7901 JONESTOWN
ROAD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112
TUESDAY, MARCH
19, 2002, 7 P.M.
REGULAR
MEETING
Chairman Millard called the regular meeting of March 19,
2002 to order at 7:04 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Millard announced that an Executive Session was held on
March 7, 2002 to discuss legal and personnel issues.
Stephen L. Millard, Chairman
Robert Ziltz, Vice Chairman
Robert R. Jones, Secretary/Treasurer
Gloria J. Zimmerman
Beth Carricato, 699 Knight Road. Mrs. Carricato asked about the status of the
$50,000 retainer from Rhoads and Sinon and the $25,000 retainer paid to another
law firm relative to the Kodak litigation.
Mr. Yost said that both firms had been contacted and that discussions
were continuing to ascertain how much of the retainer would be returned. Mrs. Carricato said that at an earlier
meeting, Mr. Long had made the statement that the entire $50,000 retainer would
be returned if the Township did not take over the Authority. Mrs. Carricato said that it was her opinion
that 100 percent of the retainer should be returned.
Donald Steinmeier, 11 North Fairville Avenue. Mr. Steinmeier said that he agreed with Mrs.
Carricato’s position regarding the $50,000 retainer paid to Rhoads and Sinon.
Mr. Steinmeier suggested that perhaps the Authority should
go to quarterly billing to save on the postage and other costs associated with
monthly billing.
Mr. Steinmeier also suggested that the Authority consider
utilizing the Township’s capacity at Swatara and take over the sewer service
for Westford Crossing and Country Manor Farms.
Finally, Mr. Steinmeier encouraged the Authority to utilize
the Township’s newsletter in an effort to get information out to the
public. Mrs. Zimmerman responded saying
that she had submitted several articles to the Township Manager for use in the
Township’s newsletter and none of them had been printed.
Marianne Yohn, 325 Piketown Road. Mrs. Yohn said that the pump station for
sewer service to Sandy Hollow Road and Terrann Drive was going to be put on her
property. She said that she would grant
the required right-of-way if she could be assured that the manholes would be installed
at ground level and would not be an eyesore on her property. She was assured that the manholes would be
installed at ground level.
Mark DiSanto, Triple Crown Corporation. Mr. DiSanto referred to a letter he sent to
Chairman Millard regarding the more than $9,000 that Triple Crown has paid for
sewer user fees for vacant properties prior to their being sold and having a
Certificate of Occupancy issued.
Mrs. Zimmerman asked Mr. DiSanto why he was approaching the
Authority at the present time. Mr.
DiSanto said he decided to approach the Authority following the changes in
leadership that were made. Mr. DiSanto
reiterated that he believed the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy should
trigger sewer changes on a property. A
lengthy discussion ensued regarding what should trigger sewer charges to begin,
but the Authority reached no final decision.
Mr. DiSanto asked when a response would be forthcoming from the
Authority, to which Mr. Millard responded that he could not offer a time frame
in that regard.
Bob Jones.
Mr. Jones had no comments.
Bob Ziltz.
Mr. Ziltz had no comments.
Gloria Zimmerman.
Mrs. Zimmerman had no comments.
Steve Millard.
Mr. Millard had no comments.
February 5, 2002, Reorganization Meeting. Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by
Mr. Ziltz, to approve the February 5, 2002 Minutes. The motion was approved 3-0, with Mr. Jones
abstaining as he was not a member of the Authority at that time.
Mr. Jones asked Mrs. Martin to check the tape from the
February 5, 2002 meeting and verify the statement made by Mr. Long regarding
the $50,000 retainer that was paid to Rhoads and Sinon. Mrs. Martin said she would do so and report
back to the Authority.
February 19, 2002, Regular Meeting. Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to
approve the February 19, 2002 Minutes.
The motion was approved 3-0, with Mrs. Zimmerman abstaining as she was
not present at the meeting.
March 7, 2002, Special Meeting. Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to
approve the March 7, 2002 Minutes. The
motion was approved 3-0, with Mrs. Zimmerman abstaining as she was not present
at the meeting.
Operating Expenses.
Mrs. Martin said that the operating expenses for February 2002 totaled
$71,946.58.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to approve the operating expenses. The motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Jones asked what interest rate the Authority received on
the $1 million Certificate of Deposit.
Mrs. Martin responded saying that the interest was paid monthly at a
rate of 2.75 percent. Mr. Jones
asked Mrs. Martin to contact Commerce Bank to ascertain what the current
interest rate would be if the Authority were to roll over the $1 million into
another Certificate of Deposit and also to ascertain what penalty would be have
to be paid to withdraw the $1 million.
Mrs. Martin said she would contact Commerce and report back to the
Authority.
Update on Fox Mill Road. Mrs. Tupper reported that the contract was awarded to Aaron
Enterprises and that Follmer would be serving as a subcontractor for the
project. She added that Follmer
Construction’s participation in the contract would be handled through a change
order. She said that she was hoping to
get the project started in the near future.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to approve $42,220 as the cost of the Fox Mill Road project. The motion was unanimously approved.
Update on Lime Silo and Screen. Mrs. Tupper said that the shop drawings had
been received and that approval was pending.
She said the lime silo and screen projects were scheduled for completion
by August 2002.
Reserve Capacity.
Mr. Millard said that this item related to the limited capacity still
available at the treatment plant. He
said that the subject was discussed at the workshop earlier in the evening and
suggested moving on to the next item of business.
Sludge Removal.
Mr. Salisbury said the sludge had been removed at a cost of
$6,913.20. He added that the Authority
had rented a loader for one day, but that the invoice had not been received to
date.
Mr. Rodemoyer reported that he had contacted Shaull
Equipment and that two used loaders might be available under a lease/purchase
program at a cost of approximately $19,500.
A brief discussion ensued as to whether or not the Authority should rent
a loader when necessary or purchase a loader.
Mr. Jones asked Mr. Rodemoyer to take a look at both loaders, obtain the
lease/purchase prices, and report back to the Authority at its next regular
meeting. Mr. Rodemoyer said that
he would do so.
Useage Fee Start (Certificate of Occupancy v. Connection
to the Main Sewer Line).
Mr. Millard said that this item had also been discussed at the
workshop. Following a brief discussion,
no definitive decision was reached. Mr.
Ziltz said that he thought that loss of revenue to the Authority should be
explored before any final decision was made.
Reimbursement for Terrann Drive/Sandy Hollow Road. Mr. Millard said that the developers were
looking to the Authority for $240,000 in order to run the sewer lines to
Terrann Drive and Sandy Hollow Road. He
added that the Authority would have to make a decision as to how that money
would be paid (e.g., through tapping fee credits, etc.). Mr. Millard said the approximate payout from
the Authority’s funds would total approximately $65,000.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Zimmerman, to authorize Mr. Yost to draft an agreement. The motion was unanimously approved.
Open House – April 13, 2002. A brief discussion was held relative to the
Open House at the Authority. In
response to a question from Mr. Salisbury regarding whether or not the Fire
Police should be asked to help safeguard residents who might want to go up on
top of the tanks, the Authority members authorized Mr. Salisbury to explore the
possibility of securing their services.
In addition, Mr. Jones said he wasn’t sure how many residents would know
the treatment plant was holding Open House since it had not been included with
the locations listed in the Township’s Newsletter.
Mr. Salisbury asked for permission to purchase a pressure
washer to clean up the garage floor and other locations throughout the
treatment plant in preparation for the Open House. Mr. Yingst offered the use of his company’s pressure washer
if needed.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to authorize the Authority staff to purchase a pressure washer at a cost not to exceed $600. The motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Millard called the members’ attention to the letter from
Bob Long of Rhoads and Sinon. Mr.
Millard asked Mrs. Martin to send Mr. Yost a copy of the two retainer
agreements, one from 1998 and the other concerning the $50,000 retainer that
was paid recently. Mrs. Martin said she
would send them to Mr. Yost.
The members’ attention was called to the arrears listing
that Mrs. Martin had furnished with the packets. Mrs. Martin answered several questions from the members relative
to individual amounts shown on the list.
It was agreed by consensus that Mr. Yost should write to the necessary
individuals in his capacity as Authority Solicitor. Mrs. Martin said that she would update the amounts due following
the billing process at the end of March and forward the revised totals to Mr.
Yost.
Beth Carricato, 699 Knight Road. Mrs. Carricato congratulated the Authority
for holding the most congenial and informative Authority meeting that she had
attended thus far.
Donald Steinmeier, 11 North Fairville Avenue. Mr. Steinmeier encouraged the Authority members
to work on lowering the arrears owed.
Bob Jones. Mr. Jones
asked about the retainer agreement for Mr. Long. Mr. Yost suggested that the matter be discussed in Executive
Session.
Gloria Zimmerman.
Mrs. Zimmerman had no comments.
Bob Ziltz.
Mr. Ziltz asked if it would be possible to furnish a Balance Sheet to
the Authority each month. Mrs. Martin
said she would research the possibility.
Steve Millard.
Mr. Millard said that there were some issues to be discussed in
Executive Session relative to the West Hanover Associates agreement.
Mr. Millard said that he wanted to invite Russell McIntosh
from Herbert, Rowland, and Grubic to be present at the next meeting to discuss
Act 203.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to invite Russell McIntosh to the next meeting to discuss Act 203 for approximately one hour. The motion was unanimously approved.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to adjourn the meeting. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 9:29 p.m.
Respectfully
submitted,
Gail
A. Martin,
Recording
Secretary