CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY

MINUTES

 

December 19, 2006

 

The 206th 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. Not present: 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. Mr. Del Rossi and Mr. Sheridan reported that the CFTSA met all the requirements on its revised PennVest application; however the application did not meet the November 2006 deadline to be considered at the January 2007 meeting. The CFTSA application will be submitted in February 2007 for consideration at the April 2007 meeting. 
  2. Number of RRE2 homeowners who have fully paid tapping fee =                      22

Number of RRE2 homeowners who have partially paid tapping fee =     3

Number who did not qualify for Delco Housing zero loan =                   3

Number who did qualify for Delco Housing zero loan =                                     2

Number who have not contacted Delco Housing re zero loan =                         3

Exceptions to hardship (will discuss below)=                                         2

No response from property owner =                                                                 1

Future payments  (no homes on lot) =                                                   2

  1. Mr. DelRossi presented Mr. Linsen a plaque in appreciation for his service to the CFTSA Board.

 

 

MINUTES:

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

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

  1. As of Nov. 30, 2006, the Authority’s accounts receivables were reduced due to the payment of tapping fees; Tremonte has been billed for 3 tapping fees and has partially paid one. The Board requested that Township Inspector Rich Jensen be asked if certificates of occupancy not be issued until the tapping fees are paid.
  2. User fees for the 4th quarter were not billed to RRE2 homeowners. Those fees were accounted for in the 2006 budget.
  3. Expenses have increased in the administrative category due to the hiring of a part-time secretary/treasurer in October.
  4. Plant operations expenses are up compared to last year, as are costs and repairs expenses for the Ridings Plant and the pump stations.
  5. The debit card will be issued in the treasurer’s name for use by the asst. secretary/treasurer with a monthly spending limit.

 

The treasurer’s report and 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 $12599.11 was approved on a motion duly made and seconded (Altman/Linsen).

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

Per the Board’s request as the November meeting, Mr. Sheridan related that the CFTSA “has no legal right” to bill the Chadds Ford Estates residents for wastewater treatment services until the Turners Mill plant is dedicated to the CFTSA.. The Board requested that the asst. secretary/treasurer send a standard letter to the Chadds Ford Estates residents informing them that they will be expected to pay a sewer fee in the future.

 

Mr. Sheridan informed the Board that the Township has the ability to connect any RRE2 residence to the Ridings Plant should the homeowner fail to do so. The Board of Supervisors may designate the CFTSA as its agent to go onto a property, disconnect the residence from the current septic system and connect to the new system, and then place a lien on the home for the associated costs.  The homeowners who own portions of the current Ravens Crest plant may not shut down the plant due to health concerns.

The Board authorized Mr. Sheridan to send a 30-day letter to the Ravens Drive homeowner who is declining to connect through the RRE2 extension project.

 

The Board requested that Mr. Sheridan send a letter to Tremonte Builders regarding their failure to meet deadlines for certification and dedication of the Tremonte sewer line to the CFTSA

 

Mr. Sheridan shared with the Board a loan agreement that can be used for RRE2 Extension property owners who are unable to pay their total tapping fees and associated costs. The agreement will require a lien and the payment of administrative and legal costs. Mr. Klaver requested that the loan agreement be amended to include a requirement that the property must be hooked up to the CFTSA system and that the appropriate pump must be installed.

 

The Board requested that Mr. Sheridan provide a general collection letter to the asst. secretary/treasurer.

 

 

 

 

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT:

Mr. Smith reviewed his written reports.

 

  1. Per a request from the Board, SSM has begun to gather material for a manual to include collection system maintenance procedures, a maintenance program and schedule, a method of record keeping, good safety practice, monitoring of storm-water inflow and infiltration, pump station maintenance, and DEP reporting requirements for spills and overflows. In addition to use for the authority in maintenance of the system, the manual will form a basis for a portion of future Chapter 94 Wastewater Management Reports.

 

On a motion from Mr. Linsen and seconded by Mr. Klaver, the Board voted to authorize a memorandum of understanding in the amount of $4978.00 for SSM to develop the manual. Mr. Altman asked that his “yea” vote reflect that he was assured by Mr. Linsen that there were “no shenanigans” involved in the voting process regarding the memorandum of understanding.

 

  1. As a related Chapter 94 issue, next month SSM will be beginning to prepare the required report for 2005.  Part of this report develops the coming 5-year growth projection which has implications for the Ridings WWTP re-rate study. 

 

  1. DEP has issued a draft NPDES discharge permit for Ridings Plant. There is a Phosphorous and Total Nitrogen requirement that SSM believes is reasonable. There is a two year period of monitor and report, followed by a 2 mg/l discharge requirement for Phosphorous, and continued monitoring for Nitrogen.   The Ridings Operations Contract for 2007 should be modified to require that Phosphorus and Nitrogen tests be part of the Agreement.  The Rerate Study will also have to evaluate the impact of the new permit limits. The Board concurred with Mr. Smith’s recommendation that the Board send a letter of acceptance to DEP regarding the new permit requirements.

 

  1. SSM has been reviewing an electric generator quotation and the corresponding requirements for emergency power at the Ridings WWTP. SSM initially developed a report for the Authority in May 2000, with further discussion in Dec 2003.  The Board authorized SSM to prepare a brief procurement specification to develop more current pricing, and if favorable, move to have the equipment installed.  Mr. Klaver requested that Mr. Smith investigate whether there are other alternatives to a new generator. BOS representative Gary Paul noted that the Authority may be able to seek state funding for the generator.

 

  1. SSM and Delcora have been discussing the need for a debris basket at the influent pumping station to protect the process and sand filter piping from damage due to floatables and deleterious materials in the incoming wastewater.  Both the generator and the debris basket can be part of an improvements plan for the Ridings Plant.  Both are part of the recommended DEP guidelines for WWTP design.

 

The Board requested the treasurer include the costs associated with the generator and the debris basket in the 2007 budget. As well, the Board authorized Mr. Smith to assist Delcora in the completion of a punch list for the Ridings Plant within 5 days of the January 1 date that Delcora assumes responsibility for plant operations at the Ridings plant.

 

  1. The planning module for Parkside Associates (shopping mall expansion on NW corner of Rt 202 and Ridge Road) has been reviewed for consistency with the Chapter 94 flow projections, and we find it to be consistent and we recommend approval.  

 

RIDINGS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT:

            The plant had no reported maintenance or operations issues in November.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

1. Mr. DelRossi noted that he and Mr. Klaver have been in contact with some RRE2 project property owners who have declared hardship. He noted that there are some special cases in regards to homeowner illness and subdivision and sale of properties.  The Board authorized the secretary/treasurer to send a reminder letter to those who have declared hardship that they must apply to the Delaware County Housing and Rehabilitation Authority for the 0% interest loan in order for their circumstances to be evaluated by the Authority Board.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

  1. Mr. DelRossi and Mr. Klaver will meet with the Authority’s current insurance carrier and the Township’s new insurance advisor.
  2. Mr. Paul, Mr. DelRossi and Mr. Klaver updated the Board on the status of the decommissioning of the Painters Crossing plant and the possible funding for the new pump station.
  3. Mr. Paul updated the Board on several issues regarding the possible financing and dedication of the Turners Mill plant.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

  1. A request was made to take action to release the sewer right of way around the property at 243 Heyburn Road.

                       

ADJOURNMENT  

The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.   (Altman/Linsen)

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Mary J. Walter

Asst. Secretary/Treasurer