr. Sheridan reviewed with the Board a resolution required for an application for funding from PennVest for the Turners Mill and Village projects.  The CFTSA will work with the Township to complete the application; it is not known if the CFTSA is eligible for funding, and if so, for how much. The amount to be requested in the application may range from $1.5 million to $3.2 million. If the projects are eligible and meet criteria for funding, PennVest will determine if the CFTSA projects are a priority for funding. Since PennVest does not have unlimited funds, priority usually is based upon the types of environmental problems that will be solved through the projects, as determined by DEP criteria.

 

Normally, PennVest approves financing only before a project takes place. CFTSA may have to incur some costs before the PennVest approval process is completed. The CFTSA will request a dispensation from PennVest to allow the Authority to incur those costs and still include them in the funding application. The time frame from receipt of application by PennVest until a decision is made regarding funding may take 6 months or longer; therefore, if Turners Mill and Village projects are approved for funding, monies may not be available until July 2007.

 

Mr. Sheridan reported that another consideration is the assignment of the Turners Mill plant from Toll Brothers to either the Township or the CFTSA. The assignment must take place 6 months after “significant flows” are received by the Turners Mill plant. It is anticipated that the assignment may take place in August 2007. Therefore, it is imperative that the CFTSA application to PennVest be completed and submitted so that funds, if approved, are available by that time.

 

Resolution 21 was read into the record by Mr. Altman, and was approved 4-1 on a motion from Mr. Altman and seconded by Mr. Klaver.

 

Mr. Sheridan reported that the Cori Realty property is slated to be sold; the property is assigned 3 EDUs with a 4th in reserve for additional flows. The Board directed Mr. Sheridan to assess the possibility of the Authority’s reclaiming the 4th EDU.

 

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT:

Mr. Smith reviewed his written reports.

 

  1. On October 12, 2006, Tom Smith, Engineer and Don Wary, Inspector, both of SSM, and  John Yoder, V. P. of Wexcon and Vince Del Rossi, performed a final inspection of the Ridge Road Phase 2 Project, and approved same for a final payment of $19,386.57.  The project had received a Substantial Completion on June 8, 2006, which provided a date to begin connections and begin the one-year maintenance period.  SSM recommends payment of the final application in the amount of $19,386.57.  Mr. Smith advised that there will be an inspection before the one-year maintenance agreement ends.

 

  1. SSM remains involved in technical review of certain aspects of the Turners Mill Wastewater Treatment Plant, in addition to inspections by SSM inspectors, as required.  

 

  1. There is no response as yet from DEP to the NPDES application to reissue the discharge permit for Ridings Plant. During September, average daily flow was 31,839 gals.  There were no permit violations.

 

  1. Regarding the Estates at Chadds Ford, (Toll Bros Development), there are now six lots on the pump and haul program.  During September, approximately 3,600 gallons of sewage were removed each second or third day. 

 

There was discussion as to whether the CFTSA or the Township should be billing Toll Brothers per the pump and haul sewage to the Ridings Plant. Mr. Smith and Ms. Walter will investigate.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

            The affected homeowners have submitted a claim to their insurance company for possible reimbursement for the costs associated with trees damaging the sewer main at 2 Woodland Drive.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Mr. Klaver reported on the meeting with PennVest representatives and members of the Painters Condominium Association regarding funding for the pump station at Painters Crossing. The new pump station will result in significant costs to the Painters Crossing Condominium Association; the CFTSA is investigating ways to assist the Association in receiving grants or other financial assistance.. At present, the unit owners in Painters Crossing will need to pay tapping fees plus the cost of the pump station. The cost for the pump station is estimated at approximately $200,000.00.

 

The Board instructed Ms. Walter to telephone RRE2 property owners who have not paid their tapping fees and who have not sent hardship letters to the Authority. On a motion from Mr. Altman and seconded by Mr. Klaver, the Board agreed to send a letter to all RRE2 property owners who have not paid the tapping fee by December 1, a lien will be filed against the property for said tapping fees and  per previous resolution, a 10% yearly interest fee will begin to accrue; the property owners who have filed for hardship for will not receive the letter until the validity of their hardship status has been determined.

 

The Board directed that a letter of support regarding House Bill 1180 be sent to Senator Pileggi. The bill appropriates state funds for financing for tapping fees.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

                        None

 

ADJOURNMENT  

The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.   (Klaver/Altman)

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Mary J. Walter, Asst. Secretary/Treasurer