CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY

MINUTES

 

November 21, 2006

 

The 205th 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.

 

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. The Board held a workshop meeting on Nov. 20 to discuss the PennVest application and resolution.
  2. Mr. Del Rossi and Mr. Sheridan attended a Nov. 1 to discuss status of turnover of Turners’ Mill Plant to CFT.
  3. Twenty-one RRE2 property owners have paid the tapping fee in full.
  4. Eleven (11) property owners affected by the RRE2 extension project have claimed hardship; two (2) have not responded to phone calls.
  5. Fifteen (15) RRE2 homeowners have not paid the tapping fee as of November 13 (including the 11 mentioned in item 2 above); an additional two (2) are partially paid.
  6. A letter was sent to area legislators encouraging their support for House Bill 1108 when it is re-introduced in the next legislative session.

 

The Board discussed with the Solicitor what options other than liens are available to deal with RRE2 residents who will not pay fees or connect to the Sewer Authority system. There may be an effect on the 11 RRE2 homeowners who co-own the actual disposal field property; they may not be able to shut down that system because those who do not connect to the CFTSA System will not have sewer services if the RRE2 current system is shut down.

 

The Board requested that a letter be sent to those claiming hardship. The letter will advise them to contact Delco Housing regarding the zero percent loan.

Painter’s Crossing will be sending a letter to its residents regarding the Delco Housing zero percent interest loan program.

 

The Board thanks CFBOS chair Deborah Love D’Elia for her efforts in simplifying the zero percent loan process with Delco Housing.

 

 

MINUTES:

The minutes of the October 17, 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:

Reviewing the finances as of October 31, 2006, Treasurer Keith Klaver noted:

  1. The Authority’s cash position has improved due to the payment of tapping fees;
  2. Operating loss has improved over last month due to receipt of 4th quarter user fees. However, it is expected that the 2006 operating loss will range between $25,000.00 and $30,000.00 higher than the estimated $15,000.00 that was budgeted.
  3. Tapping fees for the Tremonte project will be billed in November,
  4. User fees for the 4th quarter will not be billed to the RRE2 properties.
  5. With the exception of plant operating costs for Ridings and the pump stations, expenses are in line with the budget.

The Treasurer’s report was accepted on a motion duly made and seconded (Linsen/Altman).

 

The accounts payable report including ACH payments for the Verizon and PECO accounts, Debit card expenses, and bill payment list submitted for approval in the amount of $14,761.72 was approved on a motion duly made and seconded (Cutrona/Linsen).

 

Mr. Klaver explained that the PennVest Board meets four times per year. In order for the CFTSA to be considered for funding, the application must be submitted next week.

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

Mr. Sheridan reviewed for the members the proposed CFTSA Resolution No. 22. The resolution authorizes the Authority to submit the application for the purpose of financing the construction and/or extension of the sewer system; and for the officers to execute the appropriate documents. The precise language was taken from the PennVest application. 

 

Mr. Linsen asked for clarification on the number of users, hookup dates for the users, and number of EDUs. His concern is that the CFTSA actually will have the revenue necessary to be able to repay any PennVest loan. Mr. Klaver clarified that all the figures are used for estimation and preliminary planning purposes only.  $3.7 million dollars will need to be financed; at present the financing is expected to come from three different sources: PennVest loan; Delaware County loan; Chadds Ford Township loan. Mr. Klaver added that the repayment is based on the estimated user fees and tapping fees as calculated based on Pennoni Associates’ estimate of residential and non-residential EDUs. The Board discussed this issue at length before voting. 

 

By a vote of 4-0-1, CFTSA Resolution No. 22 was approved. (Altman/DelRossi).        

 

Mr. Sheridan informed the attorney for Cori Realty that the Authority is not going to pursue the purchase of the additional Cori Realty EDUs.       

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT:

Mr. Smith reviewed his written reports.

 

  1. The Board asked Mr. Smith to submit a proposal for Spotts Stevens and McCoy (SSM) to compose an operations and maintenance manual for the Authority’s wastewater collection systems. The manual would include maintenance procedures, a maintenance program and schedule, record keeping, good safety practice, monitoring of storm-water inflow and infiltration, pump station maintenance, DEP requirements for spills and overflows. 

 

  1. SSM remains involved in technical review of certain aspects of the Turners Mill Wastewater Treatment Plant, and will participate in start up services, as authorized and required.  

 

  1. Tremonte development has submitted record drawings, but three more issues must be addressed prior to acceptance: 1) deed of dedication, 2) maintenance bond, and 3) easements.    Mr. Sheridan will review with the former solicitor the agreement with Tremonte.

 

RIDINGS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT:

  1. There is no response as yet from DEP to the NPDES application to reissue the discharge permit for Ridings Plant. SSM is developing background for a proposed plant rerate for the Ridings plant, which should also include any new requirements brought about by updated stream discharge regulations. Mr. Smith expects there will be new discharge requirements; SSM is determining what additional chemicals will be needed to reach re-rate levels. He also reminded the Board there will be a 30-day comment period for the permit.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

1.      The property owner’s insurance claim for damage to the sewer main near 24 Woodland Drive was denied.

2.      Delcora is meeting with Applied Water Management on November 28 in anticipation of Delcora’s assuming operation of the plant on January 1, 2007.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

1.      On a motion duly made and seconded (Altman/Cutrona), the Board approved the 2007 monthly meeting dates.

2.      The Board authorized Mr. Sheridan to review a letter from Toll Bros, requesting that the Authority start charging Estates at Chadds Ford residents for sewer service.  The Board’s concern is that the properties are not yet connected to the CFTSA system. Mr. Sheridan will discuss with the former solicitor.

3.      Requests for proposals for the operation of the Turner’s Mill plant will be mailed.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

                        None

 

ADJOURNMENT  

The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m.   (Linsen/Klaver)

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Mary J. Walter

Asst. Secretary/Treasurer