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The regular monthly meeting of the Upper Providence Township Sewer Authority was held on March 12, 2008 in the Township Building. It was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mr. Michael Byrne, in Mr. R. G. Donze’s absence.

 Mr. Michael Byrne
Mr. John Ciminera
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

Messrs. D. Decker and R. G. Donze were not present.

Others attending: Ms. K. Allen, 511 S. Feathering Lane

Ms. Allen asked where Upper Providence Township Sewer Authority currently stood in the process of getting sewer lines to the area north of the Route l bypass. Mr. Ciminera stated that he would discuss this with her following tonight’s meeting.

The minutes of the meeting of February 13, 2008 were reviewed.

MOTION: Mr. Donald D. Phillips moved to approve the minutes of the meeting of February 13, 2008 as presented. Seconded by Mr. John Ciminera.

Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-03-26)

 OPERATIONS MANAGER’S REPORT
There has been no change in the number of permits issued (148) for sewer connections on the SASSSE Project. On the WWASSE project, 180 permits and 177 grinder pumps have been issued. Three permits have yet to be completed.



Ninety-one connection permits have been approved, and 82 low-pressure and 10 gravity connections have been completed in the Gelbert Street/Farnum Road Sewer Extension Project. Twenty permits have yet to be completed.



Over the March 8 and 9th weekend, a wind/rain storm caused the interruption of electric service to five pump stations. This incident was reported to DEP. One station experienced a relatively small overflow of the wet well.



Mr. Russ McIntosh is working on an analysis of the Aqua contract proposal and the possible options. Recent information regarding Aqua’s position on the negotiations has been disappointing. The Authority will continue to seek a fair and completive arrangement with Aqua.



Kelly Engineers is currently addressing these issues: A new pump station maintenance contract (completed on January 8, 2008); a bid proposal for the new generator (bid has been awarded); a report to DEP regarding I&I (completed and submitted to DEP); and the need for a bid package to cover the four-year cleaning/root cutting maintenance program. Mr. Spielman noted that in conjunction with our I&I program, which included routine cleaning and root cutting, the number of emergency calls has greatly diminished. He feels this decrease is due to our program, and is recommending that Kelly and Close Engineers be authorized to prepare a bid package for the next four-year cycle of cleaning and root cutting in the Authority’s gravity system.



MOTION: Mr. David A. Whinfrey moved to authorize Kelly and Close Engineers to

prepare a bid package for the next four-year cycle of cleaning and root

cutting in our gravity system. Seconded by Mr. Donald D. Phillips. Motion

carried unanimously. (Motion 08-03-28)


REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

None.

MR. JAMES C. KELLY, KELLY and CLOSE ENGINEERS
The regular monthly meeting of CDCA was on March 11. Discussion on membership centered on modifications proposed by Nether Providence to the membership agreement, which had already been approved by eight of the nine existing member municipalities and the three new members. Everyone seemed to feel the proposed modifications were not substantive changes to the agreement, but the CDCA board was not inclined to approve them and then have to go back for approval of all municipalities with this new revised agreement. Of concern were time and the potential of one of the eleven municipalities who had signed not approving the proposed amendment to the supplemental agreement. The chairperson of Nether Providence said she would not approve the agreement without those modifications being a condition of approval.

Newtown, Edgmont and a number of CDCA Board members expressed frustration at the delay Nether Providence was causing over word changes to provisions about which everyone else was in agreement as to meaning and intent. Nether Providence was told that the new members had serious time issues; and if membership were delayed further, alternatives would have to be sought, as almost a year had passed since the first draft of this agreement was circulated. Though nothing was resolved, the representative from Swarthmore said if Nether Providence approved the agreement in its current form, he would move to approve the amendment to the supplemental agreement submitted by Nether Providence at the next CDCA meeting, and it was likely that the CDCA board would approve that motion. Then the amendment and modifications proposed by Nether Providence could be sent to all eleven municipalities for approval.

Today, Mr. Mike Sheridan proposed to the CDCA solicitor that representatives of CDCA meet with Nether Providence before the township meeting on March 13 and commit that CDCA board adopt a resolution to accept Nether Providence’s modifications to be the board’s official interpretation of the membership agreement in the event there is ever any disagreement as to the meaning of the relevant provisions as submitted by Nether Providence. As such, it would not require approval of all the municipalities since their unanimous approval is only required to accept new members into the authority. Since the resolution would not be about accepting new members, it would not have to be sent out for re-approval by all present member municipalities. In that way, Nether Providence would have the language modifications they are insisting on in the event that any of those provisions of the agreement were ever called into question. For the rest of the municipalities who have signed the agreement, it eliminates the time delay and the risk that re-circulating the membership agreement could result in a municipality changing its mind. At its meeting on March 13, Nether Providence could approve the membership agreement, conditioned on the CDCAboard’s adoption of the resolution. Mr. Kelly feels that CDCA would approve that type of resolution to the objections of Nether Providence. The CDCA solicitor felt it was a good solution but wanted to check with the board members and the CDCA by-laws.

Kelly and Close Engineers received a February 19 letter addressed to Mr. Spielman from Mr. Jesse Goldberg of PADEP, who commented on the November 26, 2007 report of UPTSA regarding inflow and infiltration. Mr. Kelly will coordinate a response with Mr. Spielman, but feels that the material submitted was a complete response to PADEP’s request for information as set forth in their August 28, 2007 letter. Mr. Goldberg is asking for a timeline for the adoption of ordinances at the township level. This would permit agents of the Township to inspect buildings. His letter also indicates concern that laterals are the main contributing factors to I&I into the system.


As directed by the Sewer Authority, Mr. Kelly has coordinated with the Operations Manager and an agent from Aqua to collect flow meter data and prepare a report regarding the current status of inflow and infiltration into the UPTSA system. He is recommending that the report be presented at a meeting of the Engineering Committee.

His research and work thus far has revealed the following notable points: The Wooded Way low pressure district is effectively free from the extraneous inflow; the remediation work in the areas of the system from 2002 to 2006 has resulted in reduced I&I into the systems that flow through Winter Street, Braves Trail and Ridge Road flow meters; and the Media Borough pump stations (Lemon and Lincoln Streets) receive flow from UPTSA and the Borough. During rain events, the percentages of flow passing through both pump stations remain relatively consistent (inflow from Media and UPTSA is equally problematic). The March 2007 Chapter 94 report from Aqua states that the Lemon and Lincoln Street pump stations have no capacity issues now or proposed for the future. The pump station in Upper Providence most affected by I&I is Braves Trail. Although the earlier peaks prior to remediation work have decreased, there is still an amount of flow increase to be of concern. Mr. Troilo will coordinate the date and time for a meeting of the Engineering Committee to hear Mr. Kelly’s presentation.

Mr. Kelly referred to the bid tabulation of the pump station upgrade for the mobile diesel generator. The low bidder was Couzins, Inc. with a bid price of $18,187.20. He is recommending acceptance of the proposal from Couzins, Inc., subject to review of the documents by the Solicitor and Operations Manager.

MOTION: Mr. John Ciminera moved to accept the proposal from Couzins, Inc. for the pump station upgrade for the mobile diesel generator at a bid price of $18,187.20, subject to review of the documents by the Solicitor and Operations Manager. Seconded by Mr. Donald D. Phillips. Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-03-29)

No payment request has been received for the Rose Tree Park comfort station project this month.

Regarding the Ridley and Crum Creek area sewer expansions, Mr. Kelly has received two proposals (Pickering, Corts and Summerson, Inc., and Wilkinson and AssociatInc.) for the survey work necessary for the sanitary sewer extension project north of the bypass. He is asking for authorization to proceed with the work on site improvement using Pickering, Corts and Summerson, Inc. as the surveyor at a cost not to exceed $265,000.00. There was a discussion regarding the current budget.

MOTION: Mr. David A. Whinfrey moved to authorize Pickering, Corts and Summerson, Inc. to proceed with the survey work necessary for the sanitary sewer extension project north of the bypass at a cost not to exceed $265,000.00. Seconded by Mr. Frank Troilo. Motion carried unanimously. (MOTION 08-03-30)

 MR. ROBERT L. PINTO, SOLICITOR
Mr. Pinto met with Messrs. Hamaday and Pappano last week to talk about connections in the Gelbert Street/Farnum Road project. They discussed how many notices there were, how many residents had been heard from, and how to proceed. Mr. Pappano and Mr. Hamaday had discussed this also with township committee members and council members. They will get back to Mr. Pinto, who asked that they do so in writing. There has been a range of responses. There have been people on the list of twenty-two who have paid their tapping fees and have communicated with the Authority while others have not responded at all. Mr. Pinto is particularly interested in those who have not paid a tapping fee and those who have not responded.

Mr. Pinto has heard from the resident who is questioning why it was his responsibility to pay for the cost of his low-pressure pump when the other residents on Wooded Way were not responsible for the cost of theirs. Messrs. Kelly, Matson, and Spielman will meet to discuss a future policy.

Mr. Golden responded to a call of power failure at the Media station. He notified PECO and dewatered the wet well until power was restored.
No cause was found for a call of backup pump run at the Valley View pump station. While there, the technician tightened all electrical connections in the control panel. Later in the month, a new photo cell and new hinges were installed.

Following a call of power failure at Braves Trail, PECO was notified and the generator was towed to the station. After power was restored, it was determined that a power surge to the station had shorted the control relays and dialer. On the following day, a new alternator and two new electrode relays were installed, and the operation of the control system was checked. The generator was then towed back to Bordondale. Two days later, the shorted dialer was removed, a program was installed, and the new dialer was tested. A new surge protector was also installed.

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

MOTION: Mr. David A. Whinfrey moved to adjourn the meeting of March 12, 2008.

Seconded by Mr. John Ciminera. Motion carried unanimously.

(MOTION 08-03-31)

The meeting ended at 8:46 p.m.

Mrs. Stella B. Thompson

Approved ______________________