CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY

MINUTES

 

March 18, 2008

Meeting No. 221

 

The 221st meeting of the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority was held on this date in the Chadds Ford Township building.

 

Present: Chairman Vincent Del Rossi, Secretary Paul Koch, Roland Martin. Also attending were J. Michael Sheridan, Esq.; Authority solicitor; Joseph DiMatteo, Delcora foreman; and Mary J. Walter, asst. secretary/asst. treasurer. Not present: Vice-Chairman Marc S. Altman, Treasurer Keith C. Klaver.

 

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

 

MINUTES:

The minutes of the February 19, 2008 meeting were approved on a motion by Mr. Koch and a second by Mr. Martin.

 

DELCORA/RIDINGS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT:

Mr. DiMatteo reviewed his written report.

1.      In February 2008, there were 8 violations at the Ridings plant. The increase in violations from 0 in January to 8 in February is attributable to nearly 2.2 inches of rainfall and snow melt occurring the night before the scheduled weekly testing day on February 13th. As well, a leak at the Eckman pump station contributed nearly 20,000 gallons to the flow at the plant. (The leak has since been repaired.)The Ridings plant processed more than 118,000 gallons that day. Mr. DiMatteo had the sand filter on full bypass and in storm mode. The plant had not performed so poorly since last spring. Four of the violations were attributed to total suspended solids and the other four to CBOD. The disc filter was not yet installed on this date. Mr. DiMatteo believes that although the disc filter would have caught some of the large solids during the rain event, he also believes that screening and equalization should be considered if daily flows increase to over 100,000 gallons. Mr. Del Rossi noted that “spikes” of 200,000 gallons were experienced three years ago.

2.      The results from the metering/I&I project have been forwarded to Pennoni Engineers. The project ends in March 2008. Mr. Del Rossi noted that the seven Ridings residents whose properties still have holding tanks have been granted a 30-day extension. The meter readings are crucial to determine how much I&I is being affected by flows from these tanks and sump pumps.

CFTSA Minutes

March 18, 2008

Page 2

 

3.      Mr. DiMatteo reported that the disc filter was put into service February 20. The sand filter still is processing a percentage of the flow in concert with the disc filter because the disc filter alone is not performing in a way that is allowing the plant to achieve permit compliance. The disc filter specifications stated that as long as the average flow of TSS was 30, the disc filter will remove down to 5. The average compilation for TSS since the disc filter has been on-line is 17. After concerns were expressed by Siemens representatives on-site, Delcora began splitting samples to ensure that the laboratory results were correct and had the filter feed tanks pumped to further ensure that no dirt was coming up from the tank. Siemens representatives also expressed concern that the particle sizes were smaller than the specified10 microns. Laboratory testing confirmed that sixty percent or more of the particulates were 10 microns. Siemens is now completing its own “particulate” evaluation for size and composition; and is requesting process changes. Mr. DiMatteo is concerned that if the process is changed to accommodate the disc filter, the plant will not make compliance in other permit parameters, which it is now doing.

 

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

  1. Mr. Sheridan reported that he will try to schedule an August settlement date for the Pennvest funding. Authority representatives who will need access to the Pennvest computer database must complete required on-line training.
  2. Liens on the RD0005 and GT0011 accounts have been satisfied.  The District Justice action against RD0004 is scheduled to be heard May 13.
  3. The Turners Mill contract with Delcora has an automatic renewal after two years although the preferred renewal period was three years. Mr. Del Rossi moved and Mr. Koch seconded that the Authority amend the operations and maintenance agreement with Delcora for the Turners Mill plant to change the automatic renewal period to 3 years rather than two years at the Authority’s option and to institute a 120-day non-renewal option.
  4. Mr. Sheridan reviewed a master casting agreement request that has been provided by the Township Road Master. The agreement request allows PennDot to forward to the Authority an agreement that details the terms under which PennDot will replace or pave around any manholes and grates that are owned by the Authority but that are located on Commonwealth roadways. On a motion by Mr. Del Rossi and a second by Mr. Koch, the Board agreed to approve the resolution to request the agreement for review.

 

CFTSA Minutes

March 18, 2008

Page 3

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

Mr. Del Rossi reviewed the written reports.

  1. The $24,000.00 profit on the income statement does not take accurately reflect the Authority’s financial position because income has not been received for the first three months of 2008.
  2. The treasurer’s report and the accounts payable report including monthly bills of $15657.55, Quickbooks costs of $197.63, debit card purchases of $253.81, ACH payments for Verizon, PECO, Sovereign Bank loan and DVRFA loan of $10637.13, payroll of $1413.74 were approved on a motion duly made and seconded (Koch/Martin). Mr. Del Rossi noted that the DVRFA loan interest is rebilled to Painters Crossing.

owevret,m

 

OLD BUSINESS:

  1. Mr. Del Rossi reported that RD0006 has agreed to pay $100.00 per month toward the unpaid tapping fee. Interest will continue to be assessed on the unpaid portion of the tapping fee.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

    1. Mr. Del Rossi reviewed the Brandywine Conservancy’s request to have its billing for water usage re-evaluated. The Conservancy uses a great majority of its water to maintain consistent humidity in the museum and to water the gardens, using an average of 3000 gallons per day to replenish the cooling towers. The Conservancy is requesting an “evaporation” credit. Its engineer will suggest an appropriate formula. The Conservancy has a meter on the service line to the cooling towers. They were advised to install a meter on the sewer discharge line to insure accurate readings.
    2. The Brandywine River Hotel is questioning its EDU and water usage charges. The matter has been referred to Township Solicitor Hugh Donaghue.
    3. The Board briefly considered a proposal to bill non-residential users who are not discharging to the Turners Mill plant only for EDUs and not for water usage until they are connected to the plant. Mr. Sheridan noted that the Board might be open to criticism that they are unequally enforcing their resolutions. The subject was tabled until the April meeting so that Mr. Sheridan may research the matter further.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT: None

                       

ADJOURNMENT   The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 p.m.   (Del Rossi/Koch)

 

Respectfully submitted,

Mary J. Walter, Asst. Secretary/Asst. Treasurer