CHADDS FORD TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY

Mariette Tobin, said she speaks for the Ridge Road Phase 2 neighborhood, and has several questions she would like to have the board members answer. She also said everyone would probably get to know her quite well as she plans to be a troublemaker.

Mrs. Tobin asked how the number of edus to be connected in this phase was determined to be 50. Chairman Murray explained that for Phase 1, the church purchased 11 edus, Raven Crest will use 6, and there are 3 on Ridge Road for a total of 20 edus. The remainder of the edus will be in Phase 2 and will include the rest of Raven Crest and the additional properties on Ridge Road to Heyburn Road.

Mr. Mezzanotte suggested that the Authority should explain that the township makes the planning judgements and the Authority’s position is to implement the plan.

Mrs. Tobin said the septic system on her property has worked for 70 years and she can assure the Authority there is no problem with it now. The cost will be too much for most of the homeowners because they are retired and they are not two income households. Mrs. Tobin said she thinks it is outrageous. Chairman Murray explained the Delaware County Housing Rehabilitation Program’s 0% interest loan. Mrs. Tobin responded, “We don’t qualify for that because your income must be under $40,000 per year and we are not that poor.” She suggested, just to please her, the Authority should look into other areas to use the capacity that is available.

Mr. Paul explained again that the township approves the Act 537 Plan and the Authority implements the plan.

Chairman Murray asked if any other resident has questions. Mrs. Tobin said, “Don’t brush me off. It is only quarter past seven. I know I’m a bother and I’m aiming to be a bother because I want to get your attention.” She then said 11 edus for the church is not enough and it is totally unfair.

Once again, Chairman Murray asked if there were any other residents who had a comment or question. Mrs. Rodriguez said she does have some comments but she is willing to listen to Mrs. Tobin. She also noted that Mrs. Tobin needs to read up on the Act 537 and the right of the township to do this. Mrs. Rodriguez said she too as a resident is upset by this and she was notified last November. She made a point that the properties in Phase 2 have at least 2 years of lead time. Mrs. Tobin responded, “If I don’t start now, then the 537 is in.” Mrs. Rodriguez asked, “Where were you when I was getting tied in? I didn’t hear you complaining back in November.”

Mrs. Tobin said her issue is that it is too expensive and arbitrary. Mr. Linsen said he agrees that the project is expensive, but it is not arbitrary. Further discussion followed regarding DEP mandates, township ordinances, etc.

Mr. Mezzanotte suggested that the Public Comment be suspended and resume Public Comment at the end of the other business of the Authority.

Mrs. Rodriguez said she did have a few comments and Chairman Murray said she could make them before the Public Comment portion was suspended. She said she understands there is a plumbing fee she will have to pay in addition to everything else and she asked why the residents weren’t informed of this before now. It was explained that this fee is for the plumbing inspector to inspect the connection and is a township fee not an Authority charge. Mrs. Taylor said this is explained in the information packet that will go out to all residents as soon as the system is ready for connections.

It was noted that the Sewer Authority minutes are on the township website and that a newsletter had been sent out previously, but was not continued due to the expense. Mrs. D’Elia said Mr. Moyer from Raven Crest had attended several Board of Supervisors meetings and she was under the assumption that he was relaying information to the residents. Mrs. Rodriguez said she would volunteer her time to see that the residents are kept informed.

In response to a question regarding why most areas of Chadds Ford Township have on-lot septic systems and not public sewers, Ms. Forndran replied that in sections of the township where the zoning requires larger lots, people whose septic systems fail have two options; you can rebuild the septic system in another area of your property or, if the soils are poor, you have to do a sand mound. Either of these options will cost somewhere in the area of $12,000 to $15,000.

Chairman Murray explained the status of the current draft of the revised Act 537 Plan.

MINUTES:

The minutes of the February 18, 2003 CFTSA meeting continued on March 4, 2003, were unanimously approved on a motion duly made and seconded (Linsen/Del Rossi).

TREASURER’S REPORT:

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

General Fund Account

Beginning Balance $10,470.94

Receipts 11,784.86

Balance $22,255.80

PLGIT/Plus Account - Tapping Fee Account

Beginning Balance $445,001.68

Receipts 0.00

Balance $445,001.68

Ridings Operating Account - First Union

Beginning Balance $1,000.00

Receipts 4,849.28

Balance $5,849.28

PLGIT Account - ROA

Beginning Balance $57,472.83

Transfer from First Union ROA 4,849.28

Dividends 51.63

Balance $62,373.74

Disciascio Escrow Account

Beginning Balance $15,135.30

Interest 13.24

Balance $15,148.54

Mrs. Taylor reported on:

1. Annual Audit for 2001 - Bound copies of the audit have been previously distributed to the board members. There were no questions or comments regarding the audit as presented.

1. SSM Invoice for Act 537 Support - This invoice in the amount of $272 was presented to the Sewer Authority for approval before being submitted to the Township for payment. The Sewer Authority members agreed that this invoice should be approved and passed on to the Township for payment.

2. Invoices for 2^nd Quarter of 2003 - Invoices for this quarter have been mailed.

3. Signature cards for PLGIT Accounts - Signature cards for the PLGIT accounts were presented to the members for signatures. The cards were signed as required.

4. CFTSA Resolution No. 7 - This Resolution adds the new Authority members to the list of approved check signers for the First Union accounts and removes the previous names. The Resolution passed unanimously after a motion was made and seconded (Murray/Paul). The signature cards for the First Union accounts were then signed.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE:

There being no questions, General Fund Account invoices totaling $13,981.88 were unanimously approved for payment on a motion duly made and seconded (Paul/Del Rossi).

Mr. Linsen asked about the American Water Services invoices for extra visits. He wanted to know who audits these invoices to be sure that all the extra visits are actually made to the plant. In response to a question from Chairman Murray, Mrs. Taylor said she sends copies of all invoices to the Chairman and the Treasurer. She offered to send copies to any other member who would like to receive them. Discussion about this followed and then a motion was made to approve payment, from the Ridings Operating Account, of the invoices presented tonight totaling $6,646.23. The motion was passed by a majority vote with Mr. Linsen abstaining (Murray/Spoehr). Mrs. Taylor agreed to send copies of the invoices received from American Water Services to Mr. Linsen for his review.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:

The invoice in the amount of $1,219.98 sent to The Brandywine Conservancy for reviews and inspections relating to the installation of holding tanks remains unpaid. Chairman Murray said he would call Mr. Barnard, who represented the Conservancy in this matter, to see why this invoice has not been paid.

SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

Mr. Mezzanotte said he has no formal report for this meeting. He did note that this evening Mr. Spoehr gave him an executed Easement Agreement from St. Cornelius Church. The Sewer Authority will now need to execute the Agreement and have it recorded.

Chairman Murray said he assumes the Crozer-Chester excessive water use has to be addressed before the Kids First matter can be settled. It is necessary to determine if Crozer-Chester will have sufficient excess capacity to sell Kids First the 1 edu they need in order to connect. Mr. Mezzanotte has sent a letter to the attorney representing Crozer-Chester asking for a possible meeting to sort some of these things out.

ENGINEERS REPORT: