WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY

7901 JONESTOWN ROAD, HARRISBURG, PA  17112

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2002, 7 P.M.

REGULAR MEETING

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

           Chairman Millard called the September 17, 2002, regular meeting to order at 7 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

ROLL CALL

 

           Stephen L. Millard, Chairman

           Robert Ziltz, Vice Chairman

           Donald L. Steinmeier

           Kenneth L. Tyndale

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

           Beth Carricato, 699 Knight Road.  Mrs. Carricato congratulated Mr. Millard on the outstanding job he did on the Rhoads and Sinon billing.  Mrs. Carricato asked Mr. Yost if the Authority had received any type of documentation for the work that Mr. Long performed in connection with a possible takeover of the Authority by the Board of Supervisors.  She stated that in the Kodak case, a retainer had been paid to Smith and Nauman but that the Authority had actually received a copy of a brief prepared by Mr. Boyle of that firm.  Mr. Yost responded saying that he did not believe the Authority would be receiving any copies of the work that Mr. Long performed in connection with a possible takeover.  Mrs. Carricato urged the Authority to pursue the matter further.

 

AUTHORITY MEMBER COMMENTS

 

           Bob Jones.  Mr. Jones was not present.

 

[NOTE:  Mr. Jones arrived at 7:25 p.m.]

 

           Bob Ziltz.  Mr. Ziltz had questions on the Rhoads and Sinon billing, which would be discussed later in the meeting.

 

           Don Steinmeier.  Mr. Steinmeier had questions on the Rhoads and Sinon billing, which would be discussed later in the meeting.

 

           Ken Tyndale.  Mr. Tyndale had no comments.

 

           Steve Millard.  For Mr. Tyndale’s benefit, Mr. Millard outlined a brief history regarding Rhoads and Sinon.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

           August 20, 2002 Regular Meeting.  Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mr. Steinmeier, to approve the August 20, 2002 Minutes.  The motion was approved 4-0, with Mr. Tyndale abstaining as he was not a member of the Authority at that time.

 

FINANCIAL REPORTS

 

           Operating Expenses.  Mr. Salisbury stated that the operating expenses being presented for approval totaled $87,127.07.  Mr. Steinmeier said that he would like to see the due date for the CD and the interest rate for the Fulton Fund added to the agenda.

           Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mr. Steinmeier, to approve the operating expenses in the amount of $87,127.07.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

           Update on Fox Mill Road.  Mr. Salisbury reported that the project was completed and that Mrs. Phoenix had gotten her Sewer Connection Permit.  Mr. Roush spoke with Mr. Millard and Mr. Kerstetter sent an e-mail to the Board of Supervisors requesting an interest-free loan.  Mr. Wendle requested authorization to pay Aaron Enterprises upon receipt of the close-out documents for the project.

           Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to approve the payment of $3,061 to Aaron Enterprises upon receipt of the required documentation.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

           Update on Lime Silo/Screen.  Mr. Salisbury reported that A&E had not completed the punch list items for the lime silo.  He also reported that the screen was installed on September 4.  Mr. Wendle stated that the screen was installed improperly and that only $94,235 should be paid at the present time.

           Mr. Steinmeier moved, seconded by Mr. Jones, to authorize a partial payment of $94,235 for the screen.  The motion was approved 4-1, with Mr. Ziltz voting nay.

 

           Reserve Capacity.  Mr. Jones stated that he had checked with Swatara Township, and they do not reserve capacity.  Mr. Yost was directed to prepare a resolution for review concerning no guarantee on capacity.

 

           Usage Fee Start (Certificate of Occupancy v. Connection to the Main Sewer Line).  Mr. Millard moved to have the billing begin at the time the Certificate of Occupancy was issued.  The motion failed for lack of a second.

           It was agreed that the usage fee start time would be reviewed in October 2003.

 

           Reimbursement for Terrann Drive/Sandy Hollow Road.  Mr. Yost reported that a draft of the agreement had been completed and distributed to the developers, as well as to the Authority members.  Mr. Yost further stated that the developers had some concerns about the possibility of having to blast on Terrann Drive and/or Sandy Hollow Road.  Mr. Wendle suggested that it could be considered unclassified excavation.  Mr. Salisbury recommended to the Authority that CET conduct the inspections during the project due to issues regarding record drawings, surveys, and legal descriptions for the Deed of Dedication process.

 

           Update on Letters to Residents in Arrears.  Mr. Yost referred to Mrs. Martin’s memorandum, which had been included with the packets.  In response to a question raised over a lien that was placed against the Michael Liebner property, he stated that the Township lien for the sewer installation was in place but that the lien for the tapping fee and an updated user fee lien was not in place.

 

           Spreadsheet Analysis of Financial Forecast.  Mr. Millard stated that he believed the spreadsheet could be used as a tool to prepare the 2003 budget.

 

           Sludge Disposal Options/Costs.  Mr. Millard stated the Authority would continue to look into other available options.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

           Rhoads and Sinon Billing.  Mr. Millard reviewed his report, after which a discussion ensued as to what the next step in the process would be.  Mr. Yost stated that he saw it as an ethics and money refund issue.  Mr. Ziltz stated that he saw it as $25,000 being held hostage.  Out of the $50,000 retainer, $13,000 concerned prior billings and $12,000 concerned work done in connection with a possible takeover.

           Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mr. Tyndale, to have Mr. Yost find outside counsel to discuss options at an Executive Session for the next meeting.  The motion was unanimously approved.

 

           Authorize Purchase of a Flow Meter.  Mr. Jones reiterated his interest in taking back the Westford Crossing and Country Manor Farms developments.

           Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Tyndale, to purchase a flow meter.

           A lengthy discussion ensued.  During the discussion, Mr. Jones called for the question, to which Mr. Millard responded that he could not do that.  [NOTE:  Mr. Jones left the meeting at 10:23 p.m.]

           The motion failed due to a tie vote, with Mr. Steinmeier and Mr. Tyndale voting aye and Mr. Millard and Mr. Ziltz voting nay.

 

           Long-Term Plant Operations.  Mr. Wendle presented his draft to the Authority.  It was agreed that the Authority would contact Mr. Wendle on the scope of work so that he could give a cost estimate.

 

           Sewer Billings.  Mr. Salisbury referred to Mrs. Martin’s memorandum relative to the cost breakdown of coupon billing v. monthly billing.  A discussion ensued, after which it was agreed to maintain the current system for the time being.


CORRESPONDENCE

 

           Mr. Millard called the Authority’s attention to the correspondence concerning the Millstone project.  Mr. Salisbury called the Authority’s attention to the letter from CET that gave approval to the Rider Lane pump station generator, which had been discussed at the August meeting.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

           There was no public comment offered at this time.

 

AUTHORITY MEMBER COMMENTS

 

           Bob Jones.  Mr. Jones was not present.

 

           Bob Ziltz.  Mr. Ziltz had no comments.

 

           Don Steinmeier.  Mr. Steinmeier had no comments.

 

           Ken Tyndale.  Mr. Tyndale had no comments.

 

           Steve Millard.  Mr. Millard had no comments.

 

REPORTS

 

           Manager.  Mr. Salisbury submitted a written report (a copy of which is attached to the Minutes).  Mr. Salisbury also raised an issue regarding a fence that was constructed on a sewer right-of-way at 229 Meadow Lane in the Clover Lee development.  By consensus, the Authority agreed that Mr. Salisbury should communicate with Mr. DiSanto to tell him that the fence had to be removed.  Mr. Salisbury agreed to follow up with Mr. DiSanto.

 

           Engineer.  Mr. Wendle submitted a written report (a copy of which is attached to the Minutes).

 

           Solicitor.  Mr. Yost had no further report.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

           Mr. Steinmeier moved, seconded by Mr. Tyndale, to adjourn the meeting.  The motion was unanimously approved.  The meeting was adjourned at 10:57 p.m.

 

                                                                                                Mark A. Salisbury

                                                                                                Assistant Secretary