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 SEWER AUTHORITY
UPPER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP
JUNE 13, 2007
The regular monthly meeting of the Upper Providence Township Sewer Authority was held on June 13, 2007, in the Township Building. It was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairman Robert G. Donze.
 

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

Others attending: Mr. Ed Cashman

None.

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.

With respect to the Gelbert Street/Farnum Road Sewer Extension Project, 87 connection permits have been approved and 76 low-pressure and 10 gravity connections have been completed.

With regard to the Rose Tree Park project, the transformer for the pump station has been delivered and installed. The interruption to the park electrical service to energize the transformer was completed on May 29. The contractor is expected to complete the station work and start up the station in the next couple of weeks. After the station start-up, the existing buildings in the Park will be transferred from their on-site systems to the new sewer system. This project should be completed in the next three to four weeks. Verizon has yet to provide phone service for our station auto dialer. Kelly Engineers has been following this aspect of the work.

Mr. Spielman has completed the inspection and sealing of control box conduits on 246 grinder pump installations on the SASSSE and WWASSE systems. Fifty-two of these sites are missing control box locks, which should be replaced. He is pursuing the least cost alternative. The manufacturer’s replacement cost is $8.87 per lock.

He noted that he has learned a number of things during this process.

Mr. Spielman reported that there is a stock of only one size grinder pump left. Because of the amount of time which has passed since the Gelbert Street/Farnum Road project was completed, the Authority might have to pay substantially more for the pumps needed by the individuals who have not yet connected. He feels the customer should be responsible for the increased cost. Mr. Donze suggested alerting those residents who have not yet connected that there is the possibility of additional pump costs, that increases as time goes on, which may be passed onto them. Mr. Spielman will draft a letter, for Mr. Pinto’s review, in this regard.

MOTION: Mr. John Ciminera moved that, if there is an additional cost for a grinder pump as a result of the customer’s being out of time-compliance,
the difference in cost is to be borne by the customer. Seconded by Mr. Michael Byrne. Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 07-06-52)

Mr. Spielman has received additional information from Mr. Roth of Aqua regarding rate structure; however, he has not been able to review it and schedule a meeting with him. Mr. Kelly’s proposal at last month’s Authority meeting substantially changes the parameters of his negotiations with Aqua. The issues raised by his preliminary proposal to divert Winter Street flow to CDCA include a substantial reduction in additional capacity needed at the Media Plant and current contractual issues regarding such a diversion. Since such issues are critical to the negotiation of a new contract, Mr. Spielman feels we need to solidify our plans. Mr. Kelly spoke about short and long-term goals. He is leaning towards low-pressure for the Crum Creek watershed and gravity for the Ridley Creek watershed. He would like the Authority to authorize Mr. Spielman to put some time into looking at the preliminary layout, since Kelly Engineers is starting their initial phases of design. A lengthy discussion followed.

Mr. Spielman referred to the on-going idea of purchasing a generator, which the Authority would need at its next new station. He has asked Middletown Township to check its records for specifications for the Bortondale generator.

On June 10, Mr. Spielman was summoned to Park Place by the Upper Providence police. Mr. DiDominico, President of Park Place Homeowners’ Association, had notified police that they had a sewer backup that they felt was caused by the excess flow from Rose Tree Park. He reported to the site, discussed the situation with Mr. DiDominico and others and determined that there was a blockage in the gravity system. It was apparent that the system was not constructed as per the Spano plans. He suggested that they start pulling manhole lids in the Villages of Rose Tree to find the blockage. The first one they inspected contained a solid grease plug in the line which connected the Park Place system to the Villages of Rose Tree system. The blockage was cleared and normal flow was restored.

MOTION: Mr. David A. Whinfrey moved to accept the Project Manager’s report as presented. Seconded by Mr. Frank Troilo. Motion carried
unanimously. (MOTION 07-06-53)

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
None.
 

MR. JAMES C. KELLY, KELLY ENGINEERS
Kelly Engineers has completed the first draft of the Act 537 Plan Update for theentire Township in accordance with PADEP requirements for UPT to become a member of CDCA. The update includes the areas of the Township to be serviced by public sewer; the regions to be diverted to CDCA and those scheduled for treatment at the Aqua Wastewater Treatment Plant; a timetable for flows to be routed to CDCA and flows to be routed to Aqua; layouts of the hybrid, gravity, and low-pressure systems to be used in the system; and engineering estimates for the proposed construction. Mr. Kelly then presented and reviewed a map on which he had shaded in the areas where sewer expansion will take place, and answered questions from the Board regarding this.

Mr. Kelly has met with Solicitors, Messrs. Pinto and Pappano, to discuss the terms of the agreement for Upper Providence to become a member in CDCA. As a result of that meeting, it was determined that the Sewer Authority must enter into an agreement with the Township to be responsible for the collection, conveyance, monitoring and reporting, and other requirements of the CDCA agreement. Following a discussion, Mr. Kelly stated that he felt there was no need for action by the Board at this meeting. He strongly encouraged the Township to designate a representative who could attend CDCA meetings and, ultimately, report to the Authority. Additional coordination with the Solicitors of all affected existing member municipalities and new member municipalities will be necessary to finalize the terms of the agreement.

With regard to the Rose Tree Park comfort station, payment request Number 7 ($49,771.45) has been received. Because of the late receipt of this request, there has been no coordination with the Project Manager as to whether he deems this payment to be acceptable for work performed to date.

MOTION: Mr. Michael Byrne moved to accept the Engineer’s Report as presented.  Seconded by Mr. Donald D. Phillips. Motion carried unanimously.

(MOTION 07-06-54)
 

MR. ROBERT L. PINTO, SOLICITOR
Mr. Pinto referred to the breakdown by Mr. Russ McIntosh of the calculation of the Authority’s share of the principal balance of the bonds as of June 1, 2007. That

amount is $535,680.00. Two quarterly bills from Aqua were just received, which Mr. McIntosh has suggested we pay. He then calculated how much these payments reduce the balance of principal, what the interest would be on the bonds for that period of time and how much we are actually paying in interest. His final figure was $515,804.80. Mr. Pinto has prepared a resolution which authorizes payment of the Authority portion of defeased bonds. Following the resolution’s approval by the Board, Mr. Pinto will let Mr. McIntosh know what the Authority is doing. He will also prepare a cover letter to Aqua for the two quarterly payments with our calculations and explaining what we are paying and why we are paying it. He will mail it on June 28, 2007. The actual figure will be $515,804.80.

MOTION: Mr. David A. Whinfrey moved to accept the resolution to discharge the
Authority’s outstanding debt with respect to the 1992 Media bond issue
by a cash payment(s) not to exceed $535,680.00 plus accrued interest
from January 1, 2007 through the date the debt is discharged and
adjusted for any payments of principal and interest billed and paid as
part of the quarterly billing to the Authority for operations and
maintenance expenses by Aqua Pennsylvania. Seconded by Mr. John
Ciminera. Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 07-06-55)

Mr. Pinto met with Messrs. Kelly and Pappano to go over the CDCA contract.

There was a discussion with regard to the Gelbert Street/Farnum Road residents who have not tied in and the issue of enforcement of the Township’s ordinance. Mr. Kelly noted that the Authority does not have the ability to enforce the ordinance; only the Township can do that. Mr. Pinto noted that the Township might be able to authorize the Authority to act on its behalf to enforce the ordinance. He will check into our options for a course of action on this. The properties are already liened.

 PUMPING STATION ACTIVITY REPORT
:In response to a call of power failure at the Media Station pump station, Mr. Golden notified PECO, dewatered the station and monitored it until power was restored.

He also responded to a call of backup pump run and high wet well level at the Bortondale pump station, where he shut down the station after finding a broken pipe, dewatered the wet well and manholes, disassembled the force main, and installed a temporary repair clamp. The next two days, he installed new supports on the force main, cleaned the priming system, and installed a new check valve.

Mr. Golden started up a peroxide dosing system for odor control at Rose Tree Estates. He cleaned the wet well at Valley View pump station, and, finding pump #2 inoperative, removed it.

Respectfully submitted,


Mrs. Stella B. Thompson
Approved _________________________