WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
7901 JONESTOWN ROAD, HARRISBURG, PA
17112
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2001, 7 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING
Chairman Young called the regular meeting of December 18, 2001 to order at 7 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Henry H. Young, Chairman
David W. Wingeard, Vice Chairman
Kenneth S. Deaven, Secretary
Gloria J. Zimmerman, Treasurer
Stephen L. Millard
Bob Jones, 7894 Manor Drive. Mr. Jones said that it was his understanding that later in the meeting the Authority would be considering a resolution to lower the monthly sewer rates for residential owners only. He said that he believed that by lowering only the residential rates, the Authority would be sending a negative message to the business owners in the Township. Mr. Jones said that he wanted to go on record as opposing a two-rate structure of billing for sewer in West Hanover Township.
Mr. Young said there were three reasons for considering a rate reduction: (1) the $5 was a miniscule amount; (2) the business owners could write off sewer charges as part of the expenses of doing business; and (3) a majority of neighboring communities, including Lower Paxton, Susquehanna, Lower Swatara, and Hampden Townships, had a two tier system—one for businesses and one for residences. Further, Mr. Young pointed out that when the Authority reduced rates by $10 per month for 2001 no business owners thanked the Authority for helping them out.
David Singer, 80 Hershey Road. Mr. Singer expressed his disappointment with Mr. Young’s attitude toward businesses. Mr. Singer said that he also was opposed to a two tier billing structure.
Donald Steinmeier, 11 North Fairville Avenue. Mr. Steinmeier asked if the Township was growing at a sufficient rate to warrant lowering the sewer rates. Mr. Young said that the Authority believed it could give a break to the residential customers. Mr. Steinmeier requested that the Authority consider giving the business owners a break as well.
Mr. Steinmeier asked Mr. Young to elaborate on the third item under New Business relative to hiring an attorney to defend litigation.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to approve the Minutes of November 20, 2001. The motion was unanimously approved.
Operating Expenses. Mr. Young announced that the operating expenses for December totaled $85,940.48.
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Deaven, to pay the operating expenses in the amount of $85,940.48.
Update on Fox Mill Road. Mrs. Tupper reported that some negotiation had taken place with Aaron Enterprises regarding the bid that was submitted for the Fox Mill Road project and that they had reduced their contract price. She said that the reduction would be handled by a change order. She said that a Notice of Intent to award the bid could be issued immediately and that she hoped to have further information at the next meeting.
Resolution 2001-A-5. Mr. Young said that Resolution 2001-A-5 called for a rate reduction for residential properties from $30 per month to $25 per month and that it also established the Authority’s right to require installation of water meters.
A lengthy discussion ensued wherein Mr. Millard made the statement that the Authority was in the business of processing sewage for a price and that it shouldn’t make a difference as to whether the sewage came from a residence or a business. Mr. Millard also raised the question as to whether or not it would not be worthwhile to lower the business rate as well since the Authority would not be receiving that much additional revenue by having a two-tier system.
Mr. Young said that when the sewage was originally set up there were a lot of things done that were unpopular. He said that many people attended the meetings when the rate was $66 per month and asked for some relief. He added that if Mr. Gross, Mr. Hoffman, and Mr. Jones had not run for office the rates would probably still be at $66. Mr. Young said that when the Authority reduced everybody’s rates by $10 for 2001, not one businessperson expressed any appreciation for the reduction. Mr. Young added that now that the Authority wanted to lower only residential rates, three business owners were present to express their opposition.
Following additional discussion, Mr. Wingeard said that he would propose to revisit the reduction for business owners. He said that he wanted to obtain some information from Mr. Salisbury, study it, and that he would then initiate discussion at an Authority meeting in early 2002.
Mr. Young said that the Authority was trying to help the people and that the pro forma that was in place when he came to the Authority indicated that in 2002 the residents should pay $45 per month. He reiterated that the Authority was only trying to help the residents and especially those who were elderly and on fixed incomes who had to make sacrifices early on in the sewer project in order to pay $66 per month.
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Young,
to adopt Resolution 2001-A-5. The
motion was approved 4-1, with Mr. Millard voting nay.
Mr. Wingeard moved, seconded by Mr.
Millard, to revisit Resolution 2001-A-5 no later than the February 2002
Authority meeting relative to a
possible reduction in business rates.
The motion was unanimously approved.
2002 Budget. Mr. Millard restated his objections to having the budget tied to the lower sewer rates.
Mr. Wingeard moved, seconded by Mrs. Zimmerman, to adopt the 2002 Budget with expenditures in the amount of $932,768. The motion was approved 4-1, with Mr. Millard voting nay.
Motion – Appoint Attorney to Defend Litigation. Mr. Young said that Mr. Kodak filed a lawsuit against the Authority in Federal District Court. He said he was asking for permission to retain an attorney to present the defense for the Authority and its members. Mr. Young said that no further information could be discussed in public.
Mrs.
Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Wingeard, to retain Nauman, Smith, Shissler, and
Hall, LLP, to represent the West Hanover Township water and Sewer Authority and
its members in a legal action, Kodak vs. West Hanover Township Water and Sewer
Authority, et al, and that the Water and Sewer Authority indemnify its members
from any liability for damages connected there within. The motion was unanimously approved.
Donald Steinmeier, 11 North Fairville Avenue. Mr. Steinmeier inquired as to the status of the agreement for the Millstone, Yingst, and Russell developments. Mr. Young said that the agreement was closer than ever before but that it was not yet ready to come before the Authority for approval. Mr. Young said that the discussion regarding the development had been ongoing for over two years but that all three developers had finally reached an agreement and were happy with the terms. He also said that DEP now had to approve the location of the pump station and that it was unknown how long that process would take. Mr. Young said that it was projected that Terrann Drive would be connected at the very beginning of the project which would help the Authority obtain 45 of the projected 60 EDUs in 2002.
Mr. Steinmeier asked Mrs. Tupper for the cost of upgrading the treatment plant. Mrs. Tupper responded saying that the average cost was $3.50-$7 per gallon dependent upon the type of processing involved. Mr. Steinmeier encouraged the Authority to save money in order to be able to pay for that eventuality rather than having to borrow millions of dollars when the time came to upgrade the plant. Mr. Millard added that the Township may not want to expand but rather the Township might want to slow down the growth. Mr. Steinmeier said that he didn’t believe that was a possibility as he was being asked more and more frequently when those residents on septic systems could expect to connect to public sewer.
Bob Jones, 7894 Manor Drive. Mr. Jones restated his opposition to not lowering the rates for the businesses. Mr. Young restated that the Authority was trying to help the residents.
Mark Salisbury, Wastewater Superintendent. Mr. Salisbury submitted a written report (a copy of which is attached to the Minutes).
Karen Tupper, P.E., Engineer. Mrs. Tupper submitted a written report (a copy of which is attached to the Minutes).
Robert Long, Solicitor. Mr. Long had no further report.
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Wingeard, to adjourn the meeting. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:35 p.m.
Gail A. Martin
Recording Secretary