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SEWER AUTHORITY
  UPPER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP
  UPPER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP
JANUARY 9, 2008

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Upper Providence Township Sewer Authority was held on January 9, 2008 in the Township Building. It was called to order at 7:35 p.m. by Chairman Robert G. Donze.

THOSE ATTENDING

 Mr. Michael Byrne
Mr. John Ciminera
Mr. David Decker
Mr. Robert G. Donze
Mrs. Patricia Hall, Office Manager
Mr. James C. Kelly, Engineer
Mr. Donald D. Phillips
Mr. Robert L. Pinto, Solicitor
Mr. Richard T. Spielman, Operations Manager
Mr. Frank Troilo
Mr. David A. Whinfrey

Others attending: Ms. Lynne Dewees, 311 Timber Jump Lane
Mr. Jay Jacobs, 12 Dora Drive
Mr. Kevin Kellogg, 15 Down Street
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

REORGANIZATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 2008

Mr. Donze asked for the appointment of a temporary Chairman for the purpose of receiving nominations for the offices of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary.

MOTION: Mr. David Decker moved to appoint Mr. Frank Troilo as temporary
Chairman. Seconded by Mr. Michael Byrne. Motion carried
unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-01)

Mr. Troilo asked for individual nominations or a slate of nominations for the four offices.

MOTION: Mr. David Decker moved to nominate Mr. Robert G. Donze for
Chairman; Mr. Michael Byrne for Vice-Chairman; Mr. John Ciminera
for Treasurer; and Mr. David A. Whinfrey for Secretary. Seconded by
Mr. David A. Whinfrey. Motion carried unanimously.
(MOTION 08-01-02)

MOTION: Mr. Robert G. Donze moved to close the nominations and approve the
slate of officers as presented. Seconded by Mr. Michael Byrne.
Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-03)

Mr. Troilo passed the leadership of the meeting back to the newly-elected Chairman, Mr. Donze.

APPOINTMENT OF CONSULTANTS

MOTION: Mr. Robert G. Donze moved to approve the appointment of Mr. James C.
Kelly as Engineer to the Sewer Authority for the year 2008. Seconded by
Mr. David A. Whinfrey. Motion carried unanimously.
(MOTION 08-01-04)

MOTION: Mr. Robert G. Donze moved to approve the appointment of Mr. Robert
L. Pinto as Solicitor to the Sewer Authority for the year 2008. Seconded
by Mr. Michael Byrne. Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-05)

MOTION: Mr. Robert G. Donze moved to renew the maintenance contract with
Upper Providence Township for the year 2008. Seconded by Mr.
Michael Byrne. Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-06)

NOMINATION OF COMMITTEES

MOTION: Mr. Robert G. Donze moved to approve the following committees:
Engineering Committee: Mr. David Decker with Mr. Frank Troilo as
Chairman; Finance Committee: Mr. Donald D. Phillips with Mr. John
Ciminera as Chairman; Personnel and Administration: Mr. David A.
Whinfrey with Mr. Michael Byrne as Chairman. Seconded by Mr. Michael
Byrne. Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-07)

PUBLIC COMMENT

None

MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting of December 12, 2007 were reviewed.

MOTION: Mr. David A. Whinfrey moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of
December 12, 2007 as presented. Seconded by Mr. David Decker.
Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-08)

INCOME AND EXPENSES
The voucher list for January 9, 2008 was reviewed.

MOTION: Mr. John Ciminera moved to approve the voucher list of January 9, 2008.
as presented. Seconded by Mr. Michael Byrne. Motion carried
unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-09)
REPORTS OF OFFICERS - None


PROJECT MANAGER’S REPORT
There has been no change in the number of permits issued (148) for sewer connections on the SASSSE Project and no change in the number of permits and grinder pumps (178) for the WWASSE Project.

Eighty-nine connection permits have been approved, and 79 low-pressure and 10 gravity connections have been completed in the Gelbert Street/Farnum Road Sewer Extension Project.

The Rose Tree Park project is essentially completed. The phone system is reactivated and the auto dialer is connected and should be operational within a week. Mr. Spielman is waiting for some paperwork from the contractor, such as as-built drawings and equipment manuals, and is continuing to work with N. Abbonizio to finalize this work. The final construction cost is $122,370.00 under the contract total and 11.5% under the bid total. A retainage of $72,404.04 is still being held.

The contractor has been notified to schedule rehab and repair of two manholes on Bobbin Mill Road. It is expected that this work will be completed this month.

Mr. Spielman has received two letters from Mr. Alan Roth of Aqua Wastewater, one regarding future capacity in the Ridley Creek watershed and the other regarding Mr. Spielman’s request to consider a new bulk rate for treatment.

In the letter regarding Winter Street, flow diversion, Mr. Roth stated that he would like to finalize negotiations so that all current and proposed flow from Upper Providence is conveyed to the Media system should the financial arrangements prove to be accommodating in order for this to occur.

With regard to the letter on bulk rates, Mr. Spielman felt that Aqua would entertain a bulk rate under certain terms and also still entertain negotiation of a new contract. The bulk rate would be under PUC jurisdiction while the separate contract would not. Mr. Spielman explained the advantages of one versus the other. He suggested that we contact Mr. Russ McIntosh for his opinion and also form a small group to meet with



Aqua to work out the details. Aqua’s representatives would be Mr. Roth, Mr. Donatoni and one of their attorneys. Mr. Spielman is suggesting a similar approach for the
Authority, with the group composed of Mr. Pinto, a member of the Sewer Authority, and Mr. McIntosh. Upon Mr. Ciminera’s suggestion, it was agreed to have Mr. Spielman as a member of the group instead of an Authority board member, who could be included at a later time.

Mr. Donze referred to Aqua’s letter concerning future capacity in the Ridley Creek watershed and asked the Authority to consider authorizing Kelly and Close Engineers to begin designing a program for the entire Ridley Creek watershed. Following a discussion, the Board agreed to authorize Mr. Kelly to start designing a system for the Ridley Creek watershed.

Kelly Engineers is currently addressing the following issues: A new pump station maintenance contract, which was completed on January 8, 2008; a bid proposal for the new generator (Mr. Tim Kelly is working on this); and a report to DEP regarding I&I which has been prepared subject to DEP review.

REPORT OF COMMITTEES
The Engineering Committee met earlier tonight, for the most part, to consider the I&I issue. Mr. Troilo noted that this was the result of a request from DEP that the Authority address I&I, particularly infiltration from private sources in the system. Messrs. Kelly and Matson were in attendance, and Mr. Matson spoke about the report submitted to DEP on November 26, 2007. The purpose of his work was to determine what needs to be done presently and in the future to address the I&I issue. One concern is to what extent the Authority would deal with invasion of privacy issues. The Committee agreed to have Mr. Kelly examine existing data, gather additional information, and make some further recommendations. Mr. Donze referred to our on-going I&I program and mentioned a possible follow-up study to determine how effective that program was.

MOTION: Mr. Frank Troilo moved to authorize Kelly and Close Engineers to
continue their investigation and to do further evaluation in terms of how to
address the I&I issue. Seconded by Mr. John Ciminera. Motion carried
unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-10)

Mr. Byrne referred to Mr. Spielman’s January 8 letter to Mr. Whinfrey regarding a change of title for himself (from Project Manager to Field Operations Manager) and for Mrs. Hall (from Secretary to Office Manager). There was a discussion about Mr. Spielman’s proposed title during which it was agreed that “Operations Manager” more fully described the scope of his work.


MOTION: Mr. Byrne moved to authorize the change of Mr. R. T. Spielman’s title
from Project Manager to Operations Manager and Mrs. P. Hall’s title from
Secretary to Office Manager. Seconded by Mr. David A. Whinfrey. Motion
carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-11)

REPORTS OF CONSULTANTS

MR. JAMES C. KELLY, KELLY and CLOSE ENGINEERS
Mr. Pinto spoke with Mr. McIntosh and asked him to look into our tapping fee and the possibility of increasing it. He will get back to him on this. He also spoke with Mr. D. Donatoni who seemed enthusiastic about the concept of a bulk rate and suggested having a small meeting when the Authority knew what its plans were.

Mr. Pinto received two more responses with regard to the November 26, 2007 “connection” letters. The responses have been polite and basically the same type—they have paid their tapping fees and are paying their sewer rents but need some time to get the money together to make the connections. He will set up a meeting with Messrs. Hamaday and Cashman to go over the responses with them.

With regard to Mr. DiDomenico’s project and a blanket easement contract, which was sent to Mr. Pinto and Mr. Kelly about a month ago, there has been a revision to it about which Mr. Pinto has spoken with Mr. Petrosa. With that one change, he is suggesting that the Board approve this blanket easement agreement, subject to review by the Engineer and Solicitor.

MOTION: Mr. Donald D. Phillips moved to approve the blanket easement agreement,
subject to review by the Engineer and Solicitor. Seconded by Mr. Michael
Byrne. Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-14)

 MR. ROBERT L. PINTO, SOLICITOR
Mr. Pinto referred to a situation in which a resident of Wooded Way built his house after the sewer project was completed, and is now wondering why he is responsible for the pump and lateral whereas the other Wooded Way residents were not. Mr. Spielman, having spoken with the homeowner, questioned the practicality of this himself and noted that it is an administrative problem. Messrs. Pinto, Spielman, and Kelly will consider the situation.


MOTION: Mr. David A. Whinfrey moved to accept the Solicitor’s report as
presented. Seconded by Mr. Michael Byrne. Motion carried
unanimously. (MOTION 08-01-15)

MISCELLANEOUS
Mr. Byrne thanked Mr. Phillips for his many years of service as Vice-Chairman.

Mr. Golden responded to lag alarm pump run at the Valley View pumping station and, after monitoring operations, could find no cause. In response to a call of power failure at the Media Station, he notified PECO and monitored operations until power was restored. The next day, during routine maintenance, he installed a new check valve after finding side #1 not functioning.

There were no incidents at any of the other pumping stations.

PUMPING STATION ACTIVITY REPORT

MOTION: Mr. John Ciminera moved to adjourn the meeting of January 9, 2008.
Seconded by Mr. Michael Byrne. Motion carried unanimously.
(MOTION 08-01-16)

The meeting ended at 8:45 p.m.

Mrs. Stella B. Thompson

Approved ______________________

DEPARTMENTS
Administration
Township Council / Polling Places
Code Enforcement
Police Department
Highway Department
Rose Tree Fire Company
Solicitor/Special Counsels
Utilities
Sewer Authority
Planning Commission
Zoning Hearing Board
Recreation Board
Public Works/2008 Road Program
Environmental Commission
Ethics Commission
 
 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
 

 


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