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 SEWER AUTHORITY
UPPER PROVIDENCE TOWNSHIP
MAY 9, 2007 & May 23, 2007(at page bottom)

The regular monthly meeting of the Upper Providence Township Sewer Authority was held on May 9, 2007, in the Township Building. It was called to order at 7:32 p.m. by Chairman Robert G. Donze. Since a quorum was not present, the meeting consisted of general discussion on the following items.
 

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

Others attending: Mr. John Cushman

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.

During the storm of April 16, there were power interruptions to six of our eight pumping stations, resulting in an overflow at Braves Trail and Valley View Stations. Mr. Spielman submitted a report to DEP concerning this.

Construction of the sewer system in Rose Tree Park is nearly complete except for the installation of the pump station transformer and the transfer of existing buildings from their on-site system to the new sewer system. The transformer is expected to be delivered in the next two weeks.

Mr. Spielman has begun to inspect the original grinder pump installations for the SASSSE and WWASSE projects. This inspection includes sealing conduits entering the pump control box, installing UPTSA ownership stickers, and inspecting pump vents, valve boxes, and service phone number stickers. The target date for completion of this project is June 1, 2007.

The final year in the four-year I&I program is completed. This work included the televising and sealing of selected mains, and the cleaning/root cutting of Winter Street District and annual hot spots.

Mr. Spielman has received a May 7 letter from Mr. Alan Roth which is an operational framework for a new agreement between Aqua and UPTSA. While many of the numbers presented need to be refined/negotiated, Mr. Spielman believes we have reached a basis for a simplified agreement which will benefit both parties. He is suggesting one more meeting with Mr. Roth to work on the numbers following an analysis of this format as it relates to our current agreement. It would then be appropriate to ask Mr. Russ McIntosh to review and comment on the new agreement framework and cost levels. A discussion followed.

In discussions with Mr. Scott Netwall of Aqua, it appears that PADEP is looking more closely at treatment plant flows during heavy rain events. It seems highly likely that more emphasis will be placed on reducing the impact of major rain events on plant flow. Such an effort would surely focus on conveyance system infiltration or equalization storage, or both. The Sewer Authority would be substantially impacted by both. Mr. Spielman stated that we are taking reasonable steps to tighten our mains up, but we have some over which we have no control. He will work with Mrs. Hall in getting the Engineering Committee together to look at possible ways to minimize the impact on customers and yet take a positive approach to this. He has prepared an outline of a suggested approach to address the problem of infiltration through privately–owned sewer service pipes.

The I&I crew discovered a developing sinkhole caused by a broken main on Roberts Road off of Kirk Lane. A plumber was called in to replace the broken main section and fill the hole. This is a good example where our on-going efforts to maintain the system avoided what would have developed into a significantly larger problem.


REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
None.
 

MR. JAMES C. KELLY, KELLY ENGINEERS
Kelly Engineers is preparing the Act 537 Plan Update for the entire Township in accordance with PADEP requirements for Upper Providence Township to become a member of CDCA. Upon gaining membership, it is proposed that the effluent from the Winter Street Pump Station be diverted into the Farnum Road/CDCA system. This will provide capacity for extending sewers in the Ridley Creek Watershed as depicted on their plans, which were provided.

Service to this area will be provided by a proposed pump station in the area of Louis Scott Park on Ridley Creek Road, as has been discussed previously, due to the limited capacity of the Media Lemon Street Pump Station. The plan for the Ridley Creek area is tentative and is subject to change, based on topographic conditions.

Kelly Engineers has coordinated with Toll Brothers’ engineering department to review the legal descriptions necessary for the connection of Dr. Soricelli to the sanitary sewer lines in the Rose Tree Estates. Copies of the final descriptions have been forwarded by Toll Brothers to the Authority Solicitor for review prior to recording.


With regard to the Rose Tree Park comfort station, payment request Number 6 has been received in the amount of $309,260.73, the total value of the work completed for this period. Mr. Kelly is recommending that the Board approve this payment.

Since this requires a motion and a quorum was not present, it was agreed to continue the meeting. It was set up for May 23, 2007 at 8:30 in the Township building. In the meantime, the bill could still be sent to the County.

Mr. Kelly referred to the subject of the emergency generator, and stated that Newtown Township has decided not to sell theirs. He will, therefore, make up specifications for the purchase of a new generator.

MR. ROBERT L. PINTO, SOLICITOR
Mr. Pinto is waiting for Mr. Papano to prepare a letter to those property owners in the Gelbert Street/Farnum Road area who had not tied in.
 

 PUMPING STATION ACTIVITY REPORT
Mr. Golden responded to calls of back-up pump runs and high wet well levels on April 15 at the Braves Trail, Valley View, and Bortondale pump stations, and found high flows due to severe infiltration during a rain event. He monitored all stations until the flows subsided.

On April 16, he responded to calls of power failures at Braves Trail, Winter Street, Valley View, Bortondale, and Rose Tree Estates Upper and Lower. He towed the generator from Bortondale to Braves Trail and notified PECO. Using vacuum trucks, he dewatered the wet wells and monitored the stations until power was restored. On April 17, he towed the generator back to Bortondale, changed the fuel filters, and tested the generator.

On April 26, he responded to a call of back-up pump run at Valley View and cleaned the control floats. The next day, during routine maintenance, he found the sump pumps inoperable, found a bad float, and installed a new one.

There were no incidents at the Letitia Lane or Media Station pumping stations.

The meeting ended at 8:55 p.m. It will be continued on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, at 8:30 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,


Mrs. Stella B. Thompson
Approved _________________________