MINUTES
The 150th meeting of the
Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority was held on this date in the
Present: James J. Murray, Chairman, Sandra Morgan, Vice Chairman, John Spoehr, Secretary, Paul G. Linsen, Treasurer and Jerome S. Heisler, Jr. Also in attendance were John J. Mezzanotte, Jr., Esquire, Solicitor, Angelika B. Forndran, P.E., Engineer, and Sabina J. Taylor, Secretary/Treasurer.
The meeting was called to order at
INTRODUCTIONS:
The Chairman introduced new member, Paul Linsen. Mr. Linsen gave a brief summary of his background. He noted some of the challenges the Township and Sewer Authority are facing and his interest in helping to solve them.
Mrs. D’Elia, Township
Supervisor, was then introduced by Chairman Murray as the liaison between the
Township and the Sewer Authority.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Chairman Murray made the following announcements:
1.
2.
3. The Public Comment portion of the agenda for tonight’s meeting will be held at the end of the meeting, but questions and comments are welcome at any time during the meeting.
MINUTES:
The minutes of the
TREASURER’S REPORT:
The Treasurer’s Report was read. Account balances were reported as follows:
General Fund Account
Beginning Balance $23,500.61
Receipts 51,023.29 Balance $74,523.90
Ridings Operating Account - First
Beginning Balance $1,000.00
Receipts 9,446.11
Balance $10,446.11
PLGIT Account - ROA
Beginning Balance $34,730.15
Transfer from ROA - First Union 9,446.11
Dividends 38.66
Balance $44,214.92
Escrow Accounts:
19
Balance $4,450.99
20
Balance $4,614.39
Mrs. Taylor reported on:
1.Details relating to General Fund Balance - Money due from the General Fund, other than invoices submitted at this meeting for payment, was explained.
Mrs. Taylor was asked to hold the
check for Site Specific until after start-up and the operating manual and shop drawings
for the grinder pump have been received.
2.
Reimbursement from CWA - Reimbursement of $1,114.15 for Metro/UTC and
$262.50 for Bradford Engineering has
been requested from Chester Water Authority for extra work necessary due to
damage to the newly installed sewer line which occurred during installation of
the public water line.
3. DVRFA Loan Disbursement Form No. 41 - This request in the amount of $48,992.00 is for money wired to the Sewer Authority’s checking account for expenses relating to the LSWSS Extension Project.
A motion to was made to approve DVRFA Loan Disbursement Request No. 41
in
the amount of $48,992.00 pursuant to the loan agreement with
4. CFTSA Resolution No. 2002-1 - This resolution, to add Paul Linsen to the signature cards for the First Union Bank Accounts, was passed at last month’s meeting. The Resolution and new signature cards were signed at tonight’s meeting.
5. CFTSA Voice mail - Messages may now be left for the Sewer Authority by dialing the CFT phone number (610-388-6368) and pressing number 4.
The need for an emergency phone number was discussed. At next month’s meeting a motion will be introduced to select a maintenance contractor for the sewage collection system.
7. Refund - In response to a question from
Mrs. Taylor, the Authority agreed the $6.00 that was overpaid on a delinquent
account should be refunded to the law firm that sent the check.
8. ROA Transfer - Due to cash flow conditions,
the transfer of $6,000 from the ROA to the General Fund was not reversed this
month.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:
Invoices to be paid from the Ridings Operating Account totaling $5,390.27 were unanimously approved for payment on a motion duly made and seconded .
With the understanding that the check for Site Specific Design in payment for the grinder pump be held until start up is complete and the shop drawings and manuals have been received, a motion was made to pay invoices totaling $59,554.48 from the General Fund as submitted. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:
Discussion followed regarding the suggestion at last month’s meeting that the Sewer Authority adopt a policy that would cover chronic delinquent accounts. Mr. Mezzanotte offered to research the legal options the Sewer Authority would have in this matter and prepare a draft Resolution for the Authority’s consideration.
AUDITOR:
Action to appoint an auditing firm was tabled at last month’s meeting. On a motion made and seconded, Fischer, Cunnane and Associates was reappointed as Sewer Authority auditor by a unanimous vote.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT:
The Solicitor reported on:
1. Barnaby’s - The delinquent amount on this commercial account has been paid in full.
2. St. Cornelius Church - A final form of agreement for the connection of the church property to the Ridings Plant has been prepared and is awaiting signatures by the church.
3. Commercial Users - Mr. Mezzanotte has met with attorneys for two of the commercial accounts to address their concerns regarding the EDU allocation for their properties. Those concerns were passed along to Chairman Murray, and they will be considered as the Authority continues work on allocating EDU for commercial accounts.
It has recently been brought to the
Authority’s attention that DCIDA is no longer on the title to any property
located on the west side of Wilmington-West Chester Pike. Mr. Mezzanotte will research who currently
owns the property in question and who owns the commercial sewage capacity.
ENGINEER’S REPORT:
BSSE Project - It is expected that the pump station will be ready for start-up the first part of March. It is still anticipated that the Sewer Authority will be reimbursed for the costs that were incurred when Chester Water Authority broke the new sewer line while installing their water line.
Landscaping
at the pump station on
RIDINGS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
A draft of an analysis, prepared by Angelika B. Forndran, on the redistribution of flows for the Ridings Plant was presented for consideration. Ms. Forndran reviewed some of the information and tables contained in the report. She asked the members to review the draft and call her with any comments. When this analysis is completed, it will be sent to DEP for review and approval.
OVERSIGHT:
1.
The property at
2. Rate
study - A consultant was hired by
It has also been suggested that commercial users have a fixed cost per EDU which would be $57.71 per month plus a variable charge of $3.45 per thousand gallons. If commercial users volumes were greater than the allotted EDU, they will pay based on the first incremental gallons of charge. Each additional gallon over the property owner’s EDU will be based on $57.71 and $3.45 per thousand gallons times two.
Also proposed is an increase in the
tapping fee of 6% for the
Angelika Forndran explained how the commercial rate would require those holding EDU they are not using to pay the $57.71 per EDU they own. Other commercial users would pay the $57.72 per EDU plus the $3.45 per gallon of metered usage. It was explained that the proposed rate structure for commercial users would only apply to those owning improved property. Owners of undeveloped commercial property would not be paying the monthly charge for their unused EDU.
Mrs. D’Elia questioned how someone who owns capacity but does not own property would figure into this rate structure. It was explained that person would not pay any monthly charge.
After the new rates are adopted, the
Authority can re-evaluate them at any time.
PUBLIC
COMMENT:
Mrs. Carter asked if the Authority
has determined how much time the property owners will have before they must
connect to the new extension and how long they will have to pay the tapping
fee. A letter being sent to all the
residents in the
Mrs. Manfredi asked how much time property owners have to pay the monthly sewer charge. It was explaind that the bills currently are sent out quarterly and no late fees are charged if the bill is paid within 45 days of the date of the bill.
Mr. Davis voiced some complaints about the work done on the project. A final inspection will be done and Mr. Davis’ concerns will be noted. The re-paving of the road will be done by the Township.
Mrs. D’Elia was asked to communicate with the Authority when the road re-paving will be scheduled.
Mr. Fech asked about the re-paving
of the end of
Mr. Cialini commented on an unsafe
condition on
Mrs. Manfredi asked if the proposed $70 monthly charge was for operating costs only or did it include any financing. It was explained that it did not include any financing.
OTHER MATTERS:
Mrs. D’Elia said the Animal Appetites tenant has contacted her regarding fill on that property. Mrs. D’Elia is not sure if the fill is from the sewer line construction or the water line construction. The project engineer will be asked to check on this.
Mrs. D’Elia, responding to the request that the township supply the funds for mailing the Sewer Authority newsletter, said the supervisors decided to hold off on paying for this mailing. She offered some other suggestions for getting the newsletter before the public. Mrs. D’Elia noted that the newsletter is planned to be put on the Sewer Authority’s web site.
It was suggested that the SBR plant be drained because it has not been looked at since the plant began operating. It would be a minimum of $1,500 just to haul the sludge from the tank and then American Water Services will look at the tank. The total cost for this will not be known until they actually do the work. Only one would need to be done because the other one has only been in service for two years. A motion was made to authorize the de-watering and inspection of the SBR tank and to make necessary repairs on the approval of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Sewer Authority. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Mr. Duerr has notified the Authority that the person who did snow removal at the plant last year did not come the one time we had snow so far this year. Mr. Murray was asked to contact the person who did it last winter to see if they would take care of snow removal at the plant if necessary this year . Someone will also need to be contacted for mowing this year.
A suggestion was made that, as the work for connecting the St. Cornelius Church property progresses, the Authority needs to locate the manhole that is under the berm.
A motion was made that the Standards as set forth by Spotts, Stevens and McCoy, dated November 2, 2001, subject to any revisions made after that date, should become part of the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority Code. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sabina
J. Taylor, Secretary