WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY
7901 JONESTOWN ROAD, HARRISBURG, PA
17112
TUESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2001, 7 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING
Chairman Young called the regular meeting of August 21, 2001 to order at 7:03 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Henry H. Young, Chairman
David W. Wingeard, Vice Chairman
Gloria J. Zimmerman, Treasurer
Kenneth W. Deaven, Secretary
Stephen L. Millard
Donald Steinmeier, 11 North Fairville Avenue. Mr. Steinmeier inquired as to the status of the matter regarding in-home businesses, namely his wife’s beauty salon. Mr. Wingeard said he reviewed the Township’s Zoning Ordinance relative to home occupations and that there were five or six issues in the Ordinance that dealt with increased sewer flows. In addition, there was verbiage in the Zoning Ordinance relative to obtaining a letter from the SEO in order to operate a home occupation. Mr. Wingeard suggested that the Township should probably amend its Ordinance to include obtaining a letter from the Sewer Authority for those homeowners connected to public sewer wanting to engage in home occupations. Mr. Wingeard added that the Sewer Authority also had to address its resolutions; therefore, at the present time, the in-home beauty salons would not be required to pay additional tapping or monthly fees.
Mr. Steinmeier said that in some instances someone having an in-home beauty salon would use less water than a household that may have four or five children. He also said that he believed that if the Authority were going to pursue in-home businesses that something should be placed in the Township Newsletter and/or a public meeting should be held to allow citizens to voice their opinions.
Rick Sullivan, 7564 Morningstar Avenue. Mr. Sullivan voiced concern about statements made by Mr. Young at the July 17, 2001 meeting regarding his wife’s in-home beauty salon. He said that the shop had been in existence for 16 years and that he had taken all the steps necessary in order to comply with the Township rules and regulations in effect at that time. Mr. Young said that his statements at the July 17, 2001 meeting referred to resolutions established by a former Authority and that the present Authority had inherited some laws that should be reviewed and amended.
Regular Meeting, July 17, 2001. Mr. Milliard said he was not too happy with the wording of the motion on page 5 to purchase the screen facility. A brief discussion ensued during which Mr. Young pointed out that the motion did contain the word “approximately.” It was agreed that the motion should be amended to read: “Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Deaven, to design and bid for a screen facility not to exceed $220,000.”
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Deaven, to approve the Minutes of July 17, 2001 as amended. The motion was approved 4-0, with Mr. Wingeard abstaining as he was not present at the meeting.
Special Joint Meeting, July 24, 2001. Mr. Millard said that at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on August 20, 2001, the supervisors had voted to amend the second motion on page 7 to the amount to be paid by the homeowners on Fox Mill Road. It had been agreed that the motion should read: “Mr. Wingeard moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, that the Authority pay the balance of the project above and beyond the $16,000 paid by the Township and the $7,800 ($2,600 tapping/connection fee per household) to be paid by the residents. The motion was unanimously approved.”
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to approve the Minutes as amended. The motion was unanimously approved.
Operating Expenses. Mr. Young said that the operating expenses for August totaled $76,805.39. Mr. Millard raised a question as to why the legal bills for Nauman, et al could not be sent to the insurance company directly. Mr. Young said that the law firm billed the Authority, that the Authority paid the bill, and then submitted the invoices to the insurance company for reimbursement. Mrs. Martin added that St. Paul Insurance Company had requested that the process be handled in that manner.
Mrs.
Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Wingeard, to approve the operating
expenses. The motion was approved 4-1,
with Mr. Millard voting nay.
Fox Mill Road. Mr. Millard said that at the July 17, 2001 meeting there was some discussion as to whether or not Fox Mill Road was in the immediate needs area. Mr. Millard said that a resolution for the Act 537 plan, which was approved on January 19, 1992, stated that the area south of Route 81 had been declared an immediate needs area but he also pointed out that it was not in the final version of the 537 plan that was approved nor was it shown on the map. Mr. Wingeard said he made his comments based on the map.
Mr. Millard also asked what the expectations should be of the Board of Supervisors or the Authority relative to the Ritzie Village area, which is beyond the five-year needs area. Mrs. Zimmerman said she believed that it was up to the Township to direct that project. A brief discussion ensued during which Mr. Wingeard said that it was his understanding that the Township’s SEO was in charge of the on-lot septic system ordinance and that it would be the Township’s responsibility to look into the pumping history of the properties in that area in order
to determine if there was a problem.
Resolution 2001-A-3. Mr. Young said that Resolution 2001-A-3 would increase the tapping fees to $2,940 for the capacity component and $113 to $115 for the collection component. Mr. Wingeard asked if the figure of $2,940 included the amount for the lime silo and the screen facility. Ms. Tupper said that was the case. Mr. Wingeard then asked that if bids for either or both projects were rejected would those figures have to be changed. Ms. Tupper responded saying that would be the case, if the projects were not done.
Mr. Millard asked if it would be prudent to wait to do the lime silo and screen facility. Mr. Young said that both projects were needed and that the Authority had the capital in hand to do the projects. He said the projects would have been completed as part of the initial project if there had been sufficient funds to do so. Mr. Millard asked if the cost of the proposed projects could be included as part of the tapping fee. Mr. Wingeard said, and Ms. Tupper agreed, that Act 203 did allow for proposed projects to be considered in the formula when increasing tapping fees.
Mr. Millard moved, seconded by Mr. Wingeard, to adopt Resolution 2001-A-3. The motion was unanimously approved.
Easement for Installation of Water Line at Treatment Plant. Mr. Deaven moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to approve the Easement Agreement dated August 6, 2001 by the West Hanover Township Board of Supervisors and the West Hanover Township Water and Sewer Authority for the purpose of installing public water at the wastewater treatment plant. The motion was unanimously approved.
Revocation of 1995 Agreement for Pump Station “T” (Clover Lane). Mr. Young said that Mr. Yingst and Mr. Houck paid $55,000 to upgrade the pump station at Clover Lane. Mr. Young said that Section 8 of the agreement stated that the agreement was null and void if it was not approved by Pennvest and DEP. Mr. Young said that the agreement was similar to another one that had been made with West Hanover Associates and said Mr. Long’s legal opinion relative to that agreement covered the Clover Lane agreement as well.
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to approve the revocation of the agreement. The motion was unanimously approved.
Intermunicipal Agreement with Lower Paxton Township. Mrs. Zimmerman said that the Township Manager was in the process of securing a date for the West Hanover Board of Supervisors and Authority to meet with the Board of Supervisors and Authority of Lower Paxton Township. She said she didn’t believe that all members had to attend and suggested that two from each group would probably be sufficient. She said that Mr. Yost had reviewed the proposed agreement and had some questions that needed to be clarified. She said she would advise the Authority of the date when it had been set.
Easement for PA American Water Company. Mr. Young said that PA American Water Company had requested an easement across Authority property to lay the water lines on Jonestown Road.
Mr. Wingeard moved, seconded by Mrs. Zimmerman, to approve the easement. The motion was unanimously approved.
Vehicle for Authority. Mr. Young said that he was requesting approval to take a look into purchasing another vehicle to replace the brown pick-up truck purchased from the Township. He said the Authority would look at purchasing through the Piggyback Program.
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Deaven, to authorize Authority staff to check into the purchase of a new vehicle. The motion was unanimously approved.
Donald Steinmeier, 11 North Fairville Avenue. Mr. Steinmeier asked why the solicitor was not present at the meeting and added that that was one of the problems he had with retainers. Mr. Young said that Mr. Long’s services were utilized throughout each month.
Mr. Young said that when he was first appointed to the Authority, the legal fees were $45,000-$55,000 annually and that now the legal fees were $15,000 annually.
Mark Salisbury, Wastewater Treatment Superintendent. Mr. Salisbury submitted a written report (a copy of which is attached to the Minutes). Mr. Young said that there were a total of 1,531 EDUS in the system, 994 residential and 537 commercial. Nine tapping fees were collected in July 2001 and that the year to date total collected was $321,722.50.
Karen Tupper, Engineer. Mr. Wingeard asked if everything would be ready to go by October for Fox Mill Road. Ms. Tupper responded saying that it would be necessary to have an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved and that the approved plan would then go to DEP for approval of the permit for encroachment for going under the stream. She said that all the plans and specifications would be ready for advertising when all approvals were obtained.
Mr. Wingeard asked about the zinc levels at Speedco. Ms. Tupper said that there was nothing on the discharge permit. Mr. Wingeard asked if there was anything the Authority could do with regard to regulating the zinc levels. Ms. Tupper said that currently there was not enough data and that she had suggested to Mr. Salisbury that the zinc levels be monitored.
Mr. Wingeard also asked about the sewer line that was going to be extended across Route 22 to the property owned by Mr. Vartan and whether or not that would affect other businesses in the area. Mr. Salisbury responded that it could affect some of the businesses.
Robert Long, Solicitor. Mr. Long was not present at the meeting.
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Deaven, to adjourn the meeting. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.
Gail A. Martin
Recording Secretary