CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY

                                                                     MINUTES

 

                                                                  March 15, 2005

 

            The 187th meeting of the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority was held on this date in the Chadds Ford Township building.

 

Present: Vincent Del Rossi, Chairman, James J. Murray, Vice Chairman, Frederick B. Hodapp, Secretary, Anthony J. Cutrona, Treasurer and Paul Linsen. 

            Absent: None

           

            Also in attendance were John J. Mezzanotte, Esquire, Thomas R. Smith, PE, Garry Paul, CFT BOS, James C. Kelly, PE, CFT Engineer, and Sabina J. Taylor, Secretary/Treasurer.

 

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

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

            None. 

                       

PUBLIC COMMENT:

            Mr. Kelly reported that he has received a copy of the planning module for the Toll Brothers project.   He said copies for public inspection will be available at the Chadds Ford Township building and at Kelly Engineers.

 

MINUTES:

            There being no additions or corrections, the minutes of the February 22, 2005 Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority meeting were unanimously approved on a motion made and seconded (Cutrona/Linsen).

 

TREASURER’S REPORT:

            Mrs. Taylor gave account balances as follows:

           

            General Fund Account

                       

                        Beginning Balance                                                                      $1,000.00                  

                        Receipts                                                                                         2,895.65

                        Balance                                                                                     $3,895.65

 

            Operating Account - PLGIT

                        Beginning Balance                                                                     $47,889.22

                        Transfer from Wachovia General Fund                                      2,895.65                     

                        Dividends                                                                                        77.61                  

                        Balance                                                                                    $50,862.48

 

            Tapping Fee Account - PLGIT/Plus Account -

                        Beginning Balance                                                                     $325,660.19

            Receipts - Transfer from Wachovia                                              ------.--

                 Dividends                                                                     ------.--                    Balance                                                                                         $325,660.19

 

2.                              Sewer Use Invoices -The invoices for the second quarter of 2005 are prepared and will be mailed out tomorrow.

 

3.                              Calibration of St. Cornelius Church Water Meters - The meters at the elementary school and parish life center have been calibrated and the reports have been received. 

 

4.                              DVRFA Loan Payment - Mrs. Taylor reminded the board members that the semi annual payment on the loan will be due before the next Sewer Authority meeting.  She said the payment will include $20,000 on the principal and she estimated the interest and administrative charges to be in excess of $28,000. 

 

5.                              Tapping Fee Account - Mr. Cutrona asked if the money used to pay for the construction at Kids First was taken from the Tapping Fee account since it was a LSWSS Project construction expense.  Mrs. Taylor said she had not done that yet but will transfer funds from the Tapping Fee account to the Operating Fund for this expense plus some recent RRE Phase 2 expenses.

 

6.                              Parkside Associates - It was noted that the tapping fee for the additional edus required for the new construction at Olde Ridge Village will not include the capacity portion.  The capacity for this project was purchased previously by Parkside Associates.

 

7.                              2004 Audit - An engagement letter from Merves, Amon & Barsz, LLC has been received by Mr. Cutrona.  The letter notes the fee for the 2004 Audit is not to exceed $6,000.  This amount is a $500 increase over the proposal for the 2003 audit.   The increase Mr. Cutrona explained, is due to normal inflation, and some additional regulatory requirements for the 2004 audit.   After further discussion, Chairman Del Rossi made a motion to accept the proposal from Merves, Amon & Barsz, LLC to audit the Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority financial records for the year 2004 at a cost not to exceed $6,000.  The motion was seconded by James Murray and passed unanimously.

 

8.                              Non-residentials Not on Public Water - Mr. Smith was asked to research water use standards for non-residential properties not on public water.  The request was in response to Mrs. Taylor’s inquiry regarding sewer use billing for these types of properties,  Mr. Mezzanotte recommended that following Mr. Smith’s research, the information be noted in a  Resolution to clearly define the charges.  

 

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:      

            Invoices totaling $24,838.85 were presented for payment.  These invoices include $5,415.51 for Ridings Plant operating expenses, $5,809.43 for administrative and professional services and $13,613.91 to Kids First for reimbursement of construction costs.   After review, the bill list was unanimously approved for payment, as presented, on a motion made and seconded    ( Del Rossi/Murray). 

 

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:

            No report.

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

            Mr. Mezzanotte reviewed:

1.                               Easements - Letters have been sent to the owners of properties where easements are being requested for the RRE Phase 2 project. 

           

Responding to a question from Chairman Del Rossi, Mr. Mezzanotte explained the process of acquiring easements.

 

2.                              Holding Tank Agreement - A copy of a Holding Tank Agreement for Keystone Plaza has been received from Chadds Ford Township.  It has been drafted with both the Township and the Sewer Authority as parties to the agreement.  The agreement appears to be associated with a hairdressing use that will be at Keystone Plaza.  Mr. Mezzanotte said there are some responsibility issues that need to be clarified.  He will distribute copies of the agreement to the board members, Mr. Smith and Mr. Kelly to review. 

 

3.                              Act 537 Appeal - An executive session following tonight’s meeting was suggested to review matters dealing with the Environmental Hearing Board litigation.

           

                       

4.                              Unconnected Property on Summit Drive - Paperwork regarding the next step in getting this property connected is being prepared, and will be forwarded to the Chairman for signing.

 

5.                              CFTSA Resolution No. 11 - A Resolution has been prepared by Mr. Mezzanotte to provide for imposing a revisit fee for those facilities not available for inspection following 72 hour notice from the Authority.  Following discussion and review, it was decided that $800 would be a reasonable fee to cover the expense of revisiting the facility.  Mr. Murray made a motion to adopt Chadds Ford Township Sewer Authority Resolution No. 11 amending the Authority’s Sewage Services Fee Schedule to provide for a re-visit/access refusal fee.  The motion was seconded by Chairman Del Rossi and passed by a unanimous vote.

 

ENGINEERS REPORT:

            Mr. Smith reviewed his written report.  

 

1.                  RRE Phase 2 - Following last month’s discussion, Mr. Smith contacted Wexcon with a proposal that the purchase of grinder pumps be deleted, and that the low pressure sewer be realigned as discussed.  Wexcon contacted Mr. Smith by telephone, and explained that they could not delete the grinder pumps, as the value was too great, and the work would not be profitable.  Due to this and recent activity by the Raven Crest Homeowners Association, Mr. Smith suggested that the Authority may want to not award the contract  and re-bid the project once these issues have been resolved.  Also as directed, SSM has prepared a specification for procurement of grinder pumps that is not part of a construction contract.

           

            Mr. Mezzanotte explained some legal issues relating to the awarding of the contract. 

After discussion, the board members agreed to not award the contract at this time.  Mr. Smith will notify the contractor accordingly.

           

Mr. Cutrona noted that if this process goes on too long, there is a real danger of losing the $150,000 grant and the tapping fee for this project may have to be raised.

 

2.         Toll Brothers - On March 10, 2005, Mr. Smith attended another meeting with engineers for Toll Brothers to review the design for the Camp Sunset Hill/Turners Mill WWTP project.  It was agreed to meet biweekly as the design progresses to completion.  The Phosphorous requirement has been increased from 0.5 to 1.0 ppm.

           

3.         Chapter 94 Report - A draft of the report was presented for review and discussion at tonight’s meeting.  Mr. Smith noted that spikes in some of the readings may reflect on- sight septic tanks discharging into the public sewer lines.  This might be happening when properties that are connected to the public sewer also have septic tanks.  This is in violation of a Chadds Ford Township Ordinance and these tanks must be located, crushed and filled as required.

 

4.                  Tremonte - There still has been no meeting with Tremonte Builders for a pre-construction conference.

                                   

5.                  Tapping Fees - Upon future authorization, Mr. Smith will work with the Solicitor and Treasurer on the required development of new Tapping Fees, based on the new PA Act 57 regulations. This work must be completed by June 30, 2005.        

 

OLD BUSINESS: 

            Eckman Pump Station - Mr. Murray has contacted someone to do the work necessary to raise the manhole at this site.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

            None

 

OTHER MATTERS:

            Mrs. Taylor was asked to notify Applied Water Management, at the appropriate time, that the Sewer Authority will be seeking Operation and Management proposals for the Ridings Wastewater Treatment Plant and three pump stations for 2006.

 

ADJOURNMENT:   

            The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.  

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

 

Sabina J. Taylor, Secretary