The Regular Meeting of the Bloomsburg Municipal Authority Board was held Tuesday, October 14, 2014, 5:00pmin Council Chambers of Town Hall, Bloomsburg, PA.
Thomas Evans presided. Those present included: Board Members Andrew Keister, Lawrence Mack, Claude Renninger and Carey Howell;Alvin Luschas, Derr, Pursel, Luschas and Naparsteck LLP;Assistant Plant Superintendent Mark Tappe (arriving at 5:15);Secretary/Office ManagerAmber Kenneyand Assistant Secretary Carol Mas. Absent were Plant Superintendent Daniel Murphy and Public Works Superintendent John Barton.
An Executive Session was held at 4:30pm to discuss with legal counsel pending litigation with Galway Bay Corporation regarding the plant upgrade.
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD – WILLIAM SEIGEL, SEDA-COG
William Seigel, SEDA-COG, inquired as to the decision on the three (3) easements he had submitted for the Authority’s consideration in regards to the floodwall project. On a motion by A. Keister, seconded by C. Renninger and voted on unanimously, the Board approved a temporary easement along West 11th Street to be used as a staging area for the contractors, a right-of way for the relocation of West 11th Street and a permanent easement along West 11th Street. All easements are located on Parcel #05W0901604.
Mr. Seigel stated that the project is ahead of schedule with construction to start in March of 2015.
APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2014 MINUTES
On a motion byL. Mack, seconded by C. Howell and voted on unanimously, the Board approved the September 9, 2014 minutes without any additions or corrections.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF MONTHLY OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE BILLS FOR SEPTEMBER
On a motion by A. Keister, seconded by L. Mack and voted on unanimously, the Board approved payment of the monthly operating and maintenance bills for September in the amount of $276,885.88.
APPROVAL OF MONTHLY SEWER MAINTENANCE BILLS FOR SEPTEMBER
On a motion by L. Mack, seconded by A. Keister and voted on unanimously, the Board approved payment of the monthly sewer maintenance bills for Septemberin the amount of $1,695.30.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF BILL TO RENCO ACE HARDWARE FOR SEPTEMBER
On a motion by C. Howell, seconded by L. Mack and voted on Four (4) (T. Evans, A. Keister, L. Mack and C. Howell voting “Yes”) to One (1) abstention (C. Renninger “Abstaining”), the Board approved the payment of bills from Renco Ace Hardware for September in the amount of $330.73.
APPROVAL OF INVOICE FROM LARSON DESIGN GROUP FOR FLOODWALL DESIGN REVIEW
On a motion by L. Mack, seconded by C. Howell and voted on Four (4) (T. Evans, L. Mack, C. Renninger and C. Howell voting “Yes”) to One (1) abstention (A. Keister “Abstaining”), the Board approved the payment of invoice from Larson Design Group in the amount of $2,500.00 for the floodwall design review.
APPROVAL OF INVOICE FROM LARSON DESIGN GROUP FOR SEWER RATE STUDY
On a motion by C. Renninger, seconded by C. Howell and voted on Four (4) (T. Evans, L. Mack, C. Renninger and C. Howell voting “Yes”) to One (1) abstention (A. Keister “Abstaining”), the Board approved the payment of invoice from Larson Design Group in the amount of $4,601.32 for the sewer rate study.
APPROVAL OF INVOICE FROM KEGEL, KELIN, ALMY & LORD
On a motion by L. Mack, seconded by A. Keister and voted on unanimously, the Board approved payment of invoice from Kegel, Kelin, Almy & Lord in the amount of $18,097.07 for September legal services.
APPROVAL TO HIRE EVAN THURSBY AS LAB TECH/OPERATOR
On a motion by C. Renninger, seconded by L. Mack and voted on unanimously, the Board approvedhiring Evan Thursby to fill the position of Lab Tech/Operator effective at the earliest possible date.
APPROVAL OF INVOICE FROM FIRST COLUMBIA BANK FROM PENSION FUNDS
On a motion by C. Howell, seconded by C. Renninger and voted on unanimously, the Board approved payment of invoice from First Columbia Bank in the amount of $1,310.32 from the pension fund for the third quarter 2014 trustee fees.
SCOTT TOWNSHIP FLOWS
M. Tappe reported that Scott Township flows averaged 339,400 gallons during the month of Septemberwith the maximum flow of 366,000 gallons occurringon August 13th and 14th. Flows were up 2.6% from last year.
DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS UPDATE
On a motion by C. Howell, seconded by C. Renninger and voted on unanimously, the Board approved payment plan for Judy Haffey. She is to pay ½ of the delinquent amount due with the balance to be paid over the next eight (8) months.
Solicitor Luschas said that the hearing for George Coho was scheduled for November 3, 2014.
APPROVAL TO DECLARE GALWAY BAY CORPORATION IN DEFAULT
On a motion by A. Keister, seconded by L. Mack and voted on unanimously, the Board approved declaring Galway Bay Corporation in default of its contract with the Authority dated December 12, 2008, pursuant to Section 15.02 of the General Conditions, subsection (b), (d) and (k), arising from Galway Bay Corporation’s failure to achieve final completion of its work in a timely manner, and also pursuant to Section 15.02 of the General Conditions, subsection (o), arising from Galway Bay Corporation’s refusal to pay liquidated damages to the Authority.
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 10-14-14.01
On a motion by C. Howell, seconded by L. Mack and voted unanimously,the Board approved Resolution No. 10-14-14.01 amending Article 302(A) of the Wastewater Facilities Use Resolution assigning sewer rental fees based on Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDU’s) effective January 1, 2015.
APPROVAL TO BID CHEMICALS FOR 2015
On a motion by A. Keister, seconded by C. Renninger and voted on unanimously, the Board approved bidding chemicals for the 2015 calendar year.
APPROVAL OF SEWER CREDIT FOR AMBER AND MIKE SPOTTS
On a motion by A. Keister, seconded by L. Mack and voted on unanimously, the Board approved a sewer credit in the amount of $182.83 for Amber and Mike Spotts, 2 Kent Road, due to the deduction meter not properly measuring the water needed to top off their swimming pool twice when the pool was leaking.
APPROVAL OF SOFTWARE SYSTEMS INC. PROPOSAL
On a motion by C. Renninger, seconded by A. Keister and voted on unanimously, the Board approved the proposal by Software Systems Inc. in the amount of $3,325.00 to transfer the Authority’s financials to the cloud and provide access and support for 2015.
2015 BUDGET
- Kenney presented the preliminary 2015 Budget for review.
There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 6:27pm.
AMBER KENNEY
Secretary/Office Manager
CAROL L. MAS
AssistantSecretary