CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY

MINUTES

September 16, 2008

Meeting No. 226

 

 

The 226th meeting of the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority was held on this date in the Chadds Ford Township building.

 

Present: Chairman Keith Klaver, Vice-Chairman/Treasurer Marc Altman, Secretary Paul Koch, Member Roland Martin, Member James Egan. 

 

Also attending were J. Michael Sheridan, Esq., Authority solicitor; Joseph DiMatteo, Delcora foreman; Michael DiSantis, Delcora director of operations; Evan Andrews, Authority engineer; Garry Paul, Board of Supervisors liaison; and Mary J. Walter, asst. secretary/asst. treasurer.

 

Chairman Klaver called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mr. Klaver welcomed Mr. Egan to the Board. He assumes Vince  Del Rossi’s unexpired term, which ends December 31, 2008.

 

MINUTES: The minutes of the July 22, 2008 meeting were approved on a motion by Mr. Altman and a second by Mr. Koch. Mr. Egan abstained.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

  1. Richard Eckman of 24 Ridings Way attended the meeting to discuss with the Board the retiring of septic/holding tanks in the Ridings Development. Mr. Eckman’s concern is that he has lived at the property for 16 years, has maintained the tank and the property, and, upon inspection, has never had any problems with the tank. He questioned if he should be required to spend thousands of dollars to fix a problem that may not exist since there are no obvious signs that his tank is causing infiltration into the Township collection system.

 

Mr. Klaver explained that the removal of the tanks was in response to a serious concern raised by the Department of Environmental Protection. He further noted that there must be a consistent policy for all property owners whose properties have septic/holding tanks. The policy cannot be based on individual circumstances.

 

The Board discussed possible options that would allow the property owners to maintain the tanks on a regular maintenance, inspection, and certification schedule. Mr. Sheridan noted that both the property owner and the Authority must agree to joint oversight to insure that the schedule is followed.

 

Page 2

CFTSA Minutes

September 16, 2008

 

 

On a motion from Mr. Altman and a second by Mr. Martin, the Board approved the following motion by a 3-1-1 vote: In regard to the four properties in the Ridings Development that still have septic/holding tanks, the property owners receive a proposal that a) they agree to have their systems certified and inspected; b) they agree to have the tanks pumped a minimum of every two years and have the tanks re-inspected and re-certified at every pumping; c) that if the tanks do not pass the re-inspection/re-certification and are leaking, the tanks will be decommissioned immediately; and d) when the property is sold, a condition of the sale is the tanks must be decommissioned and the property must be satisfactorily connected to the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority System and be compliant with all Chadds Ford Township/Sewer Authority ordinances.

 

Mr. Sheridan noted that the decommissioning of the tank would be listed as a deed restriction and would be a requirement for the transfer of title of the property.  He will send a letter to the four property owners who would be affected by this proposal.

 

  1. Louis Stackeni of the Ruggierio Development Group asked what the status of the approval of the Brandywine Summit II Development planning module was. Mr. Andrews noted that September 26 is the due date for the Authority’s corrective action plan and connection maintenance plan to be submitted to the DEP. A decision will be made after that time. Mr. Klaver noted that the Board would request urgency in the decision-making in a cover letter to the DEP.

 

  1. Samantha Reiner of Webb Road thanked the Board for its service.

 

The Board convened an Executive Session at 7:48 p.m.

 

The Board adjourned the Executive Session at 9:27 p.m. and reconvened the public meeting. Mr. Klaver announced that the Board discussed potential litigation, the Ridings disc filter, and further communication with Siemens representatives.

 

On a motion from Mr. Altman and a second by Mr. Martin, the Board authorized the Authority Engineer to prepare a bid package for a new tertiary treatment filter to replace the Siemens 40X disc filter currently installed at the Ridings Wastewater Treatment plant.

 

On a motion from Mr. Klaver and a second from Mr. Martin, the Board authorized the assistant secretary/assistant treasurer on behalf of the secretary to advertise and distribute the bid packet for the new tertiary treatment filter and execute the bid process under the guidelines of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association.

 

Page 3

CFTSA Minutes

September 16, 2008

 

Mr. Klaver noted that he and Mr. Sheridan will discuss the proposed CO&A with the DEP based on the issues with the disc filter. Mr. Sheridan will draft a letter to Siemens to “lay the groundwork” for the new bid and to request that several concerns expressed in previous letters, such as reimbursement, be addressed by Siemens.

 

 

DELCORA/TURNERS MILL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT:

Mr. DiMatteo reviewed his written report.

  1. Delcora started operations of Turners Mill on August 25, 2008. The plant is in compliance. They still are awaiting testing results from Dutchland to complete the DMRs.
  2. Mr. Andrews and Mr. DiMatteo are working to complete matters raised by Delcora.
  3. Dutchland repaired a tear in the tertiary treatment filter.
  4. The Board discussed existing issues with the bar screen.
  5. Mr. Klaver reiterated that Delcora would not have any responsibility for the Painters Crossing pump station since ownership and maintenance will be retained by the Painters Crossing Condo Association. Toll Bros. will handle the Sunset Hill pump station until the ownership for the infrastructure for the Estates at Chadds Ford connections is transferred to Chadds Ford Township when more homes are sold in the Estates at Chadds Ford.

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT

  1. Mr. Andrews briefly reviewed the requirements for the corrective action plan and the connection management plans. On a motion from Mr. Altman and a second from Mr. Egan, the Board accepted the CAP and CMP as presented by the Authority Engineer and subject to the modifications discussed at this meeting.
  2.  On a motion from Mr. Klaver and a second by Mr. Martin, the Board approved the biosolids disposal contract bid packet for the Ridings and Turners Mill Wastewater Treatment Plants with corrections as discussed at the meeting and authorized the assistant secretary/assistant treasurer on behalf of the secretary to advertise and distribute the bid packet for the biosolids disposal contract and execute the bid process under the guidelines of the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association as expeditiously as possible.
  3. On a motion from Mr. Klaver and a second from Mr. Altman, the Board agreed to increase the total amount of funding for Pennoni and Associates by $3000.00. This amount is in addition to the $4000.00 approved last month.

 

 

 

 

Page 4

CFTSA Minutes

September 16, 2008

 

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

The owners of the Brandywine River Hotel and representatives of the Township and Authority have reached a settlement agreement after the Hotel and the Township initiated litigation. Mr. Klaver summarized the agreement.

 

On a motion from Mr. Egan and a second from Mr. Altman, the Board accepted the conditions of the settlement agreement with the Brandywine River Hotel and authorized the Chairman to sign the agreement.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

  1. 1. On a motion from Mr. Altman and Mr. Egan, the Board approved the treasurer’s report and the accounts payable report including monthly bills of $29,505.59, debit card purchases of $129.90, ACH payments for Verizon and PECO of $2099.42, ACH payment for the Sovereign Bank loan $6378.69, ACH interest payment for the DVRFA loan of $400.14, net payroll of $1472.66, and QuickBooks charges of $64.68 were approved.
  2. On a motion from Mr. Altman and a second by Mr. Koch, the Board approved payment of monthly bills in the amount of $835.40 for Turners Mill.
  3. On a motion from Mr. Altman and a second by Mr. Egan, the Board approved the sending of lien letters per Board policy to the users indicated on the lists provided.
  4. Mr. Egan agreed to review the Board’s investment strategy from a risk standpoint and related to restrictions imposed by PMAA.
  5. Mr. Koch and Mr. Altman will work with Mr. Andrews to consider a possible rate study.
  6. Mr. Martin will represent the Board in matters involving plant operations.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

ADJOURNMENT:  The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 p.m. on a motion from Mr. Altman and a second by Mr. Egan.

 

Respectfully submitted,

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