CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY

MINUTES

 

                                                                    June 20, 2006

 

The 201st 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, Treasurer Keith C. Klaver, and Anthony J. Cutrona.

 

Absent:  Secretary Marc S. Altman

 

Also in attendance were John J. Mezzanotte, Jr., Esquire, Garry Paul, CFT BOS liaison, Deborah L. D’Elia, Chairman, CFT BOS and Sabina J. Taylor, Secretary pro tem.

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Del Rossi.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1.         June 13, 2006 – Chairman Del Rossi, Keith Klaver, and Marc Altman, met with a representative from H. A. Thomson to review current insurance coverage and consider suggested changes. 

 

2.         June 16, 2006 – All board members attended a meeting with government officials to review the state of the CFTSA finances and review the possibility of receiving additional monies via grants, etc to help offset cost to users.  

 

3.         June 20, 2006 – Three members of the CFTSA toured the DELCORA facility in Chester.

 

DELCORA 

Chairman Del Rossi noted that CFTSA is considering a sewage treatment plant operation and maintenance proposal from DELCORA for 2007.  He introduced Robert Powell and Mike DiSantis who reviewed some of the services DELCORA can provide. 

 

Mr. Powell gave a brief history of the authority and some statistics relating to the 44,000,000 gpd of sewage treated at the facility located in Chester, PA which is owned and operated by DELCORA.  Responding to a question from Mr. Klaver, Mr. DiSantis, Director of Operations and Maintenance, said they have proposed to install a Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system that would allow a 24/7, real time monitoring of the Ridings Plant.  He also explained other services and conditions as detailed in the proposed contract.  A draft of the contract is currently being reviewed by Mr. Mezzanotte.  Following additional questions and discussion, Keith Klaver motioned that CFTSA pursue a contract with DELCORA to begin January 1, 2007 and authorize Chairman Del Rossi to sign the agreement following review by Mr. Mezzanotte and Mr. Smith.  Paul Linsen seconded the motion and it passed by a unanimous vote. 

 

MINUTES

The minutes of the May 10 and May 16, 2006 meetings of the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority meeting were unanimously approved as presented, on a motion duly made and seconded (Linsen/Del Rossi). 

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

Treasurer Keith Klaver reported that the Income Statement through the end of May shows income before depreciation is consistent with the budget for 2006 with the exception of some higher than expected plant costs that have been incurred.  Chairman Del Rossi reviewed some of these expenses.

 

Reporting on the budgeted $150,000 non-operating income, Mr. Klaver said to date only about $35, 000 of that grant has been received.  It is hoped that the remainder will be received by the end of this month. 

 

Reviewing the balance sheet, Mr. Klaver noted there is enough in the operating account to cover the invoices being submitted for payment at this meeting and it will not be necessary to request another bridge loan from the township at this time.  As of this month, the RRE Phase II construction costs are approximately 85% to 90% paid.  The balance sheet also shows the DVRFA loan was paid off on May 30, 2006 using the proceeds of the $1,000,000 loan from Sovereign Bank.

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE       

The accounts payable report includes automatic direct debit payments for the Verizon and PECO accounts totaling $1,750.40 and bills submitted for approval in the amount of $18,793.22 for a total accounts payable amount of $20,543.62.  The bills as submitted were approved for payment by unanimous vote, on a motion duly made and seconded (Klaver/Linsen).

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT

Mr. Mezzanotte reviewed for the members:

 

1.         Toll Brothers Pump and Haul Agreement – The agreement has been completed and executed.  

 

2.         Liened Property – A long outstanding lien that related to a tapping fee has been satisfied.

 

3.         DELCORA Agreement – Mr. Mezzanotte has provided notes on the agreement for the board’s review.

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT

1.         RRE Phase II – Low-pressure sewers are installed and tested with remaining work being lawn and right-of-way restoration.  On June 5, 2006 a walk-through was performed and a punch list was prepared with 11 items to be completed.  Money is being withheld to assure satisfactory completion of the project.  Mr. Smith said none of the remaining work to be done would prevent connections being made.  It is anticipated that by the end of next week, a recommendation to start connections will be prepared by Mr. Smith.

 

2.         Ridings Wastewater Treatment Plant Flows – The maximum daily flow was 0.050 MGD; average daily flow was 0.0304 MGD, all less than the permitted 0.080 MGD.  There was no permit exceedence.

 

3.         Toll Brothers – Pump and Haul Agreement has been finalized.  Mr. Smith noted that the manhole to be used will be I-44 which is located at the Olde Ridge Village Shoppes, which is away from residences.  

 

4.         Annual Wastewater Treatment Plant Inspections – The annual inspections of privately owned wastewater treatment plants in the township is scheduled for June 28, 2006.

 

            RIDINGS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

§         Chairman Del Rossi reported that a second air compressor has failed and has been rebuilt.  He noted that two compressors have failed a month apart and he has been in contact with Ingersoll Rand regarding a maintenance agreement for the compressors.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

                        Delores Vitale of Painters Crossing asked why the residents of Painters Crossing must pay $8,000 to $10,000 to connect to the new system when the system they have is working.  Chairman Del Rossi explained that DEP will not renew the permit for the Pantos Plant once the Turner’s Mill plant is operational.  He also explained that the township supervisors, not the sewer authority, will set the tapping fee for the Painters Crossing units.  CFT Supervisor Garry Paul discussed some of the issues to be considered in setting the tapping fee.  He said he anticipates the tapping fee for the residents of Painters Crossing will be considerably less than the $8,000 to $10,000 mentioned.

                        Responding further to residents’ questions, Mr. Klaver said there are a number of variables yet to be determined that may change significantly, upward or downward, the tapping fee estimate given by Mr. Paul.  With respect to timing, he would anticipate the connection date for Painters Crossing to be late 2006 or early 2007. 

                        Mrs. D’Elia gave some information regarding low cost loans from the Delaware County Housing Rehabilitation Program that may be available.  She said, as soon as the brochures with the information for 2006 are available, she will see that they are made available to those who might be interested in applying for the loans.  Mrs. D’Elia also suggested that the residents might consider sending letters to State and Federal officials requesting grant money.  Other possible sources for low interest loans, such as Penn Vest and local banks, were discussed.

                        Vice Chairman Linsen discussed how the new Act 57 might impact the tapping fee for the condominiums at Painters Crossing due to the recorded history of daily flows kept for the Pantos plant.

                                   

OLD BUSINESS

§         Chairman Del Rossi said following Mrs. Taylor’s resignation, he is recommending Mary Walter to fill the position of Secretary/Treasurer for the Sewer Authority.  Keith Klaver made a motion, seconded by Vincent Del Rossi, to name Mary Walter as Secretary/Treasurer for the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority, effective July 1, 2006.

§          Vice Chairman Linsen, who was authorized in Chairman Del Rossi’s absence to negotiate and finalize the pump and haul agreement with Toll Brothers, gave a report on some of the details of the agreement.  He said in negotiating the agreement he sought to assure minimal financial risk to the authority and to accommodate Toll Brothers need to provide temporary sewer service to the residents of their new development.

 

NEW BUSINESS

§         Mr. Klaver reviewed insurance coverage as discussed at the meeting with the representative of H. A. Thomson Insurance Company.  He noted there would be an increase in the property replacement coverage for this year, as suggested by Mr. Smith.  The liability coverage seems adequate at this time, but will be re-evaluated based on actual history in the next year or so.  H. A. Thomson will be providing a proposal for a more economical alternative in the method of insuring public officials.  

§         As this was Mr. Mezzanotte’s last meeting as solicitor for the Sewer Authority, Chairman Del Rossi expressed his appreciation and thanked Mr. Mezzanotte for his many years of dedicated service to the Authority.

 

ADJOURNMENT  

The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m.  

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Sabina J. Taylor, Secretary pro tem