CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY
MINUTES
September 18, 2007
The 215th 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 President Anthony J. Cutrona, Secretary Marc Altman, Treasurer Keith C. Klaver, Member at Large Paul Koch,
Also in attendance were J. Michael Sheridan, Esquire, Solicitor; John E. Spitko, Jr., PE, Authority Engineer; and Joseph DiMatteo, Delcora Remote Systems Foreman.
Chairman Del Rossi called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the August 14, 2007 meeting were approved on a motion made by Mr. Cutrona and seconded by Mr. Klaver. The minutes of the July 19, 2007 meeting were approved on a motion made Mr. Klaver and seconded by Mr. Cutrona after the following correction was made on page 5: Mr. Klaver reported that the Township received the $250,000.00 (not $25,000.00) Safe Water grant. It will be applied to the Turners Mill project.
DELCORA REPORT:
Mr. DiMatteo reviewed his written report for the month of August.
1. Mr. DiMatteo said that although the plant still is experiencing low flow, the flow is up 2000 gallons on the average.
2. Two violations all related to total suspended solids were reported to the DEP for the month of August. The inefficiency of the sand filter is contributing to the violations.
3. Chemical use overall and chlorine use specifically has increased due to the high daily temperatures increasing the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Mr. Klaver asked if DELCORA is leveraging its purchasing power for the chemicals. Mr. DiMatteo said that the CFTSA has its chemicals other than aluminum sulfate purchased directly; he said he would call around to try to find better prices than what CFTSA currently pays. There are few chemicals that DELCORA uses that the CFTSA also uses, and the CFTSA buys in small quantities. Mr. Spitko asked if there is a state purchasing program that CFTSA could use. Mr. DiMatteo said that there used to be. He also said that if the Authority spends more than $10,000.00 they would have to go out to bid. Purchasing in higher volume may not be feasible because the chemicals may lose their potency.
4. Mr. DiMatteo reiterated from his report last month that a permanent chemical addition facility may need to be considered for the aluminum sulfate, as it and the chemical feed systems will freeze in the winter. When the sand filter is removed, the chemicals and systems could be moved into that space; however, the removal of the filter may not take place until January 2008.
5. DELCORA cleaned the cascade and stream on August 9. Operators continue to inspect the outfall cascade and creek.
6. A report on the hydraulic flows should be received by the CFTSA shortly. The metering program started in June. The dry conditions will affect the flows; a more accurate reading will be available when there are some wet weather flows.
7. The sand filter has been down since September 2. It has been running infrequently—from 1 to 6 hours—over the last three weeks and the sand will not circulate. DELCORA is going to drain the sand filter with a vac truck to see if there is any debris or floatables. If there is an item in the filter, the filter can be easily rebuilt; if not, alternate solutions will need to be explored. The concern is what happens at the plant after hours if the filter shuts down. Deposits can be seen in the stream due to the sand filter’s being down and the “no flow” conditions. What may be being seen in the stream are layers of old deposits. Mr. DiMatteo notified the DEP of the situation.
Mr. Spitko remarked that Spotts Stevens McCoy measured the circulation rate of the sand in June and it was only 20-25% of what it was supposed to be. Mr. Koch asked if water could be pumped into the filter to increase the flow and raise the volume of water through the filter. Mr. Spitko said he did not believe that was a solution because the sand filter bed must recirculate four or five times per day to adequately clean the filter, and that is not happening. He reiterated that the filter being used at the Ridings Plant does not match the prototype for the filters being sold today. He believes that the original sand filter company found deficiencies with the original design and changed it. Mr. DelRossi confirmed for Mr. Klaver that Siemens has been asked to expedite the shipping of the disc filter.
8. DELCORA installed four tide flex valves and the mixed liquor discharge has stopped. Now that the discharge has stopped, Mr. DiMatteo said that the plant might be able to run more efficiently even without the sand filter. The sand filter can run more effectively when there is single-digit turbidity; since the tide flex valves have been replaced, single-digit turbidity has been achieved.
9. Mr. DelRossi asked about the quality assurance quality control documentation for the plant. Mr. DiMatteo said that because DELCORA has laboratory accreditation, CFTSA has that accreditation as well.
ENGINEER’S REPORT:
Mr. Spitko reviewed his written report.
4) additional landscaping is needed to hide the plant from Route 1; 5) supplies, such as lab glassware, samplers, life preservers, reach poles and rescue gear are still needed.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT:
1. Mr. Sheridan reported that he has referred three accounts for Sheriff’s service. The three accounts have not paid the RREII tapping fees or for any sewer services since the connection in January 2006. Liens also have been placed on the properties.
2. There is a delinquent account for a property owner who is deceased; no response to several letters has been received from the family. A lien is on the property. Mr. Sheridan reported that no will has been probated. If the Authority wishes to pursue the matter, Mr. Sheridan can petition on the Board’s behalf to have an estate established. There will be court costs involved. Mr. Sheridan was directed to send a letter to the last known address regarding the Authority’s possible raising of the estate if no response is received and the assessing of the legal and court fees.
3. The Siemens contract was signed August 31.
4. The Painters Crossing Condominium Association is considering the Authority’s proposed stipulation to the loan agreement that Painters Crossing provide updated ownership lists to the Authority in exchange for the Authority’s billing each individual unit owner. The asst. secretary/asst. treasurer requested clarification on what information she is permitted to give to title companies or real estate agents regarding payment of tapping fees for Painters Crossing. Mr. Sheridan also reported that Painters Crossing still has not provided documentation regarding the Association’s approval process for the loan.
5. Mr. Del Rossi discussed the possibility that the Painters Crossing pump station may not be operating in January 2008 and that the Association may not be connected to Turners Mill. At that time, invoices for sewer service are to be sent to all property owners, including Painters Crossing, whose properties are eligible to receive sewer service from the Turner’s Mill. Mr. Sheridan advised that legally Painters Crossing owners might be billed for the sewer service even though they are not receiving the service if the reason for the non-connection is due to a situation created by Painters Crossing and not the Township. Although it was agreed that the issue is a Township issue, it is expected that the phone calls about the invoices will come to the Sewer Authority since the Authority will be issuing the invoices. Mr. Klaver indicated that it would be unfortunate that residents of Painters Crossing would be billed because they will still be billed for their connection to the Pantos Plant. Mr. Klaver suggested that Tax Collector Bruce Prabel be used as a source to keep up-to-date on sales of properties that receive service from the Authority. Mr. Klaver suggested that a secure website of all folio numbers be developed. Mr. Del Rossi said that this can be both the Ridings and Turners Mill.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Mr. Altman commented that the Authority expedited receipt of these funds to accommodate Painters Crossing.
After a full and complete discussion by all Board members, it was agreed that the interest and administrative costs of the loan will be charged to Painters Crossing only to the extent that such amounts exceed interest income generated from the proceeds of the loan.
Mr. Sheridan stated that he believed the circumstances regarding Painters Crossing are limited and specific enough that the Authority is not establishing any kind of general policy; that the Authority is addressing a very specific fact situation that has arisen in the context of this special arrangement made with Painters Crossing.
The balance sheet indicates $146,000.00 in tapping fees has not yet been paid. This amount is affecting the liquidity of the Authority’s finances.
Operating income includes pre-billed user fees for the third quarter, so it has three-quarters of revenues and only eight month’s expenses. The bulk of the expenses for the DELCORA I&I project have been paid; the costs for DELCORA monitoring program will be incurred in the future. There is an operating loss of $12,454.00, which is a little lower than budgeted.
On a motion from Mr. Klaver and a second from Mr. Altman, the Authority authorized payments of $29,572.13 for monthly bills; $2784.84 for ACH, $1056.00 for August payroll and $105.00 for employer contributions, $54.11 for Quickbooks expenses, and $137.66 for debit card purchases.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Mr. DelRossi reported that the Authority received a second letter from the DEP requesting a summary letter. Mr. DelRossi had been e-mailing documents and telephoning Mr. Jesse Goldberg of the DEP since the initial letter, but the preferred DEP method of communication is via letter. Although Mr. DelRossi had the return receipts for the e-mails, the DEP that a formal, written response was needed in order for the DEP to process formally and respond. Mr. DelRossi met with David Linehan of Yerkes Associates, Mr. Klaver, and Mr. DiMatteo to craft a response. The letter should be mailed this week. Mr. Jesse Goldberg said the DEP was granting another 60 days to the Authority before a possible consent order is issued.
2. Mr. DelRossi reported that letters, invoices, and other supporting materials would be mailed to the property owners in the Chadds Ford Village/Turners Mill sewer extension project around October 1.
3. Mr. DelRossi advised that Mr. Linehan will compute the total project costs for the installation of the disc filter once the drawings are received from Siemens.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. (Altman/Cutrona)
Respectfully submitted,
Mary J. Walter, asst. secretary/asst. treasurer