CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY

MINUTES

 

January 15, 2002

 

 

            The 149th meeting of the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority was held on this date in the Chadds Ford Township building.

 

            Present: James J. Murray, Chairman, Sandra Morgan, Vice Chairman, John Spoehr, Secretary, 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 7:00 p.m. by James Murray, Chairman.  Chairman Murray told those in attendance that Carey Verger, whose official term on the Sewer Authority has expired, called and expressed his willingness to provide any information that would be helpful to the new member, Paul Linsen.

            A suitable way to show the Sewer Authority’s appreciation for Mr. Verger’s years of service to the Sewer Authority was discussed.

 

REORGANIZATION:

                        Each of the following positions were filled by unanimous votes, after motions were made, and duly seconded:

            Chairman - James J. Murray.

            Vice Chairman - Sandra L. Morgan

            Secretary - John Spoehr

            Treasurer - Paul Linsen

Solicitor - John J. Mezzanotte, Jr., Esquire, of Barnard, Mezzanotte and Pinnie with the retainer to remain at $1,500 quarterly

Engineering firm - Spotts, Stevens and McCoy with $165 for meeting attendance and other fees for service per a rate schedule provided to the Authority.

            Sabina J. Taylor was appointed as Secretary/Treasurer at the rate of $20 per hour.

 

            First Union Bank and PLGIT were appointed as Depositories for Funds on a motion by Sandra Morgan, seconded by John Spoehr.

            At Mr. Heisler’s request, the appointment of an Auditing firm was tabled until next month’s meeting.

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

            Chairman Murray made the following announcements:

            1.  December 20, 2001-a meeting was held with representatives from CFTSA, CFT Supervisors and St. Cornelius Church to discuss the time schedule for connecting the church, school and campus to the Ridings Sewage Treatment Plant. 

            2.  December 26, 2001-a meeting was held to establish an edu allocation for commercial


accounts based on peak demands and contract terms.

            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 December 18, 2001 meeting of the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority were unanimously approved, as written, by a motion duly made and seconded.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

            The Treasurer’s Report was read by Mrs. Taylor.  Account balances were reported as follows:

            General Fund Account

                        Beginning Balance                                                         $19,457.36

                        Receipts                                                                            63,031.29                Balance                                                                               $82,488.65

                       

            Ridings Operating Account - First Union

                        Beginning Balance                                                          $5,255.83

                        Receipts                                                                            18,974.54               

                        Balance                                                                        $24,230.37

                       

                        PLGIT Account - ROA

                        Beginning Balance                                                         $15,061.05

                        Transfer from ROA - First Union                                   23,230.37

                        Dividends                                                                                      28.17          

                        Balance                                                                        $38,319.59

                       

            Escrow Accounts:

                        19 Longview

                                   Balance                                                 $4,447.21                         

                                   

                        20 Longview                           

                                   Balance                                                             $4,610.47

 

            Mrs. Taylor reported on:

1. Revisions to Financial Reports - Revisions to some of the previously prepared reports were explained.

 

2.  Financial Statements for 2001 - Sewer Authority members were reminded that Financial Statements for 2001 are required from each past and present member.

3.  Bank Accounts - A motion was made to authorize Paul Linsen to sign checks as Treasurer on all CFTSA bank accounts.  The motion was seconded and  passed unanimously. 

            As required by First Union Bank, CFTSA Resolution No. 2002-1, adding the name of Paul Linsen as an official signer of checks drawn on all Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority bank accounts at First Union Bank was passed unanimously on a motion duly made and seconded.  By the passing of Resolution No. 2002-1, Carey Verger’s name is removed from the list of authorized signers. 

 

4. DVRFA Loan Disbursement Form No. 40 - A motion was made to approve DVRFA Loan Disbursement Request No. 40 in the amount of $60,697.96 pursuant to the loan agreement with Chadds Ford Township.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.  The document was then signed as required.

 

5.  Chapter 94 Report for 2001 - A proposal from American Water Services has been received.

 

6.  NPDES Permit Renewal - The permit has been renewed and next expires at midnight on January 8, 2007.

 

7.  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: 

            A motioned was made to pay invoices totaling $59,290.08  from the General Fund as submitted.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

            Invoices to be paid from the Ridings Operating Account totaling $3,589.44 were unanimously approved for payment on a motion made and seconded .   

 

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:

            The status of the Barnaby’s account was discussed with Mr. Mezzanotte giving a brief background of recent events.   After discussion, it was agreed that Mr. Mezzanotte should wait until Monday morning, January 21, 2002 and, if he does not receive a check for the unpaid delinquent amount, he should once again begin the process of requesting Chester Water Authority to turn off the water service to Kopy Kats (Barnaby’s) for non payment of sewer bills.

 

            In response to a question regarding the residential accounts receivable, Mrs. Taylor said there are only two residential accounts that might be some cause for concern.  One is a house that is currently for sale, and ownership of the other property has recently changed.  Mrs. Taylor will send a letter to the present owners of the house that is for sale with a copy to the realtor handling the property.  She will also send a letter and a copy of the latest billing to the new owners of the second property.

                       

DVRFA LOAN:

            Mrs. Taylor discussed her recent conversation with Michael Wolf of Dolphin and Bradbury.  Mr. Wolf expressed a desire to discuss the DVRFA loan with the CFTSA’s new Treasurer Paul Linsen.  

            Mrs. Taylor suggested that the CFTSA might consider having Mr. Linsen, Mr. Mezzanotte and Mr. Petrosa, CFT Solicitor, discuss repayment of the loan to the Township and the options that might be available for funding the Chadds Ford Village Project. 

 

BSSE PROPERTY OWNERS NOTIFICATION:

            Chairman Murray asked when the letter will be sent notifying property owners when the tapping fee is due and when connection must be made.  He was told work is continuing on the mailing but it will not be sent until a construction completion date is known.

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

            Mr. Mezzanotte reported on:   

           

            1.  St. Cornelius Church - There have been ongoing discussions relating to the tie-in of the church property to the Ridings Plant.

 

            2.  Commercial Users - Mr. Mezzanotte has sent a letter to the four commercial users, who already own capacity indicating the EDU determinations that have been made by the Sewer Authority.  The letter also noted that he was going to finalize the sewer agreement consistent with those numbers.  

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT:

 

BSSE Project - A progress report was given.

 

            Chairman Murray said that Mr. Hubert, on Longview Road, has asked again if he could connect to the sewer early because his property is on the gravity side of the sewer line.

 

            Ms. Forndran reported on:

 

1.  Sewer Standards - Work is continuing on finalizing the sewer connection standard detail which will be needed for the letter going out to the new customers.  

 

2.  Plant Flows for the Year - A draft has been prepared of a chart showing the flows at the plant last year averaging 20,000 gallons per day with peaks of around 40,000 gallons per day.

 

3.  Gazette - A draft of the newsletter Issue No. 2, Volume I  was presented for consideration to be printed and mailed.   Mrs. Taylor said the minutes show that Authority agreed to proceed with a quarterly newsletter providing the Supervisors agree to pay the costs involved with Township funds.  Costs relating to the newsletter were discussed. 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

            Tapping fee calculations relating to the seven commercial accounts were discussed. It was announced that no decision regarding sewer rates will be made until the Authority is sure that the rates meet the requirement that are necessary. 

 

            Angelika Forndran commenting on the Phase II Sewer Use Rate Study prepared by Spotts, Stevens and McCoy, dated December 2001, noted that the paragraph on page 4, stating that the rates were adopted at the December 18, 2001 public meeting, is in error.  She said that paragraph will be corrected or deleted as necessary.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

            The Authority has received one quote for $3,131, from Site Specific Design, Inc for a grinder pump for the property that will require one.  A motion was made and seconded to accept the quote for the grinder pump from Site Specific Design, Inc.  The motion passed unanimously.  It was stated that the property owner would be responsible for installation costs relating to the grinder pump.

 

            A proposal was presented from American Water Services for preparation of the Chapter 94 Report for the year 2001.  The fee quoted in the proposal is $900 plus direct expenses, not expected to exceed $100.  A motion to accept the proposal from American Water Services to prepare and submit the Chapter 94 Report was made,  seconded and passed unanimously.

 

            Discussion followed regarding a complaint from a property owner whose property is adjacent to the Ridings Sewage Treatment Plant.  The property owner complained about construction items (orange cones, etc.) being visible from their property.  They requested that a suitable fence be erected to conceal the construction items. 

 

 

OTHER MATTERS:

            Angelika Forndran asked if the agreements with St. Cornelius Church and the  commercial users include some provision for requiring some routine, flow meter calibrations being submitted to the Authority.  It was noted that the Authority gets quarterly reports of water use from Chester Water Authority.   Mrs. Taylor will be doing quarterly tracking of water use, so the Authority will be able to see if there are any unexplained amounts reported. 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

            Bernard Cialini, Woodland Drive, expressed several complaints relating to the sewer construction work on Woodland Drive.   Mr. Cialini then showed the Authority members some photographs to support his comments.  After further discussion, it was explained that Woodland Drive was in bad shape before construction began and the township was informed that the construction would probably make it worse.   The other items Mr. Cialini spoke about, will be looked into.  

 

            Mrs. Manfredi, of Longview Road, said when they patched her driveway after installing the sewer line across it, the patch was rough.  Since then the Chester Water Authority dug the driveway up again, but not in the same place.   She asked who will do the final restoration on the driveway.   It was explained that the Authority’s contractor is only responsible for restoring the area they disturbed.   It was suggested that anyone with a problem regarding the CWA work should contact them. 

 

            Mrs. Steward , of Longview Road, said she has received a notice from her mailman saying her mail will not be delivered after January 31, if her mailbox is not moved closer to the road.  Several other residents on Longview Road also received similar notices.  After discussion, it was decided that CWA and  the Authority’s contractor will be contacted to see that the problem is corrected.

 

            Mrs. Deborah L. D’Elia, newly elected township supervisor, introduced herself to those in attendance. 

 

            A letter sent to some homeowners in the Longview, Woodland, Summit area from Barnaby’s, regarding a meeting to be held at Kopy Kats, was discussed.

           

            The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Sabina J. Taylor, Secretary