WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
7901 JONESTOWN ROAD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112
TUESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2003, 7 P.M.
REGULAR MEETING
Chairman Millard called the regular meeting to order at 7 p.m, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Stephen L. Millard, Chairman
Donald L. Steinmeier, Vice Chairman
Robert R. Jones, Secretary/Treasurer
Gary Dunsworth
Kenneth L. Tyndale
No public comment was offered.
Chestnut Ridge - Rustrum Realty. Anthony Nestico, Esq., of the law firm of Nestico, Druby and Hildabrand, LLP, was present to address the Authority regarding Rustrum Realty’s inability to secure easements through the Watson or S&A Homes properties in order to provide sewer service to the proposed project, Chestnut Ridge.
Mr. Nestico offered some background information regarding the Rustrum Realty project. Rustrum negotiated a developer’s agreement with S&A Homes and Yingst Homes and a sewer extension agreement with the West Hanover Township Water and Sewer Authority. The agreement with the Authority required Rustrum to pay for a portion of an extension servicing Terrann Drive. Rustrum is not obligated to execute the agreement or participate financially in the sewer extension until it can provide sewer service to its development. To date, Rustrum has been unable to secure the easements.
Rustrum originally planned to install its sewer line over and across the Watson property and then across the S&A Homes development. The Watsons delayed and ultimately refused to grant the right-of-way. The Central Dauphin School District has now acquired the Watson property through eminent domain, and the School Board has taken no action on Rustrum’s requests for the easement.
Mr. Nestico added that Rustrum is now at an impasse. Despite ongoing efforts, it cannot begin its development because it currently cannot provide sewer service to the project. Up to the present time, Rustrum has not participated financially in the Terrann Drive project, thus shifting a significant financial burden to Yingst Homes.
Mr. Nestico told the Authority members that Rustrum has invested too much money in the development to walk away and that they are now considering the installation of their own pump station as an alternative. Mr. Nestico requested the Authority to exercise whatever power it might have to assist Rustrum in securing the necessary easements in order to install its sewer line.
Mr. Salisbury informed the Authority members that he had talked with the School District’s solicitor, Dennis Shatto, recently and was told that the School District would make a decision by September 1 whether it intended to maintain the entire Watson property or whether it would maintain only a portion of the property and return a portion to Mr. Watson.
Mr. Millard advised Mr. Nestico that the Authority would take the matter under advisement and discuss it later in the meeting.
July 15, 2003, Regular Meeting. Mr. Steinmeier moved, seconded by Mr. Tyndale, to approve the July 15, 2003 Minutes as distributed. The motion was unanimously approved.
Operating Expenses. Mrs. Martin reported that the total operating expenses for August 2003 were $113,797.05.
Mr. Tyndale moved, seconded by Mr. Dunsworth, to approve the operating expenses in the amount of $113,797.05. The motion was unanimously approved.
Update on Letters to Residents in Arrears. Mr. Yost reported that the Authority had received a good response to the last round of letters to residents in arrears. The arrears total as of August 1, 2003 is just over $17,000, down from approximately $48,000. He added that he had several liens to enter against several residents whose arrears exceeded $300 and who did not respond to the latest round of letters.
Five-Year Financial Plan. Mr. Shope reported that the plan would be available for the Authority’s review at its September meeting.
Billing Update. Mrs. Martin reported that several minor problems were being resolved with the new billing program and that she planned to run sewer bills for September service using the new system.
Update on Sandy Hollow Road Project. Mr. Salisbury reported that 17 properties were connected and that approximately 12 additional properties at the East end of Sandy Hollow Road had received 60-day connection notices. Mr. Salisbury called the members’ attention to his letter to Mr. Yingst listing the remaining items that had to be completed. He also stated that, if DEP gave the go ahead, the stream would be reopened on Wednesday, August 20.
Update on Sewer Extension Construction Manual Project. Mr. Shope reported that he had reviewed the construction manual with Mr. Salisbury and that Mr. Salisbury’s comments had been finalized. Mr. Shope added that 15 copies of the construction manual were being printed and would be available the week of August 25.
In response to a suggestion that a grease trap resolution should be added to the construction manual, Mr. Shope stated that the manual was for the purpose of main line extensions. It was agreed that the grease trap resolution should be a separate document. Mr. Shope was asked to provide the Authority with examples of a grease trap resolution and/or ordinance. Mr. Shope agreed to do so.
West Hanover Associates. Mr. Jones reported that he had contacted Mr. Kalbach on three separate occasions since the Authority’s July meeting but had yet received a return call. By consensus, the members agreed to table this item of business until the September meeting.
Short Street Feasibility Study. Rick Cornathan of 316 Short Street was present at the meeting and asked why the Authority had decided to conduct a feasibility study to determine if public sewer should be extended to the five homes and one vacant lot on Short Street that were not currently served. Mr. Millard advised that the owner of the vacant lot on Short Street had approached the Authority about the possibility of having sewer service to his property in order to build a home. Mr. Millard also stated that the Board of Supervisors had authorized the Township Manager to send surveys to the residents on Short Street to determine whether anyone else was in need of public sewer service. Mr. Cornathan stated that his system was 18 years old and was still in excellent working order. He added that he was not in favor of connecting to the sewer. Mr. Millard said that the Board of Supervisors would make a final determination when all of the survey data had been reviewed.
Accessibility to Mixer Motors. Mr. Shope reported that the cost estimates would be presented at the September meeting.
Resolution 2003-A-5. This agenda item was tabled until the September meeting.
Update Tapping Fee. Mr. Salisbury stated that in the past few years in August, the Authority considered adjusting the tapping fees. He asked whether or not the engineer should determine whether it would be appropriate to adjust the tapping fee for the coming year.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Steinmeier, to direct the engineer to determine if any adjustments should be made to the tapping fee. The motion was unanimously approved.
Chestnut Ridge – Rustrum Realty. A brief discussion took place relative to the presentation given by Mr. Nestico earlier in the meeting.
Mr. Dunsworth moved, seconded by Mr. Steinmeier, to direct the Authority’s solicitor and engineer to contact the School District’s solicitor and engineer to discuss the possibility of granting the easements required by Rustrum Realty. The motion was unanimously approved.
In response to a suggestion, Mr. Salisbury was asked to write a letter to the president of the School Board advising him of the Authority’s actions. Mr. Salisbury agreed to write the letter.
Mr. Salisbury reviewed the correspondence that was included with the packet.
No public comment was offered.
AUTHORITY MEMBER COMMENTS
Bob Jones. Mr. Jones had no comments.
Gary Dunsworth. Mr. Dunsworth had no comments.
Ken Tyndale. Mr. Tyndale asked whether or not an agenda had been received for the PMAA Convention beginning August 25. Mrs. Martin advised that she would contact PMAA to determine if any information other than what had already been received was going to be available.
Don Steinmeier. Mr. Steinmeier asked a question related to a personnel issue. Following a brief discussion, the Authority Manager was offered several suggestions to resolve the issues.
Steve Millard. Mr. Millard had no comments.
No other business was brought before the Authority.
Manager. Mr. Salisbury submitted a written report (a copy of which is attached to the Minutes).
Engineer. Mr. Shope and Mr. Wendle submitted written reports (copies of which are attached to the Minutes).
Solicitor. Mr. Yost had no further report.
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Steinmeier, to adjourn the meeting. The motion was unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gail A. Martin
Recording Secretary